Wow long time since the last update! Thanks for the reviews TJ and Love. Fiction. 2020.
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Snoke made no contact with her for the rest of the week, leaving Amaya feeling like she was missing something. Why was he ignoring her now? Was this part of his plan? Was he still watching her? She found herself almost searching for him, expecting him to return at any moment. He wouldn't give up that easy...not if what Ben said was true.
Despite Snoke's silence, Amaya and Ben had been meeting up every night to help her learn how to block him out. Each night, Ben would go back through her day, forcing her to relive everything while she desperately tried to block him...and each night, she would fail. Thankfully, Ben had seemingly decided to limit his invasion to things that had happened after she'd come to the Temple - allowing her to have some modicum of privacy.
"I have an announcement." Luke said one morning as they gathered around the library table for study session. "We will be going to Endor to deal with the poaching problem. Someone has been harvesting too many Ewoks and they're on the verge of becoming endangered."
Amaya noticed Ben and Tai exchange a look from across the table and jumped when Luke said her name.
"Amaya, you will be staying here." He said. "You still don't have your own lightsaber, and in any case, you aren't properly trained in how to use one yet."
"When are we going?" Voe asked.
"This afternoon." Luke said, "First thing after lunch."
"And you're only telling us this now?" Ben asked.
"Well I'm sorry to inconvenience you, Ben." Luke said, shooting his nephew an irritated look. "Did you have something else to do than be a Jedi?"
Ben's eyes hardened, "Just suggesting next time you plan ahead." He muttered, looking away.
Luke stared at him, looking very much like he'd like to snap back at him, before turning back to the others. "Well if no one else has any questions, I suggest we start the session?"
The other padawans nodded mutely, opening their books to the appropriate page. Amaya struggled to concentrate as the session began, unable to ignore Ben's strange mood swing. He'd been perfectly fine for a week straight now. They'd been getting along well since the night she'd found out about Snoke and if she hadn't known better, she would have thought he actually seemed happy. So why the change of mood now?
As soon as the lesson ended, Amaya fell into step next to Ben as they walked to the training room upstairs. She glanced sideways at him, trying to catch his eye. He ignored her, staring ahead.
"What's up with you?" Amaya asked under her breath.
Ben finally looked at her, "What are you talking about?" He snapped and Amaya rolled her eyes.
"Way to prove my point." She replied, flashing him a smile that only made him more irritated.
"Ben seriously." Amaya said after a moment, nudging him gently. "What's going on?"
"Who said anything is going on?" Ben growled under his breath and Amaya sighed.
"Excited about Endor?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
He shot her a withering look, not even bothering to reply and Amaya shook her head, falling into silence. They reached the training room and Amaya immediately picked up her usual wooden training stick, turning to Ben.
"It's your turn to teach me today." She said warily.
"I know." Ben said without looking at her, and Amaya frowned.
"Did...he say something?" Amaya asked under her breath as they walked to the far corner of the room to practice.
"Amaya let it go." Ben snapped and Amaya groaned.
Ben shot her warning look before lifting up his wooden stick and lunging towards her. She blocked him just in time, returning his attack with one of her own until they were engaged in a deadly dance - albeit a more clumsy version due to Amaya's inexperience.
You've improved.
The voice cut through Amaya like a knife, making her stumble and nearly lose her balance.
"Pay attention!" Ben reprimanded but Amaya shook her head, taking a step away from him as she felt around in the Force for Snoke.
Why now? Amaya asked silently as Ben stepped towards her, his expression a mixture of confusion and irritation.
"What are you doing?" Ben snapped, "Keep going."
Isn't it just so infuriating? Snoke purred. When he makes you seem like the crazy one for distrusting him? For suspecting him of hiding something?
Amaya looked over at Ben, Snoke's words sending a chill down her spine.
"Amaya- is it- is it..." Ben whispered, glancing over at Luke, "...him?"
Amaya nodded mutely, watching as Ben's face paled even further.
And just look at how honest you are. Snoke said, making Amaya close her eyes as she struggled to contain her anger. She pushed it down, realizing it wasn't entirely directed towards Snoke.
If you're not going to tell me what he's hiding then I have no interest in talking to you. Amaya snapped, picking up her stick and gesturing to Ben that she'd like to continue.
Perhaps if you told me what you want to know...I could oblige you. Snoke sneered and Amaya lost her footing, allowing Ben's stick to hit her arm. The offer was tempting...she could find out if he'd really done something to Luke to get her admitted into the Academy. She could find out what was troubling him now.
"What are you doing!?" Ben cried, immediately pulling back his stick and coming to inspect her arm. Amaya looked at Ben, feeling the concern emanating from him and decided she had to pick a side.
I don't want to know anything. Amaya snapped. Just get out of my head.
Snoke was silent for a beat before responding. As you wish.
Amaya felt his presence in her mind disappear and she looked back up to see Ben staring at her, his face white as a sheet.
"What did he say?" Ben asked but Amaya merely shook her head.
"Nothing important." She replied, picking up her stick to continue.
"What happened to sharing everything he says?" Ben asked and Amaya resisted the urge to laugh out loud at the hypocrisy.
"That's rich, coming from you." Amaya muttered, causing Ben's eyes to widen and then harden.
"I thought you understood why I didn't want to tell you everything we talk about." Ben snapped, increasing the speed of his attacks.
"Well then you should also understand why I don't want to tell you everything we talk about either." Amaya replied and Ben fell silent, the darkness she was coming to associate with his bad moods rolling off of him in waves.
Amaya gritted her teeth as she realized Snoke had gotten to her after all. He'd made her angry, just like he'd undoubtedly wanted to. And yet there was nothing she could do to stop the feelings of resentment from coming. Of course she had a right to be annoyed when Ben purposefully withheld potentially important information. Of course she had a right to distrust him when he had never been fully honest with her. And Snoke knew that...he'd used that. Amaya looked up at Ben, realizing the real danger Snoke posed was that he was able to use the truth to get to people. He didn't even have to lie.
Luke's voice rang out across the training room, signaling the end of practice and Amaya immediately turned to walk back over to the other padawans, ignoring Ben completely. She was glad he'd be gone this afternoon. It would give her some time to think. She felt like a cog in a machine she couldn't control and, although she knew Ben was also in the same position as her, she wasn't entirely sure how separable he was from the machine itself.
"Alright, I want everyone to go get changed and eat a quick lunch. We should be all ready to go and gathered in the courtyard by 12:30. This is a diplomatic mission so it should, if all goes well, be peaceful." Luke said, as the padawans gathered together. "Still, I want us to be prepared for anything."
"Amaya, I'm leaving you in charge of the level ones. They need to be in bed by 10:30 if we're not back before then. Other than that, I think you already know the drill, correct?"
Amaya nodded wordlessly, unable to believe any diplomatic mission could take longer than 10 hours. Chances were they'd be back by dinner, she thought to herself.
Ben pushed the food around on his plate, so sick to his stomach he thought he would throw up if he was forced to take another bite. Snoke's words rang in the back of his mind, repeating themselves over and over.
It's a trap. It's a trap. It's a trap.
Ben pushed his plate away, unable to kid himself any longer. He wouldn't be eating until after this was all over.
"That's all you're going to eat?" Tai asked, his brow furrowing with a concern that made Ben feel even worse. If only he knew.
"I'm not hungry." Ben said, shaking his head. "I feel sick."
"If you're sick then don't come." Voe piped up and Ben felt his anger for her rise, blocking out some of the nausea. Wouldn't she just love to exclude him from the mission.
"No." Ben almost snapped. "I'm fine."
Ben looked over at Amaya without meaning to, their eyes making contact. She was staring at him with the same look of mingled concern and suspicion she'd given him when she'd pressed him for information after the study session. Ben immediately looked away, focusing his gaze on his uneaten food.
What had Snoke told her? Surely he hadn't told her Ben knew their mission was a trap. Surely if Snoke had done that, Amaya would have said something or even ran to warn Luke. But if he hadn't told her about their mission...then what had he told her?
Ben nearly jumped when Voe stood up, suggesting they go. He watched in silence as Amaya said her goodbyes to the others, giving them all hugs one by one. He turned away, expecting she would not want to say goodbye to him after their borderline fight earlier. To his surprise, he felt a hand land on his arm.
"Ben." Amaya said, putting her arms around him before he even knew what was happening. "Be safe."
Ben felt a jolt of fear run through him at her words. Did she know? "It's just a diplomatic mission. It's not dangerous." He said as he pulled away, searching her face for any sign she was aware of what they were walking into. Finding none, he willed himself to relax. She didn't know.
"Still." Amaya said, stepping away, almost awkwardly.
Ben looked away, suddenly both self-conscious and even more nauseous than before. He was grateful when Voe led the way out of the mess hall and they parted ways with Amaya. He pushed down the guilt, trying to pretend it didn't exist. What would they gain from him telling them they were walking into a trap anyway? It would still be a trap even if the others knew about it. After all, Ben didn't know what exactly the Knights of Ren would be doing. Snoke had merely told him they'd be there waiting for them. And besides, Ben reminded himself, he knew it was a trap. He could protect the others.
You could tell them. Snoke said, breaking through his internal monologue. But you would be punished for doing so. Your so-called Master would disown you at last and for what? For being honest. You see, Ben, you can't win. Luke will hate you whether you're loyal to him or not. So why bother? He'll never respect you...why should you even bother protecting him?
He's my uncle. Ben ground back.
Why should that change anything? Snoke asked. When have your blood relatives ever been there for you?
Ben tried to suppress the jolt of pain Snoke's words sent through him, but he couldn't bring himself to disagree.
Family makes you weak, Ben. Snoke continued. They pretend to love you but when you need them they disappear. They expect you to give up everything for them and give you nothing in return. They're anchors that drag you down. Keep you from reaching your full potential.
What about Tai, Hennix and Voe? Ben asked. Don't they deserve to know what they're walking into?
Snoke scoffed, laughing darkly. Voe hates you. What makes you think she'd jeopardize her future to warn you of a danger if the situations were reversed? As for Hennix and Tai...if they're really your friends, they would understand why you didn't tell them. They wouldn't want you to risk getting expelled from the Academy. And Luke would expel you...I know him. The moment he gets even the slightest hint I'm still in your head, he'll cut you out.
"Ben, you're flying." Luke said, breaking Ben out of his internal conversation with Snoke. They were approaching the hangar now. "You go with Tai. Voe and Hennix, you'll be with me."
"Can I fly?" Voe asked immediately and Ben resisted the urge to roll his eyes. She just couldn't handle having a lesser role than him.
Ben heard Luke politely tell Voe no as he and Tai climbed into the nearest ship, closing the doors behind them. Tai sighed as he settled into his seat, looking over at Ben.
"How long do you bet this will take?" Tai asked, "I'm betting we'll be back within the hour."
Ben shook his head, starting the ship and pulling out of the hangar. "Negotiations can take days, if not weeks or months."
"But we're not negotiating with them are we?" Tai asked. "Your mother said we're supposed to enforce the law because the Republic won't. That's it."
"Yes but how do you think we're going to make them listen?" Ben replied, his voice clipped. "It's not like Master Luke will let us use force unless it's in self-defence. That means we have to use words and that could mean negotiations."
"I don't see what there is to negotiate about." Tai said. "They're breaking the law. They have to stop or they get arrested."
"Yes but the Republic isn't going to arrest them, they have bigger issues on their hands." Ben said, jumping to lightspeed as they cleared the atmosphere of the planet.
Tai fell silent and Ben was privately glad. He was definitely not in the mood for conversation. Thankfully, the rest of the trip passed in relative silence. As they entered the atmosphere of Endor, Ben felt the knot that had been growing in his stomach tighten painfully. This was it.
They landed in a small clearing next to Luke, Voe and Hennix's ship and jumped out onto the soft mossy ground below. Ben looked around himself, reaching out through the Force for anything unusual. He clenched his fists to stop them from shaking. Calm down, he reprimanded himself.
"Leia said there's a central harvesting facility about an hour northwest from here." Luke said, leading the way into the trees.
The padawans followed and Ben resisted the urge to pull out his lightsaber, his hand grazing the top of the hilt in anticipation. He walked in silence, listening carefully to every sound the forest made and probing the Force. There was nothing. No sign of any other Force users. No sign of any other living beings at all aside from the birds that flitted from tree to tree.
After what felt like forever, a clearing appeared through the trees, revealing a small brown building. Luke looked back at the padawans, grinning, before entering the clearing. Ben looked up at the harvesting facility, looking around anxiously for any sign of its operators.
"Shouldn't there be workers here?" Ben asked, coming up beside Luke.
"They might be inside." Luke said, walking up to the nearest door. To Ben's surprise, it was unlocked. Luke opened the door, holding it open for the padawans to follow him inside.
The inside of the facility was deadly quiet and Ben felt his stomach flip nervously. It was too quiet.
"Where is everyone?" Voe asked, frowning.
Luke immediately shushed her, his expression suddenly wary. "Something isn't-"
"Behind you!" Ben screamed as a masked figure clad in black dropped from the upper balcony, landing behind Luke with his red lightsaber drawn.
Luke spun around, lighting his own lightsaber just in time to block the Knight of Ren's attack. The other padawans spun around, forming a circle as three other Knights of Ren dropped from the balcony.
Ben engaged the nearest one in a dual, his blue lightsaber blocking the Knight's red lightsaber at every turn. Despite Luke's constant critique of the Knights' fighting style - or lack thereof - Ben found himself in a more than even match. Every time he thought he was about to get the upper hand, the Knight would find a way to even the playing field and force him a step further away from the others.
"The famous Ben Solo." The Knight sneered as soon as their fight had taken them out of earshot of the others. "What a pleasure to finally meet you."
"My apologies." Ben snapped, in between attacks, "I don't think I've ever heard of you."
"Unfortunate." The Knight sneered. "I know so much about you. Like how you knew we'd be here and conveniently kept this information from your friends over there. You see it's things like that that make me wonder whose side you're really on."
"What do you want from us?" Ben asked. "Why the ambush? Have the Knights of Ren really sunk so low as to be involved in the Ewok fur trade?"
The Knight laughed, "You're hilarious, Ben Solo. Hilarious."
"Answer the question." Ben snapped, his anger fueling his attacks and giving him an edge.
"Many reasons. I won't bore you with the details." The Knight sneered, "However, I personally have my own reason for being here. Would you like to hear it?"
"I'm not sure your personal motivation matters-"
"Amaya Fall." The Knight said, causing Ben to nearly lose his footing.
"What?" He snapped, an icy sensation creeping down his spine as he struggled to regain control of the fight.
"I hear you and her have become quite good friends." The Knight sneered.
"What do you want with her?" Ben snarled, a sudden feeling of protectiveness overwhelming him. He would not let Amaya fall into the hands of the Knights of Ren.
"I want to meet her." The Knight said, and Ben frowned, sure this was some kind of trick.
"Why?" He asked.
"She's my sister." The Knight said, truly throwing Ben off his game this time around.
The Knight took advantage of his moment of disorientation to gain the upper hand and knock Ben to the floor, pointing his lightsaber at Ben's neck. Ben stared up at the masked Knight in a state of shock. He realized suddenly that they were alone in the room, the others having taken their fights elsewhere.
"She never mentioned me." The Knight said, an edge to his voice that made Ben stare at him in surprise. He sounded almost...bitter.
"How do I know you're not lying?" Ben asked.
The Knight looked up, realizing as well that they were alone. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a golden locket, before turning off his lightsaber. Ben clambered to his feet, staring at the gold trinket in the Knight's hands. The Knight reached out, depositing the locket into Ben's hand.
"My name is Ancai Morava." He said. "Give her this."
Ben opened the locket, finding two photos glued to the inside. One was of a young woman who looked very much like Amaya and the other was of a young man with dark hair and a sharp jawline. Ben looked up at the Knight, closing the locket and pocketing it. The Knight's expression was hidden under his mask and Ben felt a flash of envy. If only he too could hide his expressions under a mask life would be so much easier.
The sound of an explosion from the other room jolted Ben out of his trance and he gave the Knight a curt nod before running off towards the sound of the explosion. The smell of smoke and burning things suffocated Ben as he entered the room, looking around anxiously for any sign of his friends or uncle.
"Anyone here!?" Ben called out, pushing through the debris. He doubled over coughing as the smoke got to him.
"Ben!?" Voe called out. "I'm stuck!"
"Where are you?" Ben cried, pushing through the smoke towards the sound of her voice. At last he spotted the outline of her body, covered in white dust. He ran towards her, pulling the broken tiles and pieces of metal off her.
"Can you stand?" He asked, attempting to pull her to her feet.
"I th-think so." Voe stammered as she struggled to her feet, leaning on Ben for support.
"Okay, come on. We need to get out of here." Ben said. "Where are the others?"
"I d-don't k-know." Voe managed to make out in between gasps of pain as she hobbled along clinging to Ben's shoulder.
"Okay well let's get you back to the ships and then I'll go find them." Ben said, fear starting to tighten in his chest. How would they walk back an hour with Voe in this condition? What if the others were injured as well? What if they were-
Ben shut down his train of thoughts before they could reach their conclusion and forced himself to focus on the task at hand. Get Voe out of the building. Reach the ships. Find the others.
The light from the clearing outside shone through a door in front of them and Ben sped up. Suddenly, a feeling of panic gripped him and he reached out to the Force, feeling it hum around him.
"Go." He whispered to Voe, pushing her towards the door. "Get out."
Without his support, she stumbled, barely able to walk and Ben felt the Force thrum around him - a last warning. "GO!" Ben screamed, using the Force to push Voe the extra couple meters to the door as an ear-splitting crack resounded, sending the entire building up in smoke.