The next morning, Rose and Rey were roused early by many voices yelling and feet pounding through the hard ground. Teeta threw open the door to the training hut. Her eyes were wild as she searched the darkness for Rey.
"Lying vermin!" Teeta sent a blast at Rey that forced pinned her against the side of the hut. "You must be very powerful to deceive Issaa. You said you were sent by the Resistance!"
Rey pushed back against Teeta's wild, writhing power with great difficulty. It wasn't a single focused surge of power like Ben's. It swirled away from her own, buffeting it from odd angles, sinuous and slippery in its texture. "We . . . were! We are looking for ways . . . to disrupt the First Order!" Rey was finally able to press a shield back against Teeta to protect herself and Rose from the worst of her onslaught, and she grunted as she pushed back against the older, more experienced woman's attack.
"I don't think so." Teeta advanced on Rey. "Socar was hailed minutes ago. The Supreme Leader himself is about to land, and he demands an immediate audience with Socar . . . and with you."
"He tracked our ship!" Rose implored from her knees. "We have been running from the First Order since we were attacked on Crait. The Supreme Leader is obsessed with finding Rey—he won't stop until he has her."
Teeta released Rey, but snarled at her. "I will feed you to the Supreme Leader myself if it keeps my people safe."
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Socar had hastily erected a long tent on the landing strip of the space port. Teeta vibrated with a combination of anger and fear as she stood behind Rey and Rose at its entrance. Rey paid her no mind as she scanned the horizon for any sign of the Falcon. Chewie must have moved it prior to Ben's landing, and she wondered how they had affected Finn's transfer to Ben's shuttle.
Finally, Socar whipped back the flap of the tent and jerked his head to indicate that they were to enter. Rey heard Teeta gasp when she laid eyes on the Supreme Leader at the other end of the tent.
"Traitor!" she hissed. She grabbed Rey's arm and drug her back. "I knew you were expecting your man. I'd never have dreamed that your man would be a vile islakalah like the Supreme Leader. He drinks the blood of children and sleeps on a bed made of their bones." Teeta spat in the dirt at Rey's feet. "May you meet the same foul death he does some day."
Socar glanced warily between the two women, and with a jerk of his blaster, he motioned Rey and Rose inside the tent. He marched them through an aisle in the tent guarded on either side by a dozen storm troopers in a block formation. At the end of the tent, Ben sat imperiously on a raised platform. Finn stood perfectly straight in a pristine black officer's uniform at Ben's shoulder. His arms were locked behind his back in a close imitation of the way Hux presided over the dreadnaught's bridge, and an expression of absolute disdain was frozen across normally expressive face. Ben's face was serene, his eyes hard and his jaw set like stone, and he had very securely blocked his emotions from flowing through their bond.
When Rey looked into Ben's cold dispassionate eyes, she saw utter contempt. She wasn't worthy of his rage, and barely rated his indifference. His eyes rested on her for the barest of moments before his eyes flicked away dismissively, as though disappointed or bored. Never before had he looked like that, even when he counted her amongst his enemies. He looked through her, like she was . . . nothing.
Rey's breath caught in her throat when the thought passed her mind. No . . . it's not true. Rey squeezed her eyes shut and sought him through the bond, and was shocked at what she found there. If his expression maimed, then the barbed aggression she felt through their bond could kill. She'd felt Ben's hot rage, and she'd seen him so far gone in bloodlust that reason was impossible, but she'd never seen anything like this before.
Ben had constructed an opaque wall of ice many feet thick and wrapped it around her consciousness. To her horror, Rey saw it was slowly contracting. When she reached out to touch his consciousness with the barest whisper of contact, Rey received a painful jolt, like an electric shock, that nearly dropped her to the ground.
When Rey winced and grunted in pain, Rose threw her a panicked glance. Rey was grateful she hadn't thrown herself against his mind. The piercing cold that rolled off the barrier between them seeped from her mind into her flesh, and a near paralyzing wave of bone-deep cold washed over her. She realized with absolute clarity that the consequences of anything Ben made real in their joined consciousness would be felt absolutely in her flesh, be it a loving caress or the edge of a blade.
Rey felt Rose's fear bubble up beneath her ribs, and it fed her own. Rey's heart threatened to pound a hole through her chest and she struggled to catch her breath and press down her fear. When she struggled out of their joined consciousness and through the miasma of her fear, she saw that Ben wasn't just using his raw power to full effect within their minds. It sizzled through the air around him for several feet, and it made the chair, the dais, even Finn shimmer like a mirage.
Rey saw that Ben was watching her take him in. He quirked a brow up a fraction of an inch, as though to ask, Well? Rey drew in a deep shuddering breath and when she shook her head slowly, one corner of his wide mouth curled ever so slightly in derision. Not Ben . . . that's not Ben. That's Kylo Ren.
Trust him. Issaa's voice rang out clearly in Rey's mind, and it helped her ground herself. Your doubts are burning stones. Lay them down.
Rey closed her eyes and tentatively reached out through their bond towards Ben again. She approached the barrier but did not touch it, and she balled her hands so tightly that her blunt nails dug painfully into the flesh of her palm. Though its cold burned, she swallowed her fear and allowed Ben's aggressive indifference to seep into her. I trust you. I trust you. I trust you. She repeated it over and over, a mantra to breathe by, a hope to live by. She tried to look past Ben's impassive dark eyes and see the man who had fought so hard for her in Snoke's throne room, willing him to still be there on the other side of that impassive wall. I trust you . . .
"General," Ben's voice was deeper than she remembered ever having heard it, and its commanding tone offered no possibility of refusal. "I understand that there is a situation between your facility and the people of Obachi. Production levels have fallen far below acceptable standards, and I understand that you have experienced disconcerting losses. Perhaps we can reach some kind of understanding that will be mutually beneficial."
Socar's eyes widened in disbelief. "The Supreme Leader is astoundingly well informed."
One of Ben's brows quirked up, and Socar swallowed hard. "I understand that this woman, Rey-Okan, has offered herself as intermediary between the people of Obachi and the First Order."
"Actually, my Lord—"
Ben leaned forward suddenly, one hand braced on the arm of the chair and the opposite elbow propped on a knee as though he was about to rise. "Is that not correct? Have I been poorly informed as to the state of affairs here on Eurillis? Is there something you'd like to add?" Ben's voice was cruel and cold, sharp as a knife.
"No . . . No, Supreme Leader."
Ben sat slowly back, and he raked Socar acidly with his eyes. "I have brought with me Commander Elsoth. He will be conducting a thorough inspection of your facility while I speak with Rey-Okan. I recommend for your sake that he find it in exemplary order."
Socar bowed smartly to Ben, but Rey could see that a dark stain of nervous sweat had started to spread across the shoulders and back of the outdated dark grey First Order uniform Socar wore. "Of course, Supreme Leader. It will be our pleasure."
Socar turned, and Finn began to follow him back down the aisle of the tent between the storm troopers. Ben's eyes fell on Rose, visibly trembling and panting in fear, and he recalled Finn almost immediately, his voice low and almost dismissively casual. "Just a moment, Commander."
Finn halted just a bit too slow, forgetting that he was a commander now, and turned to face Ben. "Yes, Supreme Leader?"
Ben inclined his head just a fraction of an inch towards Rose. "I understand that this woman is a part of what was once the Rebel Alliance. I can't imagine how she came to find herself on Eurillis. See to it that she is turned out into the dunes between the base and the sea. She will make herself a useful meal for the arctenon."
All color drained from Rose's face, and she looked between Rey and Finn with alarm. Finn took her roughly by the arm and dragged her bodily from the tent. When Rose's protests could no longer be heard, Ben's eyes flicked coldly over the assembled storm troopers. "Leave us."
As one, they made a sharp about face and marched from the tent. Rey stood trembling in silence, meeting Ben's negligent gaze across the few yards that separated them. Rey tracked Rose's progress across the sand, and felt the hot tears of betrayal that coursed down her face as she watched Finn and Socar speed away. Rey expanded her consciousness, searching desperately for Chewbacca, hoping that he was actively looking for Rose.
"Rey. Look at me."
Rey's attention snapped back to Ben. I trust you. I trust you. Rey had continued repeating her mantra beneath the current of her more pressing thoughts, though with his dark gaze boring into her, her conviction was waning. Ben leaned forward in his chair, focusing his full attention on Rey. His lips tightened briefly, and his chin trembled, and then the wall of electrified ice between them shattered.
Rey's knees nearly buckled beneath the onslaught when Ben's anxiety and fear washed over her. He had been terrified that Teeta would recognize him as the Supreme Leader the previous night and that Rey would be tortured or worse for her deception, so he had left the dreadnaught several hours earlier than he had originally anticipated. It had been merest chance that Teeta had not put the face of the Supreme Leader together with the man hovering over Rey's shoulder until the moments before Rey had entered the tent.
Ben stood and closed the distance between them with only a few strides. When he reached her, Ben took Rey's face into his hands and kissed her thoroughly. I'm so sorry-I've got you. It's going to be fine now.
Rey's hands dug into Ben's forearms and she sobbed into his chest. I thought you were gone! When I reached out for you and you didn't respond, I thought I had lost you. Rey looked up into Ben's face, and her eyes were streaming. It was agony to touch your mind, and I thought I had lost you to the darkness entirely!
No, Rey . . . no. Ben held her face gently between broad hands. Not even Snoke could push me all the way into the darkness. If I couldn't sever myself from the light then, I will never be able to do it now that our souls are bound together.
Ben looked down at her imploringly. I'm sorry. I had to close my mind to you. They needed to see Supreme Leader Kylo Ren for this to work . . . I can't be Kylo Ren when I feel you inside of me. Ben smoothed back strands of hair that had slipped loose. Even if the darkness calls to me, I will always come back to you.
Rey felt Ben's reassurance flow through her, and her frayed nerves began to settle now that the familiar sensation of his thoughts flowed once again against her own. He held her close, her arms linked around his waist, and she breathed in his familiar, comforting scent. They waited for their heartbeats to synchronize and for their thoughts and feelings to find their normal, comfortable equilibrium.
As the minutes slipped away, Ben stroked her back, and when he sensed that she had found her center and was comfortable with him again, he asked, Are we OK?
Rey looked up and offered him a tremulous smile. We're OK. Rey's eyes flew wide and she drew back sharply from Ben. "What about Rose? And Finn?"
"Chewie already has Rose aboard the Falcon. Finn made only a cursory inspection of the facility, and he will be back aboard the Falcon in a matter of minutes as well."
Rey closed her eyes and reached out for Rose, and found her sobbing into Chewbacca's shoulder. He patted her shoulder awkwardly, murmuring something consoling that Rose couldn't understand, but she clung to him nonetheless. Finn was already striding away from Socar, and she felt his relief when he stepped aboard the Falcon and the ramp into the cargo bay closed behind him. He ripped off the First Order officer's jacket with such revulsion that buttons popped off and rolled away across the floor of the cargo bay.
Ben followed the thread of her thoughts. It's just us now.
Rey breathed her own profound sigh of relief and let her head fall forward into Ben's chest. Just us . . . It's always going to be just us now, isn't it? Rey turned her face to the side so that his heart beat against her ear. "How is this going to work? When we are done, it has to look to both the Order and the Rebellion that they gained a strategic victory."
With gentle fingers beneath her chin, Ben raised her face to his, and he earnestly answered. "They can have the entire system if you would just come back with me. I'd gladly give them every scrap of territory the First Order ever seized."
Ben lowered his face to hers, and when he kissed her, he allowed his feelings to flow gently back through the bond. Ben's tenderness chased away Rey's fears, and the usual warmth between them slowly bloomed. Rey realized distantly that they hadn't been in one another's presence since Snoke's throne room, and he felt different than she remembered from their touch through the force bond.
Through their bond, his physical presence was tempered by his own self image, so what she received from his mind was vastly diminished from reality. She knew he was tall, but had forgotten that he towered over her. She knew he was strong, but had forgotten that the wide palms and long fingers that gently stroked the length of her spine could just as easily snap it. She knew he was powerful, but had forgotten that the Force crackled around him, barely contained, and noticeably pressed against her skin even when they did not touch. She knew he was driven by his passions, but had not realized the depth to which they now focused on her. She had felt his warmth, but did not realize that his touch would sear.
Ben had completely torn away the barrier between them, and he felt her appraisal of him. He was embarrassed but absurdly pleased with her conclusions. As they melted deeper into one another, Rey could feel Ben's desire slowly stir, dark and rich, within him. She couldn't stop herself from softly groaning in response when his kisses deepened. Ben lifted her into his arms, and his lips followed the line of her throat. He slid aside the fabric with a brush of his nose, and his kisses continued along one shoulder.
Ben carried her back to a table that had been set to the side of the tent, and he leaned upon its edge, propping his foot on a nearby chair to support her weight. His hands bunched in the fabric at the small of her back as he pressed her closer, and Rey's arms had settled clasped atop his broad, powerful shoulders.
Awash in the tide of emotions that echoed and reechoed between them, time seemed to have stopped. She kissed her way along the edge of his chin and down to his high stiff collar. Rey laid her forehead into the crook between his neck and shoulder, catching her breath, trying to surface.
Rey threaded her fingers through his hair, and allowed him to feel the depth of desire he had opened in her. Ben reiterated through the bond, They can have anything they like.
"If only it was that easy." She kissed him gently but persisted, "What do you need to make the Order believe you came here and brought these people into line?"
Ben tightened his jaw stubbornly. "I already told you what I need."
Rey smiled fondly but sadly at him and curled the back of her fingers against his cheek. "Will you start this way every time I see you?"
Ben laid his forehead against hers. "Every time, until you say yes."
"The force bond isn't enough for you?"
Ben clasped her hips and pulled her body tighter against his so that she could feel his desire between them. Is it enough for you?
Rey looked into his dark eyes and responded with a soft, No.
Then how long are you going to deny me?
Rey tightened her embrace and kissed him fiercely. Long enough to turn the tide . . . and not one moment longer.