The dread pooling inside of you didn't evaporate overnight, and as you dragged yourself to your post the next day, it only grew worse. You had thankfully avoided Sam by coming in early--he'd try to get you to talk about what happened yesterday. Besides, you wanted to get a head start on the repair, and maybe get a chance to work on literally any ship under your fleet assignment other than the Command Shuttle.

Starkiller was operational at all times, so the docking bay was still populated with officers and Stormtroopers who were ready to retire from the night shift. You tugged at the hem of your uniform as you passed by a unit. Starkiller was, surprisingly, an almost professional work environment, but you couldn't help feel a bit self-conscious as one of the only female engineers on base.

Standing in front of the Command Shuttle, you already felt the energy draining from your body. You pulled yourself over to the diagnostic terminal and started to make your way through the tasks that still needed to be completed for the repair.

"Hey," came a voice from behind you.

Your heart jumped. Were you that on edge? You turned to look the man in the eye--he was some officer--high-ranking, too. "Um, hi," you replied.

"You the second engineer?" he asked, eyes scanning your body.

Heat crept into your face. "Y-yes, sir," you replied, crossing your arms over your chest. "May I help you?"

He nodded. "General Hux wants you to report to command center at o-seven-hundred hours."

An invisible fist clenched your heart. "Gen-General Hux?"

Another nod. "Yes ma'am. You're the one who was working on the shuttle yesterday, weren't you?" he asked, looking over your shoulder at the terminal.

"I was."

"Then you're the one he wants," he replied, shrugging. It was clear that despite his rank, he wasn't told much of anything.

You shook your head, holding your hands up. "No way," you replied, "if he has questions, he'd be way better off asking Guerrin. He's the Chief Engineer, and he knows way--"

"General Hux specifically requested your presence," the officer replied. "I suggest you obey his command." He nodded his head in your direction and strutted off.

Thankfully, you hadn't had the appetite to eat this morning, or else the diagnostic terminal would have been plastered with your breakfast. The fist that was clenching your heart seemed to be tightening its grip. You checked the time. 0700 hours was in fifteen minutes.

"Nice notice, General," you grumbled. With the walk to the command center, you might as well just shut down the terminal for now and make your way there. "So much for coming in early, I guess."

You powered down the terminal and gripped its sides, drawing in a breath so deep that you started yawning. Good, yawning--now you reallylooked prepared to meet General Hux. You shook your head and began making your way to the command center.

As you passed through the door, Sam was walking toward you, on his way to his shift. He caught your gaze and picked up his pace, calling your name. His voice had a tinge of concern. Meanwhile, you wished that there was a hole in the ground for you to disappear into.

"What happened yesterday?" he asked, reaching out to you.

You dodged his concern-touch. "Look, Sam, we can talk later, okay?" You looked around and lowered your voice. "General Hux wants to see me."

He smiled. "Really! That's great! I told you that you've been doing a great job."

"Not so sure that's it," you replied, staring into the floor. "But I'll tell you later. Promise."

Sam frowned, but nodded. "Yeah. Okay." He patted you on the shoulder. "Good luck."

You nodded and resumed your journey, taking in another deep breath through your nostrils to quell your quaking fingers.

As you came close to the command center, your heartbeat was becoming more erratic. The chances of coming into contact with Kylo Ren was exponentially higher, here. Even working on the shuttle, you were alerted in advance before he was to use it, and you had always made yourself scarce. Here in the command center, you had no choice.

You stepped up to the doors into the center, supervised by two Stormtroopers. A tight grin spread across your face as you waited for them to let you inside. But nothing happened.

"Uh," you said. "General Hux requested me?"

"And you are?" replied one of the Stormtroopers.

"The second engineer. The one who works on the Command Shuttle." You weren't sure if he knew you by name.

"Oh, the girl," he said.

Your eye twitched. "Yes. The girl."

They stepped aside as the doors opened, and you entered the command center, your legs feeling like rubber. Even this early, officers were scuttling back and forth, speaking in hushed and pressured tones to each other while they worked at their stations. Everyone looked so crisp and clean, their uniforms free of space dust or plasma grime. Unlike yours.

You saw someone alert Hux to your presence, and you stiffened your back. He turned to meet your gaze, and a massive heat rushed your face and neck. At least he couldn't read your thoughts--you wouldn't want him knowing how funny you found his pinched, pink face.

"Engineer," he said, marching toward you.

"General, sir," you said, nodding. "My name's actually--"

"You're the one who works on the Command Shuttle, yes?" He was glaring you down.

You cleared your throat, biting back your indignation. "Ah, yes, sir. Yes, I do."

"Come with me," he said, striding off toward a room branching off the center.

Shrugging, you trailed his heels, not wanting to appear reluctant--though you were. As you walked, your eyes were darting around the room, looking for any evidence of Kylo Ren. You desperately hoped against your better intuition that this meeting had nothing to do with him.

General Hux shut the doors behind you, gesturing for you to have a seat at one of the tables. Eyeing him, you felt like his prey under his intense, severe stare. The second you were seated, your leg began to bounce, trying to release some of your nervous energy.

"There's an issue with your performance, engineer," he said, voice cutting the thick air.

Remaining calm was paramount. "Sir?" you said, swallowing.

"It's interesting you were selected for placement here alongside Samuel Foster. Both of you came highly recommended."

"Yes, sir," you replied, "Mr. Foster is exceptionally skilled."

Hux's expression was stone. "Yes, he is." He crossed the room, keeping his eyes locked on yours. "I recognize that your assignment isn't typical. You've been handed a challenge. But--"

"General, sir, I know I'm not as good as Sam--er, Mr. Foster--but I promise that if you just give me time--"

"That is not the issue," he said, "and I'd advise you to not interrupt me again." He paused. "I understand that you met with Kylo Ren yesterday."

You would have gladly chosen to be swallowed by a black hole than continue this conversation. Eyes darting to the floor, you nodded. "Yes, sir. I did." Had you really pissed off Ren so much that he needed to get you in trouble? Or maybe you were getting fired. The irritation with him--and yourself--grew like a weed.

"You'd be wise to refrain from provoking him any further," Hux said..

"He read my thoughts," you said. "Not sure what else I can do apart from slipping into a coma."

Hux cocked an eyebrow. "Your thoughts? I was told you were on the Command Shuttle at the time."

You nodded. "I was!"

"Hm," he said. He was reading your face for any sign of deception. "That is highly unusual."

"What do you mean?" you asked, wringing your hands together. You weren't sure if this could get any worse.

"Ren is strong with the Force--but to sense your thoughts from meters and meters away, while you're surrounded by dozens of other people, and not even knowing you were there..." He was looking past you.

Your blood was humming in your ears, your leg about to bounce itself into the next galaxy. What was Hux talking about? You didn't choose for Kylo Ren to hear you sniping about him. The anxiety in your chest became too much. "Excuse me, General, but--I mean, I can't be the only one who has ever thought Ren was massive prick."

"You're right. You're not," he replied, eyebrows raising. He seemed to be holding back something.

You shrugged your shoulders. "I don't see why I need to be punished for a common occurrence."

"The issue is two-fold," Hux said. "Firstly, Ren picked up your bitterness without knowing you even existed. Secondly, you work on his ship. You aren't some wandering, nameless Stormtrooper. For all he--or I--know, the next work order you produce could sabotage a mission." His clipped tone was beginning to hurt your brain. "Either work out your issue with him, or we'll find you a new assignment."

"No!" you said, louder than you intended. "Sir, that won't be necessary. Please." Getting fired from your first big break was something you could not abide.

Hux leered at you. "Then fix your attitude with Ren. Because if I don't see you reassigned, then he will."

You gulped a mixture of pride and nervous spit. "Yes, sir. R-right away." It was a lie. You had no idea how you were going to "work out your issue" with Kylo Ren. As far as you were concerned, it was his issue, and not yours. But, to be fair--he had the power to make it your issue, now, too.

"You're dismissed," he said, his stare unyielding.

"Yes, sir," you mumbled, standing and rushing from the room.

Your fists were balling at your sides, a red glow spread out across your cheeks as you left the room. You had never felt so cornered and embarrassed in your entire life. And now, to think that you'd need to be watching your back constantly because of Kylo Ren? An image flew through your mind. In it, Sam was getting promoted to Chief Engineer, his smile bright, and on his arm was some girl who was smarter and better than you in every conceivable way.

Now your fists were clenching so hard your short nails were biting your palms. Part of you wanted to hunt down Kylo Ren and give him a piece of your mind. The other part was completely content never seeing him, his scary mask, or the damage from his lightsaber again for the rest of your life.

Unfortunately, that part of you would not get its wish. As you walked out of the doors of the command center, you entered the direct path of Kylo Ren, his swift, powerful steps sending vibrations through the corridor. Your heart sank into your stomach, and you froze.

Kylo Ren seemed to recognize you and curbed his pace. You could feel that thousand-eye stare bearing down on your body again as he approached the door. The Stormtroopers behind you were wordless, motionless, breathless.

"C-Commander Ren," you managed to choke out.

He was silent, holding your gaze as he made his way to you, even though you weren't even sure you were looking at his eyes. Every muscle in your body was screaming at you to run.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, sending a shiver up your spine.

You hesitated. You weren't sure if you wanted to get Hux in trouble--but on second thought, fuck Hux. "General Hux requested to speak with me," you replied.

"Hux?" he said, head whipping towards the door. You wished you could see if he was furious or confused.

"Yes, sir," you replied, biting your cheeks. Maybe you could just get this over with. "Commander, I was wondering if I might get to speak with you--"

"No," he replied, and, without waiting another second, walked through the doors into the command center. As they shut behind him, the two Stormtroopers turned their heads toward you. You were sure your face was red.

"Uh, well, so much for that, I guess," you said, as if that would erase the past 15 seconds from their minds. "See--uh, see you guys later." You turned around and bolted down the hall. The idea of seeing the Command Shuttle again had never been so exciting.