AN: Hello There! Hope you are all healthy! I would have had this chapter out sooner, but with all the crazy things happening right now, I kinda had to set this aside for a little bit.

Anyone feeling artsy? I need a cover image for the story and was wondering if any artists out there might be willing to create a likeness of the OC. The image would only be used for this story and the artist will get a shout-out in every chapter. If this is something you'd be interested in, please message me!

If you like this story, please favorite, review, and follow it. If you dislike it, please review it and let me know specifically what you did and did not like. I'm not a perfect writer, but I will use your feedback to improve as much as I can. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I hope you enjoy it!

Aboard the Ghost

Classified Location

"So, what now?"

Aeron watched the Togruta woman anxiously, waiting for her reply.

"The crew has decided to let you stay."

Aeron breathed an audible sigh of relief. Whatever painkiller he had been given had worn off while the crew had been discussing what to do with him. Now that he was able to feel the pain of both his ribs and his stab wound, he was positive that he wouldn't have lasted very long no matter where the crew had dropped him off.

"So does this mean I get to know your name?", Aeron asked.

The Togruta gave a small smile.

"My name is Ahsoka", she said.

"It's nice to meet you, Ahsoka.", Aeron replied.

"Likewise", Ahsoka said as she took a seat on a chair next to the bed.

"So, again, what now?", Aeron asked.

At first, Ahsoka didn't answer, she just sat there, looking at him intently. Aeron went silent under the intensity of her gaze. After a moment, Ahsoka broke the silence.

"Aeron, what do you know about the Force?"

Aeron searched what little memory he had. It sounded familiar, like something he should remember, but he drew a blank.

"What's the Force?", he asked.

This seemed to actually take Ahsoka by surprise.

"You mean, you've never even heard of it?", she asked, a note of incredulity in her voice.

Aeron took another moment to probe his memory again, but to no avail. He shrugged, then hissed as the wound in his shoulder announced its painful protest to the movement. He just laid there for a moment, squeezing his eyes closed, gritting his teeth and riding out the pain as best he could. As the pain subsided back to a dull throb, he opened his eyes to find Ahsoka gazing at him again, this time with a compassionate expression.

"Are you alright?", she asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine, never better", Aeron said, false bravado tinging his voice. "What were you saying? About a force?"

"The Force", Ahsoka corrected. "is an energy field that permeates and connects everything. It is powerful and mysterious, as old as the galaxy itself."

She pauses, looking at Aeron more intently than ever. "Some individuals have the ability to sense and even utilize the Force to do incredible things." Ahsoka waved her hand towards Aeron, and immediately, the restraining strap that held his arms and torso undid itself. Ahsoka gestured again, and a water glass on a nearby counter rose and began steadily floating towards him.

Aeron gaped, not bothering to hide his shock. However, part of him was slightly unfazed, as if he had already heard similar words and seen similar actions. Taking care to grab the glass with his left arm, so as not to induce another spike of pain, Aeron sipped the water and then looked back up at Ahsoka, eager to learn more.

Ahsoka gave a small smile, then continued. "While the Force itself cannot truly be defined in such a way, most Force users believe that there are two sides to the Force. The Dark Side, and the Light Side."

"So, I'm guessing that the Light Side is good, and the Dark Side is evil." Aeron surmised.

Ahsoka shook her head, her gaze darkening slightly. "It's not that black and white. The Dark Side isn't evil in itself, but it corrupts all those who chose to use it. It feeds off of pain, anger, and fear. It is the people that use the Dark Side that are evil.

"And the Light Side?", Aeron prompted, his mind still buzzing with questions.

"Same thing. The Light Side is strongest in those who value peace, knowledge, serenity, and harmony. Those who use the Light Side are good, but one must always tread carefully, and avoid the belief that ends justify means, as this is a sure-fire path to the Dark Side.

Ahoska paused, gazing at him as if to gauge how well he was taking all of this. When he said nothing, she continued.

"There are two distinct groups of force users, each utilizing and teaching one side of the Force. The Jedi aligned themselves with the Light Side. The Sith with the Dark Side. The conflict between the two sides has lasted many millenia, and could last for many more.

Aeron considered his next words for a moment before speaking. "What are you then? A Jedi, or a Sith?"

Ahsoka seemed to struggle to find a response for a moment. After a few seconds, she spoke.

"I was a Jedi, once. I had an experience that...changed my perspective. I am now something else, not a Jedi, not a Sith."

Aeron chose then to ask the question that had been at the forefront of his mind for most of the conversation.

"Ahsoka, why are you telling me all of this?"

Ahsoka looked at him more intensely than ever, and Aeron got a sudden feeling that from this point on, his life would never be the same.

"Because Aeron, you are a Force sensitive. You can feel the Force, and have the potential to use it."

Again, Aeron was shocked, yet subconsciously he felt like he already knew and accepted this. It was a strange and confusing combination. It was as if some deeply buried part of his brain was trying to tell him something. He concentrated for a moment, trying to pin it down, but as soon as the feeling had come, it was gone. He lay there for a second, caught in the strange limbo between acceptance and disbelief. He struggled to find the words to say next, aware of Ahsoka's compassionate, yet intense gaze upon him. Finally, Aeron spoke.

"So what happens now?"

Ahsoka smiled slightly, replying simply.

"Now you rest and heal, once you have done that, we will talk more."

With that, Ahsoka stood, strode to the door, and pressed a button on the control panel, causing the lights to gently dim until the room was shrouded in darkness. The door slid open and the Togruta walked out. Aeron laid back, his mind racing and his eyes wide open. Yet, the dark room, comfortable bed, and the sheer exhaustion he felt would not be denied. Within minutes, Aeron was asleep.