Ginger Gears

Error Code 409

The next couple of weeks were quite busy for Rose – to her surprise she realised that she was soon due for her vacation on Hays Minor. Finally she could report to the Resistance what she was doing ... sadly she hadn't been able to get Hux talking about the top secret projects.

They had returned to their comfortable, slightly weird partnership. Sometimes she caught herself looking at him, the rare occasions where they touched each other when handing each other pads or cups with tea or caf made her feel funny, as if she had touched a live current. Sometimes she caught him staring at her.

Tarc was as noisy as always. "You missed Sabacc again! I sure hope he's at least good in the sack!"

"Will you give it a rest? Not every relationship is about sex," sighed Sarith as he ate his breakfast oatmeal.

"He's right, you know," added Rose.

"Pfff, you're both so boring. You could at least tell me which one it is."

Rose crooked her eyebrow. "Are you so desperate for gossip?"

"Yes! Come on, give me something," whined Tarc.

"Well ... I'll soon visit my family. I'll keep you posted on my uncle's dating disasters." Rose emptied her caf mug.

Tarc beamed at her. "Yes please! And remember to get all the details!"

Rose chuckled. "Will do."

"You seem quieter than usual," remarked Hux.

Rose looked up from the prototype duct cleaner she was working on. She rubbed her temple. "My vacation is coming up. It feels like an eternity since I last spoke to my family."

"I'm certain they appreciate the payments you sent them."

"Perhaps," she thought again at the lack of her progress. Then she thought about Paige – would she be able to come the Hays Minor?

"Tea?"

She nodded and he prepared the tea eggs.

"I hope my sister will show up. We had quite the disagreement before I left."

He poured hot water in the mugs. He looked exhausted, pale and with bags under his eyes. "They'll accept you choice eventually."

She scoffed. "Not really. But whatever brings food on the table."

He handed her the tea and suppressed a yawn.

"You look horrible by the way," she said.

"Thanks," he replied sarcastically. "There is this huge presentation coming up ... I need to make sure everything is perfect."

Rose sat up, alert to the piece of intel. "Yeah, but you need to sleep sometimes. What's the presentation about anyway?"

"A new weapon system we're developing. And there is nothing a few stims wouldn't fix."

"A new weapon system, huh? I guess that's all you can tell me about it?" she asked, trying to keep her voice calm.

He yawned again and nodded. "The presentation is due in tomorrow. I hope I can get some rest after that."

"So you won't be around tomorrow evening?"

"No, the presentation itself is during the day but there is a," he grimaced, "a banquet in the evening."

"That doesn't sound so bad." She pulled the egg out of the tea and took a sip.

"Rich food doesn't agree with me." There was a bitterness in his voice she had rarely heard.