AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hope you like the chapter!

DISCLAIM: I DO NOT OWN STAR WARS

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Chapter 10: A Stir

. . .

Rey finished her day by placing the used torque wrenches back in their places, she noticed how brightly they shined in the artificial light. It made it harder to make out the numbers on their handles, but it made it easier to figure out knowing they were all in consecutive order from small to large.

The hangar quieted, the clanking and loud machinery coming from the shop ceased and all of the mechanics ended their shifts. The occasional jet would make its descent into the landing pads, but that was only once in a while now. There were less people around as well, the chattering had ceased and most of the watchers above left for the day.

This place became dim, the constant sparkling from welding and headlights doused, and only essential crewmen remained on the landing zone. She watched them from afar, the hangar was so large that from the distance, they looked like little flies.

Someone's supposed to come get me soon... Just hope they hurry, I'm getting hungry.

A few minutes went by, Rey was standing by a file cabinet that stood a foot taller than she did. She opened a drawer, it was filled with files and manuals for every machine, craft, and tool in the shop. She flipped through with her thin fingers, halfway pulling out manuals after manuals, some were in languages she didn't even understand.

Step by step paneling instructions... Wiring guides for cockpits-... In color order...

Scavenger heaven...

"Something to pass the time?"

A shrill voice spooked her, and as she whipped her head to its owner, she came face to face with a red-haired, scrawny man with pale skin. He had a grin across his face, somehow making her feel even more uneasy the longer she stared. "What?" She heard herself say, looking upon the man's official uniform, she wished she could have taken this back.

The man held no ill will towards this unmannered response to a general, in fact it seemed to amuse him, "I haven't seen you before, aren't you one of the new recruits?"

Don't make a big deal out of it, just answer quick and maybe he'll leave.

These thoughts were easier to understand than say... She knew this man would scrutinize every word she would say just by looking upon him, she spoke quickly after thought, "Yeah," she cracked a smile, hoping to ease the tension, "Still getting used to things around here I guess..."

It didn't ease anything, in fact she thought she saw his grin broaden, "It seems everyone's left," He looked around, giving Rey some relief from that snide smile, "What are you still doing here?"

His smile stayed in place, but Rey knew his concern only went so far... She heard herself "Oh," and placed the manual back in its order as neatly as she could, but she felt this man's eyes watch every move her fingers made.

What do I do now? 'Stay out of trouble,' Sure... This guy looks like bad news... I feel like I'm some secret here, maybe I should keep it that way...

"I'm just- familiarizing myself with the place, I was actually about to leave."

"Oh then by all means, Miss," He replied quickly, expecting a short reply, "Allow me to escort you out..." His smile quickly faded, and a harsh scowl appeared on his face. Rey began to panic as he continued, "But then again, how are you staying in a private commander suite on a mechanic's salary...?"

Trouble...

Rey's skin began to boil, she felt as if she were being scrutinized in hot water. She stammered, "I-I don't... I don't want-"

"You're a distraction," He came closer, peering at every feature her face had to offer, it made her want to knock him hard out of her face, but she knew better than that, "I have zero tolerance for distractions," He came even closer, Rey gritted her teeth as she thought she could smell his lingering breath. From out of nowhere, she felt his pale, thin fingers squeeze her cheek. His thumb pressed deeply, and his palm jerked her head to his eyes.

Rey thought she saw that smirk try to creep on his face again, that satisfied, strange attempt made her feel even more insecure in this moment. His grip on her face tightened as a nail began to burrow into her skin, Rey clenched her fists, forcing herself not to slam each knuckle in her own fist into his smug smile.

He felt her internal struggle, squeezing tighter until he felt a soft whimper from her throat. Rey was certain he was going to leave marks on her, but she knew she could leave far worse upon him in moments... At the same time, he had a power over her that was more than physical; class, ranking. Rey could not fight this, she never could...

"You're pretty, but that's all you'll be to him." He hissed, she thought he couldn't get any closer without touching, and for a brief moment she thought he was going to kiss her. His eyes peered against her skin, easily seeing each sweat bead and smudge upon her cheeks. "You will do nothing to hinder Kylo Ren's duties or obedience to the First Order," Rey's lips opened as she struggled to catch a full breath, she worried in that moment she would cry out and draw attention.

"Excuse me," A deep, smooth voice called to them. She wanted to whip her head, desperate to look away from the man before her, instead, she merely watched her assailant look towards the voice. There was a man of a higher ranking than her, but obviously lower than the man before her. His charcoal uniform fitted well, but his collar made his already aging face look much older. "I'm here to escort Lady Rey to her chambers."

Lady...?

"In a minute," The man before her stated before jolting his head back to Rey's, "There's-"

"General Hux, Commander Kylo Ren ordered this matter out of urgency, and made it a priority..." The man's voice seemed hardly discouraged that he was speaking to a higher ranking official, "I'm sure you're aware minor setbacks like these aren't taken so lightly with him..."

She wanted to look at this man with hope, hope that this stranger would take her away from this obviously crazed man... Whoever he was... Instead, all she thought to do was look him in the eyes, and resist the urge to show any emotion. Instead she watched Hux's eyes shift around the room, searching for something- or someone, and then tentatively licked his lips.

He realized quickly what he had been doing, and released Rey's jaw, his nail nicking the side of her chin.

But he did not look her in the eyes.

Rey was taken back to her room, she thought for a moment to ask the man who escorted her who exactly that man was, but chose not to.

There was a pair of comfortable evening clothes upon her bed, a two-piece shift with long sleeves, and a pair of soft slippers at the foot. She placed her worn clothes in a metal basket where she was instructed to this morning, they smelled like a week's work on Jakku, but she was not eager to change her clothes just yet.

Instead, she took advantage of her bath.

As she soaked, she was unsure of her current situation...

It was wrong to be enjoying this, all of it.

The suite, the food, even the shiny tools; they all came from war. Her jumpsuit probably came from an untimely mechanic and was just hanging in someone's old locker... But she felt partially hypocritical to the fact that most of her own belongings on Jakku came from Empirical ships.

Still, she knew this wasn't justifiable with computers or components. She knew better at home to get involved with Stormtrooper antics, let alone political debates with others.

Sure, The Resistance was neat, and there was always new stories and news from the occasional traveler, but no war could change the outcome of Jakku... Unless there was to be another battle with new ships to scavenge, that would help economy-wise.

It had no real resources, unless if you'd call sandblasted metal and portions resources. There was simply nothing worth starting a war over on Jakku...

Except for my plants, She thought selfishly, I'll bash a face in before I let anyone touch my air plants.

She had been given everything she ever needed to survive in the past 48 hours... And yet it was the guilt of it all that was killing her.

Rey thought of the Stormtrooper from today, she wondered what he was doing this time of day. Did Stormtroopers have rooms like this? Probably not, she thought of him in some kind of bunker filled with other men, bunk beds, maybe even a small rec room to pass time.

Maybe he was in his bed, thinking of a way to escape, drawing out some plan on a piece of paper in secret... Rey knew this was silly, the paper part at least. But he was so kind... So genuine and real, it was like a breath of fresh air on this ship...

She smiled when she imagined him again, his dark features, his cleanly cut hair, and his playful tone... A wild card for a stormtrooper at best.

Just be friendly... She told herself, You're gonna need him to get out of here.

She finished her bath, draining the water and dressing into the evening clothes that were left for her.

They were so soft... Silkier than anything she had ever felt before. She stepped into her main room with the pair of lightly threaded pants and the matching shirt. To her pleasant surprise, her eyes were caught by a large, silver dome in the dim light.

It shined weakly on her table, but it was a beacon of hope in her eyes.

When she stepped forward, she did not see the black silhouette of someone sitting in the chair before her. Rey only saw the figure when it shifted slightly in the dark, and the light made the side of his helmet glimmer bleakly.

She gasped and clutched her heart, hoping to stop it from lunging out of her own chest. Her eyes widened, finally registering the fact that she was not alone after all, and this person had snuck in at some point during her bath, "What are you doing? How did you get in here?"

The masked man didn't answer at first, he seemed more interested in Rey's attire in this minute, "My apologies, I didn't mean to scare you." Rey felt his eyes upon her, grateful that the clothes given to her covered her figure, but were obviously nightclothes nonetheless.

"Too late for that," She snapped coldly, trying to deepen her exhales. She looked back to the man before her, he was still, she probably wouldn't have seen him at all if he hadn't moved. She remembered emptying her stomach in front of him last night... Whatever awkwardness that ensued last night must have worn off by now. After all, she knew people really got to know each other when they met at their most vulnerable...

She didn't want to think about that, she looked to the silver dome, "Is this for me?"

"Yes."

She thought she could have smelled it for a second, the savory sensation greatly pleased her, and in this moment, it didn't matter if this man had startled her so or snuck into her room.

You're starving and you won't be here forever, might as well enjoy it before Jakku...

She sat down and began to eat her meal. The same food groups as last night, a protein, vegetable, and a starch but different foods. Tonight, she was told her meat came from some kind of large bird, and there was an edible use for every bit of its body, but the name of the animal was too difficult to say. She was half surprised he said it in one go.

He called the green vegetables on her plate 'cruciferous,' he explained that they were called this because the leaves they grow with resemble crosses. Rey thought he was just showing off his big words, she thought they just looked like little trees... And she didn't like them anyway...

Rey's favorite part of her meal was the lemon and herb noodles. She liked the taste and texture of them, more importantly, she liked the way they filled her up more than the bird. She could feel him watching her eat, he made small talk and occasionally glanced about her room in the silence, but she didn't care. She did, however, try to eat more humanly tonight.

It was the least she could do, she thought, without giving him any real satisfaction. Somehow, the air started to close in and the silence became more uncomfortable with every piece of food she swallowed, she almost dreaded finishing her plate, out of fear they would simply be stuck in silence until he'd leave again...

There was a pitcher on the table, it had already been poured into her glass, but his remained empty. She examined it, there was water instead of wine this time. She peered at him, meeting his black veil, "Is this your way of telling me something?"

"I think it would be better for you."

She couldn't argue with this, she didn't want to.

Today marked the start of an end goal, there was a way to get out of here. There was an escape plan, and all she needed to do was be patient and-

Stay out of trouble, She heard Finn say.

"Fair enough," She agreed.

She continued to pick through her food, pushing the little trees out of her way and finishing the rest of her favorite starch last.

Kylo Ren saw this, and for a minute he thought it was childish. He looked down at her plate, the green vegetables had been portioned neatly in a pile on the edge of her plate, her fork placed promptly beside it. "You don't like them?" He felt compelled to ask.

"No," She added, "They taste weird. The noodles were good though, and the um-..." She shut her eyes, trying to remember the name of the animal she had just eaten. Rey didn't like to feel dumb, she knew she wasn't.

"Buthan Bahns." He answered, unsure if she was pretending not to know on purpose. Her expression gave it away though, she relaxed and nodded gently, he thought she almost smiled. He knew she knew much more than she looked, and she often talked about things he was surprised she knew at all.

"Right."

Rey noticed how quiet he was tonight. She wasn't sure if this was his usual stance and he had made exceptions last night or if he was just unsure of what to say, his helmet didn't exactly give any subtle hints of expression either...

She felt pressured to continue this conversation, the silence became too uncomfortable. She shifted in her seat, "I'm guessing I'm not supposed to ask you about your day," The idle chatter was forced, she admitted this. Yesterday she would have never begun such a conversation, she was too overwhelmed and distressed about her situation. Now that there was a schedule, a structure, something to look forward to, it was easier to speak about this adjustment. "Probably some secret plan to wipe out the Resistance, no doubt."

Rey cared very little for the generational battle he was fighting, even though she wanted the Resistance to somehow overcome evil like in stories, it wasn't enough for her to get up and vouch for their victory. Whatever Kylo Ren had to say to this, she cared even less.

"You're welcome to ask me anything," He responded, taking a moment to choose his next words, "The First Order's reached out to a clan from another side of the galaxy, it's a rather risky gamble considering these men are greedy, baseborn, and untrustworthy."

Rey seemed perplexed by this, he seemed so calm and careless speaking about these men, "I think I saw them today, getting off their ship, I mean they sort of looked how you described, anyway... Why are you working together if you can't trust them? Who are they?" She answered, intrigued my this new knowledge.

Kylo Ren didn't want to answer this, Rey felt the air become tightened. This wasn't because he didn't approve of her nosiness, in fact, he was expecting it, he was more concerned on how to answer clearly without the burning anger escape his lips upon this topic.

He regretted ever bringing it up, but he wanted to keep her interest, "They call themselves 'The Unseen Brotherhood.' They carry out special tasks outside First Order jurisdiction."

She heard the irritation in his voice, but decided to press further on the matter anyway. Sure beats talking about the weather... "Tasks like what?"

"Espionage, assassinations, they were involved in Order 66, exposing hidden Jedi to the Galactic Republic. I'm sure you've heard of that." He sounded tiresome now, as if he repeated this story dozens of times, he saw her nod her head, perplexed by this information, unsure of what to make of it. "We sent them to find a Resistance outpost, the whistleblowers report to the men you saw today, information is exchanged and we go from there."

"You don't seem too thrilled about this," She noted, slightly sarcastic and serious at the same time, "Sounds like it's good news for the First Order."

He crossed his arms and leaned back on his chair, the first human-like action he's done for Rey, "Back then, they were hired by men who instilled fear. Leaders like my grandfather, you wouldn't live to tell the tale if you betrayed him..." He sounded whiny, but he didn't care. If this was the expression he'd show instead of his bubbling rage, so be it. "Now, they're more just unwelcomed guests. They exploit resources and overstay their welcomes unless overcompensated.

Rey felt him getting frustrated, she could practically feel it. Yesterday she would have reveled in this, angering him and poking him further just to get the upper hand and be satisfied. Instead, she didn't want him this way... In fact, she wanted to settle him, to soothe him in some way.

She was convinced she just wanted to hear more of this potentially traitorous gang that could be potential rivalry. "So who's hiring them?"

He looked away from her for a moment, "No one you need to worry about."

It was obvious he didn't want to talk about it anymore, Rey wasn't sure why, but she decided not to press on the matter. Kylo Ren was notorious for terror, and she barely experienced half of what he was capable of, she didn't want to be the one to push his buttons.

She thought about her stupor last night, remembering the firm hold he held on her in the air. It was nothing like being held by someone, it was foreign and colder... She felt his squeeze on the outside as well as in, she didn't want that to feel that in a rush of fury.

Instead, Kylo Ren changed the subject, "How was your day? I heard you caused a bit of a stir in the hangar."

Rey shifted in her seat, taking a moment and thinking about what he was talking about before responding. She knew about the constant, watchful eyes on her throughout the day, whether this information came from the man above her or her escort, this conversation could go either way...

"Who told you that?"

"No one you need to worry about." He repeated, "What happened with the stormtrooper?"

Finn... She thought to herself, a grim wind seemed to blow her, and her stomach began to knot upon continuing the conversation.

"He-... I was out of line, and I shouldn't have talked back..." She knew he wasn't going to buy this, there was something odd about the way she said it but it was too late. The words were out there, and he saw through each and every one.

"Did he do that to you?"

He didn't need to make a gesture, Rey knew exactly what he was talking about this time. She forgot her encounter with that man left something on her cheek, it must not have broken out until recently...

There was no way to explain it. Would he even believe what she wanted to tell him? A higher ranking officer surely would have higher authority if she tried to tell... She felt her face flush, and whatever mark that was left on her face began to swell with it.

"Tell me, Rey." He sounded stern this time, almost angry.

"I-I..." She stammered, her mind racing on whatever to say next. She knew if she were to admit it was the man in grey who did this, he would not believe her... It's not a strong alibi, and he knows about what happened from someone else... "I can't explain it."

Kylo Ren said nothing. To him, there was nothing else that needed to be said.

To him, there was nothing else in the world except Rey's swollen face and rage.

Please tell me your thoughts and review as honestly as possible. No Star Wars FanFiction is perfect, unless it's written, sealed, signed, and kissed by George Lucas himself, but I hope this makes at least 1 person happy.

Thanks for reading! Come back for 'Chapter 11: A Mandatory Circumstance.'