Chapter 4: Distracted

Ren woke up in his bed once again, feeling dazed and heavy headed. He didn't know what time it was, but he heard the sound of beeping coming from his bedroom door. Someone had left him a video message while he was asleep. Ren gave a sigh, he knew only ONE person who would leave him a video message. He got out of bed and walked over to the door. He pressed one of the buttons and saw General Hux appear on the screen.

"Sir, any plans for Starkiller Base? Snoke expected to meet us TWO HOURS ago. I never thought I would say this -But YOU'RE LATE," Hux grumbled while suppressing his anger.

The video ended and Ren slammed his fist onto the button to close the screen. He had forgotten his meeting with Snoke and Hux. He preferred to avoid it, but he knew he'd get into a lot of trouble otherwise.

"Shit!" Ren cursed out loud as he quickly walked over to the chair beside his bed and grabbed his clothes. When he finished dressing, he grabbed his mask, placed it on, and quickly headed out the door.

As Ren stepped out of the doorway, he could see Hux angrily walking towards him from down the hallway.

"What is going on?! You're usually not this late reporting to the Supreme Leader," Hux said with great frustration and his eyebrows furrowed.

"I've been distracted with other plans," Ren calmly replied.

"Supreme Leader is expecting great information," Hux explained, "he hasn't been in the best mood lately with the lack of reports."

Ren quietly sighed within his mask. While walking together with Hux towards the hologram room, Ren tried to think of the last topic he last left off with Snoke. Besides destroying the first planet with Starkiller Base, he could barely recall any more topics as the thought of Rey and his dreams began to distract him.

When they approached the door to the hologram room, Ren felt slightly sweaty in his gloves. Hux pressed the code to the room and the doors flew open. Ren began to take careful steps inside as they entered. Still empty handed of what other topics to bring up, Ren hoped Snoke would throw other topics towards him that he could make up answers to. But those chances felt very thin.

The hologram of Snoke appeared as Hux and Ren walked closer to the base.

"Ahhh Kylo Ren," Snoke began to speak, the hologram glitching a little bit, "You're late, which is a first. I hope you have an explanation for it."

"I've been trying to come up with ideas of finding Luke Skywalker besides finding the map," Ren replied quickly. He realized it was a poor excuse.

"The map is your best lead, why waste time coming up with other possibilities? STOP wasting your time Kylo," Snoke spoke in a firm tone as he narrowed his eyes towards Ren.

"I will have something more important to report the next time we speak," Ren answered, "you have my word."

"This better not be a false promise. You're beginning to show some weakness," Snoke snapped, "You want to be more powerful than Darth Vader, start delivering results. I expect greater news next week."

And with those last words, Snoke's hologram disappeared. Ren felt annoyed, but was relieved it was only a quick meeting. Having the huge desire to escape and head back towards his room, he turned around and began walking back towards the front door. But then Hux stepped right in front of him.

"Sir, in terms of today, what's the schedule?" Hux asked in a calm manner. Ren noticed the slight smirk forming around Hux's lips. Hux reacted this way whenever he was able to avoid trouble from Snoke. Seeing Ren get the most earful was something he found joy in. Hux thought he was able to hide his reaction, but Ren could read his true thoughts exactly across his face. Ren felt greatly annoyed once more.

"You usually have orders in the morning, but it's already the afternoon," Hux continued to explain.

Ren clenched his fists. He wanted to slam Hux across the room, but knew he would only get into more trouble with Snoke. While Hux waited for a response, Ren swiftly moved past him and continued towards the door.

"SIR?" Hux called over to him as he quickly trailed right behind Ren.

By the time they reached the door, Ren paused and turned back to Hux, "I'll give you orders some other time," Ren finally said.

"Some other time?!" Hux replied angrily. Ren didn't want to handle any more of this nonsense. He turned around to look back at Hux and waved his hand across his face. Hux instantly went into a deep sleep and fell onto the floor.

Ren rushed to his room. No one in the base tried to speak with him about the scheduling. At least, they were too intimidated to. When he finally approached his room and entered through the doors, he set the security lock right away. He stripped himself once again down to his boxers, setting his mask in its usual place, and laid down on his bed. He didn't feel tired enough to sleep however, it was still early in the day. He tried to close his eyes and calmly clear his mind. He did his best to not think about anything work related and focus only on Rey.

Ren laid there with his eyes closed for what felt like forever. He did his best to not open them or think of the time, but he felt very anxious. How long till he can see her again?

Sure enough another vision pulled through. Ren opened his eyes and found himself standing next to Rey's AT-AT home. He noticed the metal doors across the door and the windows were gone. He took a peek inside and didn't see her anywhere in the room. Realizing the time of day was early Noon, he figured she was out scavenging.

"I don't have a vehicle," he thought, "how will I be able to reach her?"

Ren began to ponder. Being aware that this was a dream; would he be able to manipulate the situation somehow? He stared at the sand around his feet. The sand came to life whenever he was transported to a different part of the dream. At most it always took him to Rey whenever he desired it. Maybe the sand would transport him if he requested it? He closed his eyes and began to form a wish.

The sand instantly picked up and surrounded Ren. He continued keeping his eyes closed, and waited until the sand subsided. As he felt the sand clear out, he opened his eyes and noticed he was standing next to an abandoned Star Destroyer.

"She IS scavenging," Ren said to himself with a small smile as he approached the large opening on the side of the Star Destroyer.

When Ren entered, he could see holes everywhere in the ship revealing rays of sunlight shining upon the rusty floors below. He then looked up to gaze at the skeleton interior of what the ship used to be, with the many wires hanging to and fro. There was also evidence of where scavengers pulled parts from based on the heavy dents and metal pieces trashed all over from the floor to the walls. With this much damage inside the ship, Ren didn't know where to start. He tried to see if there was any evidence of footprints or tracks on the floor, but at this rate everything was a guessing game. He walked forward into areas that appeared accessible while avoiding crawl spaces. He tried to see if he could use his Force sensitivity to seek out Rey, but it was of no use in this dream.

Ren began to sweat, feeling the heat rising as he walked. He forgot again he was in the middle of a desert planet. As he walked into another room, he saw something up ahead that caught his eye. A rope dangled in the middle of the room. It moved slightly from side to side. As Ren approached it and looked up, he saw Rey hanging onto it at the very top. She was reaching into the walls trying to pry out something within it.

"Come on!" she mumbled in frustration the more she tried to pull.

But as soon as she pulled with great force, she lost her grip on her rope. Ren instantly held out his arms and caught her right before she hit the floor.

Rey gasped in surprise and looked up at Ren, her face instantly turning pink. She quickly released herself out of Ren's arms and straightened herself out.

"I thought you needed some help," Ren said. He expected at least a "thank you", but Rey merely glared at him.

"I didn't need your help…" Rey mumbled as she avoided eye contact with Ren. But then, she realized something. Her eyebrows quickly furrowed.

"Are you following me?" Rey asked looking at Ren with great suspicion. She began to take a couple cautious steps back.

"No! I happened to wander in here," Ren explained in his defense, which was mostly true, "I'm exploring this place."

"You wandered far into the ship," Rey replied feeling unconvinced, "this can't be another coincidence."

"I'm NOT trying to follow you," Ren lied sensing the tension in the air.

"THEN LEAVE ME ALONE!" Rey demanded raising her voice.

Ren could feel his anger rising and for a rare occasion, he did his best to suppress it. He hated not having his way, but in order to gain Rey's attention, he had to be rational about it. He turned around and took a deep breath to cool off for a moment. He tried to think this through. Is this how it's going to be each time he tries to approach her? He knew he wasn't good with social interaction, but he hoped his small attempts would at least open up Rey to talk to him. Now he felt like he hit a wall and he didn't know what to do. Maybe leaving her alone would be the best option for now and he can try again later.

"I'll leave you alone," he spoke feeling huge hit of disappointment again. He took a few steps forward, but then-

"Wait," she said, "Tell me the truth."

Ren paused, "What truth?" he asked.

"Who ARE you?"

"I already told you-"

"No, you're lying to me! You keep appearing in my dreams, there has to be a reason for it."

Ren felt his heart leap for a moment, "She knows!" he thought.

To know that him and Rey were truly connected subconsciously in these dreams, made him hope for the future possibility of meeting her again in person.

"So who are you? Tell me the truth," she asked again.

Ren knew he had to choose his words carefully and quickly. He decided to start by saying this…

"My name is Ben, and we are sharing the same dream," he replied.

~to be continued….