Kylo Ren was gone early the next morning. This time, you knew exactly what was going on. He had explained that he was searching for Luke Skywalker and the map to him was being carried by a BB-Unit Droid. At the sound of your old master's name, you couldn't help but shudder. The memories of the Jedi Temple weren't all bad, but it was difficult to think about without thinking of Ben. General Hux's men apparently failed to capture the droid and now they were chasing down a tip from Takodana.

How the hell did they lose a ball? You incredulously think as you get out of bed. Although droids were clever, there was no way it could evade them for so long without help from a living creature. You also weren't sure why Kylo didn't take you with him. He had been talking about getting you more experience in high-stress situations and in your opinion, this was the best way to go about it.

Was he going to take you with him when he retrieved the map? You weren't sure you could even face your old master if it came down to it. Or kill him, for that matter. There was resentment towards him from deep within you. A part of you blamed him for not being able to save Ben, but you knew you were just passing the blame down because you couldn't seem to accept it. In your mind, he would be there for you when you returned. Or so you wished.

It was obvious Kylo had strong feelings for Skywalker as well. You could sense his anger through the Force every time the old man was brought up. You didn't dare ask why he was so upset with him. Kylo seemed to hold grudges against many people for long periods of time. It was yet another question you were seeking an answer to. That was all you seemed to be doing these days... searching and questioning everything around you. Curiosity was a natural instinct, but it was starting to bother you.

You try not to think too much about it as you change from your nightwear into your black robes, adjusting the leather obi-belt holding the light fabric in place. Your fingers graze the little band attached to your belt that would soon hold your weapon. A lightsaber, you think happily. I haven't held one since my training as a Jedi. You wondered if it was going to be as unstable as Kylo's. You certainly hoped not. Every time that thing was ignited, it looked as though it was going to explode at random.

Just as you start towards your day, you stop abruptly. Something was... off. The Force was calling to you, flowing through your veins as it awakened once more. It felt the same way it did when you first connected with Ren. Then you sense a presence behind you and your eyes widen. You turn quickly, face to face with your master. Only, he wasn't really there. He was standing in a small clearing in the middle of a forest. His hood was pulled up and the sun was gleaming on his mask.

"Commander?" Your brow furrows. "What's going on?"

His voice comes just as clearly as it would if he were standing right in front of you. Well, as clearly as it could be with the mask on. "It seems as though the Force thought it was a good time to connect us. Our bond is growing stronger... Can you sense it?"

A beat of reluctance.

"Yes."

Kylo shifts. "We've located the droid. It's here. But it had help. From a Stormtrooper defector and a lowly scavenger. I should be returning this evening if all goes as planned."

You bite your lip, hesitating slightly. "Be careful."

He moves closer to you and as though he really was there, you feel his body heat. Your eyes search the emptiness of his mask. He slowly extends a gloved hand towards you and you suck your breath in as it connects with your face. Kylo's thumb trails across your cheek. "Careful, pet. For a moment it sounded like you cared for me."

You smile weakly at him, teasing. "We wouldn't want that, would we?" Another brief moment of silence. You pause for a moment, debating whether or not to do something, before reaching up to the hand placed on your cheek and settling your own over his.

Kylo's head suddenly snaps up, looking past you as though he had heard something. His hand rips away from your face and the last thing you see before he disappears is his lightsaber igniting in his other hand and a blur of motion. You stare fearfully at the place he was standing just moments before. You hoped he was alright. There was only so much loss you could take, after all.

To get your mind off of it, you were going to hit the training room. You were now anxious to please Kylo with your progress after yesterday's fiasco and you knew the Knights of Ren were probably talking about you. They must have been talking about how weak you were. Kylo must have been embarrassed and angry with you for making him look back as well as yourself. As his apprentice, you were representing him.

If you failed, it made him appear as a bad teacher. That was something you couldn't risk. Especially not with Snoke entrusting his apprentice to take on an apprentice. Part of you wanted to meet the illusive Supreme Leader but your other half was terrified of the man. From the way Kylo spoke of him, he wasn't the type of man to be meddled with. You knew your mouth would get you in some form of trouble eventually, but Snoke was the type to sew it shut. No. You were going to have to focus on bettering your skills before you faced the Supreme Leader. And that was exactly what you were determined to do.

~

You were out of the training room the moment a Stormtrooper informed you that Kylo Ren's ship had returned. Apparently he had brought a prisoner back with him. That was strange... a prisoner but no droid? There must have been something special about this person. Perhaps he or she had seen the map? You would find out later. As you hurry down towards the main hangar, you pass by a group of Stormtroopers carrying an unconscious girl. Well there's my answer, you rip your eyes away and continue your search for your master. They hadn't told you if he had been injured or not. They hadn't even said anything about the mission. It could have gone completely awry and you wouldn't have known.

Then your heart leaps and you breathe a sigh of relief at the sight of Kylo storming towards you. He wasn't limping or coated in blood. So far so good.

"Did you get the-" you are cut off when he brushes past you, not even paying any attention to you. You scowl and storm after him. "Excuse me."

"No." He snaps, not bothering to look back. "The girl was all we needed. She has seen the map."

You scoff. "Seriously? Why did you just take the droid and-"

"You and I are going to interrogate her. I don't want a single word coming from you until I acknowledge you, is that clear?" Kylo orders.

"Fine," there was no point in arguing now. "I just don't understand why-"

He interrupts once more. "We'll discuss it later."

Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed, you rolled your eyes. Kylo doesn't slow his pace until he reaches the interrogation room. Just the sight of it made you shiver and feel sick to your stomach. You had spent many nights hungry, cold, and in pain while you were in those metal restraints. It was strange being on the other side of it now. The same side as the man who had done all of those things to you. You stand beside Kylo as the girl begins to shift. You observe her face closely.

Her skin had been kissed by the sun, leaving a few red splotches on her cheeks and nose. Her hair was brown and pulled back into three buns on the back of her head. The clothes she was wearing were dirty and tattered, like she had been wearing them for a long time. You didn't know why, but you took an immediate dislike to her. There was just something about her that was off. Her eyes open and she gazes around the room, staring at you in confusion. Her eyes snap to Kylo as he shifts slightly.

"Where am I?" She frowns.

His deep voice replies. "You're my guest." You try not to roll your eyes at this as you hold back a scoff. So dramatic.

"Where are the others?" This time she sounded more concerned than confused. You couldn't help but think back to the first time you had woken up in that chair. You had annoyed him within two seconds of it. Fun times.

Kylo remains still. "You mean the murderers, traitors, and thieves you call friends? You'll be relieved to hear I have no idea." He tilts his head observantly. "You still want to kill me."

"That happens when you're being hunted by a creature in a mask." She snaps, her eyes flickering to you. "Who are you supposed to be?"

"That's none of your concern," you reply icily, your eyes narrowing.

Your master rises to his feet and for a split second, you thought you had done something wrong. Apparently not. He moves closer to the prisoner. "Tell me about the droid."

She takes a breath. "He's a BB unit with a selenium drive and thermal hyper-scan indica-"

"It's carrying a section of a navigational chart and we have the rest. Recovered from the archives of the old empire, but we need the last piece and somehow you convinced the droid to show it to you. You. A scavenger. You know I can take whatever I want." Kylo extends his hand towards her temple and she flinches.

That's not fair, you think as you cross your arms and smirk at the scene unfolding before you. He shoved his fingers in my mouth when I tried to talk back. To each their own, I suppose.

"So lonely," Kylo's fingers twitch as he probes through her mind. "So afraid to leave. At night... desperate to sleep... you imagine an ocean. I see it. I see the island. And Han Solo. You feel like he's the father you never had. He would have disappointed you-"

Your eyebrows furrow at this. Han Solo? How did Kylo Ren know Han Solo? Han was Ben's father and you had met him just once. He was a strong case of like father like son. Great, you think with a silenced groan, more questions.

"-I know you've seen the map," Kylo moves away. "It's in there. And now you'll give it to me."

"I'm not giving you anything." The girl winces and shifts as the pain of the Force invading her mind intensifies.

Then you feel it. The Force. It was struggling to move in between her and Kylo, but it was sucking you in as well. You could feel it pulsing in between the three of you as the prisoner fights back. That was impossible unless... unless she was Force sensitive as well. That explained why Kylo wanted to get her instead of the droid. He sensed it too. You needed to put a stop to this before something went wrong. Just as you step forward, you feel the Force bursting back towards your master. Too late.

"You," the prisoner huffs. "You're afraid... that you'll never be as strong as Darth Vader!"

Kylo rips his hand back, pulling out of her mind. His shoulders heave as he stares her down. The girl's piercing gaze shifts from him to you. She was going to try to do the same with you if you didn't stop her. Without thinking, you grab Kylo and practically drag him from the room. To your surprise, he doesn't try to stop you. Instead he goes rather quiet and only looks down at you silently.

"What was that?" You demand angrily. "You can't just keep these things from me. You should have told me she was Force sensitive. I say we just kill her now and go after the droid. You're only going to run into more dead ends and create more problems if we keep her around."

"She could be useful." Kylo says gruffly. "Another ally in the Order wouldn't hurt. Three Force-Users would be unstoppable."

You scoff at him. "You're being stupid. Think about what you're saying here."

He scowls at you from beneath the mask. "Or we could be throwing away an opportunity."

"Or we could be leading the Resistance right to us. I don't want to use this as an I-told-you-so moment in the future, but I will." You sigh and reach out, placing a hand on his broad chest. "Please just think about what I'm trying to say."

Kylo grips your wrist, but doesn't try to push your arm away. He was debating your words carefully, deep down knowing you were right. "We'll try again. If she doesn't comply I'll execute her by the end of the week."

"Deal." You remove your hand. "Are you... okay? You seemed shaken up."

His defensive front returns almost immediately. "I'm fine. I'm... sending you back to the Finalizer tomorrow."

"What?"

"It's for your own good. My Knights are going to accompany you there and see to your hand-to-hand training until I've returned. Don't argue with me. I'm not in the mood to argue." Kylo points a threatening finger at you as you scowl. "Good girl. Come to my quarters tonight before you leave. Think of it as a... going away present."

"I-" But before you could even finish, Kylo turns on his heel and stalks down the corridor with his cloak fluttering at his ankles.

You had a bad feeling about this.