Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

I focus on my breaths, intake, exhalation, all of it. I need to focus on something other than the already intense situation in the forefront of my mind. I now have another factor to consider in this First Order mess.

I don't want to say I've bitten off more than I can chew just yet, but slowly it seems like that may be the end result here, especially if things collapse.

I reach out through the Force with closed eyes, feeling the magnitude of life at this base. I sense all troopers, Cayden, and Ben. Ben's presence I can feel the most because of its conflicted nature...and the fact that it's getting closer to me. Meaning I am most likely expecting company very soon.

I wipe my search from my mind, concentrating once again on my breathing. The cot I sit cross-legged on shifts when I move a fraction to adjust.

Instead of knocking on my door like a normal person, he opens it.

"You've lost your manners, Ren," I say, opening one eye.

Ben actually flinches at the use of the name. "I figured you wouldn't have minded me dropping in."

"What, no duties to uphold?"

"Nothing pressing, no. How did it go with the prisoner?"

With a wave of my hand, I Force close my quarters door, allowing Ben and I some privacy. "He's my roommate. Ever since the Academy fell...I had to start over. He helped me with that. He's my best friend, as stupid as he can be sometimes."

"Why is he here?"

"He thought I couldn't do this." I slack my posture, hunching a bit. "Honestly, I don't know if I can. I want to trust your words, Ben, I really do, but..." I exhale loudly. "I don't want to believe this is manipulation on your part. I want to believe we're building something genuine between us. That I'm helping you become who you once were. I don't want this to be a sham."

"It's not," he tells me softly. "It isn't easy, grappling with two opposing sides inside of me. Both speak to me. Both fight for me and against me." He leans against the wall nearest the door. "Sometimes they both shout really loud."

"Nobody's a winner yet, huh?"

"Unfortunately not. I'm hoping you may help decide that."

"Yeah, well, it's about to get a lot trickier. We may be able to hide this from Hux and the others on this base, but the Supreme Leader...he's the one I worry most about."

"You got past him when I brought you to him the first time."

"I still think that's fool's luck," I blurt before I can stop myself. "Maybe he let me stay on purpose. Maybe he's using you as a tool to get me to truly convert and go dark." My arms rest on my legs. "I just need to know what's real and what isn't."

Ben walks to my cot and kneels before me. His eyes look the softest I've seen them since...since back before the Academy destruction. "Search."

I tilt my head, not understanding the simple word at first. Understanding my confusion, he takes one of my hands and places it against the side of his head. At this, my mind gets it, and my eyes widen. I retract my hand. "Ben, no."

"You want the truth, Amara. Search through my mind's eye. I have nothing to hide from you. You won't hurt me. Things are different now than they were the first time you did this."

"You're sure?" I ask incredulously.

"I wouldn't suggest this if I wasn't." He grabs for my hand, places it against his head again. "Search, Mar. The proof is inside."

My mouth parts slightly in shock. There must be a ring of truth to Ben's words. If he has nothing to hide, then he must want this change. He must not be against me.

I remove my legs from their crossed position, letting them dangle over the edge of the cot. I'm now closer to Ben so I don't stretch my arm as far to touch him. Though I know physical contact isn't required for what I'm about to do, it gives me an odd sense of confidence and comfort.

With the Force, I gently probe and prod the walls in his mind. They give way almost instantly. I hear a sharp gasp escape his lips, but I continue as gently as I possibly can. He begins to close his eyes, and I watch his face as I search. My vision alternates between his expression and his memories.

I search through every crevice without much pushback. I come upon a terrible memory that haunts both of us. I see the god awful destruction of the Academy, feel the smoke fill my lungs. I hear the screams of the dying. I begin to tremble, but Ben squeezes my wrist. Keep going, the squeeze tells me. Work through it.

And so I do.

I dig past the recent horror and search. I feel his dislike for the First Order. I feel his sense of conflict, the tug of war between light and dark within him. My eyes begin to close. Before me are his memories now, not his face.

I see happier moments, back from when he was a child. A young, lanky, dark-haired boy who is Force sensitive. I see his parents: Leia Organa and Han Solo. Though time has ravaged the heroes, they still look as strong as ever. I see the family dynamic, how Ben slightly favors his father when it comes to remarks. He looks like Han more than he does Leia.

The memories flash to his teachings under Master Skywalker. One that strikes me the most is when we first meet. There are certain things that stick with people forever. I never expected him to remember this moment.

Time jumps, and once again, for some reason, I am pulled back towards the Academy's destruction. Through Ben's eyes, I see Master Skywalker, green lightsaber lit, above me. I don't see the murderous intent in his eye, but rather a scared look. Like he had been caught for something he didn't do.

"Amara."

The place suddenly comes down on us, shrouding us in darkness.

"Amara."

Supreme Leader Snoke is now before me. His connection to the Dark Side is strong. It's wrapping its arms around me, wishing for me to submit. But I don't want to submit. This doesn't feel right.

"Amara."

A gloved hand makes me open my eyes, and a yelp escapes my mouth. Ben pulls me against him, and I realize I'm trembling in his arms.

"You see, I am not against you," he sputters, as though he's run for miles. "I just want to be free."

"We will be," I stammer. "We'll find a way. We'll get out, all three of us. I don't know how we'll manage it, but we will."

"For now, we continue to play our game of deception."

I nod against his shoulder. "The game continues." A prickling sensation shoots up to the nape of my neck.

As one, Ben and I rise to our feet and jump apart. On cue, my door opens, and General Hux stands there, hands behind his back. He wears a sour expression.

"Am I interrupting something?" he drawls.

"Not at all, General," I say. "Master Ren was guiding me through a meditation session."

"I see." Hux doesn't look convinced by my lie. "Your presence is needed, Ren."

"Meet you at training later?" I ask Ben.

Ben nods. "You'll see me then." He turns his attention to the general. "Tell me, Hux, who decided they wanted to see me?"

"Captain Phasma, sir. There are some new recruits and she feels that you need to give them a proper welcome speech."

"I see. She usually has the best for the newbies, though. They're always riveting." Judging by Ben's tone, they are the opposite.

"She wants to shake things up, I suppose. You don't want to keep her waiting."

General Hux does not follow Ben like I expect. Instead, he simply moves out of Ben's path as he disappears down the hall. Hux and I lock eyes, and his scrutinize me.

"If that was all, general, you should go back to work. I'm sure there are other workers who need to be supervised," I say neutrally.

Hux steps into my quarters.

"Can I help you?"

His beady eyes inspect me from head to toe. It's very uncomfortable. "I hope you realize, Miss Galavan, that we take great pride in what we do. We take pride in our mission to keep the galaxy at peace. Distractions are not tolerated."

"What distractions?"

"Don't play coy with me." He takes a step closer to me. "Apprentice to Kylo Ren or not, do not break his concentration. What we are doing requires a lot of focus. If his head isn't in the right place—"

"You seem to care about his wellbeing, General, if you're threatening me like this." I stand straight. Hux remains the taller of the two of us.

"The First Order is a well-oiled machine. All parts are functioning as they should. If one starts to malfunction, and it is not fixed, the problem will grow until it becomes irreparable. It would then be a matter of damage control."

"You know, you should probably focus on your work instead of your paranoia about me. I'm a Dark Side user in training, General. You don't want to piss me off. You surely know what Force users can do."

Hux's already-permanent scowl deepens. "I am acutely aware, yes."

"Then we have an understanding. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go train." As I pass him, he grabs my arm. Acting on instinct, I Force-push him. He flies into the wall, above my cot. As he falls, he bounces off the cot, onto the hard ground. "It's rude to grab someone like that without permission. Don't do it again."

"Whatever you're doing to Ren, it needs to end," Hux spits as he picks himself up off the floor.

"I'm not doing anything to him, General. Seriously, take a day off to relax. You seem way too tense, even in these times we live in."