A/N: The next three chapters follow a different path than I originally planned for this story, but I think they add nicely to the plot so here we go.
Sanya looked around the room that Kylo had brought her to. It seemed to be some sort of training room for what she assumed were the Knights of Ren. It was a large room and was filled with between twenty and thirty people of varying species. Sanya was amazed at the number of people that made up the group under Kylo's leadership. An orange skinned Twi-lek male approached the pair where they stood.
"Master Ren," he said in greeting, "have you brought us a new recruit?"
Kylo pulled Sanya so she was standing in front of him and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"For the First Order, yes. Not for the knights, but she will be training alongside them. This is Sanya. Sanya, this is Bal Torra. He is my second in command."
Sanya wasn't sure what she was supposed to do or say in greeting to the man in front of her so she slightly bowed her head in greeting. Bal Torra inspected Sanya's small form and raised an eyebrow. She could tell that he was unimpressed with her.
"Let's see what we are working with. Dykon!"
Sanya noticed a blue skinned woman standing not too far from them turn at Bal Torra's shout. She walked over to where the three of them stood and bowed her head in greeting. Sanya looked the woman over. She only stood about an inch taller than herself, but looked similar in form.
"I want you to help show me how…" Bal Torra started before turning his attention to Sanya, pointing in her direction.
"Sanya Kenobi," Sanya finished for him.
Bal Torra looked surprised when he heard her full name. He paused a bit longer than expected before finishing his thought.
"Kenobi…show me how you can handle yourself in a fight."
Sanya looked to Kylo for reassurance. He didn't say anything, but instead moved his hand to the small of her back, pushing her forward slightly. Sanya and Dykon moved away from the two men to an open space.
"What are the limits?" Dykon asked.
Bal Torra moved to stand beside Kylo, clasping his hands behind his back.
"You fight until I tell you to stop. No weapons, but use of the force is allowed."
Sanya balked slightly at the last part of his command. She briefly wondered if the woman she was facing was force sensitive, but pushed her worries aside. Dykon had moved into a fighting stance, so Sanya prepared herself.
"Begin."
Sanya wasn't ready for the first blow she was hit with. As soon as Torra had spoken, Dykon had closed the distance between them with a strike to Sanya's face. Sanya stumbled slightly, more in surprise than from the force of the blow. Before she had a chance to react, Dykon struck her again, this time in the abdomen. Sanya grasped her midsection in response, bending over slightly.
Dykon took this as a chance to surge forward with another blow. This time, Sanya was prepared. She ducked out of the way of Dykon's advance, causing her to move past her. As Dykon's body passed hers, Sanya swung out with her left arm, hitting her across the shoulders. Dykon lost her balance slightly, which Sanya used to her advantage. She swiftly kicked out against Dykon's back, causing her to fall forward to her knees.
Sanya was caught off guard when Dykon retaliated by kicking her ankles, knocking Sanya off her feet. Sanya fell flat on her back, the air rushing out of her lungs from the force of the impact. Dykon quickly moved from her place on the floor and straddled Sanya's body, pinning her down. Frustrated by the sudden loss of the upper hand, Sanya raised her hand slightly and sent Dykon flying off of her with the force. Dykon somersaulted through the air before landing in a heap twenty feet from Sanya.
"Enough!" Bal Torra's voice rang out.
Sanya sat up, breathing heavily. Seeing movement in the corner of her eye, she turned her head to see Kylo standing over her. He offered her his hand to help her stand. She gladly took his hand, pulling herself to her feet. Across the room, another knight was helping Dykon to her feet.
"That was impressive," Bal Torra said, crossing the space. "You could benefit from some training to hone your skills, but this is a good start. I look forward to overseeing your training."
He turned away from Sanya to face Dykon.
"Dykon, I'm surprised at you. It seems your defense techniques could use some work."
Dykon nodded solemnly, wincing in pain.
"Yes sir."
"Clean yourself up Dykon. Then get back to work."
Dykon nodded again before walking in the direction of the med station. As she walked past them, she glared at Sanya. Kylo frowned at her before turning his attention back to Sanya. She was looking up at him in confusion.
"I don't understand. I did what he told me to. It was a fair fight. Why is she upset?"
Kylo shook his head and frowned again as he raised his hand to where Sanya's lip was bleeding.
"I'll speak with her later. First I need to know, where did you learn to fight like that? I know my uncle didn't teach you that."
Sanya flinched slightly in pain when he touched her injured face.
"I've spent the past eight years working with a smuggler. Until four years ago, I didn't have my saber staff because I didn't have the materials to build one. I don't like blasters, so I needed a way to defend myself. I learned the basics from my partner's father, and the rest came from experience. Smuggler life isn't the easiest."
Kylo's frown turned into a pained expression at her words.
"I can't say that life in the First Order is easy, but I will do everything in my power to make sure you never live like that again. I will be by your side to help you."
Sanya gave him a small smile before flinching again in pain.
"Don't worry about me. That life wasn't too bad. It was a learning experience that will help me in the future."
Kylo didn't have a chance to respond before Bal Torra approached them again.
"Master Ren, may I speak with you?"
Kylo nodded at the other man before returning his attention to Sanya.
"Can you find your quarters on your own? There should be a med pack in there somewhere."
Sanya nodded in response, giving him another small smile.
"I'll manage. I'll see you later."
Sanya turned away from the two men, walking in the direction of the door. As she walked, she glanced in the direction of the med station, noticing Dykon's eyes following her. Sanya paused near the door, meeting the other woman's eyes. Her gaze was broken when she was startled by a voice behind her.
"Don't mind her. She's just jealous."
Sanya turned around and saw who was speaking to her. It was the man that had helped Dykon to her feet after their fight. He offered his hand for her to shake.
"Xander Myok."
Sanya shook the offered hand.
"Sanya Kenobi. Why would she be jealous of me?"
"Camry is the best female fighter in the knights, and you just sent her flying across the room when she had gained the advantage. In front of Master Ren too."
Sanya balked for the second time since she entered the training room.
"Camry? That's Camry? I should have guessed. She's from Pantora, isn't she?"
"Yes, she is."
Sanya gazed across the room again to where Camry was standing. Her stare had shifted from Sanya to where Kylo stood talking with Bal Torra. Sanya immediately knew what was going on.
"No need to explain further. I understand."
…..
Kylo watched Sanya walk away before turning his attention to his second in command.
"She has promise as a fighter. You said she is a new recruit to the First Order, but not to the knights. Is she not to join our ranks?"
Kylo shook his head at Bal Torra's question.
"Not at the moment. Supreme Leader Snoke wants her to be trained alongside the knights to hone her fighting skills. Whether it is his plan for her to become a knight or not, I do not know."
Bal Torra stroked his chin in thought.
"What about the trials? They are in two weeks. It would be a good chance to see how she handles herself in a dangerous situation."
Kylo shook his head again, his face twisting in displeasure.
"And risk her getting killed? She does not have the training to be put through that. The knights don't even participate without at least five years of preparation. It is out of the question."
Bal Torra bowed his head in respect.
"As you wish, Master Ren."
Kylo turned towards the door and noticed that Sanya hadn't left the training space yet. She was standing near the door talking to Xander Myok. Sanya would need some allies within the knights if they were going to accept her. Luckily, her personality and ability to make friends would help her with that. Kylo sighed at the sight of her friendly smile.
"She is nowhere ready for that kind of test. It would snuff out any budding loyalty to the First Order she has."
Ball Torra reached down and grabbed a data pad from the table they were standing near.
"I will ensure that her name is not on the list of the participants."
Kylo's interest was piqued at the sight of the list in Bal Torra's hands.
"Who is participating this year?"
"Fourteen of the knights have been selected to take part. Three of the seniors knights will serve as hunters alongside yourself."
Kylo turned his gaze to where Camry stood at the med station. She still had an angry expression on her face.
"Are Dykon and Myok among the participants?" he asked.
Bal Torra looked at his list again, scanning the names.
"Yes. Both of them are on the list."
"Thank you Torra. See to it that everyone is ready for the event."
"I will," he said before bowing his head and walking away.
Kylo crossed the room to the med station. Camry was looking in a mirror to apply a small bacta patch to a scrape on her face.
"You fought well Camry. If Sanya didn't have the background she did, you may have kept the upper hand."
Camry scoffed and turned to face him.
"Yeah, well I don't have some magical power to help me like she does. That was a low move on her part."
"Use of the force was permitted. She was simply defending herself. Like Torra said, you need to work on your defense techniques. You focus too much on the offensive, that's why she was able to defeat you."
Camry crossed her arms over her chest, a determined look covering her face.
"Next time that won't happen, I assure you."
She bowed her head to him before walking away. Kylo sighed as she walked away. He had hoped that Sanya and Camry could get along, but it seemed that was out of the question.
A/N: As I was writing this chapter, I had to look up pictures of Twi'leks to make sure they have eyebrows, which they do! Bal Torra is based off of Cham Syndulla from Clone Wars and Rebels.
I'm not sure when the next update will be. It will most likely be Monday or Tuesday, so stay tuned! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please review!
P.S. I am in search of a BETA reader so if you are interested or can recommend someone, please let me know!