Ginger Gears

Fluctuation

Rose pulled the wrapping paper from a ration bar and chewed on it as she scrolled through the remaining list of checks they still had to do. They would finish past 22:00 that much was clear. She noticed that there were checks that needed to be done in the WDD.

She bit her lips. Damn it. She should wait until she went down there again ... on the other hand it was a good opportunity to have another look. It was after all in another section than the lab where she had met Hux.

She noted in the list that she would do the check-ups in the WDD and exhaled. Perhaps this was a mistake ... well, it's done. Best go down there and do the work.

She ate the bar quickly, her mouth was dry and she stopped briefly at a water dispenser on the way to the lift.

About an hour later she closed a panel in the WDD and consulted the list once again. Two to go, the others were finishing up as well – at least going by the constantly updating list. She grabbed her tools and shuffled to the next junction.

Just as she was scanning the replaced parts a voice rang out. "Another project of yours, Specialist?"

She flinched and let the scanner fall. She looked up and saw Hux standing over her. He looked the same as at the speech, uniform pristine and hair slicked back. Perhaps the others were right and he was a droid. He looked impeccable, even his overcoat was still thrown over his shoulders. How the kriff had he been able to sneak up on her?

"No sir," she replied quickly and picked the scanner up. "Just following orders," she added.

He looked at her then his gaze travelled down the hallway, when he looked at her again he frowned. "What's your assignment?"

Rose blinked. He wanted to know what some grunt was doing? "Uh ... faulty replacement parts, sir. We noticed this afternoon and started to check the ones that were already built-in into the ship." She had thought about mentioning Lieutenant Chitundu's orders to work into the night, but decided against it.

"Give me your pad," he said in a low voice.

So he didn't believe her? She handed it to him and continued with the work as he scrolled through the list. She exhaled, these parts were in order. There was only one junction remaining. She put the panel back in and got up.

Hux looked up from the pad. "It looks like your assignment is soon over."

"Yes sir."

"I have ... another assignment for you, Specialist." He scanned her face with his eyes and his mouth twitched a little. "Report to me as soon as you're finished."

"Yes sir."

He turned on his heel and left. She watched him disappear behind a corner. Her hands felt sweaty. What was going on? Something didn't feel right. Why would he give an assignment to some grease monkey he just happens to meet in a dim hallway? She straightened herself.

Well, whatever it was – she had to report to him no matter what. Perhaps he just wanted to lecture her about the importance of Order like in his speech?

She went to the last panel and peeled it open. Did he want to question her? No, he wouldn't bother to call it an assignment. She quickly replaced the fault parts and closed the panel again.

Well, she would find out.

-O-

Hux clenched his hands to fists as he hurried back into his lab. He had made a mistake. He shouldn't have asked her into the lab again. But when he was standing there, watching her he realised that he- he wanted to talk to her.