A Seam Within the Galaxy • Kylo Ren

Ch.24

My eyes peel open lazily, drowsy beyond belief. The light in the room is all too bright to become acclimated to. Through hooded lids I peek through to find I am alone in the infirmary, once more. The warmth brought by the blankets covering me lulls me back into the deep sleep from where I once came, the heavy lull looming over my body making it entirely impossible to stay conscious.

I wake up a second time, more refined, stretching my legs before letting myself peer beyond my lashes; the room's lighting much dimmer than before. I pull the blankets closer to my body, the wires connected to my arms tugging on my skin as I burrow further down into my bed.

"My dear, you've pulled through." General Hux proclaims, a bit louder than I was ready for. My eyes squint as I hear his words, lacing a frown through my browline. I focus my blurred sight on him as he remains across the room, a leg crossed over his knee as he is comfortably leaning into his cushioned seat. Two squad leader troopers embellishing him on both sides, the red pauldron they adorned on their shoulders told me he meant business, licking his lips slowly to ready himself to speak. "I didn't think you would."

My eyes suction to the ceiling as they roll, nearly into the back of my head. I test the movement in my legs as well as my back, tight and restrained, but nowhere near as immobile as I one was on the shuttle. "I hardly understand how you prevailed with such injuries, having traveled quite a distance away from us." He ticks off yet another remark from his checklist. I simply glare at him, as a myriad of possibilities surge through my mind. Was he alluding to his suspicions of me, my insubordination? Did he assume that I was a force user, able to withstand a greater amount of injuries before succumbing to them? If I had been any other normal human being, I would have met my maker on the snow piled hills of Hoth.

"Do you have anything to say? Anything at all to make sense of this?" He jabs, his pitch a little more clipped as he had grown agitated. He lets his leg drop off of his knee and sits forward in his chair, awaiting my response on the edge of his seat. I lick my lips and shift amongst the blankets, fighting off the shudder the chill of the room handed over to me. I think of all the excuses to make, all of the different routes I could take. I don't see the use.

"Could you pour me a glass of water?" I rasp, my throat having grown quite dry. His eyes deadpan into mine, not amused as I had sidestepped away from his questions. I couldn't remember the last sip of water I had, but I also liked the fact that I was withholding information from the General, serving him a great deal of distress. He sighs, his jaw hanging loose with dissatisfaction. He shoos the troopers out of the room with the flick of a hand as he rises, sauntering his way over to the counter to my left. He pours the pitcher of water into a glass, as if the action is the most mind-numbing chore to exist. He steps to the edge of my bed and I sit upright as he hands me the glass.

"The girl, how exactly did you locate her whereabouts?" He inquires, his eyes beady and sizing me down as I drink from the glass below him. I take my time as I quench my thirst, rehydrating my scratchy throat. "A hunch." I shrug, mentioning after I finished the glass, taking in a deep breath of air. His lips press into a displeased line, not satisfied with my answer by any means. "You just happened to apprehend her locality?" He probes more intensely, still pushing forward even though he didn't buy it. I nod, sinking further into the bed as I grow solemn of my situation.

Not necessarily angry that I had pulled through, but not thrilled by the idea of continuing my life as I was beforehand. I sigh, wishing more than anything to sit and stew, undisturbed.

"What makes you think this? What about future endeavors to Eriadu? Or Utapau? Malastare?" He demands, moving in closer and towering over the bed. I click my lips together, shifting in the med bed to better my posture, setting the glass down on the bedside table with a clink. I feel much better compared to laying out on the floor of the shuttle's cockpit, but it was nothing compared to the relief the Commander's gentle touch of the force could bring.