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[Video]

I accepted long ago that I'd irrevocably damned myself.

[If you know his universe well, the man on camera is in an Imperial uniform from around the Battle of Yavin 4 (say, a week or two beforehand). It's as unadorned as can be, denoting a science officer in the most understated way possible, and everything about his appearance is quite regulation. The man himself is past what could be politely called middle aged, but well preserved, healthy, tidy. An absolute nonentity, but for his thousand-yard stare.]

I just didn't expect that when I was called to account, it would be for Bodhi Rook in particular.

[That seems to be all he has to say. It has more of the tone of a confession than a conversation starter, and after a few moments of dead air, the feed shuts off.]

[Spam]

[Galen is not really inclined to be sociable, though he won't outright avoid anybody. He certainly deserves worse than awkwardness. And he's never exactly been a one for social graces. His natural inclination to reserved silence has only been heightened by the last few decades.

But he can't hide in Bodhi's cabin. Mostly because it's shared, a little bit because the very few personal touches seem to condemn him at every turn. He gravitates most readily to the library, one thing they have in common, and can usually be found pacing the deck the rest of the time. Exactly when he sleeps or eats is hard to ascertain, another quirk shared, and not for dissimilar reasons.]

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[Hux comes out of his bathroom only to be met with a complete stranger, and jumps about a mile and a half.

He's already drawing a weapon, but thankfully keeps it low and pointed at the ground]

Who the hell are you?

[Galen looks up, startled. He shouldn't be. There are clearly two desks here. But he arrived with a very general mental catalog of circumstances, and for the past few moments he's just been staring at the slightly tawdry (paper?) novel sticking out from under a dataslate and contemplating his brief association with its owner.

He was simply not prepared. But when has he ever been? He answers with a Core World education muddling a fainter accent and he answers calmly. That's usually the best choice when the other party is agitated.]

If the knowledge that's been implanted in my head is accurate, a... temporary replacement for the usual resident of these quarters.

[Hux slowly sets his weapon down at his side, staring at Galen in deep concern. This man isn't responsible for Bodhi's disappearing, but his presence here at all is worrying Hux]

Bodhi Rook? You know him?

[Frankly, a blaster pointed at him makes perfect sense. He can't help the sense that the relenting is premature. He's done nothing to prove himself here, and he can't imagine he really will.]

Briefly, not well, and the association likely did him no good. But yes.

[He probably should be able to read Hux's bearing as military, but he's tragically inept at the sort of thing. He only hopes he's talking to a friend. A real one, not a manipulative bastard like him.]

[Hux gives a slow nod, but puts up a hand]

One moment. Please, I just have to check my comm.

[He opens his datapad, scanning the network until he finds what he's looking for.

It's a flood. Of course it's a flood. Hux gives a grimace and shuts it off to look back up at Galen.]

Well. It's not only you, apparently. Half the ship has been replaced.

I'm Armitage Hux. I suppose...we'll be rooming together the next few days, unless you prefer privacy. I could return back to my quarters.

[he leaves the idea open-ended, figuring it would be more appropriate an option anyway.]

[With a great deal of experience being both patient and awkward, Galen waits quietly while Hux assesses the situation, assessing in his turn. He is terrible at reading people. Bodhi Rook was a stroke of luck. He can deduce nothing about the stranger in front of him.]

Galen Erso. And whatever causes the least disruption. I'm not much accustomed to privacy.

[there's a sudden, visible start at the name. In retrospect, Hux could kick himself for being so short-sighted; how many other people did Bodhi know or even mention around him?

Carefully, he asks;]

Galen Erso, the architect of the Death Star?

[This is precisely the response he deserves. Well, maybe in that case the blaster would be up again.]

The same.

[well. This is a shocking bit of coincidence]

I'm thirty years into your future. I modeled my Starkiller after your designs.

[suddenly, with fervor]

And! And I regretted it, and I'm here to redeem my actions, of course, and restore the lives of those I ended. Obviously.

...You're a brilliant engineer.

[Galen has to let all that wash over him for a moment. His first concrete thought is that of most representatives of his universe upon discovering it's all still happening, decades and decades on. That takes even the bitterest pleasure out of having his skill recognized. The silence stretches uncomfortably before he manages--]

I suppose you didn't build yours to be destroyed.

[Which he regrets as soon as he says it. Sounds like he's claiming a moral high ground he knows he doesn't have any claim to.]

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SO, WHICH THING IS YOUR FAULT?

That list is parsecs long, but assuming you mean with regards to Ensign Rook, I convinced him to defect in pursuit of my own ends.

OKAY, GREAT. GO BLOG ABOUT THAT FIRST PART, I DON'T CARE. WHAT WERE YOU GUYS TRYING TO DO?

[It's possible there's a certain pleasure in just laying it out. Not that there's any pride to take in doing the little he's done to undo the mess he made of his life, but he doesn't have any reason left for intrigue. He was never any good at lying.]

I used my position on the design team to conceal a fatal flaw in the Death Star project. I used Rook to send that information to my only contact in the rebellion.

[Bill remembers the memory he got a glimpse of years and years ago - a man wanting to see if Bodhi was lying, and setting a big tentacled thing on him. He had zero context for it at the time, and now has about one percent context. Frankly, the two events COULD be unrelated. But also, they could be... not unrelated.]

NOT THAT THIS REVELATION WENT GREAT THE LAST TIME, BUT YOU MIGHT BE HAPPY TO KNOW THEY BLEW IT UP.

[Huh. There's relief. But it's a slight, small thing. There's no joy in undoing a terrible thing that wouldn't have existed without you.]

I'd hoped as much, but thank you for the confirmation.

You're not in Hell. It's a space boat with quirks.

Who are you?

I was never a very religious man.

[Is that supposed to be wry? He was never notable for a sense of humor, and what little there was must have long-since atrophied.]

Galen Walton Erso. I can be fairly said to be responsible for the Death Star.

[He hasn't quite figured out this multiple universe thing yet.]

But appear to be here on charges of subverting an ensign.

Neither am I. So -- death star. Superweapon, I'm guessing? Are you a new arrival or just visiting?

Visiting on another's behalf, if my extremely vague knowledge of the situation is correct.

Bodhi Rook's.

[Is everyone from their universe but the clones drowning in self-hatred? Yunlan's really starting to get that feeling, between Hux, Bodhi and now Erso. It must be all the superweapons.]

Good news: you're not here atoning for anything you did to him, you're here because you mean something to him. Couldn't say what. Were you friends?

I can't honestly say yes. We were both... honestly fond of one another, but I sought him out fully intending to make a tool of him. And did so.

[Self loathing on an itemized list. Galen and Bodhi did, in fact, have a lot in common.]

You know, you remind me of someone.

[A little dryly. It's Hux a lot more than Bodhi that this guy reminds him of.] You don't have to be friends with the purest of motives if you're fond of each other.