Author Mumbo Jumbo: Oh hello there. Have a chapter on this very late Sunday evening! I'm breaking up their game into a few chapters so I apologize for it being short. First, we gotta get our favorite Force Users on track.

I do want to address something really quick. Last chapter I put a warning of violence. I know it wasn't super violent and could have been worse. However, I felt the warning was needed since this story is technically Rate 'T' and the last thing I want to do is get it removed for breaking any rules by mistake.

You'll definitely get warnings in advance for NSFW and it might not reach that standard, but just be prepared!

But anyway,

Thank you guys for your reviews. They really mean a lot to me and they honestly make my day when I read them. So please keep them coming! I love hearing your thoughts and ideas as to what could be coming up next!

But you know the drill.

Read, Review and Above All... Enjoy!

Ashlyn didn't show up for training or venture anywhere near the 100's. Instead, she stayed close to maintenance as much as possible. Even in her dreams, Kylo Ren couldn't get to her. She rebuilt that wonderful brick house she had made so long ago to keep him away. It had worked and Kylo Ren didn't even try to push her any further.

However, that feeling had to begun to gnaw at her once again. That pull to be near him. She wouldn't give in so easily, the bond wouldn't win. Albeit, everything was becoming increasingly more difficult as every other minute she'd be thinking about him or wanting to be near him. It was getting worse and worse to the point where even her crew was noticing.

Ashlyn had work to do on base, luckily for her it was enough to distract her as much as possible. Especially when she wandered to the cavern with the Kyber Crystals. It evened her out just enough to let her feel somewhat normal. As she readied to leave her apartment, she felt something on the other side of her apartment door. At first, she thought it was Kylo Ren seeking her out, due to the sheer aggravation coming from it. Her initial reaction was to run, however this was a different sensation. It didn't feel as powerful. She inhaled deeply, ready for anything as the door slid open revealing a ticked off, yet smiling, General Hux that had been waiting for her. "Ms. Novafall, do you have a moment?" He asked.

"Well, I was heading to-"

He interrupted her. "Wonderful. Come walk with me." His tone dry and devoid of anything but annoyance. He clearly was not taking 'no' for an answer.

Ash grimaced. "Am I in trouble, General?"

"More than you could possibly fathom, my dear." Hux said, turning around and nodding towards the hallway he came from. The same hallway that ultimately would take Ash to her destination. Perhaps she could escape this scolding if it turned south. "Please." Ash reluctantly agreed as she walked side by side with the General, her mind racing to all the possibilities over what she could be in trouble over. "Has the Commander ever explained or even mentioned our Supreme Leader to you?"

That name came up again, she had heard it a few times now. "Not really, just that he runs this whole operation."

Hux snorted. "That is a slight understatement, but yes. He is in command of everything that we do here within the First Order. He's also a Force User like yourself. Commander Ren has some benefit and misfortune to being his apprentice."

"He's the one who taught Kylo Ren?" Ash asked, finally receiving a piece to the bigger puzzle that was Kylo Ren.

"To an extent, there are a lot of variables within the story of Kylo Ren and how he came to be who he is here. The same goes for most of us in charge." He explained. "Supreme Leader Snoke runs this entire operation how he sees fit, he also controls our actions as well. Kylo Ren, if you think of it this way, is the enforcer, while I am the architect. When there is an obstacle in our way, either I will find a way around it or Kylo Ren will break it down. This is how it's always worked and it's continued to work this way."

"Is this a warning to stay away from the Commander?" Ash asked impatiently. "Many people have already tried that." Her mind immediately wandered to Sid. He was the unofficial leader of warnings when it came to Kylo Ren.

Hux chuckled. "Not exactly. I know you are having trouble accepting his actions regarding the flight crew member. I came to explain how the politics of this base work."

She sighed in aggravation, she really didn't care or want to relive the events of a few days prior. "I get it, power is everything and you have to maintain it by any means necessary."

"While that is true, there's something else." Hux said. "Snoke is a powerful Force User. Now, between you and me, I truly believe Kylo Ren surpasses him greatly, however, there is still that internal power struggle. Kylo Ren has worked very hard to block Snoke from learning about certain things. Consider it having the upper hand, especially when it comes down to whatever it is the two of you are up to. If Snoke were to ever catch on to you two and deemed it a conflict of interest… Well, we would no longer be having such wonderful chats."

Ash was really not in the mood to talk about her current status with Kylo Ren, whatever the hell that may be in the first place. This bond was bringing them closer but was it something they even wanted? Was it all the Force making them feel this way or was it something else? "Why are you telling me this?"

"While the Commander and I don't typically see eye-to-eye, I do respect him as my equal." He said, with a smirk. "And between you and me he's been more tolerable since you've arrived." Ash couldn't help but to unwillingly smirk at that. "But I am here to warn you to be careful, especially around Kylo Ren. Anyone could report you two and if the Supreme Leader does not like what is happening, he will shut it down. Do you understand?"

Ashlyn nodded. "I do, and I appreciate the warning. I just wish every time we mess up it didn't lead to the potential death of an innocent bystander."

Hux sighed. "Believe me, neither do I. We lose more personnel thanks to the Commander and his methods. However, they've been proven to be the best methods and it is why we are still in power." Hux explained. "As selfish as the man is, he does what needs to be done and while we want to believe that makes him an awful person, it also should be remembered that he does this for the safety of others. Believe it or not, Kylo Ren does have a reason for the things he does… even if it's an awful reason."

"That doesn't mean I forgive him."

"And you shouldn't." Hux said with as much honesty as possible, causing Ash to be slightly surprised. Was this conversation not to help her get over the whole ordeal? "It's never about forgiving, it's about understanding why he does what he does." Hux said. "You can be mad at him all you like, but he will continue to handle the more difficult situations on StarKiller." The two stopped walking as they approached the south wall entrance. "How is my base coming along?" Hux asked, changing the subject altogether

"I'm still working on the hookups for the cavern. Hopefully we'll have some readings translating to the main unit today." Ash informed him. "It's a big project, but it's moving along."

Hux nodded in approval. "Good to hear." He said, beginning to walk away. "I enjoy our little talks, Ashlyn. I'd just appreciate if they weren't always over the death of someone."

Ash smirked. "Take that up with the Commander. If he keeps killing people, we're going to keep having these talks."

"So I fear." Hux said. "Stay out of trouble, Ms. Novafall." Ash said nothing as she watched General Hux walk further down the hallway. He was right, she didn't really have to forgive Kylo Ren, but did that make what he did and continue to do okay? She honestly wasn't sure and she didn't want to think about it as she ventured outside of StarKiller and to the cavern.

"Ash, what type of readings should I be seeing from these crystals?" Taka's voice came over the commlink; Ash could hear Grim yelling about something not working in the background back inside StarKiller.

She rubbed her temples, not in aggravation over Taka asking but moreso the whole scenario at hand. They had been working for hours at trying to find the connection between the weapon and the power source. Both ends had not been talking to one another and it was not what Ashlyn wanted to deal with right then. "You should see a spike up to 40k. We'll know if they're working together if you do." She said with little to no emotion as she continued to hook up the control panel inside the cavern.

"I'm not getting anything." Taka said in frustration. "You know, it would be much easier if I was allowed down there with you to see the readings directly from the source."

"You know I can't let you do that, Taka." Ash reminded him without truly giving him a reason why. He still understood.

"I know." He said. "I'll let you know when I see a spark over here."

Ashlyn rewired a few component cables, perhaps that had been the issue for Taka not being able to find a reading. She installed the new panel for the control center, unable to reign in her thoughts as she wondered how long it would take before Kylo Ren destroyed this one too.

'Still thinking about me, I see.'

'Get out of my head, Ren.'

'Can't. We're connected now.' Even in her head his voice was just as smug as ever. He had tried to make amends, or rather, figure out a way to do so. He was running out of books to bring as a peace offering, now it had to be with words and Kylo Ren just wasn't so good with sentiment. He had hoped the bond would ultimately bring them together again, but she was being stubborn and the longer she hid from him, the worse it was for both of them. 'Let me see you.'

'Not happening.'

'You can't stay mad forever.'

'Try me.' She threatened as she brought up her commlink again. "Try now, Taka."

There was silence before Taka came over the commlink. "I got a jump. It was small but it was there."

"I think I'm on the right track. I'll let you know when to try again." Ash confirmed as she slid back under the control panel and into the inner wirings.

'You seem more balanced today.' Kylo observed. 'Perhaps you're hiding with the Kyber crystals, that would keep you somewhat stable while being away from me.'

'If you try to find me, I will kick my foot so far up your-' "I saw another jump." Ash heard on the commlink.

'I'm up for the challenge.' Ash ignored the annoying voice in her head as she reworked a few components on the motherboard. "Hit it again, Taka."

After a few moments, Taka came over the commlink again. "It's stable. The connection is working from the cavern to the mainframe. We're all good here."

Ash grinned, feeling successful in having done a good job. "Alright, you guys rest up and head for dinner. I'm going to finish up here."

"Will do, fearless leader." Taka said, causing Ash to laugh as she turned off the commlink.

She crawled out from under the control panel and stood up; brushing off any dirt that was on her black jumper only to jump at the sudden voice in the room. "I really hate him." He was talking about Taka, of course.

Ash glared. "You must really want my boot up your ass."

His lips twitched ever so slightly into a smirk. "Evidently."

"Why are you here?" She asked, although she already knew the answer.

"I want to apologize for upsetting you."

She frowned. "But not for killing that guy."

He pursed his lips. "No. I stand by my decision. I've already explained to you why I had to do it."

"There has to be another way." Ash said. "We can't keep being responsible for the deaths of others."

"If you can figure out another way, I'm willing to listen." He bargained. "However, until then, I will continue to do what is necessary. Everyone is expendable here, including you and me. I'd rather not be the one on the chopping block." Kylo took a step forward, seeing Ash take a step back, her immediate instinct to reach for her saber. Her hand hovered over it, the gesture shocking not just him but herself as well. "Are you finally frightened of me, Ashlyn?" His tone mocking.

Ash frowned. "The instinct to just kick your ass right now must be really hard to ignore."

He took her challenge as he grabbed his own saber, the red blade rushing out with a hiss and a crackle. He was smirking as Ash's expression fell. "Well?" He asked, looking to her belt where her saber rested.

"I thought they weren't toys."

"They're not." He said. "Consider this a lesson and a way for you to get even."

"And if I hurt you?" He scoffed in reply as Ash determined what else was there to lose. Perhaps she could finally make him shut up for once as she grabbed her saber and unleashed the amber blade inside. "Rules?" She asked abruptly.

"None." He said, swinging his saber expertly in his hand. "Just get it out of your system." His thought was pretty simple, let her get her aggression out. Perhaps that would help the scenario in some way, shape or form.

Like he imagined, she wasted no time in slashing at his direction. The blades clashing and hissing upon contact. Without hesitating, she pulled back and slashed again. He'd let her have her swings and attacks, he just needed to focus on blocking her as much as possible. Interestingly enough, he began to feel her pull from her own anger and aggression as her attacks began to become more and more devastating.

Ash knew he wasn't exerting too much energy by blocking her attacks, but she also understood that she needed this. It helped relieve her aggression and anger for what had happened. As much as she also hated to admit it, she was feeling better just being in the same room with him again. That only added to her fire as she struck with rage and passion.

The cavern echoed with the sound of the clashing sabers, Kylo Ren fought back just a little more to keep her guessing and on her toes. The more she pulled from the anger and frustration, the more Kylo Ren was beginning to see that while Ashlyn was ultimately a grey user, she could be swayed when pushed in the ways of dark and light. That was interesting to him.

He brought his saber down with force, causing Ashlyn to bring hers up just in time to stop him from making contact with her. He was smirking as he looked at her, their blades illuminating their faces in the dimly lit cavern. "Feeling better?" He asked.

With as much strength as she could muster, Ashlyn pushed back on his saber and ultimately breaking their little fight apart. He back up, waiting for her next move and yet surprisingly to him, she retracted her blade. "I'm not like you." She said. "While the power is intoxicating and I feel it more when I pull from anger and hate… I'm not like you. This isn't me." Ash continued. "And while this whole Force Bond thing is forcing our paths together and making us want to be with each other, I won't let it turn me into you."

Kylo was taken back by that. "Making us be together?" He echoed. "What do you mean?"

"Isn't that what it's doing? The Force is pushing us together and making us want to be together."

"Is that what you think the bond is doing?" Kylo asked.

"Well, yeah-" Ash said. "It has to be the only reason you took interest in me in the first place and why I feel like I can so easily give in to you and forgive you all the time."

He let out an airy chuckle. "Ashlyn, the Force Bond didn't make you do anything. It just feels worse because you can feel every little piece of it and ultimately what I'm feeling. The Bond isn't forcing you to feel anything for me or about me, it just enhances it."

Her eyes went wide as the realization set in. "You're saying I actually tolerate you."

Kylo Ren rolled his eyes. "I believe you feel more than that for me."

"This is just getting worse and worse by the minute." Ash groaned, throwing her hands up in frustration. "I can't like you, Kylo Ren." She explained. "You're not good for me."

"And you are not good for me either." Kylo Ren said. "If anything, you're ruining my reputation by trying to make me a better person."

Ash shook her head. "This bond thing was a mistake."

"Perhaps." He seldom agreed. "Or perhaps it's just what we needed to balance ourselves." She looked at him with confusion on her face. "Think about it, Ashlyn." He began. "I'm not exactly the easiest person to get along with, meanwhile you're my exact opposite. Maybe that's what we're supposed to be, light and dark, balancing the faults of the other."

"But I'm not either side." She reminded him.

"No, but you balance what I have to offer."

Ashlyn's shoulders fell as she began to feel utterly defeated by the entire thing. "I just want to feel like I have some control over my life."

"You do." He reminded her softly as he retracted his lightsaber and hooked it to his belt. "You have a say in what path you take. The Force is only here to guide you through it." He cautiously and slowly stepped closer to her, this time she didn't back away. "The Force Bond only connects us with our Force powers, it makes it easier for us to channel through one another by allowing us to feel and connect with the other. In doing so, it heightens our emotions so we can feel what the other feels. It doesn't control us, it doesn't control you."

Ash was not ignorant to the fact that Kylo Ren had come closer, even when he was standing almost on top of her as he looked down at her much shorter frame. "So, whatever it is I'm feeling for you is not a direct result of the Force?"

"It's just enhanced."

"I don't know if I can ever admit to it." Ash said, laughing nervously. "You'll run with it."

He grinned. "Then it's probably a good thing that you don't have to say it. I can feel it."

He was so close now, Ashlyn was practically touching him. She wanted to, she really did. She wanted that comfort from him, but she still wasn't happy with what he did. "I still don't forgive you for what you've done." She was brutally honest.

"I don't need you to." Kylo said, returning the same tone. "I know what I'm doing and why I do it. While you may see me as a monster that lays destruction in my path, I promise it's more calculated than that."

It wasn't fair, she didn't believe in his methods. Yet, at the same time, she began to realize he was right. Not in what he did, but that she really did have a choice overall. She didn't have to forgive him. For once, she didn't feel like she had to feel anything about him and was free to do so. It was liberating. "Permission for a time out?" She asked, giving in just enough to the pull she was feeling.

His face contorted in slight confusion. "Granted?" Only when she reached forward and wrapped her arms around his waist did he realize what she meant. As Ashlyn Novafall hugged the big, bag monster for perhaps the first time ever, it took him a moment to register before he wrapped his arms around her in return. He chuckled softly at how ridiculous she was. "You don't need to call a 'timeout' to our little bet to hug me, Ashlyn."

"I didn't want you to take it the wrong way." She said into his chest. She knew better, he'd find a way to make her lose over it.

"I assume this means our game will continue?" Kylo Ren asked.

"I can't let you win." Ash said, pulling away just enough to look up at him. "It's my mission now to make you lose."

Kylo smirked. "You're cute when you think you stand a chance."

"Laugh all you want, Ren. I'm going to win." Ash said.

"Of course you are." Kylo said teasingly as he leaned down, kissing the top of her head gently.

"Hey, you kissed me!" Ash exclaimed.

"We're still in time out." He reminded her dutifully, only causing Ash to groan as she put her head back down on Kylo's chest, feeling his chest rise and fall rapidly from his chuckling.

"I hate you." She said, her tone giving away that she was clearly not serious.

"I know." He said softly. Their much needed contact, along with the consistent Force energy in the cavern seemed to level the two out internally. They were bonding; it wasn't an easy process but they had each other. If moments like this could make everything feel so right, then maybe being connected on a deeper level wasn't so bad.

final Thoughts: I know, I know. Short chapter was short. However, it'll only get crazier from here. I promise. Remember to review! See you next time!