Thanks again for the review Love. Fiction. 2020!

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

It was well past lunch by the time they got back to the Temple. Voe met them at the door, excitedly handing them the newly printed schedules she had made, and explaining them far too quickly to follow. Amaya exchanged a look of amusement with Ben that was, thankfully, lost on Voe, before accepting her new schedule and suggesting they all go inside for lunch.

"Oh we've already eaten. Hennix and Tai saved you guys some food though. I think it's still in the kitchen." Voe said. "There's no rush though since, as you can see on your schedules, both of you are free until evening mediation today. Oh but Ben, Master Luke told me to tell you to show her where the laundry droids are. He also wants you to show her around the rest of the island since this is probably the only sunny day we'll get all week."

Amaya glanced sideways at Ben, watching him nod wordlessly. She felt a pang of guilt, knowing he probably had things he'd rather do instead of show her around.

"Well I have to go. We're having a study period with Master Luke which you two are luckily exempt from for today." Voe said, waving goodbye before taking off down the hallway.

"Well she's happy." Amaya said, half laughing in amusement.

"She's happy you're here." Ben said, "You're like a shiny new toy to her."

Amaya burst out laughing at this, and Ben's lips twitched, the hint of a smile on his face. It was the happiest he'd looked all day, Amaya thought, the realization dampening her good mood.

"Are you hungry?" Amaya asked, nodding in the direction of the kitchen.

Ben nodded, following her down the hallway in silence. Amaya pushed open the door to the kitchen, the overwhelming smell of fried food hitting her as she did so.

"Corellian fare." Ben said, another half-smile forming on his face.

Amaya looked at him, confused. "What?"

"The food is Corellian." Ben said, "It's from my dad's planet."

"How can you tell?" Amaya asked, discovering the two plates Hennix and Tai had left for them on the table, and handing one to Ben.

"No other planet makes their food this greasy." Ben said, accepting the plate and taking a seat across from Amaya at the table.

"What's Corellia like?" Amaya asked, as she ate.

"From what you've told me, it seems to be a lot like Alfazine." Ben said, "A complete shithole."

Amaya laughed, "All the best planets are."

"What's your dad like?" Amaya asked after a moment.

Ben shrugged, "He's an ex-smuggler pilot who likes to gamble. He can't stay in one place for longer than a few months. He's always flying all over the galaxy with Chewie - his Wookie friend. If you hadn't grown up on...well a deserted island...you might have heard of him."

Amaya laughed, "He sounds like an interesting person."

"What's your dad like?" Ben asked and Amaya froze, the smile melting off her face. She had known it was only a matter of time before this question came up and she hadn't yet decided whether to tell anyone the truth or not.

"I've never actually met him." Amaya said evasively. It wasn't technically a lie.

"Why not?" Ben asked, a glint of curiosity in his eyes that made Amaya squirm. She hesitated, glancing around the empty room. Something within her desperately wanted to tell him but a larger part of her warned against it.

You don't trust him.

Amaya froze, her heart stopping for a moment. That voice had been in her head...and it was not her own.

"Amaya?" Ben asked, looking confused by the sudden look of terror spreading across her face. "What's wrong?"

Who are you? Amaya asked the voice.

No reply came and Amaya her the hairs on the back of her neck raise. Had she imagined it? Was she losing her mind?

"Amaya?" Ben asked once more, his confusion turning to concern.

"Sorry..." Amaya muttered, shaking her head, "Sorry I just- never mind." She said, standing up and picking up her half eaten plate. "If you don't mind I'd like to go back to my room for a bit to take a nap before dinner."

"Is it something I said?" Ben asked and Amaya immediately turned back to face him, shaking her head.

"No." She said emphatically, "No. I'm just tired."

Ben made no reply and Amaya turned, nearly running out of the room before he had the chance to ask any more questions. She felt her heart beat quickly as she ran up the stairs, entering her room and locking the door behind her. Alone at last, Amaya sat down on her bed, closing her eyes.

Who are you? Amaya asked once more, only to be met by silence. Reaching out with the Force, Amaya inhaled sharply as she felt a presence. It wasn't a physical presence...it was more like a feeling, like a thought...and it was cold.

Answer me. Amaya thought. I know you're there. I can feel you.

An eerie laugh sounded in her mind and Amaya's eyes flew open, irrationally searching for the source of the sound even though she knew it was coming from inside her own mind.

You show so much promise. The voice said, sending chills down Amaya's spine. So much power in you.

Answer my question. Amaya snapped. Tell me who you are.

The voice laughed. My name would mean nothing to you.

What do you want? Amaya asked, trying to control the fear she felt building inside her. Whoever this voice belonged to was dangerous...she could feel it. His voice itself carried with it a kind of darkness that made her want to shiver.

The real question is what do you want, Amaya? The voice asked and Amaya clenched her fists.

How do you know my name? She asked.

My dear girl, I have been watching you ever since you came to this island. You have proven most intriguing. The voice said.

Why have you been watching me? Amaya asked.

We'll talk again soon. The voice said and Amaya shook her head frantically.

No wait- Amaya protested before feeling the cold presence evaporate, leaving her alone.

Amaya bent over, putting her head in her hands as she struggled to breathe. She sat back up after a moment, wondering what to do. Should she tell Luke? Ben? Should she wait for whoever had spoken to her to contact her again?

Amaya looked to her left, eyeing the pile of Jedi texts they had printed and bound for her. She quickly pulled the bag towards her, pulling out the texts. Surely one of them might have some information on telepathic Force connections. She began scanning the books, flipping through the pages anxiously, reading bits and pieces of information before moving on to the next book. Some books were pure philosophy, others included information about the Force, history of the Jedi, and Force powers...but none seemed to have any information on Force connections.

Amaya didn't notice the hours pass by as she searched the texts, learning a lot about everything except what she was looking for. Before she knew it, the sunlight pouring into her room dimmed as evening approached, and Amaya heard a knock on her door.

Shoving all of the texts back in her bag, Amaya jumped off her bed, opening the door.

"Are you coming to dinner?" Ben asked, standing in the doorway.

Amaya felt a pang of guilt as she looked at him, remembering how she'd practically ran out on him. "Oh right, yea I am." Amaya said, "And...I'm sorry about earlier. It had nothing to do with you, I promise."

Ben shook his head, "I shouldn't have asked you personal questions like that-"

"No, it wasn't that." Amaya said quickly, "Really. I had a- a..."

"A what?" Ben asked, frowning.

Amaya looked around, checking to make sure no one was in the hallway, before returning her gaze to Ben. "Can you come in for a moment?" Amaya asked, her voice almost a whisper.

Ben blinked, clearly not having expected this. "Sure. What's this about?"

"I just- I had an experience." Amaya said, quickly closing the door behind him before turning to face him. "Someone tried to contact me...well they did contact me...through the Force."

Ben's face paled at her words, his eyes widening, "What? Who contacted you?"

"I don't know." Amaya said, shaking her head, "He was definitely male. He wouldn't give his name."

"What did he say?" Ben asked, the fear in his voice putting Amaya on edge.

"He said he'd been watching me since I came to this island." Amaya said, the memory of his words chilling her to her core, "That I showed promise and I was powerful."

Ben seemed to stop breathing as she said this and Amaya frowned, "Do you have any idea who he was?"

Ben shook his head slowly, "No. No idea."

"He said he would contact me again soon." Amaya said, pacing now, "Should I just wait for him to contact me? Or should I tell Master Luke-"

"Don't tell Master Luke." Ben said quickly and Amaya froze, suddenly suspicious.

"Why not?" She asked, and Ben shook his head, meeting her gaze.

"Because he might kick you out of the Temple." Ben said seriously, his eyes locked on hers, "We don't know who this person was...we don't know what he wants...it's too risky. If you tell Master Luke and this person turns out to be an enemy of the Jedi Order...Master Luke will consider you a security threat and banish you."

Amaya felt a chill run down her spine at his words and she looked away, her mind running a mile a minute. She didn't trust him. The voice in her head had been correct. She did not trust Ben Solo. Not because she had any proof he was untrustworthy...but because of a...feeling...an intuition she couldn't quite explain. But if she distrusted him so much...why had she told him, and no one else, about the voice? Why was she seeking his advice?

Amaya looked back at Ben. His dark eyes met her own, a look almost akin to pleading in them. He was afraid. And he was hiding something.

"I won't tell Master Luke." Amaya said, watching as Ben's face relaxed ever so slightly. "I'm just going to wait for him to contact me again. See if I get some answers."

"Good idea." Ben said, "Tell me what happens. I might be able to help once I have more information."

Unlikely, Amaya thought privately. "Okay." She said, nodding towards the door. "Dinner?"

Ben nodded, joining her as she stepped out into the hallway. "Dinner."

Snoke.

Snoke.

Talk to me.

Snoke.

Ben called out through the Force, becoming more and more agitated the longer the silence stretched on. He had been trying to contact Snoke ever since Amaya had told him about the strange voice in her head, but he had received no reply. This was intentional, of course. Snoke was playing with him, trying to get him worked up. He was torturing him.

Amaya, Voe, Tai, and Hennix sat in front of him in a circle, all playing Dejarik. Evening mediation had ended half an hour ago and Voe had invited them all to her room to celebrate Amaya's acceptance into the academy. He was supposed to be on Tai's team but he hadn't been of much help all game. Not that Tai needed any help. He was single-handedly beating Amaya, Voe and Tai as it was. Ben looked away from the game, trying to calm himself down.

Yes Ben? Snoke said suddenly, a smugness to his voice that made Ben's blood boil.

Grown tired of your little game, have you? Ben snarled, trying to stop himself from displaying the anger he felt.

Game? Snoke asked, feigning offense. My boy, I was busy. Believe it or not, sometimes I have things to do which are more important than talking to you.

Like talking to Amaya? Ben snarled.

Snoke fell silent and Ben unconsciously clenched his fists. Voe screamed as one of her pieces was destroyed and Ben looked up sharply, suddenly feeling an uncontrollable urge to slap her.

Careful. Snoke's voice said. Your thoughts betray you...Jedi apprentice. Snoke sneered.

Why are you talking to Amaya? Ben asked sharply, trying desperately to keep his anger in check.

What makes you think I want anything with her. Snoke sneered. I merely wanted to welcome her.

Enough. Ben snarled. Explain yourself.

She's powerful. Snoke said simply. Maybe even more powerful than you.

She won't turn to the Dark side. Ben said. She's stronger than that.

Oh I am well aware she is stronger than you. Snoke said, his words having the desired effect on Ben despite his best efforts. She's strong-willed and powerful but she does not fear the Dark side. She embraces it.

She doesn't. Ben snapped. She accept its...but she won't give up the Light.

She has much to learn. Snoke purred, and Ben felt a chill run down his spine.

She's not who you think she is. Ben said, watching Amaya as she stared at the Dejarik board, her face deep in concentration.

You have not been inside her mind as I have. Snoke said. She craves revenge and power over those who have made her suffer. She has come to this Temple to learn how to kill.

To liberate her planet from tyranny. Ben snapped back. To help others.

Killing for a cause is still murder. Snoke said, and Ben fell silent, unable to respond.

Oh and you should know. Snoke added. She still distrusts you.

Ben felt his inside go cold as he felt Snoke disappear, his words echoing in his mind.

Amaya woke up early the next morning to read the assigned passages for the day's study session. Finishing the last page, Amaya put down the book, leaning her head back against the bed board. It was almost time for breakfast but at the moment she just wanted to go back to sleep.

Hello Amaya.

Amaya's eyes flew open and she sat up, her heart beating out of her chest. The voice had been silent since the day before. It had been just long enough for her to relax slightly...to almost forget.

Good morning. Amaya thought back.

It's not morning where I am. The voice replied.

Where are you? Amaya asked immediately and the voice laughed.

So curious. The voice said, mockingly and Amaya inhaled slowly, trying to stay patient.

You're not going to tell me anything about you, are you. Amaya said, letting out a sigh.

If I were you I'd ask that friend of yours. He knows more than he is letting on. The voice said and Amaya froze, Ben's face swimming to the front of her mind.

So you've been watching him too. Amaya surmised.

Interesting choice you made, not telling your Jedi Master about me. The voice said, and Amaya felt a chill run down her spine.

I haven't told him yet. Amaya said, somewhat defensively. That doesn't mean I won't tell him eventually.

Instead you told Ben Solo. The voice continued. Very interesting choice.

I know him best. Amaya replied and the voice laughed.

No you don't. The voice said. If you knew him, you would not confide in him.

Why not? Amaya asked.

My dear, you are intelligent. You already have reason to suspect him. Trust your instinct. The voice replied smoothly.

Did he do something to make Luke accept me? Amaya asked.

What does your intuition tell you? The voice replied and Amaya felt a chill run down her spine.

It was true then. Ben had done something. The only question was what and, more importantly, why.

The cold presence that came with the voice disappeared suddenly as quickly as it had come and Amaya shook her head to clear it. The voice had confirmed her suspicions...but could she really trust the voice? She didn't know the man behind it and she certainly did not trust his motivations. Most of their conversations so far had centered around Ben - whoever the voice belonged to clearly wanted her to distrust him. But why? Amaya found it hard to believe the voice would warn her against Ben for her own good. No, the voice clearly had ulterior motives for wanting to come in between her and Ben.

A knock on the door made Amaya jump, so consumed had she been in her thoughts. Glancing at the time, Amaya jumped off the bed and opened the door to find none other than the subject of her prior thoughts.

"Just so you know," Amaya said, "I do know where the mess hall is now. You don't need to walk me to breakfast every day."

Amaya felt her stomach plummet as she watched Ben's eyes widen and his face pale, before hardening.

"Well in that case-" Ben began.

"No, that was a joke!" Amaya said quickly, grabbing his arm as he turned to leave. He looked at her, clearly not believing her and Amaya sighed.

"Please come in, I have news." Amaya said.

"News...as in-" Ben asked.

"Yes." Amaya said, ushering him into her room and closing the door behind him. "The voice spoke to me again."

"What did he say?" Ben asked immediately, his whole body tense.

Amaya bit her lip, wishing she had had more time to think this over first. "He...he wanted me to distrust you." She said, watching as a spark of anger ignited in Ben's eyes. "I think he wants to turn me against you."

"Distrust me why?" Ben asked sharply.

"He said you knew more about him than you were letting on." Amaya said, her eyes trained on his face in an attempt to decipher his thoughts and feelings, "He also insinuated you did something to get me admitted to the academy and he said that if I really knew you I wouldn't tell you anything."

Amaya watched as Ben struggled to contain the rage her words had clearly evoked in him. Reaching out through the Force, she found him, sensing an undercurrent of terror underneath the rage. What was he so afraid of?

"He's lying to you." Ben said, with remarkable calm considering the storm raging inside him. "He's trying to turn you against me. Just like you said. He is the one who can't be trusted."

"I know." Amaya said, "I don't trust him. There's something about his presence...it's almost like it's cold. Only not a physical cold, it's more like a..."

"That's the Dark side, Amaya." Ben said, "That's what it feels like."

Amaya's eyes widened, "But my mother definitely used the Dark side on occasion - not knowing it was the Dark side, I think - and I never felt anything like that from her."

"That's because she didn't shut out the Light." Ben said, "The Light in her tempered the Dark so she wouldn't have felt cold."

Amaya shook her head, suddenly feeling overwhelmed.

"Maybe I should tell Master Luke." Amaya mused out loud, half to see what kind of reaction it would elicit from Ben, and half because she was seriously considering it.

"No." Ben said immediately, "He will think you're a liability and kick you out."

"So then what?" Amaya said, throwing up her hands, "I just let him invade my mind whenever he pleases?"

Ben stared hard at the ground, thinking. "There are ways," He said after a moment, "To shut him out."

"How?" Amaya asked.

"It's difficult. It takes a lot of practice." Ben said, "You might not master it for a while."

"Can you teach me?" Amaya asked and Ben nodded.

"I can try." He said.

"Have you had to use this skill before in real life?" Amaya asked, and Ben shook his head.

"No." He said, and Amaya examined him closely, almost certain he was lying.

"Okay can we start tonight?" Amaya asked, and Ben nodded.

Silence fell between them for a moment before Ben looked over at her, "You believe him, though." Ben said, accusatorily. "Don't you."

"What?" Amaya asked.

"You believe everything he said about me. All the lies-"

"I don't know what to believe." Amaya said, truthfully.

"Believe me." Ben snarled.

"Okay." Amaya said, the lie tasting sour on her tongue. She couldn't trust him, no matter how much she wanted to. The expression on Ben's face told her he knew this and Amaya sighed, looking away.

The rest of the day passed without incident and Amaya found herself almost forgetting about the voice as she struggled to keep up with the rigour of her new training program. She spent her first hour and a half of training with Tai while he attempted to teach her how to use a stick the way she would a lightsaber. She spent the next with Hennix, teaching the level 1s how to lift rocks and felt almost guilty when she realized she much prepared teaching levitation than learning how to fight. Shouldn't it be the opposite? She was here, after all, to learn how to fight, not how to teach.

Despite it all, Amaya found herself drawn to the children. There was something so carefree, so peaceful, about them, even when they were upset. Amaya couldn't help but feel happier herself around them...like her problems were less significant than she'd thought. The longer she spent with them, the more the part of her she'd thought had died with her friends in the orphanage returned. It was that protective, almost motherly, part of her that had driven her to care for the younger orphans in the first place.

"Yes! Yes, yes, yes!" Amaya cried, as a young boy named Rif finally succeeded in rolling over a stone. He'd been struggling with the simple exercise all lesson, becoming increasingly frustrated while the others had moved on to harder goals. Noticing his distress, Amaya had taken him over to the side of the room and spent the past 10 minutes coaching him privately, and it had finally paid off.

"Alright, time for lunch!" Hennix cried and the children's eyes all lit up before they all ran for the door. "Ah, ah, ah!" Hennix said, and the children all stopped running, fidgeting as they stared at him.

"No running down the stairs." Hennix said seriously. "Remember, Jedi don't run."

"Yes they do!" Teka protested and Hennix cracked a smile.

"Really? I thought it was in the Jedi code. No running." Hennix said, feigning confusion.

"No it's not!" Teka protested, "Maybe you need to read it again." She said, dead serious, and Hennix laughed.

"You're probably right." Hennix said, "Alright, off to lunch." He said, ushering them all out the door.

Amaya watched them go, a grin plastered across her face as Hennix began to put away the rocks they had used for the exercises. Amaya jumped, looking up as a very wet Voe slammed open the door, marching into the room. "I'm eating lunch in the garden. I don't care if it's raining. You're free to join." She said angrily before spinning on her heel and leaving.

Amaya exchanged a look with Hennix, utterly confused. "What was that?"

Before Hennix could open his mouth to respond, Tai entered the room, also drenched from the rain, "You two are sane right?" He asked and Amaya and Hennix exchanged another look.

"How low are your standards?" Hennix asked, seriously, and Tai laughed, shaking his head.

"At the moment, I'd settle for anyone who's capable of keeping their voice at a level that doesn't hurt my ears." Tai said, running both hands over his face.

"What happened?" Amaya asked, and this time, Tai and Hennix exchanged a look.

"You know how sometimes if you combine the right kinds of substances, you can create an explosion?" Hennix asked.

Amaya raised an eyebrow, on the verge of laughing. "Yes?" She replied.

"Well that's what happens when you combine Voe, Ben, and Master Luke." Hennix said and Amaya opened her mouth and closed it again, wanting to laugh but also not certain it was appropriate.

"Poor Tai." Hennix said, looking at his friend sympathetically, "Always caught in the crossfire."

Tai shook his head defeatedly, closing his eyes as he inhaled deeply, before opening them again. "I'm going to go hide in my room until I'm forced to come out again." Tai said.

"Where's Ben?" Amaya asked, and Tai shook his head.

"Hiding somewhere." He replied, "Probably in his room."

"Should we...go talk to him?" Amaya asked.

"See this is why I asked how low your standards were." Hennix said to Tai, who laughed.

Amaya frowned, utterly confused.

"Just leave Ben alone until he calms down." Tai said with a sigh, "He's impossible to talk to when he gets like this."

"What...specifically...happened?" Amaya asked.

"We can go join Voe in the rain." Hennix said, "Don't you worry, she will tell you everything in minute detail. You'll be wishing you never asked that question."

"Are you sure we shouldn't also be hiding in our rooms?" Amaya asked, and Hennix and Tai laughed.

"I'll see you in the library after lunch." Tai said, waving goodbye as he started down the stairs.

Amaya and Hennix exchanged a look before following him, climbing all the way down to the main level. They got their food from the mess hall before leaving again to find Voe. Opening the door to the courtyard, they spotted her sitting underneath the same awning Amaya had found Ben under two nights before.

Voe looked up, her eyes lighting up as she saw them. Amaya and Hennix ran across the courtyard, shielding their plates of food from the rain, until they reached the other side where it was dry.

"Ben is driving me crazy." Voe said, as soon as they sat down. "You know what he said today?"

Amaya opened her mouth to ask what when Voe plowed on, launching into the rant she had undoubtedly prepared prior to their arrival. "Okay, so we were running the course again, right? Master Luke was timing us and Ben, of course, kept getting the best time. Master Luke wasn't happy though...you know how he is." Voe said, glancing over at Hennix. "He didn't care how fast Ben was doing it, he wanted him to use more precision. He kept saying how he was unfocused and chaotic and I could tell Ben was getting super frustrated. So I went over and told him he was doing a great job because I'm an idiot and forgot he was Ben. And do you know what his response was? "Just because I'm doing better than you doesn't mean I'm doing a great job." Can you believe that? I mean, yes you probably can, because it's Ben, but still. I don't know why it's only me he says these kinds of things to me, though. I mean, he's usually nice to you and Tai. He just hates me."

Voe paused to inhale before continuing, "Anyway so I responded that he didn't have a right to take his anger out on me just because he couldn't please Master Luke. Then he said, and I quote, "at least Master Luke notices me", at which point, I started yelling stuff at him, and he started yelling back at me. And then we picked up our lightsabers and started dueling until Master Luke found us and started yelling at us. And, of course, Master Luke blamed everything on Ben, which to be fair, he did start it, but this just made Ben even more angry. So he started yelling all of these horrible things at Master Luke claiming he was holding him back to spite him because he hated him and, well, you get the picture. And then Master Luke started yelling back things like how it was hard to believe Ben was Leia's son when he was so irrational and that if Ben ever wanted to be a Jedi he'd have to grow up and it just escalated until Ben stormed off."

Voe took a deep breath, finally seeming to have finished. Amaya looked back down at her food, realizing she had completely forgotten about it while listening to Voe. She took a bite, more to avoid having to say anything than because she had any appetite left.

"He'll come around." Hennix said, sighing, "He'll apologize to you tomorrow and then you can go back to tolerating each other."

Voe shook her head, "I hate him." She admitted, "I know I'm not supposed to but I do. I can't help it."

"Oh we know." Hennix said, half smiling, and Voe smacked him on the arm.

"Sorry Amaya." Voe said, turning to look over at her. "This probably isn't how you thought your first real day would go."

"Yea, I mean, are you sure you still want to join the academy?" Hennix asked, and Amaya laughed. If only they knew how this conflict paled in comparison to the literal voices she was hearing inside her own mind.

"I'm sure." Amaya said.

"Well Ben seems to like you so consider yourself lucky." Voe said, and Amaya bit her lip, unsure what to say.

"Shall we go back inside?" Hennix asked, "Also don't you want to change?" He asked, pulling at the sleeve of Voe's soaked uniform.

Voe shrugged, still looking dejected, but stood up. "I'll meet you in the library." She said, taking off across the courtyard without a backward glance.