Kylo felt like A sunspot- burning furious. The tight sinews of his muscles aching from the release of his rage, the Praetorian Guard falling under his bursting sword like so many moths to a flame. The red banners blazed down in a rain of fire, the crimson guard piling on them with wicked weapons made to rend them apart- But Kylo fought better than all of them. He had been a one man army- but now he was two.

As long as Rey kept her mind clear of any thoughts, The Force told her where to go and what to do. When she let The Force control her, she was much more than a scavenger from a barren wasteland. She had skill and grace. She could hold her own against seasoned fighters. The Praetorian came down with a crash, Rey regarding him with the shadow of a smile on her face. She scanned the room for her next opponent, suddenly aware of her racing heart. But when the Praetorian approached from behind, Rey wasn't expecting it, and her feet slide clumsily over the floor as she spun to block his blow.

Kylo's dark eyes pulled away from the Praetorian he had felled, searching for the woman who served as an ally in breaking free of his shackles. The light in his darkness. They fought together, as one- and She fought well for one so inexperienced. However her inexperience still showed in the way she clumsily stumbled away from one of the guard, wielding her weapon with a tense grip.

His eyes swept the field, only 3 more guards- It would be easy enough to dispatch them. But just as he was about to face one of the remaining Praetorians, he noticed where Rey's stumbling footsteps were taking her. She was about to trip over a fallen guard!

"Rey!" Kylo's baritone shouted through the clamour of battle, hoping his shout would make her aware and she would right herself before she fell prone. Kylo tried to rush forward to distract the menacing red warrior from his pursuit of Rey, hand outstretched to pull him back with the Force-

But the other Red guard slashed his weapon, barely missing Kylo's nose as the man recoiled and engaged the Praetorian with an angry bellow. His Lightsaber crackled through the air and slammed against the Praetorian's weapon.

It was only a brief moment in time, but in that moment of panic Rey's rhythm was broken. Suddenly, her head swam with dozens of disjointed thoughts, as if a floodgate had opened and let them all in. Rey suddenly lurched forwards as a passing thought told her that her foot was caught on something, and she fell onto her hands and knees. The lightsaber shot across the floor with a wild spin. The Praetorian beneath her stirred.

"No-!" Her exclamation barely hit the air before the Praetorian drove his elbow into Rey's face, silencing her. She dropped back and was immediately beset upon by two more fighters. Their red garb filled her eyes, and Rey felt as though she were watching her own blood spill out in front of her. Terrified thoughts called out to Kylo, called for her saber, and tried to use The Force to hold off the Praetorians. Everything in Rey strained. She couldn't hear; it was as if the clamor around her had stopped and the only thing she sensed was a cold dribble of sweat down her cheek. She couldn't hold on much longer, but she had to, or they would end her life with one swift swipe.

Kylo's lightsaber pierced through the back of the Praetorian who tried to break through Rey's barrier, beastly strength throwing the felled guard away from the fray as the other guard continued to press in on the young woman, aware that Kylo was fixated on her.

Kylo had heard her call out- his mind raced through stratagem as he leapt for the other assailant. He was aware of the approach of the remaining Guard he had broken from- but Rey's attacker took priority. His mind was clouded with thoughts of desperation- he had to protect her. The strain she felt was distracting, pulsing through his head like a migraine.

Stillness, panting, struggle. Then an explosion, the feeling of bursting stars inside her own head. Rey cried out and was limp, her Force Barrier rent in two.

A non-verbal shout reached Kylo and echoed in his head as her force barrier burst- her body falling to the floor.

Kylo only heard silence, saw darkness from the previously bright girl. In the moment he gaped at her fallen form- The last Praetorian caught him by surprise, his weapon slashing across his forearm. He felt the searing pain of the gash… But it didn't stop him from lashing back, his fury twice as hot from the loss of his companion.

Like a wild-man he thrashed his blade against the Praetorian who had tripped Rey up- again and again he slammed the heated blade against the weapon with all his might until the Red-clad guard's arms failed him and Kylo's blade rent into the body.

The dark warrior remembered the remaining guard- but that one too was pressing in on Rey.

The dark Warrior skirted between the guard and his companion- blade for blade- Though He strained now, being only one armed with a weapon meant for two hands. Sweat poured down his growling face as he struggled- but then Kylo noticed the fallen saber of his companion.

Kylo broke the engaging weapons and rolled away- in the same move he hurled his Saber at the Praetorian, who deflected it. But in that moment, Kylo had summoned Rey's saber to him and launched at the guard in the wake of his thrown weapon.

He had been too fast for the guard to deflect. Kylo rent through the guard's thigh- and as the red warrior crumbled, the young man thrust it down on him, severing the last guard through his chest. The man heaved shuddering breaths, eyes pulling irresistibly towards his fallen companion.

"Rey-" Kylo called, his voice surprised him with his desperation. The man sheathed the saber and struggled through his exhaustion, legs running only to fall at Rey's side. Was she alive? After all this- would he lose this newfound ally before he even got a chance to really know her? To make a difference in the universe? His uninjured arm reached out to pull her towards him, clutching her around the shoulders to pull her onto his knees- he needed to feel some sign of life in her… Any kind of spark.

Relief washed over him when he felt her chest flutter with shallow breath… But something was wrong. There was… A strange emptiness that he hadn't ever felt before. A lack of presence- a hollowness in the places that contained her thoughts and feelings.

It was bizarre- even when one was unconscious or sleeping, there was usually some trace of it.

But It just wasn't there.

Kylo looked over the woman, prickling concern running up his spine along with fury at the Praetorians… And fury at her for overextending herself.

He grimaced as the gash on his arm complained at being used- he lifted the fallen girl up in his arms and made to leave… But something out the window caught his attention suddenly.

There was a ripple of dread in the force- the rebel ship had stopped moving… There was a flash of light like a warp drive engaging-

Then all burst into blooming light.

The force at which the ground beneath Kylo jolted threw him and Rey to the floor with an incredible impact. The young man was only aware of clutching Rey to him like a lifeline before his consciousness blinked out.