Fandom Star Wars: Rising Tide [closed]

[cleopat]

Phasma held back the urge to reach an arm out and shoo Myka off her desk. Her clean, pristine desk that people do not touch. She scowled at the woman and the subtle threat she offered.

Phasma did not like to be threatened, least of all by the use of the Force.

“You touch my mind, and you won’t find yourself on this ship for much longer,” she promised, leaning back in her chair. As she would rather not have someone inside her mind, Phasma considered the other option Myka posed.

She would hardly call herself lonely. She dealt with the harsh environment of Parnassos, where she didn’t trust anyone. She pretty much been by herself and for herself since the very beginning.

But if she could find a way to twist this little experiment to suit her, then maybe Phasma would indulge.

“What exactly are you wanting to...confide in?”

~~~

Azra still had that bottle of whiskey on her ship. It would no doubt be closer to empty now thanks to her episode last night, but still, it was something. It could take the edge off her mind.

Sighing, she leaned forward and rested her elbows on her legs. “My mother was an extremely talented musician.” She looked at BB-8 with a sad smile. “I wanted to be able to create something as beautiful as she could, and so when I realized I was much better with the paintbrush than I was with an instrument, I spent years studying and exploring different mediums.”

And then her father convinced her to join the First Order, something that had been foolishly easy with Azra’s desire to stay close to her only family left. “And I guess I realized too late that I was doing just the opposite in the Order, that I truly have no idea what’s going on in this great, big, chaotic galaxy.” She chuckled, shaking her head.

BB-8 chimed in that she was doing what she could to correct her mistakes, and that she was still learning.

“Yeah, well, it seems that even though I’m trying the best I can, I’m reminded of how awful of a person I’ve been.” BB-8 didn’t believe that one bit. “I probably should have said something back there, but with Terex there, knowing that there were so many other people in there, and after what happened last night, I freaked out a bit.”

Azra sighed. “I should go back in there, shouldn’t I?” BB-8 wouldn’t directly answer that question, but it also didn’t blame her if she wanted a few extra minutes in the fresh air.

 

[Lucyfer]

Phasma did think very highly of herself to threaten the Sith with removal from the ship. It may have even been possible. Phasma certainly held more power in the Order than her title suggested, and Kylo seemed to hold her in a higher regard from what Myka had gleaned from their conversations.

It wasn’t a risk she would want to take immediately, but it would certainly be one that she would take, down the line. She’d find a way to convince Kylo that the fact they knew so little about Phasma, was a true threat to the future of the Order.

But for now, at least, Phasma wanted to play along.

“Nothing important like First Order secrets,” Myka said, “just small things – favorite foods, favorite colors, where you come from, your dreams, how you look,” the things that made Phasma, Phasma, really. Those details which she worked so hard to hide, but which most people would not think were worth going through all the trouble to hide.

They were valuable to Phasma, and so, Myka wanted them.

“I’m willing to trade for them, I just have to know your price.”

~***~

Terex left Poe just as the food arrived, and Poe picked at it, mulling over what Terex said and if Azra was going to return or not. ‘A Sith.’ But weren’t they all dead? Poe didn’t actually know much about that, but he couldn’t imagine this was a good thing for the Resistance. How could it be worse than Ren or Snoke, though?

‘It’s bad enough for Terex to tell you something.’

And it had to be new. Very new. Word of that sort of thing would spread quick, so Poe was estimating within the past couple of days, if not a week at most. Otherwise, they’d already know about it, and Poe would be getting the information from Leia.

‘Is he lying?’

What reason did he have to lie?

Poe tried not to overthink it, and was so out of it that by the time Snap arrived, he didn’t notice him until he was taking Terex’s seat. Poe jolted, surprised, and Snap laughed. “I never thought I was the stealthy sort, but….”

“Yeah, yeah,” Poe grunted a dismissal at his own reaction, “Just thinking.”

“I could tell. Where’s your friend?”

“Not sure, she ran out,” Poe sighed, “BeeBee’s with her, I think she’ll be back,” or BB-8 would be returning alone.

 

[cleopat]

Phasma bit back a scoff. The woman seemingly wanted only very simple things, but Phasma knew there was a bigger game she was playing here. There had to have been.

The woman wanted power. She was a Sith. There was always something more in it for her than she let on.

Phasma just needed to play this game right back.

“My price?” she echoed, leaning forward in her seat. There were many questions she wanted to ask Myka, but she settled on what she felt was simple enough, and one that she felt was easy enough to decipher, if the Sith gave her a vague answer. “Why did you come here with Commander Ren?”

~~~

BB-8 remained silent, allowing Azra a chance to breathe and cool down. “The right thing to do would be to go back inside and talk to Poe, wouldn’t it?” The droid beeped in the affirmative with encouraging words. She sighed, “Alright, well if Terex is still there and decides to talk to me some more, then I may be breaking that non-violence rule here.”

The droid didn’t blame her one bit.

“Okay, okay, let’s head back,” she said, standing up, and the droid let out a little happy beep, rolling alongside her back inside the castle.

Once inside, she didn’t see Terex at their booth anymore with great relief, but rather someone else she assumed to be Temmin Wexley. She couldn’t gauge Poe’s mood though. Was he still angry? Only one way to find out.

BB-8 had rolled ahead of her, greeting Snap as it rolled back under the table.

Azra slid back into her side of the booth, giving Snap a smile, no hint of her earlier anxiety. “Temmin Wexley? Azra Durand, pleasure to meet you,” and she held one hand out to shake, easily slipping into her reporter persona.

 

[Lucyfer]

Phasma finally relented a bit, leaning forward and making one demand. Myka allowed her smile to bloom, satisfaction easily written over her features. This question was easy. She didn’t know what she got from it yet, but she knew how to deal with people who pressed, while giving nothing in turn.

Simply stop answering and leave.

Phasma would know how to reinitiate the game if she opted to go that route. Kylo had figured it out. So would Phasma.

“Of course,” that related to Phasma’s ‘work’ needs, “Commander Ren came to find me after one of his knights was dispatched by myself on Korriban. We worked out an agreement on Korriban that allowed me to come with him to the First Order. I came along because I was curious what’s risen from the ashes of the Empire,” which was certainly true.

Of course, she also wanted to know how to manipulate this power. “I do not have as much experience in the outside world as I’d like, nor within other organizations. These are things I need, and the Order seems to fall in line better with things I’d like, so I have seen no harm in trying to locate a place for myself here, and supporting it,” for the time being. She didn’t have anything officially done, but her answer fell well in line with what Kylo knew of her.

And what was true.

Phasma would likely see as easily through the lines to the truth – perhaps even better than Kylo did. She didn’t seem as blinded by the Force or desire.

~***~

Eventually, Azra did return, as Temmin decided to eat the food Terex left behind. When she did come back, he frowned a bit, “It’s Snap,” he introduced as he took her hand. The only person who still called him Temmin was his mom, and he was trying to get her to stop that, too.

Only formal situations called for Temmin.

No one he liked called him that. He didn’t even think of himself in those terms any longer. “Good to meet you, Azra,” he added, “Poe mentioned you were a journalist coming to check out the base.” And a possible recruit, though he’d withhold that.

Poe nodded.

He wouldn’t speak of the Terex situation right now, or what Terex had said when she left. He figured if she was going to gloss it over, then he’d do the same, for now. Terex was an asshole who bothered everyone…she probably knew that. Poe wasn’t immune to Terex’s prodding, unfortunately. He probably never would be.

 

[cleopat]

Myka’s explanation only led to more questions for Phasma. She was being intentionally vague in some areas, never quite providing Phasma the full answer.

It was irritating, but Phasma would try and use that to her advantage when she could.

And she didn’t trust Myka’s reasons for being in the Order. It had to be something beyond mere curiosity. She was a Sith. They loved power. At least, from the stories Phasma heard of them.

None of the stories were ever pleasant.

But also, Phasma could see herself in some of the reasons Myka gave. The desire to see life outside her little world. Working with someone who aligned with her ultimate goals. This Sith was interesting.

Silence lingered in the air, as Phasma took in what Myka said. Only after a few seconds, did she finally say one simple phrase, “My favorite color is green.”

~~~

Azra frowned slightly at the reaction Snap’s real name brought forward. Did she touch a nerve? Nevertheless, she accepted the correction with a nod. “Snap,” she greeted, a small smile still on her face.

How did he get the nickname?

At Snap’s comment, Azra did glance over to Poe, trying to gauge his mood. If he was beginning to regret anything. He didn’t deny what Snap said, so she took that as everything was still on according to plan.

Picking up a fork, she prodded at her hotcakes, still warm despite being away when they were brought out. “That’s correct,” she said with a nod. “He wanted to make sure I had enough information for my next article.” She smiled and took a small bite of her food.

 

[Lucyfer]

The silence seemed to stretch on as Phasma considered her words. It convinced Myka that she definitely saw into more than was said, but hadn’t settled on anything. She was being cautious, even while playing this seemingly innocent game. And she did play it – she gave her an answer about a favorite color.

Myka clapped her hands together briefly, straightening up as she lifted her hands from the desk, grinning like a child who had been given candy, rather than an adult who had received an answer to a wholly useless question. ‘Why isn’t your armor green?’ A question that would go unasked, of course.

And it had some answers.

Green armor wasn’t intimidating.

“I wouldn’t have guessed – now I wish my natural eyes had been that color,” she laughed, shaking her head. They weren’t, of course, they had been gray. ‘Silver’ if someone felt like being poetic. Now they weren’t. It was harder to get that to show than it was for her hair to start to show roots of what it had been before.

And it always kept fading away. “Oh well,” a simple shrug. She could probably add touches of green to her attire, if she wanted. She just didn’t like green that much.

~***~

“Really now?” Snap arched a brow after he took his own bite of his meal, “Is this about dashing pilots?”

Poe wished he was close enough to nudge Snap. As it was, he just had to kick him under the table. “Ow!” Snap laughed it off though, grinning, “I’m sure I can help you with any answers you need, Miss Durand,” he didn’t know if Azra was better to call her, given he’d told her to call him Snap.

Some people still preferred formality. He wouldn’t assume, at any rate, until told otherwise. He had questions of his own about her being there, but he supposed he’d get those answers later.

First things first was making this situation a bit more comfortable for her, and answering her questions about the Resistance, or himself, would be a good step towards that, he figured. Poe didn’t seem keen on interjecting too much. Unusual, but Snap would roll with it for now. He had surprised Poe, after all.

He clearly wasn’t all there right then.

 

[cleopat]

Phasma didn’t respond to Myka’s casual comment on her eye color. It was silly, but it did lead Phasma to wonder what was the woman’s natural color. Or if her hair was also different now than it was naturally.

Apparently being a Sith altered one’s appearance somehow, in ways she knew she wouldn’t begin to understand.

“What do you have planned for Commander Ren?” she continued, going further into attempting to read between the lines of Myka’s little story of why she was there.

She and Ren had made a deal. Obviously, Myka saw something of interest with him. Maybe saw a use. Phasma wasn’t sure, but she wanted to find out. Not really out of concern over Kylo, but more of concern if this will effect the entirety of the Order.

~~~

Azra furrowed her brows at Snap and shot a glance at Poe. “No, it’s not,” she chuckled, shaking her head. “And please, call me Azra. ‘Miss Durand’ makes me feel like my mother,” and while that wasn’t a bad thing, she didn’t wish to feel so old.

Azra was just fine, as she seemed to easily relax in Snap’s presence.

“I thank you for being open to answering any questions I may have.” Only a few minutes with him, and she was beginning to see why he and Poe were friends. They certainly seemed to have similar personalities, to a point.

“How long have you two known each other?” she asked, stabbing into her hotcakes. The comfort food was starting to do wonders for her head. And her soul. “How long have you been in the Resistance?” She knew some of his mother, how she was a rebel, but she didn’t know much beyond that. If Snap followed in her footsteps since birth, like Poe Dameron.

 

[Lucyfer]

Phasma’s question caused Myka to raise an eyebrow. She could have followed it up by asking if Phasma meant in the near future, or far future. However, that was too much specificity, and Myka liked answering vague questions like that.

And she needed someone to speak to, anyways.

She wasn’t on Korriban and couldn’t talk to her usual people. Already she missed them. Just a bit. They were good at listening.

“Well, I do plan to see how good he might look in a ball gag and if he has any issues with riding crops and other kinds of things,” Myka mused, “Most of my plans for him tend to revolve around things like that,” she gave a dismissive wave, “at least I know he’s fairly willing.” Though he would probably not be up to a few things. “Willing’s and eager are always good.”

She’d find those limits eventually.

This was probably significantly different from what Phasma wanted to hear.

~***~

Snap nodded, “Right, Azra,” he accepted it easily enough, and let her get to the meat of the subject – which seemed mostly about Poe and him. ‘Dashing flyboys it is.’ He couldn’t quite contain the chuckle. Kare would be amused.

And annoyed she wasn’t being interviewed.

So would Jess.

Maybe they just wouldn’t mention it…too soon.

“Practically all of his life,” Snap said, “I’m older than him – I know you can’t tell,” he joked easily enough, “I think he was like…3 when we first met.”

“Yeah, and you were, what? 14?”

“Something like that,” Snap agreed. “We had similar paths, I went with the New Republic for a bit, part of their Starfleet, and he was always wanting stories about it, so I would send him letters and trinkets.”

Poe smiled, remembering those days, “And I’d always want him to come visit, which he did. His mom was a good friend of my parents."

 

[cleopat]

At first, Myka’s answer did not register with Phasma, but after a second, she blinked, and flushed red under her helmet at her brazen response.

Oh how she was so happy no one could see her face under that chrome helmet.

“You know very well that is not what I meant,” she said sternly. She certainly didn’t want the mental image of Kylo Ren in such a predicament, nor did she need to know what he had already done with Myka.

“Anything of the nature dealing with who he is, or what he is.” Nothing related to any sordid affairs in the bedroom.

~~~

Azra chuckled at the two, definitely amused by their long-lasting friendship. “You’re right, I wouldn’t have believed it. Here I thought Poe was older,” she teased with soft laughter.

Snap still didn’t look that much older than Poe.

“So what made you want to leave the New Republic for the Resistance?” she had to ask. It was why Poe offered to invite Snap to meet her, to learn more about the Resistance and those on the inside.

Would he have similar reasons to leaving as Poe did? Did one influence the other?

 

[Lucyfer]

“I’m…fairly sure my response very much deals with who he is, and what he is. The Force does make things more interesting,” Myka allowed. “It is hardly my fault you aren’t being more specific in your question. I did answer it to the best of my knowledge. You don’t want me to be a mind reader, remember?”

Myka couldn’t help but tease that. It was, after all, the thing that Phasma was trying to keep her from doing. While Myka easily could have guessed that Myka didn’t want such sordid details, that didn’t mean she knew, and they were her more immediate plans.

It was an easy way to wield some power over Kylo Ren, after all. There were different ways things could go after this, and Myka had a few theories, but those wouldn’t start to show their merit until at least a day or two.

“You can tell me something, and try to rephrase your question better,” Myka suggested.

~***~

“I was there from the beginning,” Snap answered, “along with a few others – Leia brought us in, but Seastriker was the one to tell me about it, and I bailed with him,” he answered, “after what happened with the New Republic, the Amaxine warrior crisis, Casterfo…it felt like something was wrong.”

And Leia had been right, as always. There was something wrong, a new power burgeoning in the First Order that had stepped back from the Senate some years ago.

“I used to be on Black Squadron with Poe – still kind of consider myself that,” he chuckled, “but I’m Captain of Blue Squadron now, recon pilot,” so he had been the one to find quite a bit of information about the Order’s activities, and weird anomalies with planets and other such things.

“You’re always in Black Squadron,” Poe teased, “there’s no escaping that, even if I am younger, and Captian, of it.”

“Pfft,” Snap rolled his eyes, though he’d give Poe his credit. As a pilot, he was as crazy as he ought to be. Snap didn’t have that craziness. Some, certainly, but Poe was another level – the level of people like Norra and Bey.

 

[cleopat]

Her response very much did not deal with who Kylo was, only what depraved activities he liked to engage in, or what depraved activities Myka hoped to get him involved in. One hand curled into a fist at her audacity, but Phasma allowed it to slide this time.

She very much did not want to test the woman’s mind reading skills. Just answer one tiny thing about her personal life, and then demand for a more appropriate answer.

The woman was being intentionally vague for a reason.

“I...enjoy sweets,” Phasma admitted with some degree of hesitation. “Now, what are your long term plans for Commander Ren?”

~~~

Azra was familiar with the incidents in the New Republic that Snap brought up, as it served as further reasons in the First Order of the New Republic’s carelessness, and of stories she heard through her conversations with people.

But as she surmised from Poe when they had first met, people on both sides were becoming jaded with the Republic’s lackadaisical attitude over certain matters, and apparently for Snap, it had been enough for him to join the Resistance at the very beginning.

Azra chuckled at the back-and-forth between the friends. “So, a recon pilot?” she repeated, gently nibbling on her lower lip in thought. How much was he responsible for what Poe and the Resistance knew about the First Order?

Curious, she asked, “What have you seen during your reconnaissance missions? Do you think the Resistance is able to cripple the threat of the First Order?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Myka imagined Phasma did not get to indulge much in sweets – not as much as she’d like. She wondered at what sort of sweets the woman preferred. Fruity? Chocolates? Natural sweets, or artificial sorts? She was certainly curious, and remained so, as she filed it away in her mental store of details on Phasma.

Her hesitation to answer was all the more amusing for the facts being so…well…pithy.

But that was why Myka wanted them, of course. They were dear to Phasma.

And so she took it with a nod, and considered saying the same thing, or degrees of the same thing. However, she supposed she wasn’t certain if those were long-term. She might get bored of Kylo. It had happened before, she didn’t assume it wouldn’t happen again. The nonsense of people finding one partner and sticking with them for life was a romantic’s dream, but hardly reality.

Myka didn’t really believe in love.

“I must indicate this is the long-term plan assuming I like your Order and prefer to stay with you,” she said, holding up a finger, before continuing after that clarification. She had other contingency plans, “If that is the case, my long-term plans for Commander Ren involve teaching him more about the Force while learning from him more about the Order, establishing a place within the Order, and seeing to it that the Order is successful in its goals to bring control to the galaxy once more.”

A shrug, “So my long-term plans are seeing him successful through virtue of seeing the First Order successful, and teaching him things about the Force he has not yet learned through Supreme Leader Snoke.”

Whether ‘successful’ was in a rank beneath her or not, wasn’t stated. Nor her perceived future position within the Order.

There was really only so much she could say overtly.

~***~

As Azra asked about what he may or may not have seen as a recon pilot, Snap sucked in a breath, and shook his head, “Sorry, Azra, a lot of that is kind of…more classified than I should be speaking about in Takodana where First Order agents thrive.”

So did Resistance agents, mostly Threepio’s network, but that wasn’t the point. The point was not letting those kinds of agents know what had been found out about the Order’s activities. Not that they could really silence it at this point, but they still didn’t need to be aware of all the Resistance knew. “And no offense, but I also don’t really…know if I have clearance to do so anyways from General Organa.”

Poe wouldn’t interject on that matter. “Yeah, those kind of specifics aren’t good to ask in a place like this,” Azra knew she could get answers, but Poe himself had hedged in public places or waited until they were back on the ship.

He assumed she was aware that the Order’s own were active in Takodana. Maz served all kinds.

"But I definitely think the Resistance has a chance. More than a chance." Snap added

 

[cleopat]

Phasma wanted to question more of exactly what kind of place Myka hoped to establish within the Order, or what more Kylo would learn from her that he wasn’t already learning from Snoke.

Though, she could admit that she wouldn’t be terribly upset if Snoke was gone from the picture. Nor did she imagine anyone else would either, such as Kylo Ren, or General Hux.

So much was left unanswered with Myka’s explanation, and she knew that was intentional. Whether it was to bait Phasma into asking more of her own questions, and thus forcing her to give more information about her personal self to Myka, was unknown, though Phasma had her own guesses.

“What else do you wish to know?” she asked. She didn’t know what seemingly trivial fact to give about herself, a trivial fact that she would’ve never given out in any under circumstances.

Phasma already wanted this woman gone.

~~~

Azra understood the reasoning, but she still pouted a little. Maybe later, when they weren’t in such a neutral territory where Terex still was, somewhere, she could ask again, and Snap would be able to answer.

“Oh fine, but can you blame me for trying?” she asked with a shrug. She was a journalist, she had to try to get the details she wanted, even if it meant asking questions she knew they wouldn’t be able to answer.

Because sometimes, people have looser lips than expected. Especially to a pretty face, though she knew Snap wasn’t the kind of person to fall for such frivolities, nor would she try.

Leaning forward slightly, she lowered her voice as she continued, “But can you at least tell me why you think the Resistance has more than a chance?” To her, the manpower and weaponry were far different, and now seeing what the First Order had been doing, the atrocities committed, she didn’t know if anyone could stop them.

 

[Lucyfer]

“I’d like to see your face,” Myka noted, making a gesture of removing a helmet as if she was wearing one herself. Of course, she knew she had hardly given enough for that, or the right kinds of things, for it, so she wouldn’t press on that matter. Yet. Instead, she offered, “But in lieu of that, how about favorite scents? Flowers? Something in that direction.”

Phasma had offered surprises already, but everyone had preferences in foods, in smells, in aesthetics. Even if Phasma was loathed to admit it, somewhere, she had a scent she preferred above others, or a flower she thought was pleasant.

There was still the matter of learning where Phasma was from, too – but she imagined that was part of some tragic backstory she had to unlock, like Kylo Ren and his previous master, Luke, and the tragedy of his family. The poor dear. At least it had made sense of why her previous master never went after Ren.

And now she understood why he was easier to deal with than most would think.

~***~

Snap could, but he would hold his tongue on that. Journalists could give him a headache – he knew that too well from Suralinda who seemed to have almost no filter, or care, when it came to getting information. He wondered if the two knew each other. He wondered if they’d get along. ‘This could be a nightmare.’ Mostly for Jess.

He wouldn’t warn her.

“You never heard of the Rebel Alliance before, and the Death Star?” Snap responded back, a bit teasingly, before his expression went somber. “Look, I know how structures like militia juntas look on the outside, and I’ve seen them fall more than once now. I’ve been a part of it – a kid of 12 with a droid, that’s it, and I helped to bring down the Empire for good, and saved my mom. If something like the Empire that actually held power over the galaxy can fall to the Rebel Alliance, why do you think they stand a chance against a militarized New Republic and the Resistance?”

Snap just shook his head. “It ain’t happening. They have no finesse for the long-term takeover.”

 

[cleopat]

Phasma audibly scoffed at her desire to see the face behind the chromium helmet. No, she wouldn’t, and Myka seemed to understand that, as she continued to another one of her requests.

Her favorite scent?

Phasma hardly had a favorite flower. Why bother with such frivolities? But a favorite scent? She almost wanted to cast that aside as well, to say she doesn’t have one.

But there was, and she could hardly think of any ill-intent with it, although maybe she wasn’t thinking hard enough.

“Teakwood,” she answered plainly, a scent she enjoyed smelling when visiting certain lush planets. A stark contrast to her barren homelands.

And no one else knew this.

~~~

All Empires had their weaknesses, and yes, the Death Star had been a major one with a built-in flaw, but the Galactic Empire still maintained power for a few more years after that before it did inevitably crumble.

But Azra was worried that the death toll would be significant before anyone could put an end to the First Order.

Snap had valid points...but she still worried. Having grown up with the Order, having seen what Poe showed her, she worried about the future of the New Republic, even if she still disliked them. She knew of the Order’s long-term goals, and seeing what they did to that one planet with the gaping hole…

She wanted alcohol again.

“What if,” she started, her voice even lower to avoid any eavesdropping on their conversation, “the New Republic was no longer a threat to them? What if the Order manages to cripple their military?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Teakwood was nothing like the scent of the starship, nor like any scent in Phasma’s quarters. It was just as sterile as everywhere else, no hint of personality. Not even a single candle or scent diffuser. It was a pity she felt she had to hide all of this, and it still made Myka wonder at it – why was Phasma so invested in this cover-up?

What was it she wanted so desperately, that it was worth bypassing her joys, however small or trivial they seemed to be? Who was she trying to become, and how did this help her? Those were questions too large for their current standing with each other, but they’d hardly be forgotten.

They made Phasma more interesting.

“I’m not as familiar with that scent, but I know it,” Myka said. It wasn’t among her favorites, but she didn’t hate it. It was a scent that just kind of existed. She’d been dealing with a desert environment for too long, and heady incense in the temples, that she definitely wanted lighter scents.

She set her hands on the desk once more as she rose, “This has been fun, but I’m bored for today. We’ll have to continue this another time, I’m sure you have many more questions.” And she’d have some time to think on those, now that she wasn’t suddenly ambushed in her office.

~***~

Snap let his brows furrow as Azra tried to suggest more. “Why? Do you know something?” Snap asked, not even considering it a real possibility, but wondering what Azra knew that had her so worried.

Had the First Order already compromised the New Republic? Was some bill going to be issued that hamstringed them? Those kinds of things were always possible, but that was why the Resistance was around. They could help get the New Republic back in order so they had a fighting chance.

Even Poe couldn’t help but cant his head at Azra’s attempt to fish for information on a hypothetical. A strange one at that, really. They’d seen a lot of what the First Order was capable of, but doing away with an entire military force at once? Poe hadn’t seen evidence of that.

The New Republic military was vast, after all.

 

[cleopat]

Phasma was somewhat surprised that Myka had wanted to leave so soon. She had only arrived, and only after a few questions. No doubt the woman wanted more answers, but was biding her time instead of trying her luck and asking them all at once.

“I still have one question,” Phasma said before the Sith could leave the room. She did, after all, answer one of Myka’s queries into her life, so she still owed Phasma one more question.

She rose to her feet, if only because Myka was standing as well. She wanted to maintain her presence over the woman. “What are your thoughts of the First Order so far?”

A seemingly harmless question, but how she answered it, how vague she ended up being, would tell Phasma so much.

~~~

Azra hesitated, sparing a glance in Poe’s direction. She didn’t know what she should say, given that they were in a public space with people on both sides. And there was the fact she didn’t exactly know anything, she had educated guesses based on evidence she’d seen, both in the Order and outside of it.

“I’m not sure,” she admitted. “I do know that the First Order is planning a large scale attack against the New Republic,” her voice lowered further into a whisper, worried that someone would overhear them. “I don’t know when, and I don’t know how, but now I think I have some ideas of that.”

Azra looked back at Poe. “What happened to that planet you showed me...that wasn’t the result of drilling or anything like that. That had to have been some high-powered weapon, especially if you said there were other planets with the same fate. And I do know some kind of large weapon is in the works.” That she had concluded through eavesdropping on careless officers back in the Order, and looking over the information she could obtain with her clearance.

Nothing said it outright...but there were too many clues.

 

[Lucyfer]

Myka tilted her head up as Phasma rose. ‘Definitely taller than Ren.’ She decided silently, considering Phasma’s question a moment after it came.

There were, as always, plenty of answers to it. Plenty of ways to say the same thing, too.

“The First Order has potential,” Myka answered, but she had hardly forgotten what happened when she tried to look ahead at Kylo’s future. Things she’d seen, things she’d heard, and that information she took from the Knight of Ren, all led her to knowing there was still something amiss. “There’s no denying that, any properly funded and led army has potential.”

From what she’d read, their soldiers had undergone training from birth, and many ranking officers had also been raised in the Empire.

“But there’s something amiss that I can’t put my finger on just yet,” Myka allowed. There was nothing to say for it, no reason to give, except that intuition of the Force. She felt no need to lie to Phasma about this.

She wasn’t trying to lie.

Just…omit.

~***~

A large weapon wasn’t a surprise, but one capable of what Azra said really only meant one thing: Death Star. “No, no, no, no, come on, even the First Order can’t be that stup—” Poe started to say, before he was interrupted. He wasn’t interrupted by Snap, nor even by Azra, or Maz, but instead by a blaster shot.

There was the problem of being in a public space. Usually, that had some safety nets associated with it, and particularly given Maz’s rule of ‘no violence’.

However, people weren’t disarmed at the door.

And someone of the Order had been paying close enough attention, thanks to Terex and Poe being terribly familiar faces. Zahra Kaplan, not so much, but it was easy to piece together a few things from Terex. The bit about a Sith hadn’t meant much, but what Azra was saying?

Well, no one needed to survive hearing that, and so, they’d taken a quick shot at Azra, before trying to shoot at Poe.

That shot hit the ceiling instead, as they were tackled almost immediately by someone nearby.

 

[cleopat]

Phasma wanted to question further into what Myka thought was amiss. She admitted that she did not know what exactly felt amiss, and Phasma couldn’t quite sense a lie in that.

Maybe it was part of that Force intuition thing she heard Kylo Ren mentioned before.

The Force was odd, and sometimes very cruel. She wanted evidence and results, not ‘a feeling.’

“If you ever figure it out and decide to tell me what it is, then maybe we can come to some sort of arrangement.” What that arrangement would be, Phasma left hanging in the air. She was willing to barter though, whether that would be another deep secret of her personal life.

Or, if the information was good enough, something she knew Myka would deeply want.

~~~

The first blaster shot came as such an unexpected surprise, Azra didn’t even register it at first, nor the sudden pain flaring in her upper arm where the blaster bolt hit.

When the second blaster shot rang out did she finally realize the pain, and she yelped in pain as she ducked down in the booth, hiding from any more potential shots. “Now do you believe me?” she hissed, not even sure if Poe or Snap would be able to hear her with the ruckus going on.

But she was shot at, which meant two things: one, Azra had indeed been on the right track with guessing what the First Order was up to, and two, that she needed to get out of there and back to her ship, for her first aid kit and to simply get out of there before anyone else decided to shoot at them.

As she laid in the booth, Azra tried so desperately to not let hysterics get to her as her adrenaline spiked from the wound. Thankfully, BB-8 beeped at its concerns for her and alerted them that they should leave.

 

[Lucyfer]

‘I’ll have to determine if you’re part of the problem or not.’ Myka didn’t say that, and in truth, she didn’t know if Phasma was. In fact, it was rather unlikely, and perhaps that could actually make her a useful ally. Rather than walk out with Phasma’s tantalizing promise in the air, Myka shifted.

She didn’t sit back down, but she did hold up a finger. “If I ask you something that I am certain Kylo Ren knows nothing about, will you keep it secret? There is one thing that I believe may be related to this feeling.”

Phasma could lie straight to her face. Myka knew this – just as she knew Phasma understood the risk inherent in doing that, without covering all of her bases. Myka would retaliate. It wouldn’t just be playful retaliation, either. “In fact, I’m not sure how many in the Order seem aware of it, given the response to me.”

If they knew of a ‘Sith Eternal’, their reaction to her would have been markedly different.

~***~

Poe wasn’t sure if he did, or didn’t, believe Azra in the moment, but he knew that she needed medical attention, and quickly. The one who had shot at her was subdued, and disarmed, so Poe moved out of his booth to where Azra was, offering his hands to help her up if she needed it, and he’d make sure both he and Snap were in a position to shield her.

“I don’t think Maz will be too mad if we walk out on our tab. She knows how to reach me.” Poe muttered, tossing a glance back at the one who had shot. Much as he wanted to retaliate, he knew the rules would swing against him. They might even swing against the one who subdued the shooter, Poe didn’t know.

He'd like to think not.

“No, she’ll bill us later, let’s get you some first aid. I have some in my ship, if you don’t.” Snap said. He tended to keep that kind of thing around, though he figured that wasn’t uncommon in their line of business. It was possible to survive a ship going down. It was more possible with medical supplies near at hand.

 

[cleopat]

Phasma tilted her head. Now that was an interesting question, and she was insanely curious what Myka could possibly want to ask that Kylo would have no idea about.

She could keep a secret, if it benefitted her, but of course, Phasma wouldn’t add that last part. She needed to know what Myka knew, that no one else seemed to be aware of.

“Whatever it is, it will stay in this room,” she affirmed with a nod of her head. She withheld many secrets in the First Order. This was only one more.

Phasma sat back down. “What is it?”

~~~

“I think the tab is the least of our worries,” Azra muttered, wondering why the hell they were thinking about the bill but she had just sustained a shot to the arm.

Without sparing a thought, she grabbed one of Poe’s hands with her good arm and shakily stood on her feet. “My ship,” she said, before pausing a moment to let the flare of pain die down. “I have first aid on my ship.” And they could sit and talk more in private, without worry of anyone overhearing them this time.

Azra still thought that being shot at soon after her guesses of what was happening, and Poe’s immediate connection to the Empire’s Death Star, was confirmation that they were on the right track. But now they needed more physical proof of this project.

“And I would prefer to get there before anyone else decides to start shooting,” she mumbled, heading to the exit, her hand still in Poe’s. For support.

 

[Lucyfer]

Although Myka didn’t fully believe Phasma, she knew there was no answer that Phasma could have given her that she’d fully believe about secrets. Phasma was good at keeping them, obviously, where they pertained to herself, and likely where it benefited herself, so there was potential.

The truth of that potential was yet to be seen.

Myka folded her arms over the back of the chair she’d been sitting in and leaned forward. “The Sith Eternal,” she said. “It was something Kylo’s knight knew about, and something he was doing investigations for in Korriban. I killed him before I could get much from him, and honestly I didn’t get this information from him while he lived, either.”

One of her own had taken it from the Knight’s mask. “Some Force practitioners can take memories from objects, usually particularly emotionally impactful memories. What was gleaned was that he was trying to find something that would help the Sith Eternal.” A frown, “I’ve seen no mention of the Sith Eternal anywhere in my readings on the Order, and Kylo and Snoke seem to have foregone that heritage, but a Knight he commands knew of it.”

It could be a rogue.

Myka didn’t think so. “Do you know anything?”

~***~

The tab was, but it was better than going on about the reason why Azra got shot, since she was okay enough to move on her own. Snap moved to help shield her once she was on her feet with Poe’s help. “Okay, we’ll go to your ship,” Poe agreed, moving his hand to rest on the shoulder of her good arm.

Definitely needed to move before anyone else started shooting.

Thankfully, no one else would, as they made their way out of Maz’s castle, and out towards the hangar, where the ships were. Terex didn’t follow, nor did it seem like anyone else did, and they were able to get back to Azra’s ship, and inside it.

“Where is the first aid?” Poe asked, “Snap can go get it, we’ll get you sitting down again,” he didn’t think she really needed to move more than necessary, and she had plenty of help right now, with him and Snap there.

She could just sit down a moment, let them get a look at her arm, and then talk.

 

[cleopat]

The Sith Eternal. That was not a name familiar at all to Phasma, and though Myka offered no full explanation on what they were, she didn’t like the name of it or the darkness it promised.

The Sith were not something she wanted to try her luck with. She didn’t enjoy Supreme Leader Snoke, and he wasn’t even a Sith.

Right?

“This is information that is completely foreign to me,” Phasma admitted with a tilt of her head. If this was something Kylo Ren knew about and actively sought...well, then maybe she would need to consider the threat of Kylo Ren.

“If you can keep me updated on this whenever you receive new information, then perhaps we can come to an arrangement.” It wasn’t outright said, but Phasma may be willing to give Myka certain personal details others did not know.

But only if the information could lead to a reshuffling of leadership, with her up on top.

~~~

A quick glance down at her wound told her there was some blood involved, but Azra didn’t look long enough to see how much or how bad it was. All she knew was that she had been shot, and that was good enough for her to go somewhere safe and get bandaged up.

And try not to hyperfixate on the fact that she had been fucking shot at, for guessing what the First Order was doing.

She moved to sit down without any complaint, though she maintained her grip on Poe without thought. “Umm,” she started, trying to think of exactly where the first aid kit was, as she winced with another flare of pain now that she had stopped moving.

“In the kitchenette area. I can’t remember which cabinet it’s in, but wherever one it’s in, it’ll be the very bottom shelf.” That was all she could remember in the moment, and Azra thought she was doing pretty damn good at that.

 

[Lucyfer]

Although Myka was disappointed that Phasma knew nothing, it was what she had expected. More, she could feel Phasma’s own disquiet at the thought of whatever the Sith Eternal were. That was more useful than any of her offers of personal details, but Myka wouldn’t let that be said.

As always, it remained better to be underestimated.

“Of course, and hopefully you can find ways to let me know of any movements of the Knights. They may hold the key to more,” Myka noted, “Or at least, their helmets, or other such articles,” she could find ways to get them back to Korriban, particularly with Phasma pulling some strings and covering up.

It could be a very good arrangement.

She pushed up from the chair she’d been leaning on. “Now I’ll leave you be,” her smile returned, “I hope you have a good evening, Phasma~” hoped the ones talking to the Force Sensitive ended up making Phasma’s life a little more weird.

~***~

Poe nodded, taking that information in and Snap went off with it to go looking for the first aid, while Poe instinctively still moved to the cockpit rather than any room, to get Azra sitting down. He knew the ship was locked up, but he still felt paranoid enough to shoot a glance over his shoulder anyways.

No one else.

“Okay, Snap will be back soon, we’ll aah,” he realized the location of the wound, “We’ll need to see the wound to get it cleaned and get some bacta on it,” assuming there was bacta in her pack, of course. Hopefully, right? “Or at least get it wrapped so we can get you better treated on base.”

“Got it!” Snap called from the back.

“I’ll turn around if you need me to, to get yourself prepared,” he didn’t know if she’d need help or not, or if she’d prefer he be looking an entirely different direction while she got herself oriented. He’d oblige either, of course, but was assuming modesty for the moment as he prepared to turn and possibly intercept Snap.

 

[cleopat]

Phasma would consider working with Myka and telling on the Knights of Ren, whenever they were doing something suspicious. Although she said Kylo wasn’t aware, or seemingly aware, did he know what was going on? After all, he controlled the Knights, didn’t he?

Of course, Phasma never let herself fully trust anyone on this ship, including Kylo Ren. Everyone held an agenda.

“We shall see,” she answered, as Myka straightened back up to leave the office. “Do try to not bother too many people in your self-guided tour,” Phasma cautioned, before the woman left.

And if Myka could see her without the helmet, she would see the barest upturn of her lips in some small amusement.

~~~

At first, Azra only nodded in agreement with Poe, that they’ll need to see the wound to get it cleaned and wrapped. It seemed logical enough; she didn’t expect them to just let it remain untreated and exposed.

It was then when he mentioned that he could turn around if she needed him to, did it click in her head what it was he was hinting at, and what it was she needed to do. “Oh, um, okay.” She could feel the heat slowly building in her face, and she cleared her throat.

“Yeah, if you could turn around for a minute, please. I’ll let you know when I’m ready.” Since the shot wasn’t in her shoulder, Azra figured she could move her arm enough to get the sleeve off.

And slowly, she lifted her shirt up and off her injured arm, and once she did whimper in pain as she moved it wrong, but she refused to ask for help. Not for modesty sake, but for her pride.

She could do this, damn it.

Azra readjusted herself and her shirt, keeping the rest of her torso as covered as she could while her injured arm remained bare. “Okay, I’m ready.”