It's been forever since I updated this story and I'm sorry about that! I went and wrote a whole other story in the meantime. I will try to work on finishing this one now though. The plan is to give this story a sequel if the first part goes well.
Thanks for the reviews Guest, Love. Fiction. 2021, and RemiSparklez!
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Amaya spread out a blanket on the lawn of the Senate, taking a seat next to Hennix as Voe busied herself with spreading out blankets for the others. The five padawans had bought breakfast from a cafe downtown and had decided to have a picnic, seeing as, for the moment, there was no training and no work to be done. It almost felt like vacation - a nearly foreign concept for Jedi. It had been two days since Ancai had been captured and Luke had already managed to extract enough information to inform the Senate of the threat of the First Order. They were scheduled to leave the Senate the next day to resume their training back at the Temple with the understanding that they would be on-call going forward if the Senate decided to deal with the threat posed by the First Order.
However, despite the solid proof Ancai had provided them of the First Order's imperial aspirations and its relative strength compared to the Imperial holdouts that had existed previously, the Senate was far from forming any kind of consensus on what to do. A vote was scheduled for the afternoon, preceded by a speech by Leia that the padawans were all encouraged to go listen to.
"You know," Voe said, distributing the boxed breakfasts they had bought. "As of tomorrow it will be 6 months exactly until we face the Jedi trials."
"What do they entail?" Amaya asked. While Voe, Tai, Hennix, and Ben would be facing these trials, she on the other hand would not be. She was nowhere near ready, having only been training for half a year.
"There are five trials: skill, courage, spirit, flesh and insight." Voe said, rattling off the elements on her fingers. "You need to succeed at all of them to become a Jedi Knight."
"And what happens if you fail?" Amaya asked.
"It depends. If you do really badly, you probably just shouldn't be a Jedi. If you only do slightly badly, maybe you can try again the next year?" Voe replied.
"Back in the time of the Old Republic, you were expelled if you failed." Ben said.
"Well I don't think Master Luke is going to expel anyone." Voe said quickly, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness.
"And I don't think anyone's going to fail." Hennix said.
"Hey, I have an idea." Ben said suddenly, "We don't have anything until the session this afternoon, right? Let's go for a ride in the spare ships in the hangar."
"We can't just take a ship." Voe replied.
"Why not?" Ben asked. "We can just ask the custodians in charge of the hangar if it's fine. I'm sure they'd be okay with it."
"I don't like this idea-" Voe began, only to be interrupted by Hennix.
"I'm in." He said with a grin. "There's nothing else to do here. May as well have some fun and really see the planet."
Ben turned to Voe. "I'll race you." He said.
"Not everything has to be a competition, Ben." Voe replied irritably.
"You're just afraid you'll lose." Ben said, causing Voe to exhale in frustration.
"Whatever, do what you like. I'm staying here though." She said.
"Tai, Amaya, you coming?" Ben asked and Tai nodded.
Amaya shrugged. "May as well. I would like to see this planet from above. Just don't make me fly."
"I'll pilot the plane." Ben said. "You can come with me."
At this, Hennix burst out laughing and Amaya turned to look at him, confused. "What?" She asked.
"Have you ever flown with Ben before?" He asked.
"Well yes, of course." She said.
"I mean recreationally." Hennix said and Amaya frowned, shaking her head.
"No, why?" She asked, apprehensively.
"Just...you'll see." Hennix said, exchanging a look of amusement with Ben.
"Well I'm getting scared now." Amaya said.
"Don't worry, I promise to return you in one piece." Ben said, and Amaya raised an eyebrow, meeting his gaze.
The padawans finished their breakfast before heading over to the hangar, Voe following along reluctantly.
"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Hennix asked as he climbed into a ship with Tai.
Voe sighed, looking around the hangar anxiously. "Fine." She said. "But if Master Luke gets mad, I'm blaming this on Ben."
"Excellent!" Hennix exclaimed, moving over to make room for her in the ship.
Amaya climbed into a two person ship, taking the passenger seat next to Ben. She buckled herself in, Hennix's words having gotten to her.
"Don't be scared." Ben said, the grin on his face only serving to make her more afraid.
"You are way too happy right now and it's freaking me out." Amaya said, leaning back in her seat.
Ben merely grinned, looking around them to make sure no one was looking before leaning in to kiss her. Amaya felt her nervousness dissipate somewhat, a feeling of happiness taking its place. She slipped her hand into his as he started up the engine of the ship with his other hand and slowly drove them out of the hangar.
Following Tai, Hennix and Voe's ship, they took off, the city becoming smaller and smaller beneath them.
"Hey Ben." Hennix's voice crackled through the comm once they'd exited the atmosphere and entered the vast expanse of black space surrounding the planet.
"Hennix." Ben said, smiling as if he knew what Hennix was going to say.
"Catch me if you can." Hennix said, his ship suddenly disappearing in a blur.
"Hold on." Ben said, grinning as he pulled his hand out of Amaya's. Before Amaya could process what was happening, the ship lurched forward at a speed she'd never before experienced, apart from travelling at warp speed - which ironically felt like not moving.
This, however, was something entirely new. The ship sped forward, ducked down, flipped around, went back the way it came, turned around 180 degrees in a split second and then sped forward once more. Every now and then Amaya would catch a glimpse of Hennix's ship up ahead before it would disappear again. She found herself gripping the seat, unable to do anything but try not to scream. Ben sat beside her, laughing like a maniac every time the ship did a particularly sudden turn or dive until Amaya was convinced he was insane.
When they finally stopped, Ben continued to laugh, happier than she had seen him in a long time. Amaya stared at him, her heart hammering in her chest as she tried to regain her breath enough to talk.
"What in the-" She began, only to find herself cut off as Ben leaned over and kissed her. Amaya kissed him back, wrapping her arms around him as she welcomed the comfort of stillness after the wild ride.
When she finally pulled back, she found Ben smiling at her and she laughed despite herself. "You're crazy. Like actually crazy." She said.
"But you had fun didn't you?" Ben said and Amaya shrugged, unable to say she regretted the experience.
"Where's Hennix and the others?" She asked.
"Oh we lost them ages ago." Ben said, laughing.
"But I thought you were chasing Hennix..." Amaya said, confused.
"I was...at first." Ben said, smirking.
Amaya stared at him, a breathless laugh escaping her lips. Amaya looked outside the ship, suddenly in awe of the billions of stars scattered across the black of space. These were the same stars she'd stared up at on Alfazine for so many years. She'd been so desperate to leave...to go see the universe beyond. She'd always felt it held her future - that somehow out here among the stars she would find out who she was meant to be. And now she knew. She'd unlocked the Force and she'd found someone who understood her. For the first time since her mother had died...she wasn't alone anymore. She'd found someone she could share her secrets with and who would never judge her. He was wild, in a way, but also sweet, and quiet and kind.
Amaya looked back at Ben, a small smile forming on her lips. "I love you." She said, watching as the words sank in. His smile faded, a hint of fear behind his eyes that scared Amaya.
Her own face must have betrayed her emotions because Ben's eyes widened suddenly and he shook his head violently. "No, that's not what I- what I-...I love you too. Obviously. I-"
Instead of finishing his train of thought, he leaned in, kissing her more passionately than ever before. Amaya grasped his hair, running her fingers through his silky black locks, confused and exhilarated all at once. She could feel his emotions like they were her own and she knew he had not lied to her. He loved her even as a part of him was terrified, confused and...
Amaya pulled back, holding his face in her hands. She could feel what was bothering him as clearly as if they were written on the inside of her mind. "Ben." She breathed, rubbing her thumb along his cheekbone. "I'm not going to leave you." She whispered.
"You can't promise that." Ben replied, his eyes desperately screaming for her to prove him wrong. "You don't know what might happen. You might change your mind-"
Amaya felt her heart break and she blinked back tears.
"I'm not going to change my mind." She said, willing him to believe her. "I've never been more certain about anything before."
"Why?" Ben asked and Amaya felt the tears begin to spill from her eyes before she could stop them.
"Because I haven't felt like this since-" Amaya stopped, unsure how to explain. "Ben, you have to understand something. My home was that island. My family was my mother. When I left...no other place...no other person...has ever felt like home. But you...you feel like home."
Ben stared at her, his eyes brighter than usual, and Amaya wrapped her arms around him, pulling him to her. She felt him hug her back and she closed her eyes, feeling him begin to believe her. A cautious hope blossomed inside him, seeming almost to warm the very air around them.
"Ben Solo, come in. Come in, Ben Solo." A staticky voice called over the speaker. Amaya froze and Ben groaned out loud in frustration as he pulled back from Amaya and slammed his finger down on the comm button to reply.
"Yes?" He asked, not even bothering to hide his irritation.
"I have orders from Senator Organa to instruct you to return immediately to the Senate. It's urgent." The man on the other side of the comm said.
"Why?" Ben asked sharply.
"I'm afraid I can't say." The man said. "You had better come back as soon as possible."
Ben let out a sigh of frustration. "Urgent." He snorted. "The entire planet better be burning."
Amaya settled back in her seat, unable to quell the growing feeling of unease that seemed to permeate the Force itself. Punching buttons and pulling levers with more force than necessary, Ben turned the ship around and started the ship back towards the planet that loomed in the distance.
"Where were you?" Luke roared, the moment they entered Leia's office. Ben blinked, taken aback by the intensity of his Master's reaction. Why couldn't he just enjoy one simple thing? Back on the ship, he'd been happier than he'd been in months but no - life had to come and ruin that too.
"We were just-" Amaya began.
"Flying." Ben finished defensively. "What's going on?"
"You were flying!?" Luke asked. "You just happened to decide to leave the planet today, of all days?"
Before either Amaya or Ben could respond, the door behind them opened to reveal Hennix, Tai and Voe.
"Master Luke!" Voe cried immediately. "What's happened? They said it was urgent-"
"Ancai Morava escaped." Leia said, entering the office from a back door and coming to stand next to Luke.
Ben felt a cold chill run down his spine and he looked up at his uncle, understanding now why everything about the man was screaming suspicion.
"He what?" Amaya blurted out next to him. "How?"
Ben could feel her shock and anger through the Force but couldn't bring himself to tear his eyes away from Luke. His mind began to race, trying desperately to come up with a way to prove his innocence.
"The Knights of Ren came to get him." Leia continued, looking far more calm than Luke. "They broke past our security and we weren't able to stop them. Four officers have been killed."
"Whose idea was it to go flying today?" Luke asked, his eyes trained on Ben. Ben merely stared back at him, his jaw clenched.
"Ben's." Voe said quickly, "I honestly didn't even want to go." Ben felt Luke's suspicion intensity and momentarily felt the urge to strangle the girl.
"And why did you choose today to go flying?" Luke asked.
"I felt like it." Ben replied, his voice clipped. "How was I to know that the Knights of Ren were going to come today?" He asked savagely, daring his uncle to accuse him of outright of collaboration with the enemy.
"Voe, Hennix, and Tai. Do you mind stepping outside for a moment?" Leia asked.
Amaya could see confusion and curiosity on the faces of her fellow padawans but they did as they were told. Tai, in particular, looked worried as he closed the door behind them.
"So now you think I'm working with them!?" Ben cried, as soon as they were alone.
"We never said that-" Leia began but Luke interrupted her.
"Are you?" He asked.
"No!" Ben cried, exasperatedly.
"Luke!" Leia reprimanded harshly. She inhaled slowly, trying to calm herself. "No one is accusing anyone of anything." Leia said diplomatically, her face drawn. To Ben's surprise, she turned to Amaya, pulling out a folded piece of paper from her pocket.
"In fact, that is not why we wanted to talk to you." Leia continued, shooting her brother a look out of the corner of her eye before turning back to Amaya. "Amaya, there's something you should see." Leia said, handing the piece of paper to Amaya.
Amaya opened the paper, reading it wordlessly, before folding it back up again. If Ben couldn't feel the anger and feelings of hurt and betrayal emanating from her through the Force, he would have thought she wasn't feeling anything from the poker face she managed to keep.
"It was in his cell." Leia said simply, and Ben looked between his mother and his girlfriend, curious as to what was on the note.
"Thank you." Amaya said, "Is that all?"
Leia nodded and Amaya forced a tight lipped smiled before turning quickly to leave the room. Ben shot one last wary look at his uncle before following her out into the hallway.
"What did it say?" Ben asked, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.
Amaya passed him the note wordlessly and Ben unfolded it, reading the message inside.
Dearest Maya,
My apologies for running out without saying goodbye. I must say, however, that my accommodations here have been rather sub-par and the company rather dull. If there is a prisoner feedback form available, please let me know. I have a lot of ambitious new ideas the Senate might be interested in.
I have absolute confidence that we will run into each other again soon but until then, do try to improve your skill with a lightsaber. Next time I'm captured by you, I don't want it to be so humiliating. No offense...obviously.
Sincerely,
Ancai Morava
Ben raised an eyebrow, looking over at Amaya. Taking back the paper, Amaya crumpled it into a ball in her fist.
"My name is not Maya." She said simply, tossing the crumpled note into the first garbage can they saw. Ben looked at her, examining her face. If he couldn't feel her emotions through the Force he would have thought she was indifferent - unaffected even - by the note. On the outside she looked so calm but inside he could feel the Darkness inside her of her. It was twisting itself around her heart like an angry beast and she wasn't making any effort at all to contain it. He knew the feeling and yet he also knew that when he felt the way she did at the moment that he would not be walking calmly down the hallway. No, he didn't have that kind of self-control. Amaya seemed to somehow embrace the Dark Side and feed off of it without letting it control her.
"I don't care if Snoke kills him." Amaya said at last. "It's his own fault for running back to the First Order the first chance he got. If he's that dedicated to them, then he deserves their idea of mercy."
Ben hesitated, knowing full well she did not mean the words coming out of her mouth. As much as she might want to hate her brother, she didn't. She wasn't angry he had left to rejoin the First Order, she was angry he'd left her. And despite how hard she was trying to convince herself of the contrary, she was worried for his safety.
I spy the color green. Amaya thought.
They were seated high above the Senate floor, looking down at the podium upon which Senator Leia Organa stood. She spoke to the gathered audience, imploring them to take the threat of the First Order seriously. The other Senators and visitors stared back at her impassively, some clearly uninterested and distracted. Clearly perceiving the lack of concern in the room, Leia's voice grew ever more insistent the longer she spoke.
Is it the gungan? Ben asked.
Nope. Amaya replied.
She had wanted to concentrate on the speech but she had found that to be impossible. Her mind was still too full of thoughts of her brother and Snoke and the Knights of Ren. Knowing full well she could reach out and speak to any of them at any moment was tempting. But Amaya was also nearly certain that nothing good would come of that. What would she even say? He hadn't betrayed her. She had captured him against his will, imprisoned him, and then he had left to rejoin the organization he had been loyal to for years. So when why did it feel like a betrayal? Why was she angry?
Is it that coffee mug on Senator Turro's desk? Ben asked.
I don't even know who that is but no. Amaya replied.
Is it the lamp next to the Chancellor? Ben asked.
Again, I don't know who that is. I didn't grow up here like you did. Amaya replied somewhat irritably. The memory of meeting with Ancai at her childhood home flashing before her eyes.
Lucky you. Ben said, somewhat bitterly, before happening to glance down at his feet. His eyes widened as he took in the color of the floor beneath their feet. It's not...?
Good job. Amaya said, a smile breaking out on her face as she struggled not to laugh. Your turn.
You know you're a lot more sly than people give you credit for. Ben said and Amaya merely shot him a grin out of the corner of her eye.
Okay, hm. Ben mused, looking out across the Senate. I spy the color...dad!?
"What?" Amaya asked out loud, turning to face him in surprise.
"Shh!" A Senator behind her admonished and Amaya shut her mouth, embarrassed.
Do you see the delegates from Mon Cala? Ben asked and Amaya nodded. Look 5...no 6 seats to the left and then 2 down. Do you see a Wookie?
What's a Wookie? Amaya asked and Ben shot her an expression of disbelief.
Sometimes I forget how out of touch with the real world you are. He replied. Do you see a giant hairy creature next to a human man?
Yes, yes. Is that your dad? She asked excitedly.
Take a good look because if you blink he might disappear and that'll be the last you'll see of him. Ben said and Amaya turned to look at him, wanting to touch him but not being able to with Luke and the others not far off.
Can I meet him? Amaya asked and Ben smiled.
Of course. Ben replied. Assuming this vote actually happens this millennium.
They're not taking this seriously. Amaya thought, peering over the edge of their seats to stare at the Senators below.
That's because this isn't the first time an Imperial offshoot has come to the attention of the Senate. The Empire never really went away, it just went into hiding. As long as it stays like that, the Senate is more or less content to let it be. They don't have the power to wipe out the Empire's remnants entirely...they don't even have the power to enforce laws in places like Tatooine. I mean your own planet is an example of that. Ben replied. The galaxy is just too big.
Yes but the First Order isn't just any Imperial offshoot- Amaya protested.
Isn't it? Ben asked.
Amaya pursed her lips, noticing that Leia had finally stopped speaking and that the vote was beginning.
The First Order has Snoke and the Knights of Ren. Amaya said finally. They alone are more powerful than any other Imperial holdout.
Ben looked at her. Maybe.
They fell into silence, each lost in their own thoughts, as the Senators below put in their votes.
"Your attention please, your attention please." The Chancellor called, causing the chatter that had sprung up around the room to die down. Amaya leaned forward, looking down at the stout man. He didn't look very powerful - but looks could be deceiving.
"The votes have been counted. In favour of engaging in military action against the First Order: 367. In favour of postponing military action against the First Order until more evidence that such measures are needed: 1730."
Amaya gritted her teeth, a feeling of desperation welling up inside her. These politicians didn't know Snoke. They didn't know what he was capable of.
"Well, I would say those numbers speak for themselves." The Chancellor continued. "While it has definitely been useful to have this matter brought to our attention, the Senate simply does not have the means at the moment to engage the First Order in outright military combat. Given the small size of the organization, it cannot be seriously entertained that this group of extremists poses any threat to the order and good governance of the New Republic."
Amaya gripped the railing in front of her until her knuckles turned white, glaring down at the Chancellor below her. So concentrated was she on the small man below that she jumped when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"We're going to go pack now." Voe said, gesturing to Hennix and Tai behind her. "You coming?" She asked, looking between Amaya and Ben.
"Oh, um-" Amaya glanced over at Ben.
"Sure, let's go." Ben whispered, standing up.
Amaya stood up as well, shooting one last glance down at the Chancellor before following the other padawans out of the chamber. They climbed down the stairs, coming out on the main level. People had already begun to exit the Senate chamber. They filed out of the room, some milling about to chat. Amaya's eyes landed on the hairy man she'd seen from up above and she tried to remember what his species had been called. A woolie? Wookie?
Wookie. Ben said silently, shooting her an amused look out of the corner of his eye.
"Ben!" The man Ben had identified as his dad cried, walking up to them and giving Ben a hug as the Wookie to his right howled something unintelligible.
Leia came up behind her husband and exchanged a look with Chewie, who roared again.
"Amaya." Leia said, smiling. "Her name is Amaya. She's a new Jedi padawan at Luke's Temple."
Amaya's eyes flew open as she realized Chewie had been talking about her. "Hi, nice to meet you." Amaya said quickly, extending a hand. Chewie extended a hairy hand, letting out another roar.
"He says the pleasure is all his." Leia said, and Amaya smiled up at the Wookie, wishing she could understand him the way everyone else could.
"I'm sorry I don't know your language." Amaya said. "If you saw where I grew up...you'd understand."
"Alfazine, right?" Han said, turning to look her up and down. "I hear it's even more of a shithole than Chandrila. And believe me, that's saying something."
"You should visit sometime." Amaya said, amused. "You'd fit right in."
Han laughed at this and he clapped a hand on her arm. "I like this one." He said, raising his eyebrows at Ben. "No wonder Luke says you won't leave her side."
"We're friends, dad." Ben said, unable to hide his discomfort. "Just friends."
"Whatever you say, kid." Han sneered, shooting Amaya a wink that made her feel deeply uncomfortable.
"Han!" Leia hissed, slapping her husband on the arm. "They're Jedi. You know Jedi can't form attachments."
"And yet you married me." Han said, grinning mischievously down at his glaring wife.
"I'm not a Jedi." Leia snapped. "But Ben will be. When are the Jedi trials again? Next year?"
"6 months." Ben mumbled sourly.
"That's more than enough time." Han said, looking between Ben and Amaya.
"Okay, that's enough." Leia snapped, "Don't you two have to pack?"
"Yes, actually." Amaya said, looking around to find the other padawans. They were nowhere in sight.
"I'll see you around then." Han said. "Ben's birthday. You're invited. We're going to Zeltros."
"Wait what?" Ben asked, clearly hearing this plan for the first time.
"This is the first I'm hearing of this." Leia said, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at her husband.
"Ever thought it would be good to ask me what I wanted to do on my birthday?" Ben asked irritably.
"This is what you'll want to do." Han said, rolling his eyes. "You'll understand once you get there."
"It's not happening Han." Leia said sharply. "We'll do it at home like always."
"Again, what if that's not what I want?" Ben snapped and his mother looked up at him.
"Well, what do you want to do?" Leia asked.
Ben hesitated, seeming unable to come up with an answer. "I want to stay at the Temple." He said at last. Leia's face fell, contorting into a look of worry, and Han's eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"Son-" Han began but Ben shook his head.
"You wanted to know what I want?" Ben snapped. "Well I just told you. Accept it. Come on Amaya, we need to pack."
Amaya stumbled slightly as Ben grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from his bewildered parents. As soon as they rounded the corner and were out of sight, Amaya pulled her arm out of his grasp and stopped him.
"What was all that about?" Amaya asked.
"What was what about?" Ben snapped.
"You know what I mean." Amaya said, blocking his passage. "You don't like it at the Temple. Why don't you go home? Or anywhere, really. Pick a planet and we'll go."
"I don't want to go anywhere!" Ben snarled, and Amaya took a step back, shocked by the amount of anger in his voice. "Haven't I made that clear?"
"Why are you getting so upset?" Amaya asked, frowning. "This isn't that big of a deal-"
"Because no one listens to me!" Ben cried, drawing looks from people passing by in the corridor. Amaya stared at him, feeling the Dark Side grow around them.
Ben seemed to calm down after a moment, his momentary outburst passing. "Sorry." He said.
Amaya stared at him, familiar worry twisting her stomach into a knot. "Ben-" She began but Ben shook his head quickly.
"I know, it's stupid. I'm overreacting. Let's just go." He said, turning to lead the way back to the rooms. Amaya followed him reluctantly, Snoke's smug warning echoing through her head despite the walls she had erected to keep him out. Ben wouldn't turn. She wouldn't let him.