"Rey!" The deep voice shouting behind her startled Rey, causing her to drop the engine parts she'd been fiddling with. She sighed with frustration as the pieces clattered back into the pile of scrap metal sitting in her lap.
"Don't do that to me Ben. A simple hello would be sufficient to get my attention" Not bothering to get up from the ground Rey twisted around to see the imposing figure of the Supreme Leader standing a few feet away, the wind whipping his black cape around him. She was planning on teasing him some more about breaking her concentration, but faltered when she saw the worry lining his face. "What's wrong?" she inquired.
"Hux has managed to capture the last of the resistance" Ben said frantically. "He did it behind my back or I would have tried to warn you."
Rey scrambled to her feet, completely ignoring the various nuts and bolts that tumbled off her lap and onto the sandy ground. She stepped over the already forgotten parts as Ben closed the distance between them and wrapped his long arms around her. One hand settled on her waist, pulling her into a tight embrace, the other cradled her head against his chest. He buried his face in her hair and breathed in her familiar scent.
"I panicked upon hearing the news. I was so afraid you were among the captured or worse." The relief was evident in his voice.
Rey reluctantly pulled her head away from his broad chest and looked up into his dark eyes. "No, I came here a few days ago to try and barter for parts to repair some of our fighters. We got into a scuffle with some First Order troops last week."
Ben nodded slightly as he pushed a loose strand of brown hair out of her face and then cupped her cheek gently. "I'm just happy you're safe. I don't know what I would do if I lost you…" His voice trailed off as he continued to stare at her. Seemingly trying to reassure himself that she really was here in front of him and not locked in a cell somewhere.
Rey leaned into his large hand, relishing the warmth from it that seemed to spread throughout her entire body. Even through the bond, his touch was extremely comforting and reassuring.
Ben continued. "We're going to need to figure out a plan to get them free and quickly. Hux will likely be calling for their executions and I don't know how long I can stall him."
Rey's face must have showed her confusion as Ben's own expression changed to one of curiosity.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I'm just...surprised you want to help. I didn't think you liked any of them. Or maybe you thought I didn't notice the frequent eye rolls and annoyed sighs, especially when I talk about Poe and Finn" Rey commented. She could almost understand his willingness to help if Leia had been among the captured, but it had been several weeks since her tragic passing.
Ben's deep voice was laced with a touch of amusement. "Not particularly. But I listen to you talk about them and I can feel what they mean to you." He finally looked away from Rey and studied the sandy ground beneath their feet, a sad smile playing on his lips. "And I guess I might be starting to care about them a little. It's not like I have any friends of my own here in the First Order." Raising his head to meet Rey's eyes again, his heart skipped a beat upon seeing the love in her gaze.
Even after everything they'd been through to get to this point; Rey was still surprised at how willing Ben seemed to help rescue her friends. He really had changed so much. She reached up and gently traced her finger down his prominent scar, stopping only when it disappeared beneath his collar. She could feel him leaning into her touch, relishing the contact. Rey was thoughtful for a moment. "Well, I just can't come blasting my way into the First Order. We'll have to figure out something." Her voice was quiet, but determined.
Ben opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly looked up over her shoulder at something on his end of the bond. "I have to go, Hux is coming. I'll contact you this evening" With that he vanished, leaving Rey standing alone in the hot desert air.
