Maz's home was often a riotous place, filled to the brim with every kind of humanoid or alien that the galaxy contained. Located on the Mid Rim, it was a convenient place for traders and travellers, as well as smugglers and those wishing to disappear.

Jodar had been here a few times before, and he watched his companions as they entered the darkened castle. The defector, Finn, was nervously looking at the patrons. Jodar knew he was looking for First Order spies. Ashe was looking around curiously at the interior, examining the walls dripping with memorabilia of the galaxy. Jodar would never ask Maz her age, but he had guessed that she had been around for some time, based on some of the things he had seen.

He also knew that Maz believed in the Force.

Jodar Madel wasn't alive during the Old Republic days, but had grown up in the Galactic Empire and lived through the war that led to the New Republic and the short rebirth of the Jedi, which had now been stamped out by the First Order.

Jodar was a Keshiri, a race that had been long connected to the Force, through both the Jedi and Sith. He wasn't a user nor was he sensitive to the Force, but the Keshiri kept track through a thorough oral history of their long standing entanglements with the Force. He could recognize the abilities of a force user.

He looked to Ashe. If he hadn't known better, he would have thought it was pure luck that she had managed to stay alive for so long.

"Maz, hello," Han Solo said awkwardly, and Jodar turned his attention back to the conversation in front of him.

"What is it this time?" Maz asked with a sigh of resignation. She barely reached the height of Han's waist and had to lean back to look disapprovingly at him. She wore patched green overalls and a matching cap, plain clothes for someone so revered in this corner of the galaxy. Her eyes were magnified by oversized goggles, making the subjects of her gaze uncomfortable.

"Nothing, I'm not doing anything," Han said defensively. Maz shook her head and gestured to a back table.

Jodar moved to follow them, but Ashe pulled faintly at his sleeve.

"I think Finn and I should leave from here," Ashe said. Finn hovered by her side, nodding. "We'll find a crew to join and you can take BB-8 to the base."

"Are you sure?" Jodar asked.

She nodded, "It's for the best, Jodar. It'll be safer for everyone involved."

"I don't really like this place," Finn admitted.

"Maz doesn't allow the First Order here," Jodar explained. "It's actually very safe. It's a known neutral zone."

Ashe shook her head, and Jodar felt his stomach twist. He had told himself that he would let Ashe go when she wanted. She had enough of a sense to stay out of trouble, and that had been proven enough in the past. When Jodar had picked up Poe, and later Finn and BB-8, he knew that Ashe would move on, away from the Resistance presence. He knew that, but he didn't want to let her go.

"Let me buy you guys a meal at least," he said, trying to appeal to the young people's stomachs. Finn's stomach growled at the idea, and the man looked hesitant at turning down a free meal. "At least say hi to Maz? She's very nice," he lied. If Maz could at least see Ashe, she might be able to say something to the woman to make her see her potential.

Ashe frowned at him. She had seen through his lie. "Nice?" She shook her head. "Thank you, Jodar, but we should be going."

She clasped him in a tight hug, and Jodar held just as tightly back and his eyes became misty. "Be safe, won't you?" he asked.

Ashe nodded, and they released each other. "I always am."

Jodar nodded, blinking the dampness away as he shook Finn's hand. "Stay safe, both of you, and out of trouble."

"We will, sir," Finn said resolutely. Ashe knelt to say her goodbyes to BB-8 and they made their way through the crowded room.

BB-8 rolled slowly after Jodar as he made his way to Maz and Han. The two had watched his goodbye, he noted, sliding into a chair. BB-8 bumped lightly into his leg, and he patted the droid.

"You're down to two, maybe three crew if the co-pilot can get back on his feet," Han commented. He waved away on offered drink by the waiter. Jodar accepted one and drank deeply. "I'll get you a small ship, something to slip under the radar then."

Jodar murmured an agreement, trying to focus his mind on the trip ahead.

"Han was telling me of your run in with the Order," Maz said.

"Your crewmate told me, the one who doesn't appreciate the Falcon," Han explained at Jodar's puzzled look. "Sounds like it was a close call. Chewie and I picked up some chatter about it on our radio."

"The perks of a good crew," Jodar replied. He drained his drink, and raised an eyebrow at Han. The smuggler was notorious for having poor crew relations.

"Shame you don't have one anymore," Han replied, leaning back in his chair.

Maz watched the conversation silently, watching the two pilots snipe at each other. Jodar felt her gaze on him and grimaced, looking away.

"Why is your crew leaving?" she asked, her tone neutral. Jodar briefly met her gaze before looking down, silent.

Han smirked, "He didn't tell them about his contracts with the Resistance. A good captain makes sure his crew knows exactly what they're getting into."

"I will not take criticism from a defector!" Jodar snapped, slamming his fist onto the table. Han glared at him, remaining silent and crossing his arms.

"You break it, you buy it," Maz chided, laying a hand on the table. "Why didn't you tell her?"

"I thought I could keep the two seperate," Jodar said finally. "I could continue my work without delay and get some extra help. It got worse as time went on, with the Order overthrowing the few bases we could keep up. If I let any hires know about the collaboration they would never sign on with the propaganda the Order was putting out against us." He traced a whorl in the wood table. "But if I could introduce the idea of the Resistance slowly it would be natural to join."

Without initial realization, Jodar began to tell his plan, "I didn't think anything of it at first, I just thought of natural talents. Then I began to see the potential in her. I thought that she could be the next one. She was too resistant at first, she couldn't see the potential. She had no idea what she could do.

"I'd blame where she came from, but I can't. Had she been born anywhere but a backwater Outer Rim planet, she would have been identified and killed by the Order. Yet, because of that, she has no idea really of what's happened in the galaxy. I doubt she even knows what she can do."

Jodar blinked, having said far more than he meant to. Maz gazed at him over steepled fingers, having gotten him to finally voice his intentions, and Jodar shrunk under her look.

"I would give her more credit than you think," she said finally.

"Why's that?"

"She can feel the Force right now, Jodar," Maz said, her voice low. Her eyes cast out to the crowded room and Jodar followed her gaze until he spotted Ashe and Finn. "She can hear it."

"You can't hear the Force," Han said dismissively. "You feel it, or something." He shrugged, disinterested.

Jodar and Maz watched the duo in the crowd. Ashe turned her head back and forth, obviously confused. Finn tugged on her arm, trying to lead her towards whomever they were speaking to, but Ashe persisted in wandering through the crowd. She rubbed her head in frustration, loosening several small braids from their bonds.

"What's she doing?" Jodar asked, watching the young woman cock her head faintly.

"She's trying to listen to it with her ears," Maz explained. "She hasn't thought to use her head yet." They watched as Ashe balled her fists in frustration. "No training?" Maz asked.

"None. I doubt she knows about the Force. She didn't even know you you were," Jodar said, casually glancing at Han. He snorted and rolled his eyes. "What's she doing now?"

"She's got it," Maz replied. "She can hear it calling to her."

They watched her make her way through the crowd to an ajar door and slip inside, leaving Finn in the crowd.

"Hear what calling to her?" Han asked suddenly. "What do you have back there, Maz?"

Maz remained silent.

"Maz, what's back there?"

Kylo Ren stood at the bridge of his command shuttle, watching the blue-green planet come into view as the craft exited lightspeed. He nodded as an officer updated him on the planet and the inhabitants, as well as the rest of the fleet for the mission.

His presence was unnecessary and distracting to the crew, and he revelled in the feeling. His black tunic, pants, and cloak emanated dominance, making the room feel smaller than it already was. Officers had to veer around him as they completed their tasks for landing, as he stood, unmoving. His mask hid his face, allowing him to watch his crew eye him nervously.

The shuttle began to land onto the packed earth some distance from their destination. A small band of forest would serve as their cover as the stormtroopers landed and assembled their squads.

Kylo was reviewing the movements the troops would be making when a silent rumble of power rolled over him. He swayed, reaching out gloved hands to clutch at the railing in front of him.

The feeling of raw energy persisted and he sank into it, trying to discern the source and purpose. It was an access of the Force, strong and with no barriers. He probed it with his mind, ignoring the shaking officer next to him, and flashes of light flickered across his vision.

Then, as soon as it had arrived, it was gone, as if it had never existed.

"Sir?" the officer asked meekly.

"Send them out," Kylo snapped, releasing the twisted railings. His hands had made deep imprints. The officer hurried away as he drew out his lightsaber and red glowing blades appeared. Snarling, he slashed at the metal panels before him, leaving deep gouges.

He stalked down the loading ramp, his fury encouraging those around him give him a wide berth. His mind was clouded, reeling from the feeling. Yes, the lingering feeling of his former teacher, but the presence of someone strong and untrained in the ways of the Force.

He came to a stop at the edge of the forest. The troops were ready behind him. He tightened his grip on his lightsaber and licked his lips, ridding himself of his suddenly dry mouth. He motioned for the troops to begin marching and walked into the forest.

Ashe fell the cool floor, sweaty hands grasping the raised edges of the rough stones. The thing clattered to the floor by her and she reeled away, the images flashing still before her eyes. Shadows of people, flashes of red, blue, and green, and unfamiliar landscapes blurred her vision. She closed her eyes, trying to rid herself of the sights, trying to breathe.

The door creaked open, hitting her in the side and a familiar body knelt down by her.

"Ashe, are you alright?" Finn asked, his eyes sweeping her dishelleveled form. "What happened? Are you okay?"

She shook her head, and clapped her hands over her ears, trying to block out the waves of noises that assaulted her. It did nothing, and she could hear sounds that couldn't happen in a storage room. The sounds of leaves crunching, whispers, secret plans.

"It won't stop," she said tearfully to Finn. "I can't make it stop. It did that to me. I can't stop-" She stopped with a cry as a scream pierced her mind, and she stilled. "Inadra?" she whispered.

Finn appeared to not hear the name and looked around. "What? This thing?" He picked up the metal tube, and dodged Ashe as she tried to bat it out of his hands.

"Don't touch it!" she said quickly, and stumbled to her feet. The door swung open further, revealing Jodar, Maz, and Han. A ripple washed over her again, and she felt herself grow panicked. "They're in trouble."

"Who's in trouble-" Han began, but Maz cut him off.

"Where?" she asked.

Ashe pushed through them, "The crew. They're in trouble. Something's wrong." She stumbled through the crowd, ignoring her friend's calls. She felt better the further she get away from what Finn held until she reached the doorway of Maz's castle.

A plume of smoke from the landing strip greeted her gaze as she flung open the doors.

A/N: Hello everyone, here's the latest chapter. I hope you enjoyed. I found it interesting to try and look into the mind of Jodar who wants to encourage Ashe to see her full potential, especially when she is not willing to see that potential. Then of course, finding the trigger that really opens her potential to the Force.

Anyways, I hope you're enjoying your read. I'm trying to include as much of the lore as possible of TFA while integrating a new storyline, hence the scene at Maz's castle. Let me know what you think.