Author's Note: Hey all, so sorry for the delay! It's been a super hectic week! I promise there will be multiple updates this week!

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Anywhere, here we go!

She didn't want to be here. This was the last place she wanted to end up after the day she had. Hell, she'd rather the fiery launch bay dream over this. This place wasn't safe anymore, this place had him stalking about. Ashlyn needed to rebuild her brick house and hide in it. It was the only way to potentially escape what was waiting for her. So she began to build. Her mind chaotic and unfocused, every attempt at building would crumble effortlessly. In frustration, Ash collapsed to her knees as defeat washed over her, and stared down at the nothingness below her.

He watched from a distance, biding his time before finally giving in and walking over to her. He knew she didn't want him there yet, he felt like he had to be. Kylo Ren sat down next to Ashlyn, she didn't look at him and he didn't care. "I found out I had the Force when I was three. Well, my parents found out. They had a feeling it would happen but, when I was levitating things I wanted to my crib—" He let out an airy chuckle. "I don't think they were ready for that." For a brief moment, Ashlyn felt some sort of comfort hearing his story. His attempt to level with her and find some human and common ground was working… barely.

"I don't want to learn." Ash admitted honestly. "I was okay being simply Ashlyn Novafall with nothing special about her except being able to fix almost anything."

"And invade people's dreams and possibly predict the future." He added, dryly. "I'm only doing this to help. It's scary not understanding why things are happening or how you're able to the things you can do. At least if you learn, you can control it and not the other way around." He ran his hand through his hair as he exhaled deeply through his nostrils. "Besides, you can still be boring Ashlyn Novafall, just with a hint of something more."

Ash shifted, moving so she was now sitting on her behind and no longer on her legs. "I'd like to believe you're doing this to help me but—" She paused. "You're such a dick about it."

He let out a hearty laugh, which in turn forced Ashlyn to smile. "How about this, if this doesn't help you be in control of the Force then once your six months ends, I won't bring it up again. I'll let you leave without anything to say against it."

Her nose scrunched at the idea. "I'm going home at the end of this six months."

"And if you are progressing and learning something, I expect you to stay longer."

Ash sighed, that feeling of defeat once again forming in the pit of her stomach as she looked around the dark, emptiness of the dream. "You can't have nicer dreams? Like maybe dream up a couch or a plant even? Something?"

"This is my dream. I don't need your criticisms of it." He said somewhat teasingly before losing all smugness and sighing. "What can I do to make you not so angry with me?" He asked, his tone a mix of dryness and sincerity that confused Ash. In truth, he really didn't need bad blood between them. It would make things harder in the long run for his plan. If Ashlyn hated him too much and became a Force user, then she'd be more difficult to control when taking down Snoke. As insufferable as she was, he unfortunately needed her cooperation.

"You should have asked me first about all this." She said. "Give me my own choice."

"You would have said 'no'."

Ash scoffed. "You're damn right I would have."

Kylo Ren rolled his eyes. "I need to know you're going to try and that you're not just going to deny all of my training. You need to actually participate."

She looked at him now, holding her hand out. "Only if you promise not to force me into anything anymore."

"I promise." He said, taking her hand in his as the two shook on it. "I'll only go behind your back if I know it's going to be good for you and you won't understand at first."

Ash groaned. "That's not how this truce works!" He grinned evilly in reply.

"It is when I'm looking out for your best interest."

"Which no one asked you to." She retorted. "You owe me no such courtesy."

He nudged her shoulder. "Can't I just be nice?"

"You're not a nice person."

He chuckled. "You're right, I'm not." The two were silent for a while, sitting in the middle of nothingness before Kylo Ren spoke again. "I hope we wake up soon. I'm ready to put an end to these little meetings."

Ashlyn smiled sadly, unsure why his words had that reaction with her. She stretched before lying back and staring up at the darkness. "In a few more minutes." She said, realizing even though she hated meeting him here, this was the last few moments she'd have of peace before having to delve into Force training. "I'd like to stay just a little longer." He looked back at her, his own sad smile forming on his lips before he finally joined her on the ground. The two lying there peacefully as their stared up at the black sky, saying nothing to each other as they waited out the dream until they both woke up.

As promised, Ash would spend the mornings and afternoons working on the newest addition for StarKiller. Surprisingly, the other end of the bargain had also been kept. Sid was back working with his team, to everyone's relief, and gave more insight to their next steps on the new reactor. Granted, the insight still left out some hefty details regarding the actual purpose of StarKiller. Yet, ignorance is truly bliss in the terms of warfare.

Their main goal of the day was to hook up the new solar panels to the reactor. The idea to bring power to their new energy creating machine. Sid was hesitant to show the schematics at first, knowing they really held more vagueness than truth within them. Yet, he was also afraid his team was too smart for that. Luckily, the one he was worried about most was distracted with her latest predicament on StarKiller.

In fact, Ashlyn was practically useless that day. Her mind wandering in every direction but the task in front of her. By the stars, she hated this. She hated not knowing what was awaiting her later. Perhaps once it was over with, she'd be more relaxed later on. For now, she'd panic in her own headspace regardless of who was listening in. Which, he indubitably was.

And like he promised, Kylo Ren left Ashlyn alone during the day. Granted, her consistent panicking that he could not only feel but also hear was driving him insane. As much as he wanted to interrupt the thoughts that were broadcasting into his headspace, he knew Ash would be even worse if he did. He'd put up with it, for now. Regardless of how big his headache was going to be later. She'd obviously pay by how hard he'd make her work anyway. A suffering he'd relish in and also hate depending on how much she'd complain about it.

Okay, he didn't despise her. In fact, any other possible apprentice that was currently residing on StarKiller would have been a worse choice. At least he somewhat enjoyed Ashlyn's company. Even if that enjoyment came out of her torture. There was something about her that Kylo Ren couldn't put his finger on. Whether it was the way her pale cheeks would so easily find a bright shade of pink whenever she was angry or embarrassed. Or when she'd smile deviously or with no mal-intent at all. Her little nervous quirks that he'd normally find repulsive (or frankly annoying) for anyone else, he was used to with her.

It was there in that revelation he had trouble thinking of anything other than home. Not StarKiller. A different home, a home he had left so long ago. Not so much in the place but, the people or rather person, whom resided there. He cherished her deeply on a different level and above all else. A draw to the light whenever he thought about her. Well, people did say he reminded them of her above all else. Then again, it made sense, being the child of someone like that was hard to escape.

Ashlyn reminded him of her. In her stubbornness; her need to be right and her overall presence when entering a room. He had heard so many stories of the younger years and how Leia Organa could make a room stand still. She was a strong and brave woman, something he wanted to hate so much. He could easily hate the smuggler. Why couldn't he hate her just as easily? He figured it didn't help having someone on base that was just as much of a nuisance as her. Grimacing slightly, he suddenly wished he had killed Ashlyn. If only just to escape that pull to the light for a little while longer.

With a slight reluctance, Ren dismissed the thought of killing Ashlyn and remembered the ultimate end-goal. Snoke. He needed to be free of those chains and take control of his own destiny. He would no longer have to answer to anyone and he could do that with an apprentice. Unfortunately, that apprentice was even more-so reluctant than he was.

General Hux locked his knees, forcing his body to stand as straight and unmoving as possible. He could never show fear, especially in front of the Supreme Leader. However (and as much as he didn't want to admit that), he at least felt a little easier when Kylo Ren was there. At least it was someone else to get yelled at with.

That's what he thought was happening when Supreme Leader requested his presence in the cavern. Uneasily, he made his way into the cavern and stood before the hologram. The base wasn't finished but, they were making progress. However, progress meant nothing to Snoke if there were no results to show for it. Hux believed there to be none and expected a swift and immediate execution.

Yet, all that changed when an even more devious request fell before him. "General." Snoke's raspy yet commanding voice said. "Commander Ren had requested the training of one of the mechanics on base."

Hux nodded. "Correct."

Snoke pursed his lips. "How very interesting that Kylo Ren wishes to take an apprentice even when his training is not fully completed." Hux wasn't catching on. "I find that curious, do you not?"

Hux kept his eyes locked on the hologram. "How do you mean, Supreme Leader?"

"Kylo Ren is impulsive, at times." Snoke clarified. "I want to know what he plans to do with the new apprentice." Hux began to realize what his purpose in today's solo meeting was. "Report to me any strange happenings with the new apprentice. I want to know how she progresses; what Ren is teaching her." He explained. "Prove to me where your loyalty lies."

"You believe Commander Ren to commit treason?"

Snoke grinned, his canines barred meaning to intimidate. "I believe Commander Ren will become more powerful than any of us imagined. I am curious to see how his training will unfold. I am also curious to see how this apprentice will fit in." He said. "If anything is suspicious in any way, I expect you to end it quickly."

He didn't need to be told twice, and as much as he didn't want to be put in charge of the lives of neither Kylo Ren nor Ashlyn Novafall; Hux knew his choices were more than limited here. With a curt nod, Hux was excused from the caverns with a new hefty mission weighting on his shoulders.

Clearing sweat from her forehead, Ashlyn squinted slightly as she tried to attach the two components from the solar panel to the mainframe. It was a typically easy job for her to do, just time consuming. She was on her third component, attaching it and cleaning up the wiring job. She ignored the hustle and bustle around her with the remaining maintenance members. They were slowly clearing out and heading for dinner, Ash tried her best to ignore that little fact. Perhaps if she played ignorance, she wouldn't have to stop working and eventually train with Kylo Ren.

The thought made her shudder. Surely, he had her best interest in mind. He had said so. Then again, how much did she actually trust his word? She didn't and didn't feel any better about the situation.

Yet, maybe he really was onto something. The weird occurrences from her childhood, the dreams. Maybe there really was more to it. Or quite possibly he finally had gotten to her and making her think there was something more. That had to be it, right? There was no way Kylo Ren, the same jerk that nearly strangled her to death, was looking out for her best interest. There was just simply no way.

But then that doubt came creeping back into the back of her mind again. Maybe it was time to give Kylo Ren the benefit of the doubt. This could very well be good for her in the long run and perhaps Kylo Ren really did mean well.

What would Laynor think of all this? He told her to lay low and she was doing practically the exact opposite of that. He had always believed what Ashlyn could do was more of a problem than a good thing. Granted, they had no idea exactly what it was that Ashlyn could actually do. Surely, she had some very unique dreams and yes, they did seem to predict some sort-of impending future. Yet, what did it mean? Laynor believed it was better to ignore it and never speak of it again. And that worked for so many years. Then again, this was before Ashlyn found herself at the mercy of Kylo Ren.

Perhaps it was destiny that brought her here. Commander Ren had mentioned it before,even if it was more out of malice than actual suggestion. There were things Ashlyn didn't understand and things she prefered to never know about and play ignorance. The Force was the latter.

"Hey, Ash!" Ashlyn looked up from the connectors to see a sympathetic Sid. "It's time to wash up and get dinner. You're done for the day."

Ash half-smiled. "Right, lost track of time. I guess."

Sid nodded. "Just take it easy. I know you don't want to do this."

Ash forced a bigger smile now, even if it wasn't exactly sincere. "I'm fine. I'm sure it'll go by fast."

He could see right through that, however it was better to keep the facade of being content rather than have an all out panic again. "Well, just remember if you need anything-" Ash just nodded as she stood up and brushed some dirt from her jumper pants. She looked at Sid, her unconvinced smile looking more sincere now as she walked out of the work area.

Ash quickly washed up, not wanting to waste too much time before having to meet with Kylo Ren. She changed into a black tank top and form fitting pants, unsure of what exactly was expected of her in training. Was it going to be physical or more mental? Regardless, this was the most comfortable attire she could figure out.

She wandered into the cafeteria, the only group knowing of her fate being the maintenance team. They all grimaced as they greeted her. "Guys, it's fine." Ash groaned, rolling her eyes. "I'm not heading off to my death."

"Might as well be." Grimm mumbled, receiving a death glare from Sid.

Taka cleared his throat. "Hey, if anyone can survive spending time with the Commander, it's Ash." He tried to reassure the group, receiving a slight smile from Ash in return. "She's tougher than any of us." Ash relaxed a little as she took a seat next to Taka. The group returning to their previous conversations.

"You really believe that?"

Taka took a bite of his food. "That you're tougher than the rest of us? Sure. That Commander Ren won't kill you?" He smirked. "Well, that I may have stretched the truth a bit." Ash elbowed his arm playfully as Taka laughed. "I'm sure you'll be fine, you survived him once already."

"But this is different. He's training me to do something I'm not even sure I can do."

Taka thought for a moment. "Honestly, Commander Ren is a very strong Force user. At least, from what we all know of it. If he says you are, I'm inclined to believe him." Ash was silent as she looked down at the cafeteria table, noticing the small crumbs that was more than likely from her messy team. "You don't agree?" Taka asked.

She shrugged. "I guess I don't really have a choice. It's all just really new and honestly quite jarring to me." She admitted. "I came here to do maintenance for six months and now I'm being trained in the Force. Not exactly an expected outcome for a maintenance worker."

"Makes sense." Taka agreed, noting Ashlyn hadn't gone to grab food. "Not eating?" He asked.

"My stomach is in knots, I feel like if I eat I might vomit." Ash confessed as she wrapped her arms around her waist. "I'm just antsy. Tomorrow I'm sure I'll be fine."

"Just don't make a habit about it." He said, nodding towards Sid. "He worries about you. He worries about all of us but, right now you're his number one concern."

Ash made a face. "Why?"

"Sid is very protective of his team, he'll always be the one to stand up for you when you need it. He's been that way since the old maintenance director-" Taka sighed. "Well, you know what happened there."

"Not helping, Taka." Ashlyn grumbled, even though she had a good feeling Kylo Ren wouldn't kill her… tonight at least.

Taka gave her a reassuring smile. "You'll be fine, Ash. Have a little faith." His comforting smile dissipated almost as easily as it came. In fact, Ashlyn wasn't sure what had stolen Taka's attention until she noticed the entire cafeteria had gone completely still. No one moved as they sat quietly, their eyes fixated on the entrance. Ashlyn turned her attention to the door to see Kylo Ren had marched in, standing at the only exit. Even with the helmet on, she could feel him staring at her. "I guess he wanted to start early." Taka mumbled quietly.

Ash frowned. "I guess so." She looked at her table of slightly horrified comrades and gave them a reassuring smile. "Cheer up, guys. I'll see you all tomorrow." Even though, Ashlyn needed the reassurance herself, she knew her crew needed it just a tad more as she excused herself from the table and walked over to Kylo Ren.

Ash felt all eyes on her as she walked over to the towering giant, in that moment she realized just how much smaller she was than him. He stood at least a foot over her, heck, he stood taller than most on this base. She was almost positive he relished that fact too.

Kylo Ren walked out of the cafeteria first, Ashlyn following suit and trying to match his strides as the two began walking for the training room. "I thought you said to meet you there?" Ashlyn asked, once the two were out of earshot of any potential eavesdroppers.

"I figured on your first day I'd make sure you didn't try to run." His mask hid the teasing tone but, Ashlyn knew he was joking. "Besides, any chance to cause an upset among by subordinates is always amusing."

Ash rolled her eyes. "Of course. You have to maintain that scary persona of yours somehow."

"Are you not afraid of me?" He asked curiously.

"Now that's a double-edged sword." Ash explained. "If I say 'yes', then that will only enhance your arrogance. If I say 'no', you'll simply try harder to ruin my life."

He smirked under his mask. "You're learning."

"Pretty soon I'll have you figured out."

Kylo Ren snorted. "Doubtful." They were getting closer to the training room now and Ashlyn began to grow more nervous. "Besides, I'm not as easy to read as you are."

"You can read minds. That's cheating."

Kylo Ren opened the training room door and stepped inside. The room lit up automatically, revealing the same room that Ashlyn had found out her fate in. She almost hated seeing it as the door closed behind her, sealing her in. "You also broadcast your emotions very loudly."

"Do not…" Ash frowned as Kylo Ren wandered to the middle of the room and sat down on the mat, his legs folded criss cross. He reached up to his helmet and unlatched the hinges, the helmet making a quiet hiss as he took off the headpiece. He shook his head, his hair falling perfectly into place. Ashlyn wondered if that was a Force thing, always having perfectly fabulous hair.

"Come." Kylo Ren said, placing his helmet next to him before motioning to the spot in front of him. Hesitantly, Ashlyn walked over and copied his sitting position as she sat across from him a few inches away. "I think what would help most right now is to find a way to quiet your mind." He said. "It would also keep your emotions in check when you're panicking."

"I don't panic." She tried to defend herself.

He gave her a knowing look. "Like how you weren't panicking all morning over our training session?"

She glared. "You said you'd stop listening to my thoughts."

"Again, it's easier said than done when you broadcast so loudly." Ash deflated slightly as Kylo Ren explained a little further. "It's not a bad thing. In fact, using emotions can be a useful when using the Force. It can help bring out a more powerful side that you never knew existed."

"So panicking is good?" She asked.

He grinned. "Preferably, we leave panicking out of the emotional spectrum and focus on an emotion like anger."

"What if I'm not angry?" She asked. "I can't just channel anger and hatred."

"You need to find something that helps create that emotion, everyone has a trigger." Kylo explained.

Ashlyn looked slightly perplexed. "So why not find a happy trigger and use a good emotion like joy?"

"Because joy is not as powerful as hate."

"Is using the Force only about being powerful?" She had a point, Kylo was more impressed she was asking relevant questions. That was a sign of interest at least. However, he needed her to become stronger and reliable when the time came.

"There are many aspects of using the Force. However, one of the easiest ways of using it and understanding is by finding the strongest emotion."

She pursed her lips. "Can't I just learn it without channeling it through a negative way."

He sighed. "How about we just work on clearing your thoughts first and then we can battle over the best way of teaching you?"

Ashlyn smiled. "Fine. Teach away, Commander."

Kylo Ren rolled his eyes. "I'm not your Commander here, I'm your Master."

She grimaced. "I don't like 'Master', I feel like it gives you too much power."

"That's the idea." He informed her dryly.

"Can't I just call you 'Kylo Ren' or just 'Kylo' or 'Ren'?" She asked. "Maybe 'pain in my ass'?"

Surprisingly, Kylo Ren laughed. Ashlyn was almost certain he'd be angry with her after that. "Fine, when we are here you can just call me by my name. However, if we are ever in the company of the Supreme Leader, you must call me 'Master'. Are we clear?"

"Supreme Leader." Ashlyn repeated. "There's that name again. I assume he's the one in-charge of all the First Order doings?"

Kylo didn't flinch. "He is."

"Is he your Master too?"

"I have no Master." Kylo informed her. "He is our leader and that is it."

Ashlyn frowned. "Then how did you learn to use the Force?"

Kylo Ren matched her frown. "You talk an awful lot for an apprentice."

"Well, you haven't taught me anything."

"I haven't had a chance to with your yammering." Before Ash could yell at him, he continued. "Close your eyes." She was hesitant at first, only to receive an impatient sigh in return. So, Ashlyn Novafall closed her eyes. At first, her head began to swarm with crazy ideas over what Kylo Ren was going to do while her guard was down. Man, she realized, she did not trust him at all. He seemed to snort in reply to her thought and immediately Ashlyn tried to think of something other than the intimidating man in front of her. "I want you to clear your head and feel."

Ashlyn cocked an eyebrow, her eyes still closed as she asked impatiently. "Feel what?"

"If you're Force Sensitive, you'll feel it." He informed her. "Now relax."

Inhaling deeply, Ashlyn sat up straighter. Her shoulders fell slightly as she listened to the quiet room. From here, she couldn't hear the light hum of the engines like in her apartment or around most of the base. Only her breathing, which was now matching his, was the only noise.

She wasn't sure exactly what she should be thinking about, if she should be thinking at all. Kylo Ren did say he wanted her to clear her head and here she was doing the exact opposite of that. Unfortunately, she had promised she would try. So she did.

At first, nothing happened. Then Ashlyn began to feel weightless and suddenly like she wasn't in the room at all; like she was suddenly in another plane of existence outside of what she knew. The immediate warmth came soon after; under her skin Ash felt tingling and warmth pulsing through her body. Her mind soon became a canvas for much more and so little all at once. She saw brightness, a light that seemed to shine right through her entire being. Then the same chilling darkness and nothingness that reminded her of the empty dream space she inhabited with Kylo Ren.

Now, about Kylo Ren. She could feel him. She knew she wasn't that close to him to physically touch him yet, it felt like she could. His pulse, but not his living pulse, a different pulse. A pulse of power surged from his being and Ashlyn could feel every bit of it. By the stars, the power radiating from the being before her. The living Force behind his existence, it also felt eerily similar to the darkness in the empty space. It made sense, he harnessed that darkness for power.

This feeling was first terrifying; the sudden warmth and then the absence of all being. The panic had begun to set back in yet, the moment she felt Kylo Ren's existence… the panic subsided. She wondered if he had felt it too?

Ashlyn's eyes snapped open, her breathing labored as she looked around the room and tried to ground herself back to reality. She looked to Kylo Ren, whom had a more than pleased grin on his lips. "Do you still believe you're not sensitive?" She responded by childishly sticking her tongue out at him, he chuckled. "What did you feel?" He asked.

"Don't you know?" She retorted.

"I want to hear it from you."

She caught her breath now. "I could feel light and darkness all at once. It was comforting and empty all the same." She tried to explain. "I could feel you too." Ash quickly clarified. "But not you. I could feel your existence; power and darkness."

"And how did it make you feel?" Ash thought for a moment, how did it make her feel? This was only a taste of what Kylo Ren's world. A brief moment of power and seduction to that power. Ashlyn found herself craving that feeling again, craving the sensation under her skin yet embarrassed to ask for it. He was grinning now. "You want more?"

Ashlyn shook her head in denial. "Isn't that how corruption begins?"

"Not if you learn to harness it properly." He offered. "I can teach you that and so much more if you'll let me."

Shockingly, she nodded. "I don't want to get lost in it." She admitted with hesitance. "I don't want to lose myself."

Kylo Ren's tone softened, his voice full of promise as he reassured her. "You won't. You're stronger than you realize. I've felt it from the beginning."

Ashlyn frowned slightly. "That's something I don't really understand, Kylo." She said his name, making it sound all the more sweeter when she did to Kylo Ren. He was most certain she had said it before but now, it meant something more. "You had told me from the start I wasn't sensitive. Why?"

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Denial, I suppose." He admitted. "It's been a long time since I've encountered another Force Sensitive person. At first, I needed to know if you were a threat to this operation; to me. When I realized you had no idea, selfishly I kept it to myself until the time was right. I had always known, I just needed to show my cards at the most opportune moment."

"For your own personal gain?"

"Yes." He wouldn't lie to her. "And for your own safety. They would have killed you if I hadn't gone about this the way that I had."

She nodded. Ashlyn wasn't stupid, she understood Kylo Ren was selfish and everything he would do would have consequence to his own personal gain. She was another pawn in that, although unknowingly exactly how much of a pawn she truly would be. Yet, another part of her realized that a small piece of it (which truly may have been very small) he did do it to save her life. Something she'd be grateful for. "So, do I get a cool light sword now?"

He snorted. "Slow down, Novafall. You'll give yourself a nosebleed." She laughed in reply. "We've only scratched the surface."

There was a lot Ashlyn Novafall did not understand about her new way of life. Then again, would her life change that drastically when she learned more about the Force? She didn't want to think of that now, instead, she wanted to avoid the feeling of comfort she felt when sitting near the dark haired jerk in front of her. Her mind reminding her exactly of what he was capable of yet, ignoring that warning all together as they sat and talked for the rest of the training session.

Final Thoughts: Oh snap! So maybe Ashlyn is Force Sensitive after all! Thanks for reading, remember to review!