Into the Grey

Chapter Three: Impasse

Chapter Three: Impasse

"It's been a week, Ren. Why is the girl still here?"

The young commander was ripped out of the silent reverie of thought. Caught gazing out the window of the observation deck of The Finalizer. With so much on his mind, so much to consider and so much pressing on him, there were very few places he could find solace and little time to spend when he did; and now General Hux had come to press his nose where it didn't belong. It was typical, almost painfully so. And in Ren's opinion, there wasn't really much business that Hux needed to involve himself at present anyhow.

Regrettably, but not yet disastrously, everything in the form of progress to end objectives had stalled. If there were all the time in the world, things would have undoubtedly come easy. If there were all the time in the world things would undoubtedly be full steam ahead with nothing more than a pocket full of luck. But luck had run off for the time being, so it would seem, and now all there was left to do was wait in in the wake for its triumphant return.

It had been a week. Of that Hux was sure to remind him, and of that Ren was blazingly clear. Nothing in the manner of the progression of finding the ever elusive droid on Jakku had come easily, least of all its whereabouts or who was keeping it hidden. While time indeed was of the utmost importance, at the very least they had enough presence in the scattered across the desert in the expectation of finding it that it seemed impossible for it to fall further into the hands of The Resistance; at least that was the hope anyway, and it had better come through.

With so much at stake however, now every other pressing matter imaginable would be brought to his feet and now he would be forced under the scrutiny of an pathetic and over stuffed, irritating ginger pest. Constant face to face and constant questioning, again, of matters that were nowhere near the realm of Hux's concern. At present, as it would have it, said matter was the girl whom was seen as nothing more than a liability and a nuisance.

"Did you hear me?" That voice that was standard in its haughtiness. Arrogant, grating, and enragingly chastising in nature.

"I did." Ren sighed. Unbothered enough by the general's presence to retract his gaze from the window. "I'd hoped you'd take a hint but if I didn't respond. But I suppose a little more intelligence is in order to interpret being ignored."

"Did you hear me?" Hux's voice was standard in it's haughtiness. Arrogant, grating and enragingly chastising in nature.

"I did." Ren sighed. Unbothered enough by the general's presence to retract his gaze from the window. "I'd hoped you'd take a hint if I didn't respond. But I suppose it a little more intelligence is in order to interpret being ignored."

"Why is the girl still here?" Hux brushed off the jab and continued in persistence.

"The girl is still here because I haven't yet permitted her to leave the ship."

Ren's lips twisted upwards, slight smirk atypically spilling across his face. If nothing else, as long as Hux was there to enjoy pestering him, he would have to take enjoyment in returning the favor at every opportunity. Getting under his skin, after all, was one of the more entertaining past times to be had.

"Do you really think wise to be so glib about the matter? I wonder what the Supreme Leader would say of the situation. It seems quite a foolish pursuit to me...perhaps he doesn't mind his apprentice wasting time on a personal whim."

"I'm sure you'll be more than happy to run off and tell him the first chance you get." Ren cast him a sideways glare. "It always seems to be your standard."