Chapter Thirty-Two: Engine Room
Kylo Ren led her to the ship's engine room, currently manned by a black-plated astromech and a gangly, angular maintenance droid. Rey recognized the QT-5 unit as the one who unlocked her room each day. She had tried striking up a conversation with her morning visitor multiple times, but the droid seemed withdrawn and skittish, often shrinking back at Rey's encouraging smiles.
The young woman still offered the unit a small wave as they entered, and QT beeped back a cursory greeting, immediately making herself scarce by rolling around a chromed row housing the hyperspace computer. The spindling maintenance droid was buffing out a miniscule dent marring an otherwise impeccably-smooth panel of plating and didn't pause in his task.
Rey surveyed the rest of the room, surprised to find it packed with clutter. Didn't First Order vessel's have standardized regulations about ship conditions? She'd almost call this place… messy.
Kylo Ren didn't seem to notice. He deftly side-stepped a trio of cargo bins near the doorway and ducked under the chamber's low ceiling. The walls around them glowed with system-monitoring lights, and the air vibrated with a loud hum.
"Why'd you bring me here?" She asked, projecting her voice over the engine's din. She wondered how cacophonous it would be if they were airborne; simply churning its stores of fuel to prevent coagulating in the planet's frigid temperature was enough to give her a headache.
Kylo Ren made no move he'd heard, heading for the only empty corner, the others filled with tightly-packed containers and computer banks.
Rey followed, growing wary as he leaned against the wall and sunk to the floor, crossing his legs. Her mistrust spiked as he patted a space beside him.
"Sit," he instructed.
"Why?"
The mechanized hiss and click of his mask being opened answered, and he pulled his face free. "Not everything needs to be a debate, Rey. Just sit."
She gauged him, eying his mess of dark hair, tousled and wild compared to the strict control of his attire. "Tell me why we're here then," she demanded.
Kylo Ren drummed his fingers on his knee, and Rey sighed. Was he really going to play this game? She stayed standing, tapping her foot as she looked around.
Her captor kept his veneer of placidity, offering only a languid blink. He watched her with his chin out and neck exposed, waiting for her to yield first.
His stare made Rey's skin crawl, and she dug into her bottom lip, trying to rein back a frown. She turned her head, searching for QT, eager for something else to focus on.
Kylo Ren sat with a patience he had yet to display, stilling his fingers in an idle curl, and resting an elbow on his helmet.
She refused to lose though, and after a minute, he broke the unspoken duel.
You'll find out if you sit, he sent her mentally.
A thrill of vindication ran down her spine, but she managed to keep it from her face. "So?" She traipsed to his side and gracefully sank to the floor, folding her legs crisscross. "Why here?"
Kylo Ren cast his gaze about the crowded compartment. "For the hum," he said simply. "The sound of ship engines used to help me mediate when I was new and untrained like you."
"You were never like me."
His lips quirked. "You'll see. Close your eyes."
"No."
Kylo Ren shocked her by letting his own lids slide down. "You can risk one concession. I won't think you're suddenly full of trust and awe by following a lone command."
His serenity seemed more genuine now. The ever-present edge in his voice was gone, and the angles of his face had gone smooth.
"I don't want to meditate with you," Rey reiterated. "You'll just dive into my head when my guard's down."
"I won't."
"Yeah right."
"How about this…." Kylo Ren opened his eyes. "You pretend to be a student who actually follows instructions, and I'll let you comb through the shipyard's bunker for tools and more of your beloved tape."
Rey contemplated the offer, touching a finger to her chin. "Anything I want?"
"It has to fit in your jacket."
She stared at him hard. "Promise?"
Kylo Ren straightened from the wall, nodding.
"Fine." She snapped her eyes closed and grabbed her knees.
From beneath the darkness of her eyelids, Rey felt him examine her tense stance. His scrutiny was confirmed a moment later.
"The pose is supposed to be relaxed," Kylo Ren pointed out
Rey let out a noisy huff. She grumbled under her breath, but followed the suggestion, easing her rigid spine.