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Chapter 11
She woke up earlier than him. Rey looked at a sleeping Ben and felt happy. He looked at peace. The girl nuzzled to his neck and breathed his scent. She laid there for a few minutes until Ben woke up. He mumbled something and tightened his hold her on her. He then put some space between their bodies.
"I have to go and debrief with my mother." He said and sighed.
Rey nodded and smiled at him. "Meet me at the convoy after?"
He rolled his eyes, "Fine but we are not training."
Rey shrugged, "fine." She sat up. Ben did too. He bunched the sheets towards his middle. Rey moved away from the bed. "I will see you later." She expected a hug but Ben stayed in Bed. Rey went by him and hugged him before leaving.
She checked the halls and then walked quickly to her room. Rey showered quickly and dressed in her every day clothes. She looked in the mirror. She looked healthier, there was a rosy color on her cheeks and she looked stronger. Rey smiled and combed her hair into her three buns. She skipped into dining quarters. She saw Poe and Finn. "Good morning."
Rey was bright and happy. She heaped up on food and munched happily.
"Had a good morning Peanut?" Finn asked with a grin.
"I did. The sun is bright. It looks like a beautiful day." She said and drank some juice.
Poe nodded, "yes, it will be a busy day. General Solo and his son are back from their mission. They came late afternoon yesterday. The General was injured, nothing major. General Organa is said to address us today."
Rey listened attentively and hoped that the General's address did not interfere with her time with Ben. She had so many questions for him and wanted to spend time with him.
"What are the plans for today?" She asked them.
"I have to work on fixing some of the buildings." Finn replied.
"I have practice with my squadron. I think we'll have to leave base soon." Poe said.
Finn and Rey frowned, "Where will we go?"
Poe smiled and ate some, "I sometimes forget that you are both newbies." He chuckled.
"We take all the ships and divide the resistance until we find assignments or a new base. It has been strange that we have all been in the same planet for so long. It is bad you see, leaves us open to attacks. Our numbers are so small; we cannot afford to lose any members." Poe replied.
Rey nodded, a thought occurred to her, what if the General decided that she would have to go to another ship away from Ben? "How do they separate people?"
"Rank and assignment." Poe replied.
"I am a pilot and usually stay with my squadron. Don't worry Rey, you and Finn will stay with me." He said reassuringly.
"We have to wait for General Organa's address. Maybe we are to stay some more time." Finn said clearly.
Rey nodded. She spent time in the yards and helped Chewie with minor repairs on the Falcon. Rey listened to Chewie go on about the mission. "They were both very stupid to leave you back. You would have been an invaluable asset for them." Chewie nodded passionately.
It was then when the loudspeakers sounded. "Please gather outside Building C." Rey and Chewie walked side by side. They were not that far from the space.
There was a podium for their leaders. Leia talked to General Holdo and General Ackbar.
"Hey there kid." Han said next to her.
"How are you?" Rey asked him politely,
"Surviving, a little beat up from the mission. Thanks for helping Chewie." Han smiled at her.
Rey smiled back, "no problem. Any idea, what this is about?" She asked him lightly.
The older man smirked. "Leia has contacted resistance allies. We are to move and work from the inside. She will announce different missions right now."
Rey nodded, "Poe said that they were likely to separate the resistance."
Han nodded back, "Yes, there is little time left for a confrontation. Leia will make sure everyone knows their orders."
"Oh." She said and then scanned the room for Ben. She felt him; he was on the other side of the crowd.
The General addressed them; she spoke of their allies, their strength and how brave they had to be now. "We will all take different posts. The time is now." The General then told them to report to their section leader for new assignments. Rey looked for Ben but he was gone.
Rey did not have a leader per say. She had trained with Ben and worked on the shipyards when she had free time. "Come with me." Han said and led her to the headquarters.
Rey found herself in what must be the General's quarters. Han offered her a seat and talked to her about the mission. Rey and Han spoke about the Falcon while Han told her about flying the Falcon. "I have a few plans for her once the war is over." Han grinned at her. General Organa and Ben walked in after a few minutes of conversation.
"Ben, it is the only way. We have to find him. We need your uncle." The General said. Ben shook his head.
"Rey and I are strong enough. We could take Snoke. We just have to train some more." Ben countered.
The General saw her, "good morning Rey. I am sure you are wondering why we have asked you here."
Rey nodded. She had an idea about her upcoming mission. It involved Master Skywalker because Ben was a turmoil of different emotions.
"It is time. You and Ben will go to Luke." Leia said.
Ben shook his head, "No, we are not." He said and kept shaking his head.
"Ben, Luke is the only one who can help us now. You have seen the data that we have." Han said.
"I know how to get into his ship. All I need is to let him inside my mind for a few seconds and find where he is." Ben said earnestly. "It could work."
"No." Han said, "is too dangerous. I know you do not want to see him but your uncle is our best hope. You have to finish your training."
Ben circled and looked at his father, "I spent decades with him. I learned all I had to. I am not going to him, not ever again." He said firmly, his voice low.
"Ben, please you have to face him. He will forgive you." Leia said.
Ben snapped, "Forgive me. I don't need his forgiveness. He should beg me for forgiveness." He shouted. The crystals around the room broke.
"Ben, that is enough." Han shouted back.
Ben looked at his father and nodded, "I am not going to Skywalker, not ever again." He hissed and then left. It was the closest Rey had seen Kylo Ren in Ben.
Leia shook from the encounter. Han went to his wife, "I should go." Rey excused herself and ran after Ben.
She felt him go to the convoy. Rey got there as he blasted music. "What do you need?" She asked. "Dance with me." He said. Ben was incredibly angry.
"I do not know how." She replied. Ben shrugged, "just move to it. Do what comes to you naturally." He yelled over the loud music.
"Thunder, thunder, thunder, thunder
I was caught
In the middle of a railroad track
I looked round
And I knew there was no turning back
My mind raced
And I thought what could I do
And I knew
There was no help, no help from you
Sound of the drums
Beating in my heart
The thunder of guns
Tore me apart
You've been
Thunderstruck
Rode down the highway
Broke the limit, we hit the town
Went through to Texas, yeah Texas, and we had some fun
We met some girls
Some dancers who gave a good time
Broke all the rules
Played all the fools
Yeah yeah they, they, they blew our minds
And I was shaking at the knees
Could I come again please
Yeah them ladies were too kind
You've been
Thunderstruck
I was shaking at the knees
Could I come again please
Thunderstruck, Thunderstruck, Thunderstruck, Thunderstruck
It's alright, we're doin' fine
It's alright, we're doin' fine, fine, fine
Thunderstruck, yeah, yeah, yeah
Thunderstruck, Thunderstruck
Thunderstruck, baby, baby
Thunderstruck, you've been Thunderstruck
Thunderstruck, Thunderstruck
You've been Thunderstruck."
Rey moved with him. Ben sang the song and closed his eyes. Rey followed suit and felt the song. She also felt him, his anger and rage. Rey also felt his pain, the thought of master Skywalker enraged him. Ben blamed him for everything. He grabbed her hand and turned her around. They danced and jumped to three more songs before it was too hot and they dropped to the convoys' floor.
A slow song started playing. "I do not want you to go training with him. You will hate me for what I did." He said breathless and without looking at her.
They were side by side, "I know what you did. They call you the Jedi Killer." She said with a small voice.
He tensed, "I killed them all." Ben confirmed.
It was Rey's turn to tense. "What happened Ben?" She asked without any expectations of any explanations. Ben turned to the side and looked at her. His hair was plastered to his forehead. "Snoke has been in my head since I was six years old. He was a bad voice in the beginning and then he tortured me for years. Dad and mom tried but I could tell they were afraid. Dad brought me all these tapes and danced with me. I let him, my dad was my hero. He was Han Solo, General of the Rebellion, fighter pilot and a war hero. I worshipped him. I loved my mom too. She loved me but she was always more cautious. It was her idea to give me to Skywalker. Dad accepted because he was out of his wits. Snoke left me vulnerable and I would lash out. I would cry of the pain and the music did not help anymore. I now understand that my parents tried but they were scared straight, even my brave dad." Ben said sadly.
His voice broke when he explained, "they sent me to him. I cried for dad, for mom. My father was angry. He was heartbroken and mom, her energy was never as bright. She blames herself for not studying the force, for not being stronger. I felt betrayed, they sent me away. I was bitter and scared. Skywalker trained me. He was patient and kind. I thought that surely he would understand and help me. He did, Snoke stayed away for years. I threw myself into my training. I was powerful and Skywalker knew it. My father would visit and travel with me for some days. I stopped going with him when I was a teenager. "There is no passion, there is only serenity.""
Rey wanted to hold him. "I learned more and I learned how to control my powers. His voice came one night. He told me of Darth Vader. I asked around and read books. Snoke was true; so, I let him in once more. He fed me lies, he twisted my memories and I was ready to believe him. My master sensed it. I was asleep when he came in, Master Skywalker lightsaber about to be ignited towards me. I reacted; I let Snoke fuel me. I remember everything Rey, I killed my classmates and recruited those who swore fealty to me. I was ruthless and felt no remorse. That is the truth." He finished.
Rey felt a knot inside her belly. It was wrong to bypass the fact that he was a killer. It was wrong to hold affection for him but she did. "I do not want to talk about this anymore."
"Let the past die." He said and touched her face.
"Yes, you are my friend. You are the only one who understands what it is to be alone and scared. You are the only I can talk to about the force. No one else gets it." She said openly.
Ben was sad once more. "you should go to Skywalker."
"No, he turned me away. You understood. I know there is good in you Ben; whatever you did before, you have to let it die." She continued.
"You'll stay then." He said with a small voice.
Rey smiled at him, "I'll stay. We'll train and face him together if that I was what you want to do."
