She needed to speak to him but didn't know how. Unbeknownst to the others, Rey buried Leia next to her parents. She couldn't muster the courage to tell them, her own friends. The questions would be endless. Kylo never questioned her. She remembered how he just sat across from her on Ahch-To, listening to her qualms, reassuringly.
She stared into the fire outside of the hut her peers were sleeping in. She sat alone, she always felt alone. "Kylo…" She whispered into the wild flames. No answer. Tears of frustration fell. She bit her top lip, tasting the saltiness of her tears, she winced in pain. Not a physical one, but the torment of being unable to speak to anyone without being judged. "Ben…" She whispered once more. The name was hard to say, she could tell the two apart, even though they were the same person.
The flame flickered more gently, a strange wind passed through. "I'm here, Rey." A voice said simply. Ben Solo was perched on a stone, opposite her. The flames cast an orange hue that warmed his face. The face she remembered.
Instantaneously, she felt a pang in her chest as more tears started to stream down her face. "How?" She questioned her surroundings and what was happening.
"I heard you call me." He said simply, staring at her intently.
Rey closed her eyes and opened them slowly. "Am I dreaming?" She couldn't believe he was there.
"No." He replied. "I've been trying- since that day on Crait...I don't know how much time we have to talk…five years…I thought you shut yourself off from the force." He looked at her, unwilling to blink. He gripped onto his side and shuddered in pain. Rey examined him. He looked weaker, and the years bore heavy on his lids. "I know what you're going to say," he continued, "you hate me and want nothing to do with me."
Rey looked at him in surprise. Perhaps she had felt that way, for a mere moment. "I've made peace with the path that you chose." She chose her words carefully.
He let out a small breath, his lip trembled. "So have I." Rey glared at the sadness in his eyes. "I'm on the run."
Rey wiped away some stray tears. "So the rumours are true."
Ben looked at her seriously. "Depends what you've heard."
Rey thought back at their conversation. "You've been looking for me?"
His dark eyes glimmered with hunger. "Yes. But now I know you're on Jakku."
"Will you be telling the New Order?" She asked him cautiously. She folded her arms, warming her body.
Ben analyzed her movements carefully. "You know I wouldn't." She knew he was right, he wouldn't lie to her. "But they're planning something, I don't know the full extent of what is going on but I have someone on the inside-."
"Are you alright?" Rey's interruption knocked Ben's train of thought. He sat in silence contemplating her words. "Before she-your mother told me you were in trouble." Ben's lip twitched in response. "Mother's intuition." Rey clarified.
"I need you." Ben said bluntly. "Rey, more than ever...please." He pleaded, his words genuine.
"What do you need?" Rey let out a small breath. Ben stood up from the stone and walked over to where she was sitting. He haphazardly fell onto the stone next to her. Clearly in pain. She helped him sit as he brushed himself off. "You need healing. Come to Jakku. We'll help you.
Ben shook his head in disagreement. "They'll kill me. Everything I've done."
Tears welled up in Rey's eyes once more. "I'll tell them. They'll understand."
Ben let out a small laugh. "Not everyone is like you Rey. It's over. I'm past redeeming in their eyes, the damage is done. Ben Solo is dead. I'm nothing but a monster in a mask."
Rey held out her hand. Ben's scarred brow raised as he placed her hand in his and held tightly. They looked at each other wordlessly. A jolt of electricity passed through their bodies. They stared at each other, lips parted intaking all the information.
Rey saw herself falling in a muddy puddle, rain caressing her face as someone came behind her wielding a sword, trying to attack her. A group of five other cloaked figures rushed from a distance running towards her.
She saw a large formed army walking methodically through a hangar.
She saw a more youthful looking Ben, giving her a half smile. Perhaps the first smile she's ever seen of his.
But something...some white emanating barrier stopped her from seeing anything more.
She focused her gaze back onto Ben. His lips parted in confusion. "Why is this happening?" His grip slackened as it fell onto his lap. His uncertainty was crushing him.
"I read…" Rey began, slowing her words. "The Sacred Jedi Texts. It's called force-bonding. Snoke wasn't the one that instilled this on us."
"I know. I've always known." He reassured her. "I knew you were the one that was going to help me defeat Snoke. I couldn't do it without you…" His voice trailed.
Rey gulped audibly.
"Will you help me?" Ben looked up at her, his eyes innocent.
"They need my help too." Rey was afraid to lose eye contact with Ben, fearing he would disappear. Ben looked deep in thought, staring at his lap. "My needs are selfish, you know that." She gazed at him intently, hanging onto his every word. "But this galaxy we're living in...is ours. It's always been ours. It's made for you and I. It's nothing without us."
Rey let out a faded breath. "It's not all about us. There's a future generation under our grasp. There's a bigger picture here, Ben."
Ben had never gotten quite used to Rey using his name. His eyes faltered to her lips. Realizing, they darted back up. "I will help you with what you need to do after this fight is over. But first we have to fight the now, instead of worrying about the after. They'll only get stronger if we wait." He pledged sincerely. A wave of energy passed through them, solidifying the tangible energy. "I promise."
Rey mustered a weak smile. "I believe you."
Ben was surprised. He stared at her blankly, unknowing of what to do now. Unsure he would have gotten this far.
"The villagers here are force users. They'll help the Younglings develop their powers. Without me here, they'll be safe. They'll be under the radar." Rey was thinking out loud.
"It won't be safe wherever I am, no matter how quiet it is." Ben told her honestly. "But I'll keep you safe." His giddiness was palpable.
"I can handle myself." Rey retaliated gently, standing up swiftly. "I'll speak to the others. Where are you located?"
"The unknown regions…" Ben's voice hurried. "I'll send you the coordinates to Ahch-To."
"Ahch-To?" Rey responded seriously, her eyes widened. "What are you doing there?"
Ben looked surprised that she knew of the location. "I'll explain when you get here…" Ben pondered in thought. "How are you getting here?"
Rey hadn't quite thought it through but realized that Plutt always had a ship lying around to use in the marketplace. "Connections. Don't bother with the coordinates. I know the way." She winked at him.
Ben looked both impressed and taken aback. He waved goodbye as he disappeared into thin air and the world continued moving at a steady pace around her. Rey turned around and noticed the rising suns and Poe yawning out of his tent in a dusty shirt that was once presumed to be white.
"Poe!" She exclaimed loudly. "I know it's sudden. But I need to leave Jakku."
Poe barely opened his eyes as he stopped stretching mid-way. "We're leaving already? The ship isn't repaired yet." He stifled another yawn.
"No...no. I'm leaving. I'm sorry. I have something I need to do. You'll be safe here without me, the villagers will help train the Younglings. And you! If you need a ship, Unkar Plutt has many you can steal. He's just south of here.
Poe snapped out of it and looked around furiously. "Did I miss something? Are you alright? Did you sleep?" He inched closer, his brown eyes eyed her curiously.
"Y-yes. No. I mean...I'll be fine! You all will be alright too! Trust me!" Here, if you need to contact me, I'll have my beacon." She took his hand and a rush of memories flooded through her mind.
She saw an X wing blasting through a sea of enemies. BB-8 chirping excitedly and fist pumping and hugging.
She saw the Younglings, more experienced and using the Force successfully.
She saw a familiar hand grabbing his affectionately.
She placed the beacon in his hand and smiled widely, baring all her teeth. "Tell them I'll miss them and I'll be back. I promise."
Poe still looked dazed and confused, now looking at the beacon in his hand. Rey ran to her satchel and took out a slew of books and left them resting against the tent and stuffed some supplies in her bag. She ran back to Poe and bowed her head ever so slightly in his direction. "General Poe." She said in goodbyes, giving him a lasting wave as she placed a leg over a Speeder and took off into the distance, the village behind her, no longer in sight.
Time went by quickly, a pang of guilt hit her as she didn't get to say goodbye to the others. But she couldn't focus on that now because she knew she would see her friends again. The marketplace was in sight but something else caught her attention in the distance. The Millenium Falcon was back on the deserted land. She laughed loudly at the coincidence and decided to pay Plutt a visit before she took off.
She slowly made her way up to his concession stand and gave him a wry smile.
The Crolute's beady eyes opened wider than he's ever seen before.
"I have some friends staying here temporarily. Hurt them and I'll destroy everything you love. You'll know who they are." Rey bared her pearly teeth. "And I'll have Chewbacca rip off your other arm."
"Where are you going?" He growled, waving his only fist as she walked away.
She winked at him. "I'm taking what's mine." She ran off in the direction of the Falcon without another word.
Unkar Plutt's thugs scurried immediately to his side. Plutt raised out his hand to stop them from moving. "I wouldn't mess with her or the Wookie if I were you. I need my arm." He groaned disdainfully as he saw the Falcon leave his grasp once more and shot off into the sky.