Log:The Stormtrooper Locker Room

The Stormtrooper Locker Room

OOC Date: January 2, 2016
Location: Finalizer
Participants: General Hux, Booker, Duke

General Hux moves in a sea of greater formality and stiffer posture, as stormtroopers exiting the gym find the ship's captain waiting outside with a datapad. This is not a place he frequents; this is stormtrooper country. He doesn't acknowledge anyone but the trooper he's looking for: "BK-8642." The datapad's display fades.

Stormtrooper country. This is BK-8642's bread and butter, his livelihood aboard the Finalizer, and the man takes his time leaving the gym upon a few hours of exercise. He is dressed modestly as are all and his brows are lowered in idle thought, hands busying themselves with working over a towel near to his waist. He blinks. The man pauses. He's being addressed and the caliber of such warrants his snapping into attention, better focus. "General."

"Walk with me." Hux leads the way towards the weapon lockers without looking back to see if BK-8642 is with him. How could he not be? "You exhibit some unusual aptitudes, Private." As they near the front door, he asks, "State your specialty and how you were chosen for it." The stormtrooper guarding the weapons lockers salutes crisply, while another opens the door. General Hux leads the way in, making his way towards BK-8642's own locker. "Open it," he adds, inclining his head slightly towards it.

BK-8642 follows after General Hux at his left, falling easily into step. There's no particular reason for him not to follow his leader, nor does he seek a reason. Though he doesn't reply about any unusual aptitudes he may or may not have, there's a minor clench to his jaw and a sidelong glance towards the officer. "Intelligence. I was trained to think outside of the box," he pauses, choosing his words carefully, "I decided a long time ago to rid myself of the box altogether, sir." There is something of hesitation as far as opening his locker goes. All things considered, he doesn't know what to expect. Then the second disappears and another one begins, and he reaches out to key it open. BK-8642 steps back, shifting back into that rigid position.

There is nothing in the locker that BK-8642 did not place there himself. The pistol and rifle are in their positions, as is the stun baton. "That. That is why I am here," Hux answers BK-8642. "In simulations, you were among the best at anticipating a known enemy's tactics and using them against them. What deadly weapon is most easily hidden?" He glances at the locker's contents, but without interest, returning his gaze instead to BK-8642's eyes. There is an undercurrent of a verbal trap.

BK-8642 owns very little; that is, his locker is orderly and standard issue. He turns his head to look at its contents though just in case there be something in there that he did not, himself, place. Apparently, there's nothing wrong there. His brow furrows. He looks back to the General but there's a growing urge to study his locker further. "I wouldn't readily know besides one's mind, sir."

Hux smiles, a narrow, satisfied expression. "Yes. You can make a weapon of anything so long as you have your wits and proper training." He closes the locker door himself before he says, "I am going to put your mind into places where other weapons would be unsuitable or where our actions must be untraceable. Your role as an intelligence specialist within Delta squad will not change, but you will, at times, receive special assignments - and you will require special training to accomplish my objectives. You will learn to hide your nature and move through civilian populations as though they are your natural habitat." They are not, of course. "On these missions, you will not be a stormtrooper. You will be whomever I need you to be. You may accomplish more for the First Order in secret than a legion of stormtroopers could achieve with a frontal assault."

Somewhere in the back of his mind, BK-8642 has a handful of other answers at his disposal but don't suit the moment. Rather than think on them for long, he refocuses and curtly nods at the General's response: wits and training. Special assignments, civilian populations, this is all piquing the stormtrooper's interest. "Forgive the lack of decorum, but that sounds like fun, sir. The ability to prevent causalities on the front lines and still accomplish your objectives," he inclines his head thoughtfully, "I look forward to the assignment, sir."

Hux's hand is cupping a comlink he retrieved from his belt, possibly pressing a button on it. "Good. There is another who will be undergoing the same intense training, another member of Delta. You will both need to balance your infantry training with your covert training, without either suffering reduced performance. I would wish you luck, but I'm certain you will do the First Order proud." There is only the slightest edge there. Hux seems genuinely confident in your capabilities.

Having heard his signal, DK-4077 does not tarry in his arrival at the pre-determined location; BK-8642's weapons locker. Having eschewed his armor in favor of traditional 'leave garb'; a pair of trousers and a nondescript shirt, Duke looks like the very picture of anonymity as he approaches the General and his soon-to-be cohort. A look to both of them and he folds his hands behind his back, offering a simple, "General."

Hux pivots on his heel. "Do remember that all anyone needs to know is that you will be on occasional temporary detached duty with General Hux." He looks at DK-4077 and BK-8642, brief but probing stares, before saying, "Welcome to the program. Dismissed," and walking away.

"Understood, General," remarks DK-4077 as Hux begins to walk away. Once the man has gone, Duke's eyes will fall on BK-8462 as he attempts to size that man up. "Good to see you, BK-8462. Surprised you managed to be awake in time."

BK-8642 bows his head forward as General Hux intends on leaving. His shoulders relax and his posture slacks when Hux actually leaves, and he smiles briefly at DK-4077. He holds his hands out innocently enough at his sides. The towel is still in his right hand. "Caught me after finishing my shift in the gym. I can sleep when I die, DK-4077. Or in a few hours, whichever comes first."

DK-4077 is obviously hopeful one will occur before the other, but his expression hardly betrays that fact. "Are you sure you're ready for this assignment, BK-8642? It's going to be a great deal of hard work." He once again looks the man over, raising an eyebrow as he waits for a response.

BK-8642 glances sidelong at his locker rather than just stand there talking. He opens it once again and looks at its contents, lingering on the stun baton while DK-4077's voice filters overhead, but the towel is placed within and he takes a half-step back. It's so he can look across at the other man, shaking his head. "I wouldn't have been chosen if I weren't ready." He arches an eyebrow. "Do you really intend on keeping up with me?"

"I intended that quite a while ago, and surpassed you thusly," Duke remarks, arms moving to cross over his chest instead. "Perhaps this will be good for you, though. You'd be amazed at the things you'll learn if you simply pay attention to your betters."

BK-8642 looks to where General Hux has left and then back to DK-4077. Slowly, he pushes the door to his personal locker back closed and only stops when it is nearly completely shut. "I hear the jury's still out on that, but who's to stop a fellow soldier from bragging, whether it's true or false?" It's a rhetorical question, and he's smiling. "But, if that's the case, then I'll stop listening to you and yours and pay better heed of our superiors."

DK-4077 is far from smiling. But what's new? However, his stern face continues to only express one emotion; grrr. The man scoffs and he says, "Typical." Seems the man's at a loss for words as he turns to access his own weapons locker, where he taps in the code and swings it open, looking over its contents.

"Don't take it personal, Seven-Seven. I'll let you win next time." The knowing, near-smug smile that so brightens BK-8642's expression fades away and settles onto something more thoughtful and ambivalent. He searches his locker briefly and then shuts it fully. Considering he just got back from the gym, Booker intends on freshening up rather than foul up the locker room one way or another.

DK-4077 remains silent, inspecting his locker. Once complete, he slams it closed and turns to move towards the door, offering, "You should probably return to your duties, BK-8642." With that, the soldier slips out of the room, on his way to return to his simulations.