Sleep was easy as his still healing body demanded it. Still, he woke up several times as the day wore on as people would come to his door and knock. He had slept through lunch and someone had come to check on him, asking if he wanted dinner. Ben briefly thought about staying silent until they left, but if he was silent they might think something had happened and try to come in. Reluctantly he would answer and say he was fine, and no he wasn't hungry, and he just needed rest.
It was actually true about him not being hungry. He was more tired than he had realized, and his body was more demanding of sleep than it was of nourishment. For the first time in his life he has no appetite at all. So he slept away the entire day, only becoming fully awake as the sun began to set on the horizon. It was the time he had waited for anyway.
He lay as still as possible, just leaning his head against the stiff pillow that had come with the narrow bed. Outside his room he could hear the sounds of others walking down the hall, the muffled sounds of voices and laughter. They stopped almost completely once it was fully dark as the students settled into their beds and let sleep take them. Outside his window he could hear the nocturnal creatures scuttling around. In the hallway there was silence. Still he waited.
Once the moon high in the night sky did he decide it was safe to move. He left his shoes off so that he would be silent as he walked down the hallway and he changed into the darkest robe he owned, which was a dusky brown, but it would have to do. He also did not take a light source with him. The hallway was a straight shot so it would not be hard to navigate in the darkness even if he could not see.
Ben opened the door slowly so as not to make a sound. It was mercifully silent and there was no one in the darkened hallway. It appeared to be all clear. Gently he closed the door behind him, letting it sink back slowly against the frame so that there was not a chance of a sound. With one last glance alone the length of the hallway he started walking. He kept his footfalls as soft as possible, but with no shoes on he was completely silent.
He left the temple without incident, he crouched low and stayed close to the shadows. The night air felt good against his skin, cool and refreshing. And the dirt between his toes felt surprisingly pleasant. The building that he knew was used for communication was, thankfully, close to the temple. In a few minutes he was at the door to the building, and with one last look around to make sure he was alone he pushed open the door.
The door was not locked, he did not think that it would be, as there seemed to be no locks anywhere on the whole compound. The Jedi must be a very trusting sort. But then since they were in the middle of nowhere there was nothing to protect themselves from. Either way he was thankful for that, and he quickly settled into the building.
He didn't bother to turn on the lights. There was enough light from the many blinking consoles that he did not need it. It cast an eerie light on everything, but it was better if it remained dark for what he needed to do.
His master would be waiting. He could feel it in his bones, as if his master was sending out a signal in the force telling him to contact him. And like a good apprentice he had obeyed. The communication equipment was old. Older than he would have anticipated. It made him realize that the whole Jedi foundation was a very ram shackle operation. It was so far removed from its former glory on Coruscant that it seemed laughable. But if his master had his plans come to fruition this was as far as they would ever come.
And Ben was going to be a part of it. As he typed in the command controls he sat back and waited. His heart was hammering and he kept looking over his shoulder, waiting to be discovered by a padawan. If he was caught now there was nothing that he could use an excuse. And he would have no idea what his punishment would be. His uncle would be told, and he could not have that happen.
As the communication link fizzed with static he was in fear of losing it completely, a small holographic image appeared in front of him. He knew that Snoke was looking him right in the eyes. His gaze was dark and brooding, and he could only guess as to what his master was thinking.
"Master," Ben managed to stammer out, "I have felt your summons and I have answered." Ben hung his head down wishing he could kneel, but the room was too narrow and filled with equipment to really do that comfortably.
Snoke stared at him for a few more tense moments and Ben felt his heart rate increase. He even started to sweat. He always lived in absolute fear of offending his master. It was like trying to placate a starving monster, and Ben was certain that even the slightest transgression would mean his death.
Finally Snoke spoke, "Have you received my previous message my apprentice?" Snoke asked with a deep voice that was surprisingly for such a thin looking face and body.
Ben breathed sigh of relief that his master had finally spoken, "Yes my master, and I am ready for their arrival. My uncle, I mean the Jedi master Skywalker, is gone. All will be prepared for the arrival." He stammered a response, kicking himself mentally for accidently referring to Luke with a familial title.
Snoke simply stated at him and the moment passed. If he was angry then he hid it well, as he did with all his emotions, except for anger of course.
"In a week when they arrive they will make sure that the Jedi threat is neutralized. Be ready. We will have no further communication, but you will know when they are near." Snoke said with authority and one last penetrating stare at Ben, and suddenly the communication ended.
Ben had a moment of shock thinking that the communication had been cut off by a malfunction, but then he realized that his master had simply ended it abruptly. His breath left his body with a loud sigh. He worshiped his master but he feared him even more. Fear could be fuel, be he hoped it would not impede his training when he met Snoke in the flesh again. He would be stronger by then, he would make sure he was.
He crept out of the communication building with as much care as he had snuck into the place. The hard drives were wiped clean of their last communication so that if someone were to check on recent communications his talk with Snoke would not be discovered. Everything was set back to how it had been before and only then did he leave.
Getting back into the temple was as easy as it had been the first time. The students at the academy must all be heavy sleepers he surmised. Which was excellent for him, but he did not think that he would have to sneak out again before the arrival of his rescuers.
He lay back down on the bed and started at the ceiling. He was willing his body to relax, for his breath to slow. It was easy to enter a meditative state as he lay still. There were a few hours left before the sun arose. The extra sleep would do his body good, he intended to train as hard as possible for what lay ahead. His skills with a saber were at least on par with the other Jedi padawans. But he was certain that they were not of the same caliber of Cavan or Hilab. The thought of those boys made him grit his teeth in anger. He would not lose to them. If he took them unawares he might stand a chance against them.
Ben closed his eyes and entered further into his meditative trance. Though his inner thoughts were not turned to the light at all. In his heart he nurtured the hatred that he found there. All his fears about inadequacy and the pain of being ignored, he used them to feed the flames of his hatred. It kept a pleasant warmth alive in his chest. It was faintly erotic, but mostly it made him feel powerful. What use were things like duty and honor in the face of all-encompassing hate? Hate would always win, it was powerful and it lurked in the heart of all living beings. A faint smile crept onto his face before he drifted off into a dreamless sleep. The Jedi never stood a chance against him or his master.