Chapter 1
The sun was bright and unforgiving as Saya ran across the sand. Sweat and tears ran down her face as she ignored the screaming of the Superior Mother behind her.
"Saya! Come back now or the lashing will be worse than before!"
For once, she didn't care about the punishment. She only cared about getting away. Away from the Superior Mother, away from the girls who tormented her, and away from the Healers Order. The yelling faded away and she ran up the small sand dune to her favorite escape spot. The large tree at the top was the only thing of color Saya saw besides the dull colors of sand and the training temple. She loved the beautiful green leafs that adorned it. The Healers order uniform was plain. A tan dress that covered her from the neck down. Modesty was a must. Anything else was indecent and impure. Only once she took her vows would she be permitted to wear white.
The Healers order could be traced far back to the same beginning as the Jedi. The Healers Order for those women gifted in the healing arts. If the force was not strong enough to make them Jedi, they often turned to the Healers Order. Sworn to neutrality in the galaxy, they served all across the planets. Sworn to only love the Order and to dedicate their lives to helping others. But the blood of the original healers ran dry. Now the Order was seen as nothing more than glorified nurses.
She wrapped her arms around the tree and continued to silently cry. If she could speak or make noise, she had no doubt she would be screaming. She had lived her entire life with the Healers Order, but her formal training began last year. All the girls were trained on this planet before going to the High Temple to make their vows. Five years of training was required. But she was hardly through her first year of formal training.
All she could remember was being with the Healers Order. She was often reminded by the Superior Mother that she was thrown on the Temples doorstep when she was only a babe.
"Your parents did not want you. The world rejected you. Be thankful the Order can make use of you"
Had she been able to speak, maybe she could ask more. She rubbed her throat gently, tears still slowly rolling down her face. She was born without a voice. No one knew why. The other healers had no answers.
"Perhaps you are not blessed with a voice because you are blessed with the ability to heal."
That was true at least. Saya far surpassed the other girls in the healing arts. She did not know why. She heard one elder whispering to another that perhaps Saya held the blood of the original women of the order. But that must be impossible, as the order is sworn to chastity and took the vow to never marry.
She wiped away her tears and sat against the tree. As far as she knew, no other healer knew of this spot. She often came to the tree at night, slipping out to get away from the others while they slept. She looked down at her hands and sighed. Large red lashes across her hands. For every question on an exam she got wrong, she received a lash. She was terrible at the written work, but excelled in the physical practices of healing. Many of the girls took pleasure at taunting her for her lack of knowledge in the written works. However, the lashes would soon fade. Saya never knew why, but she not only held the power to heal others but herself as well. This angered the Superior Mother, as she felt her physical punishments would not show and continue to remind Saya of her of past failures in the written work.
She looked across the sand and wished she could come here during the day, but they would notice her missing. She could not stay long. They would come and find her spot.
"Excuse me"
Saya jumped to her feet and turned, wide-eyes to the figure behind her. She was so lost in thought, she never heard anyone approach her.
The boy was tall with dark hair and eyes. She couldn't help but think he was handsome. He wore a tan tunic and black pants.
There are men on this planet?
She took a step back as he took one towards her.
"I didn't mean to scare you. I've seen you here before. But usually at night. I never approached because I didn't want to frighten you"
Her eyes went wide. If he saw her, did the Superior Mother as well?
"Please, I see you here crying at night. I've always wanted to meet you. To speak to you."
He approached her near the tree. She stood her ground. She didn't know what he wanted. But she was sure that if he hurt her, she has had worse.
"Are you here with the Healers Order? I heard they are not far from us"
Us?
She looked around, not seeing anything around.
As if sensing what she was doing, he turned and pointed in the direction he came from.
"Over that way, not too far is the Jedi Training Temple."
She couldn't help but take a few steps towards the direction, and squinted her eyes. Yes, in the distance she could see buildings.
"Will you please tell me who you are? What's your name?"
She turned to him and didn't realize how close she came to him. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She dropped her head, small tears in her eyes again.
"What's wrong?"
She looked at him and put a hand on her throat, hoping he would understand.
"You can't speak?"
She nodded, the tears escaping her eyes. The first kind person she has ever met, and she cannot even speak to him.
He took another step to her, taking her hand.
"It's alright. Please don't cry."
No it isn't. Nothing is alright with me.
"I don't believe that is true."
She blinked and looked up at him
Did you just hear me? I-I mean, you heard what I said? What I was thinking!?
"Yes. Yes I did. Has that not happened before?"
She shook her head and clutched his hand tighter.
No! You're the first! She held his hand and smiled at him. Are you training to be a Jedi? Maybe that's why! Jedi can read thought, right? That's what the stories say…
"That-that could be why." He gave her a small smile. "You're beautiful when you smile. What is your name?"
She continued to smile at him
Saya. My name is Saya
He grabbed her other hand and looked into her eyes.
"I'm Ben. Ben Solo"
-Present Day-
Saya jerked awake from her nap and wanted to scream in frustration. It had been a while since she has dreamt of that day. And every time she was dreaming of him, he cursed whatever God was out there for letting her wake up and forcing her back to the present.
He's gone. My Ben is gone and I'm stuck in the Healers Order for the rest of my life.
She wiped the small tears in her eyes and rose from her small cot. She adjusted her white dress and pulled her long silver hair back up into a ponytail. She had been assigned to this village only a week ago and was doing well helping the sick and the elderly. Most healers in her age group consider a planet this size an insult but Saya was thankful. Everyone here was very kind to her.
She walked out of her small hut and saw that darkness had taken over the sky. She slept on odd hours, always making herself available. No matter what time it was, she had to be there for whoever needed her abilities.
Before she could take another step, one of the younger boys ran to her, panting.
"Saya, Lor San Tekka is asking for you! He says he needs you right away!" She nodded and rushed to his home. As soon she approached, she knocked on the outside of his hut.
"Come in"
She entered and saw Lor San Tekka sitting by his fire next to a young man she had never seen before.
"Saya, thank goodness you re here." He beckoned her closer. "This is Poe Dameron of the resistance."
He gave her a smile and reached his hand out. "Nice to meet you."
She smiled and gently shook his hand, then took a spot next to San Tekka.
"Saya, something is happening. It is no longer safe for you here. This young man will be taking you and the information he needs back to the resistance."
She couldn't hide the look of confusion.
"I know this is sudden, but the First Order is coming here. I know the Healers Order is neutral, but they may not see it that way. Please go with him. The resistance will help get you back to the Order of Healers Temple."
She began violently shaking her head, taking his hand.
No! Please, I cannot leave you or these people!
He gave her a smile. He knew she could not speak, but he was the only one in the village that seemed to understand her.
"Saya, you are too pure for this world. If I cannot save this village, let me at least help you so you can go on to save others."
San Tekka looked to Poe, who was sitting there looking confused.
"Saya cannot speak. But she has a heart of gold and will go on to help many others. There's no healer like her in the Order. She is far more gifted in the healing arts than any of the other women in the Order."
Poe nodded "I can fit one person in my ship with me. But we need to go now."
Without warning, the hut began to rattle and the wind began to violently pick up.
Poe jumped from his seat and looked out of the hut.
"The First Order is here!"
Poe turned and San Tekka thrust a small drive at him.
"Take it and get Saya to safety!"
Without another word, Poe grabbed Saya's hand and ran out of the hut, practically dragging her behind him.
Saya looked around as everyone was scrambling to get to safety. Villagers were running into each other as several ships landed around them.
A villager ran into her, knocking her down and separating her and Poe. She looked up and he turned to look for her. Once he made eye contact, she waved him away hoping he would understand.
Just go! Leave me! I need to help these people!
She didn't know if he understood what she was trying to say, or if he just knew he had to leave then and there. He yelled to her he was sorry, and rushed towards the direction she assumed was his ship. As she stood back up, storm troopers were rounding up all the villagers around the large bonfire in the middle of the village. She didn't bother waiting for one to grab her. She ran toward the villagers and knelt down with them, helping as many people as she could with her powers. Most of the villagers only had cuts and bruises, which were healed in seconds of her touching them.
Where is San Tekka!?
Looking around, she saw him standing in the front of the group. He was standing in front of a tall masked figure wearing all black.
"Look how old you've become"
She quietly made her way to the front without them noticing, a bad feeling in her heart.
"Something far worse has happened to you"
"You know what I've come for"
She was finally close to him. She continued kneeling down, ready if San Tekka needed her. The bad feeling inside her was getting worse. The masked man was more intimidating up close.
"I know where you come from, before you called yourself 'Kylo Ren'".
Saya shuddered. A chill went down her spine. She knew that name. She HATED that name.
"The map to Skywalker. We know you found it. And now you're going to give it to the First Order."
San Tekka did not back down. "The First Order rose from the dark side. You did not."
"I'll show you the dark side"
"You may try. But you cannot deny the truth that is your family"
"You're so right"
Without warning, a red lightsaber appeared and slashed San Tekka across the chest. The villagers screamed and Saya jumped for San Tekka.
NO! NONONONONO!
She caught him before he fell to the ground. She ignored the screams around her and even ignored the storm troopers guns pointing at her. She quickly put her hand on his chest and focused all of her power on his wounds, praying she could save him in time.
"S-Saya…" He whispered before closing his eyes.
No! Fight! You have to fight! STAY WITH ME!
It was too late. Perhaps she used too much energy in helping the other villagers, but she couldn't heal him in time. He was gone. Saya sobbed and continued to push more of her power into him, but her heart told her it was too late.
"Saya"
She was startled when the masked man said her name. It was deep and commanding. Saya felt tired and dizzy from the effort of trying to save him but she had enough energy to glare at him. Without thinking, she used her bloody hand to wipe her tears away and glared up at the masked monster.
You murdered an innocent old man and you stole my happiness from me! You bastard!
Time seemed to last forever as they looked at one another. She continued to glare at him, eyes daring him to strike her down as well.
"Sir, she's from the Healers Order. What should we do with her? Leave her with the other villagers?"
The silver clad storm trooper seemed to pull him from his trance of her face.
"Take her onboard the ship"
Before she could process what he said, two storm troopers grabbed her arms and began forcing her onto the ship.
She looked back to the villagers, who were screaming
"No!"
"She is neutral!"
"Let her go!"
The last thing she saw before losing sight of the scene was Kylo Ren turning to stop a blaster bolt.