I want to believe that Snoke secretly knows what I'm up to and is just playing along to catch me off guard. It felt too easy. Maybe he wants to lull me into a false sense of security and sweep the hope from my lungs when he thinks I feel I'm secure in the First Order.

There's just no way this really happened, that Snoke actually believes that I want to be part of the First Order in any aspect.

I call this a small victory. The biggest has yet to come.

After dismissal by the Supreme Leader, Ben leads me out of the meeting room. He hasn't held onto me or cuffed me, he gives me free rein. Almost as though he believes me too.

"Are all troopers mindless?" I ask in disdain. The groups that we've passed march in perfect unison.

"I wouldn't say mindless. I would say loyal and obedient. The best soldiers are."

For a second, I think Ben has led me to a detention level. But once a door opens, I realize these are sleeping quarters. My sleeping quarters.

"We'll get you a change of clothes," Ben tells me as I step inside. It's not much. It has no window, just a cot that could look way more comfortable. "And before you ask, there are no room upgrades."

I scoff. "Darn, I was hoping for something with a view, or at least a bathroom attached." I turn to him. "So, when do we start?"

"Tomorrow. We'll start with a tour."

"A...tour?" I raise a brow. "This isn't a school trip."

"No, it's not. But if you're going to remain with us for a while, it's best to know your surroundings. Unless you disagree?"

"Why can't we start it now? We kind of already did."

"Though I may be training you, I can't be with you all hours of the day."

"Sure you can."

"I am to train you in the ways of the Dark Side, not have you shadow me to learn what I do. This isn't an internship. That isn't what you signed up for."

"So, who takes charge if you croak?" I blurt out.

Ben looks appalled. "Excuse me?"

"Well, surely Snoke is at the top of the chain. You're his second in command. Who follows you in the chain? Do you guys randomly select someone's name from a hat?"

"Why are you bothering with mundane questions?"

"I'm going to be around for a while." I shrug. "I should know some inner-workings."

"Not all of the inner workings."

"Because you don't trust me."

"I do, but I also don't. The Supreme Leader may have given you a pass, but he won't be with you nearly as much as I will. I'm still very suspicious of you, Amara Galavan."

"Oh, please, Ben—" For saying his name, I'm Force-thrown into a wall, hitting all fours when I touch the ground.

"That's a warning. I do not go by that name anymore."

I get to my feet, my back spazzing from the impact against the wall. "You weren't always this aggressive. Tell me, does Snoke know that we know each other?"

"He might suspect."

"So you do acknowledge that we were once friends."

Ben tilts his head to the side. "You truly are in need of guidance, aren't you?"

"Considering what's going on in the galaxy right now, I suppose I am."

"Get some rest. As I said before, the tour starts tomorrow."

"When does the real training start?"

"After our tour."

Before I get another question out, Ben leaves, shutting me in my sleeping quarters. I am a little peeved that he reacted that way about his name. Now I'll have a sore back tomorrow, because the bed I'm looking at does not like it will solve my back problem.

Tomorrow, I learn about Kylo Ren. Tomorrow, my real work begins.

I want to say that I'm ready, but I'm not. I'm slightly terrified. Yes, I'm in. Yes, I've gotten this far. But I want to say part of the reason why is because of fool's luck. I might need a lot more of that with the coming days, or months, or...or even years.

I really hope my mission doesn't take years, I'm not exactly looking forward to it.

I start to wheeze at the thought of the attack on the Academy. How everything was quiet and placid one moment, and the next, things were set ablaze, Padawans were either torn apart or taken. And Master Skywalker...

I find myself on the cot, putting my head into my hands. Easy, Amara, easy. Breathe. Dwelling on the past will not help the future, or the present. Stay in the moment and don't lose focus. Those aren't exactly the words Luke Skywalker gave his students, but the message was along the same lines.

I don't really have to get some rest...

Swallowing my anxiety, I slide open the door with some Force. It gives way, without any complaint. I peek out both sides of the hall before I slip out and do my own tour.

I don't know the scope of this place, but it gives off evil vibes. Well of course it does, the Dark Side lurks here. Not exactly like the Emperor's presence, as Master Skywalker would begrudgingly tell us. He used the stories of the Dark Side and Sith to scare us onto the path of Light.

Apparently, with Ben, the stories didn't scare him enough.

I get myself lost pretty easily, which I didn't think would be hard to begin with. Stormtroopers that pass me don't even give a helmet turn in my direction. Any droids go on about their business. It's like they're all in their own world, and I am in my own.

I take an elevator upwards, curious as to where it will take me.

When the door opens, I realize I've stumbled upon not necessarily headquarters, but a very busy work area. I want to say it's like I've walked onto the bridge of a ship. I quietly step out, looking at all the workers, who are not in Stormtrooper garb, manning their respective stations. All monitors I see don't have relevance to me.

Out past the bridge, out the huge window, a dark sky greets me. My legs gravitate me towards the window, but a man dressed in black, with orange hair, and a stern grimace, blocks my path.

"Who are you?" he sneers.

"Oh, you didn't hear? The First Order got itself a new recruit just a few hours ago," I say. "That's me, if you didn't figure it out."

The man's eyes narrow even further. "If you're one of our prisoners, you're very stupid."

My mouth falls. "I am not a prisoner! Ask Kylo Ren, he'll tell you who I am. Or better yet, call up the Supreme Leader."

The man's face seems to be turning a shade of infuriated red. With a snap of his fingers, I have a blaster digging into my spine. Wow, on-call dogs. Mindless, indeed. "I should have you executed right here."

"You do that, and I might just have you executed," comes Ben Solo's voice from behind my back. The blaster tip leaves my spine, and I'm shoved a little bit back behind Ben. Almost like he's shielding me from this orange-haired man. "I suppose you weren't informed, General. I was hoping to give you the update. Instead, it seems she's one step ahead and is trying to introduce herself to anyone she walks into. This is Amara Galavan, and she is going to be...training with me."

"She's...not a prisoner?"

"No, she's not." Ben sidesteps, glancing between both of us. "Amara, this is General Hux. Consider him a...second-in-command, if you will."

Chain of command: Snoke, Ben, and Hux. Then who is below them? I doubt I'll get that list from anyone here. "Mm, it's not a pleasure to meet you, General," I tell the orange-haired man.

"I...I apologize, I wasn't aware of any new...recruits," says Hux, who practically spits on the ground we stand on. "Does the Supreme Leader know about her?"

"He is the one who is allowing her to stay with us," says Ben. "So, yes, he knows." He gives a glower in my direction. "I told you we would do this tomorrow."

"Yeah, well, sleeping is the last thing I want to do right now," I tell him. "There's a lot to explore here, and I thought I'd get a head start."

"Without me? You had no idea where you were going. Luckily, you didn't get too far into places that are restricted access. You are also fortunate that I found you when I did, because things would not have gone well for all parties involved." Ben's eyes narrow at me. "I suppose since you're already out, we can continue your tour."

I flash a small smile. "That sounds like a plan." I mock bow to General Hux. "We'll be seeing each other a lot more."

Ben swats at me, back towards the elevator. We both get in, and he looks tense.

"What?" I ask in the quiet.

"I...I thought you had ran off," he admits in a murmur.

"If you thought I was trying to escape, you think very lowly of me." I raise my chin a little. "I was taking a look around."

"You do so with my supervision."

"You're not my babysitter."

"True, I am not. However, I am your guide, your mentor, whatever you wish to call me. I call the shots. You listen to me. That is the point of you training under me."

I shake my head. Where is the Ben Solo who never treated me like this? Maybe this is a wall, a mask that he has to don for the First Order. So far, he seems to be wearing the same mask for me, too. I don't want the First Order mask, I want to see Ben Solo.

"Did you think you made a huge mistake by letting me live, when you realized I wasn't in my quarters?" I whisper.

"For a second, I did. I thought you had fooled me, and the Supreme Leader. Those are not easy feats to accomplish." He stares straight ahead at the elevator directory. "If you had escaped...the Supreme Leader would not have been happy with me."

I look down at my feet, trying not to imagine what Snoke could do, even if he was only a hologram. He held the title "Supreme Leader" for a good reason, I'm sure. "I didn't leave my quarters out of spite, my curiosity got the better of me."

"Yes, well, you know how the saying goes about where curiosity gets people. I suggest you don't let it drive you, it can land you into some serious trouble."