Daylight

54. You're No Skywalker

THIRD POV

The ride in for Amara was slow, agonizing, and just unwelcoming. She hated the welcoming committee that lay in wait for her as she brought her X-Wing into the open hangar, squadrons of Stormtroopers, Kylo Ren, and General Hux awaited. With her emotions voided to a point where no one, not even Snoke, could feel it, her mind wiped clean of doubt, she felt at ease for the first time in months. For almost a second, she thought it could've been from Vader. Maybe it was his power? Or maybe from bringing her back from the brink of death? Not wanting to twist her brain around the subject, she let it go for now as she dropped in to land her ship. Locking various things with special codes to keep them from being stolen, the window frame opened by a command she did not press as she figured Ren was too impatient. 

Unbuckling her seat belt, she took a deep inhale before moving to jump from the ship's height and onto the ground below. With various men targeting their blaster guns at her, she couldn't help but give them the evil eye as she placed her hands on her hips, judging silently as Kylo took a few steps forward. And he wasn't the only one. Two Stormtroopers stepped lightly behind him, holding what looked like specially made cuffs to hold her wrists in place. Suddenly feeling offended, she thought as Ren was now inches from here. Amara watched cautiously as Kylo swallowed hard as if he was the nervous one. Could he be nervous? Or could he feel the power residing in Amara as they stood before the other? A side of her wanted to know.

"Jedi Scum" He addressed her with as much hate as it could muster, though both knew it was all for show. With those words, she shot a mocking smile at him.

"First Order Failure" She returned with the same words she called him back in Sylas. For a fraction of a second, his eyes widened, but she knew, only she could see it. So, those words still hit a nerve? Without glaring at anyone, he motioned for the troopers next to him to cuff Amara with only one order.

"Cuff her."

"That's not necessary." Holding up a hand to halt them, both troopers froze in place. Surprised by their actions towards Amara, Ren was fuming, slowly, from the inside out. He could feel the raging power of the force from within her, knowing she was doing something with it. Using the force the same way she was, he pushed into their minds to take back control as he felt Hux coming up from behind him now.

"I gave you an order. Cuff her!" He said with a more demanding tone as both troopers tried once more, but that was when Amara pushed back. The nudge she gave became a sudden force, freezing the men once again as Ren felt something powerful shift inside of her, something dark yet not. How was she controlling them like this? Ren stood there in slight awe and anger at what she was capable of doing. The moment she flashed him a pretty smile, she stepped towards the troopers to the left of him.

"FYI, this isn't how you treat powerful guests." She advised Ren mostly without looking at him as she ripped the cuffs from the trooper's hands and broke them in half, hearing a few gasps from onlooking generals around them.

Something was definitely different about her. He could not only see it but feel it. Knowing he couldn't let Snoke wait any longer since both could feel her coming towards the First Order, he rudely gestured for Amara to follow as he signaled others to move, including Hux. Both Amara and Kylo noticed Hux's wide smile as they crossed the room towards the hallway that would lead them to the elevator. Before hitting the hallway, Kylo felt Amara stop. Turning his body to lecture her, he noticed she stopped in front of the man named DJ, a master liar and thief that turned in the Stormtrooper traitor and a woman. Something dark erupted from within her, making her incredibly seductive to stare at as she approached the thief.

"It's a DJ, right?" Her tone sounded seductive; one Kylo did his best not to fall for as he ushered her to leave the man be and return to his side. Ignoring Kylo for the moment, she recognized DJ from Bex Toth's mind; he smiled wide at her before trying to flirt with Amara. The sound of leather crunching together made Amara think this was pissing Kylo off as she smiled back at the Slicer.

"Y-you know m-me?" He asked like he was appreciative of her remark.

"I know your face from the man I just killed not too long ago. I just remembered something that I wanted to give you-" Without wanting to finish her sentence properly, DJ went to speak before Amara punched him square in the jar, the thief dropping to the floor with a loud and heavy thud. Just by the sound of him hitting the floor and the crack of his nose, it could be heard throughout the ship. Feeling the little amount of force Amara felt in her hand, Kylo was slightly impressed, long enough to smile behind her back. Kylo had no idea, nor did he care, about how the man deserved to be given something like that from Amara. Watching her shake out the pain from her hand, she stepped back towards Kylo but angled her body towards the fallen Slicer.

"Never make deals with dead men. You'll just become one sooner or later." Turning to look up at Kylo, she smiled a little. "Shall we, Commander?"

Her voice sounded too innocent, like she hadn't just punched a full-grown man as Ren could only nod at her question. Once more, one followed after the other until they hit the elevator Amara should've been nervous to see. But Kylo felt nothing from her. She was calm. He hadn't felt her like this in days, not since their last meeting in Sylas. Waiting until she was inches from him, the doors closed on them as the car started to ascend.

"Is the deed finished?" Ren couldn't help but stare into space as the question slipped from his mouth.

"You told me to come to you when it was. Why else would I come?" She sounded like she was asked the most boring question, and she gave it a half-ass answer. He couldn't feel her; he couldn't see into her mind, to know her true intentions. But the death of Toth was one thing he wouldn't doubt of her. She seemed better, stronger...powerful, all things he could not only see but feel. At least what she allowed him to feel. Tilting his head to the left a little, he couldn't help but admire her stance.

"Was it quick?" He couldn't stop himself from asking as he watched her shrug her shoulders. Tilting her head to the side, he watched her hair cascade with the motion, the shiny surface reflecting shades of brown and light from it. He sucked in a silent breath.

"For me, it was. On his end, I made it hurt."

"What you were going through, I felt it to a point. Suddenly, I was blocked from your...intense pain. Was it you?" His words came out quick the moment she gave her answer. His mind was racing, and so his words came out that way. But he needed to know more than just what happened. He felt lost after a point where he couldn't feel her. He hated when she was blocked off, not just within her mind. Turning her head to be seen as a profile of her face, she looked straight, seeing the intricate wall design's edges. He saw her eyes dance around in what looked like drawing a circle as if she saw past the wall. Turning around to face him now, her eyes were distant, pained. She shook her head once as Kylo let out a small huff of air through his parted lips.

"You were here; I could feel that. But the distance between us when I was in Canto Bight, I didn't try to block you. I never intended to. Something else forced a way through to block you, someone much stronger than I." He flicked a brow up, curious by her words.

"Who was it?" He asked, his voice low as it brought goosebumps to her skin, though he could never see them. He saw it there, in her vibrant violet eyes. She wanted to tell him, tell him everything. But like everything else she wouldn't dare say, he knew deep down there must've been a price to pay if she told him. Since their departure from Sylas, he had sent orders all over the galaxy for anyone to cease hunting her. He needed to ease the pressure and fear away from her, anything to get her to stay this time. Though she had nothing left, he didn't just need her to stay. He wanted it too badly. He just wanted her, forever by his side.

"Amara"

"You're not ready to know that. You're mind-it's-being torn apart by conflict. You're being torn apart, piece by piece. And based on that, I can't tell you." He thought it was disappointment sweeping across her face but what he felt from her at that moment wasn't that emotion. No, this was something else entirely. He wanted to hang his head for thinking it was a mistake but forced himself not to. They were too close to Snoke now. He had to watch his mind as he wiped everything away, giving himself a clean slate.

"Watch your thoughts and emotions. Snoke will feel everything."

"Snoke doesn't know me."

"He's too powerful for you. He'll know everything about you, Amara."Shrugging her shoulders like his words meant nothing to her, it angered him. Did she not realize the danger she's putting herself in now? The moment she steps into the throne room?

"Maybe, maybe not." She said while turning back around as both felt closer to Snoke now. Luckily for Kylo, he now couldn't see the wicked yet devious smile Amara's face held. Without thinking much of a plan, she knew what she had set in motion. This was the start of Daylight, and the first step had already been taken care of. Now, onward to step two: killing Snoke and shattering his hold on Ben Solo.

Amara couldn't help but feel the fireball within her body. What started as a tiny little candle flame turned into something a dragon would spit from its mouth. Heat rose to her cheeks but not in ways when she was alone with Ben as her devilish smile turned around as the elevator stopped suddenly. Before the doors could open fully, she felt something covering her. A halo, a veil of some kind. She knew it wasn't Kylo, and it didn't feel like it was coming from Snoke. In a second, after being covered like a halo, she felt him. Darth Vader himself as if he was standing in between her and his grandson, but oddly enough, he didn't feel his ghostly presence.

Listen to him. She heard Vader's words in her mind as it echoed off the walls in her head.

Shut them out.

Focus on only yourself.

What your goal is. Why you're here.

And if I can't? She questions his presence though she wished she could see only him.

You're a Djinn. You know you can. 

It made her smile mentally as the doors flew open faster than normal. Suddenly Amara felt sick to her stomach. Watchful and dangerous eyes landing on her as Kylo pushed her out of the elevator, but his hand didn't move from the center of her back. Believing in the words given to her by just a mere and lifeless thought, Amara felt his surge of power, his force surrounding her. It felt warm, safe, like his intentions to bring her back from the brink of death had meant something. She had meant something. Her life had meaning. Repeating Vader's words in her mind, a space locked up tightly away from Snoke and anyone in this room, she let out a calm breath as Snoke leaned forward in his dark throne, a mere presence that should've been menacing to her.