Author's Note: Totally going to pretend I didn't disappear for like a month and just going to post a kind-of long chapter...

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Disclaimer: In case everyone forgot, I don't own Star Wars...

Ashlyn was growing more and more conflicted over what nightmare she'd rather. Although, she was feeling somewhat relieved to see the emptiness she had come to known her first two months on StarKiller. It gave her a break from the jolting nightmare of death and chaos. At least now she had some control over what was happening. The term control being used loosely, of course. Yet, Ash took comfort this time. Granted, the comfort was coming from the lesser of two evils. The margin between the two very, very small.

It didn't take long for Ashlyn to have her partner in crime join her. He sat down next to her as the two stared out into nothing. "I suppose this is better than fiery death." He said dryly.

Ashlyn glared at him. "It's the closest I'm going to get to a peaceful night's sleep."

"You really believe this to be peaceful?" Kylo Ren asked.

Ash rolled her eyes as she stretched slightly, her immediate thought returning to the fateful day before her training began. Her grin slightly mischievous as she asked him. "So, how are you?"

He looked at her, confused at first then immediately chuckled. "See? Is it so hard to ask?" He said. "I'm well, thank you. How are you?"

Ash shrugged, still smiling as she spoke. "Oh, you know. Busy working on StarKiller and juggling Force training. It's been hectic."

He nodded, his smirk fading slightly. "At least you're progressing."

She was. Granted, her levitation skills were still not perfected. Ash did feel like she was connecting more with the Force. However, in doing so that opened up more Force dreams that she really wanted no part of. "If you say so, then I must be."

"You need to learn control." Kylo Ren explained. "You need to understand how to balance the Force around you. I still think you're too focused on moving the object and not feeling how the object moves and connects with the Force around it."

"Oh yes, of course, focus on the object but not the object. Got it." She replied sarcastically, receiving a knowing look from Kylo Ren.

"It will only become harder to ignore, especially once you begin to feel emotions around you."

Ash frowned. "I don't think I'm ready for that. Feeling someone's personal thoughts or emotions, it's an invasion of-"

Kylo Ren rolled his eyes as he interrupted her. "Invasion of privacy, I know. However, it's good to feel in tune with that around you. The purpose of the Force is to be in tune to the existence of everything."

She made a face. "Yeah but, what if I finally get into your head and hear all your plans to kill me? I don't want to know what you think about on a daily basis."

He grinned. "I doubt you'll ever get to that point." He said somewhat reassuringly, if Ashlyn could even call it that. "If it makes you feel better, you'll be training with Captain Phasma for a while as well." He explained, Ashlyn looked at him curiously. "She's going to assist with hand-to-hand skills."

Ash's jaw nearly dropped. "I have to fight too?"

Kylo shrugged. "It helps."

Ash frowned. "And why aren't you training me? I thought you'd jump at the chance to beat me up."

He snorted. "As much as I would love to do so, Phasma believes it would be less painful if she trains you first. Then you can fight me."

"Oh joy." She said dryly. "So what are we learning tomorrow? Any insider tips so I can prepare?"

"We aren't." Kylo said. "It's Empire Day."

Ash made a face. "Empire Day?"

"The base shuts down for the day, practically everyone celebrates the day the Empire formed and took over the Galaxy."

Ash nodded. "Remind me, how did that end again?" He glared, and it was menacing. "I'm kidding, relax." She said quickly. "Anyway, what do we do on Empire Day?" Kylo rolled his eyes, looking out into the nothingness before them. That was when Ash realized that Kylo Ren didn't avoid the question due to her ignorance, he ignored the question because he personally did not know. "You've never celebrated?" She asked.

"Not necessarily." He confirmed. "I don't care for useless holidays."

"Useless?" Ash asked somewhat surprised. "I'm confused as to how this wouldn't be your favorite holiday."

"I have more important things to do than join your little maintenance crew in their depravity."

Ash laughed. "They're harmless, I assure you." She said through her giggles. "The Troopers however, that might be where the confusion lies."

He was unable to hide his smirk. "True. However, I will not be celebrating all the same."

She frowned, it only seemed right that everyone take part in a base wide holiday. Hesitantly, she said the last thing she would have ever imagined to have left her lips. "Why not enjoy the holiday with me then?" He looked at her from the corner of his eye, his expression hardening. "I don't really know how to celebrate and you most certainly don't know how to socialize so-" She tried to reason.

"You think it's a good idea for us to spend the holiday together?" Kylo Ren asked, somewhat in disbelief.

Ash shrugged. "Why not?" She asked. "We can even train a little bit, if you'd like." He was hesitant in his replay. The last time Kylo Ren was ever invited to anything that wasn't a meeting, mission or hostile take-down of a group of sympathizers well, he couldn't actually remember a time. That also bode the question of why the heck anyone would have asked him, especially Ashlyn of all people. "It's not that hard of a question to answer." Ash said, pulling him out of his daze.

Kylo Ren tensed. "Once again, I don't do holidays." He restated.

Ash pursed her lips. "Right but, I just thought maybe you'd like to not spend it alone and maybe spend it with someone who didn't understand the justification behind it."

His expression softened as he looked back at Ashlyn, he exhaled through his nostrils before his sly smirk reappeared. "Admit it, Ash." He said. "You're just looking to spend more time with me. If that's the case I can always request we train more and take away some of your time working on StarKiller."

The horrified expression on Ashlyn's face said it all as Kylo Ren began laughing. She immediately pushed him as hard as she could, barely knocking him over as he continued to laugh. "That's not what I meant and you know it!"

"Oh no, of course not." He said, his laughter dying down as silence came over the two of them. Sure, there were a number of things he'd rather do than celebrate this holiday and mingle with the subordinates. He didn't think spending time with Ashlyn would ever have been one of those options he'd prefer. Yet, he knew better than to give into that temptation. She was his new apprentice and if Kylo Ren knew what was good for him, he'd keep that professional relationship where it was. A friendship with Ash could ultimately be his demise. A fate he couldn't let come to light. Not while he still had the willpower to stop it. "Enjoy your day off tomorrow." He said softly, his eyes no longer the darkened black pools Ash had been used to. No, this time they were a warm and golden brown. "We will begin training again after the holiday is over."

Disappointedly, Ash nodded. "Well, if you change your mind. You know where I'll be."

He nodded, smirking again as the two stared out into nothingness again.

Ashlyn slowly opened her eyes, that was one thing she hated when waking up from the dreams she shared with Kylo, it just seemed to happen. She often wondered if he was still sitting in nothingness or woke up the same time she did. Did he experience that sudden waking feeling too?

Ash pulled her legs to her chest, her arms wrapping around them tightly as she listened to the quiet hum of the engines below her apartment. They hummed gently and softly, creating a serene scene before her as the sunlight lit the apartment just enough to show the morning creeping through.

With a stretch, Ashlyn slowly extended her legs again before swinging them over the side of her bed. Her feet dangling just above the cold floor as she braced for the inevitably chill that would soon come. With a brave leap, Ashlyn stood up. The cool floor causing a chill to travel up her body as she headed for the bathroom. After taking her time to freshen up, she came out of the bathroom feeling clean and like a whole new person. Washing off the remnants of the day before and remedying some of the stiffness she felt in her muscles.

On the table lied her datapad. She heard the first buzz, then the second. Standing a few feet from the table, Ash felt brave. She looked around her apartment, even though knowing she was definitely alone, she had a feeling Kylo Ren would someone know of what she was attempting although she wasn't sure how. Ash raised her left hand, her eyes focusing on the datapad on the table. 'Focus…' She thought.

At first, nothing happened and for a few moments after nothing continued to happen until the datapad jerked slightly. It took everything in Ashlyn to keep her cool as she channeled her emotions again and concentrated on the Force.

The datapad began to float, although not as gracefully as she had seen Kylo Ren do many a time now, it still began to levitate off the table. Her concentration hardening as the datapad began to slowly (and almost painfully) levitate towards her. She was doing it, she was experiencing control and a calmness with the Force. Even Kylo Ren would have been proud.

A few inches from her and soon in the home stretch, Ash would be holding the datapad. Of course, at that moment someone knocked on her apartment door. Ash jumped; startled by the sudden noise. The datapad swiftly fell to the floor with a loud SMACK. "Crap!" She hissed, running to it and picking up the datapad. The knocking continued. "Just a minute!" She shouted, looking at the datapad. A new chip in the top left of the screen adorned the datapad.

Disappointed, she clutched the datapad to her chest and rushed to the door. The door sliding open to reveal a very excited and now suddenly confused maintenance crew. "You're not ready?" One of the twins asked as they pushed to see in the doorway.

"And still in pj's?" The other said.

Ash looked down, noticing she was still in sleeping shorts and a tank top. Her eyes going wide as she looked back at the group. "What's going on?" She asked.

"Did you not get our message?" Taka asked, looking at the group as they shrugged.

"I don't think she got the message." Grim confirmed.

They awkwardly looked back at Ashlyn as Taka tried to explain. "It's Empire Day?" He said slowly.

Ash sighed, remembering what Kylo Ren had said in their dream. "Right, Empire Day." She confirmed.

"Sid wants us to meet in the commons area." Taka said.

"You know, the giant room in C block!" Grim said. "They're having a huge celebration today, Troopers and other crew members are partying."

"We do it every year." Taka added.

Ash grimaced slightly. "I assume I don't have a choice?" Their bright smiles told her 'no' as she nodded. She also remembered that Kylo Ren had declined to spend the day with her today regardless. So what else was she to do? She had never celebrated Empire Day before. "Alright, let's go to this party."

"First-" The group of maintenance works snickered as Taka stopped Ash from leaving her apartment. "You might want to get out of your sleep clothes."

Ash looked down again and nodded. "Right, that. Give me ten minutes."

"We'll be waiting." Grim replied in a sing-song tone as the door slid shut between Ashlyn and the crew.

Ashlyn inhaled deeply, looking around her empty apartment before willing herself to move to the closet. She grabbed a black tank top and form fitting black pants to go with it. She tied her red hair up in a ponytail and quickly threw on her boots. She knew the boys would grow impatient with her if she didn't hurry.

After checking herself in the mirror one last time, she ran for the front door and opened it. The crew were goofing off in the hallway, except for Taka who was waiting patiently as always. He smiled brightly when Ashlyn left her apartment. "She's ready, boys." He said.

The crew teasingly cat-called her as she rolled her eyes, grinning wide. "Alright, let's go!"

The group walked down the hallway, hooting and hollering as they headed for C block. What was awaiting Ashlyn, she had no idea and quite honestly, she wasn't sure she was ready to know.

The group entered the rather large common area on C block, a place Ash hadn't really been to all that much. There was really no need for her down here, most of her work was consistently on the upper decks due to her coworkers crippling fear of running into Kylo Ren. It was something that had bothered her previously, but now she was growing more and more accustomed to the idea. Granted, she wouldn't admit it was her growing acceptance of the person in question.

Upon entering the common area, Ash began to notice more and more of what Kylo had mentioned in previous trainings. She could feel the aura of the room, an overwhelming sense of relaxation and calmness. At first, it was hard to differentiate what Ash was feeling. It felt like a wall of emotion swarming over her. She couldn't concentrate at first. However, the overall vibe was happy and compared to what she typically felt upstairs, she found it much easier to enjoy.

"Hey, you found her!" Sid was beaming, holding a glass of some beverage that Ash could only assume was alcoholic as he came closer to the group. "I'm surprised you convinced her to come."

"It didn't take too much convincing." Grim said, grinning.

"Well, I'm glad you decided to join us." He said sincerely to the girl. "It's good to take a break once in awhile, get the mind off the chaos on StarKiller."

He was right, Ash could use some time away from everything. Even if that list also included Kylo Ren and Force training. She smiled slightly, shuffling from one foot to the other. "So, are we partying or what?" She asked, trying to get the attention completely off her and back to the task at hand. The group merely cheered in response as they wandered to the sea of crew members enjoying their day off.

Kylo Ren was more than happy to be alone in his apartment and far away from the annoyances of the inhabitants of StarKiller. As much as he hated the unproductive nature of a holiday, he did rather enjoy being left alone moreso. He sat with his legs cross on the cold floor of his apartment, his body relaxed as he meditated. The hum of the generators on A deck faint but ever present. He was content; a wave of easiness washing over his normally troubled and chaotic mind.

He felt at peace, or rather the closest to peace he had felt in a long time. A chance to feel more in tune to all that around him, the Force, the existence of everything, and the sudden pulse of overwhelming strain coming from a much lower floor. Kylo Ren exhaled sharply through his nostrils. 'She's straining herself.' He thought as he felt the pull from the other Force user in the building. Ashlyn was not used to suddenly feeling the energy around her, the more she became in tune with her Force Sensitivity, the more trouble she was.

Okay, she wasn't exactly a problem. She was just creating a problem for Kylo with her lack of control. Excusably, she was still learning. That didn't make her any less of a nuisance. He was, however, somewhat proud of her attempts to push back against the sudden wall of emotion surrounding her. He still had much to teach her, and maybe Kylo Ren wasn't exactly the best teacher, he had never trained anyone in the Force before. He had much to learn as well.

As hilarious as her frustration was, it was also ruining Kylo Ren's moment of peace. He stretched lazily before finally standing up all together. He frowned slightly at the feeling of being disconnected from her again, however it being for the best. Yet, he couldn't help but bring himself to finding herself occupying his thoughts once more. Ashlyn would probably be better off not at the rather large base party, at least away from the overpowering vibe coming from C block. She'd be content in learning the proper techniques of control rather than being forced into it. She'd be better off with him.

Kylo Ren immediately stopped himself. Ashlyn Novafall was no more to him than a pawn in his ultimate end game. That was it. It was no concern of his as to whether she would be or would not be better off with him. He cringed. There it was again. That bitter taste in his mouth at the thought of Ashlyn being his, in any sense of the word; a pawn, a companion, whatever.

Yet, maybe a part of his did want such a possession. A very, very dormant part wanting her around in some form, whether it be to enjoy her company or simply annoy her. He wasn't very sure and didn't want to delve too deep into that thought. Instead, he'd focus on anything but Ashlyn Novafall for now. Even if that meant grabbing his helmet and storming out of his apartment. Surely, if he stalked around the empty hallways, he'd find a way to clear his head and rid himself of that annoying red head. And yet, if he managed to run into her, he wouldn't deny himself the pleasure of making her squirm.

Ashlyn tightly gripped her drink in hand, while everyone was growing increasingly inebriated, she could barely finish one. It was overwhelming and hard to focus in a room full of the emotional vibrations she was feeling. While the good vibes were intoxicating, the inability of being able to find control to harness it was where Ash was feeling lost and helpless.

It must have shown on her face as the only still sober person came up to her with a sympathetic smile. "Everything okay?" Taka asked.

Ash, grimacing, nodded slightly. "It's just not my scene." She said, finding it easier to lie than really attempt to explain what was happening. She also didn't know if she even could explain what was happening. It all sounded completely crazy.

"Me either." Taka chuckled. "I only planned on being here for a little while before heading back to maintenance. The guys really like to party and I'm just not the type for parties." He looked around at the room of celebrating crew members before nodding to the door. "Want to head back with me?" Nodding a little to eagerly, Ashlyn headed for the exit of the commons area with Taka.

At first, Taka and Ash walked in silence. Ash enjoyed the invisible weight off her entire being the further they walked from the commons and towards maintenance. They walked in step, avoiding each other's gazes before Taka finally spoke. "So, how's training? Is it as awful as I imagine it would be?"

Ash nervously brushed some of her red hair behind her ear. "It's not the worst." She admitted sheepishly.

"Even training with Commander Ren?" Taka asked, knowing he was pushing a little more than normal. He noticed Ash's shoulder slump slightly. "He's not hurting you or anything?"

Her mood shifted slightly, a sly grin appearing. "No, he's not hurting me." She wanted to roll her eyes but wasn't sure how Taka could handle such a response. He was typically reserved, unlike Kylo Ren whom she would never take away such an opportunity to show disdain towards him. "It's just taking some getting used to." Ashlyn explained. "I started levitating objects a little better." She paused before deciding ultimately to let in on her little secret. "I also am tapping into things I didn't know existed, like being able to sense emotions around me."

Taka made a face. "You can sense emotions?"

"Sort-of." Ash tried to explain. "The Commander explained it in the most basic terms of sensing someone's emotions. It's apparently much more than that; it's like feeling their entire essence." She sighed. "It's also really frustrating not being able to control that feeling either. It's like every time I have a session with the Commander more and more of this Force Sensitive crap unlocks itself." She paused, glancing at the solemn expression of the man walking next to her before releasing an airy and nervous laugh. "Sorry, I don't mean to vent about my current frustrations."

Taka frowned slightly as he looked at her. "Don't be. You're going through a lot and I'm sorry the one person who understands what that's like is kind-of an awful human being."

Ash scoffed. "He's not that bad."

"He's yet to prove otherwise." Taka said dryly, concerning Ash just a bit as to where this tougher side was coming from. Taka was never one to complain about anything. "Let's not talk about the Commander right now." He said quickly as the two turned down the hall to the maintenance wing.

Ash pursed her lips, continuing to walk in step with Taka. "Then what would you like to talk about?"

He shrugged, grinning slightly. "Anything, I guess." Taka said as the two walked. "Like what are your plans when your contract is up, do you plan on staying?"

Ash pursed her lips; once again that continuous pressure of her future plans making an ugly appearance. She knew staying wasn't a good idea, well, staying was an awful idea when people didn't know about her abilities. Ash supposed that that immediate danger was somewhat out of the way since the one person she should have hidden it from knew. Then there was the matter of Kylo Ren himself. She did promise to stay longer if her Force training proved to be beneficial in the long run. It was. However, she was almost adamant about leaving. Or rather, she was when she was sure she hated Kylo Ren.

That sinking feeling returned as Taka cleared his throat; realizing he clearly used the wrong conversation piece. "Well, I'm only asking because I'd like you to stay." He admitted. "I think you're doing great here and who knows what else is in store for you."

Ash felt herself smiling now, a calming sensation washing over her. Whether or not she was calm or Taka was, it was welcomed after the chaos she felt earlier. "Thanks, Taka. I'm just not sure what I plan to do yet."

He nodded, repeating his earlier sentiment. "I'm not just being nice though, Ash. I'd really like it if you stayed. You bring something extra to this team; and I'd love to get to know you a little bet-" He never finished his sentence as his body lifted immediately from the safety of the ground and like a rag doll slammed into the nearest wall with a thud. His body cracked against the sheer force as Ashlyn stood there with a horrified expression; searching for the explanation only to have her eyes lock on the masked man storming down the hallway, his hand raised.

That calm feeling Ash had felt earlier immediately erasing and melding with panic and hatred as Kylo Ren stormed closer to them. Ash turned her attention to Taka, his face turning red as he choked and gasped for the simple sweetness of air. Her attention returned to the now towering Kylo Ren as he stood next to her, his arm outstretched and stiff as he stared through the slits in his mask at the floating and dying Taka.

"Let him go!" Ashlyn shrieked.

He didn't flinch as he continued to hold Taka in place. "Funny, how easy your confidence faltered." Kylo Ren's distorted yet, sickeningly amused voice said.

"Kylo, put him down!" Ash shouted, her voice pleading and desperate. "What did he do?!"

If it hadn't had been for the commotion alerting the nearby Captain of the Storm Troopers whom also had the General in her presence, Taka would have surely been done for. "Commander Ren, drop the maintenance worker, now." General Hux's voice was commanding.

Kylo Ren hesitated for a moment, glaring at Taka through his mask before sharply dropping his hand and sending Taka to the floor with another thud. His attention turned to Ashlyn as he watched her rush to Taka's side, immediately asking him if he was all right.

Without another word, Kylo Ren stormed off the opposite direction, leaving a slightly confused and all together concerned General and Captain behind as random people standing by rushed over to see if the man survived Kylo Ren.

Final Thought: Well, that's not good! Remember to review and we'll see what the heck is going to happen next!