Day Two

Rey woke and forgot for a moment where she was.

She had been on Ahch-To…and it was night. She had dove into the dark pool willingly…longingly…with heavy anticipation.

And Ben was there on the shore when she rose above the waters. He held his hand out to her. And she was about to reach for it, but she turned and swam away.

And she woke.

She knew what it meant.

She was driven to him…to the dark, even…but she was resisting it.

She wondered how long this could last. If she would be able to continue this for much longer.

And she wasn't sure which side she'd end up on…

Rey got up. What she wanted was to meet him half way. She wanted to admit that she had some dark, and he had some light, and they could…

Could what? What was her endgame here?

She got up and got dressed.

And she went out onto the catwalk, and looked down. Ben was there already.

What did she want?

…he looked up and saw her. He stood and left the center of command, walking up the stairs to her.

She felt her palms sweat…she felt her heart pounding…

He was a foot in front of her, and she wasn't looking at him.

"It's good to see you," he said.

Rey nodded.

"Are you prepared to discuss the topic you chose?"

She looked at him now. "Yes."

"Good…first, however, are you at all hungry?"

"No. Not even a bit."

"Where would you care to go?"

She considered this. "In the heart of the place."

He nodded, a quizzical look on his face. "After you," and he motioned for her to lead the way.

They walked without speaking. And without Rey knowing what she was doing, exactly. She was acting on what her gut was telling her.

They arrived and she turned to him in the dark center of the mine. "Hatred."

He nodded.

"What do you hate, Ben?"

He shifted his weight. "I…" his voice sounded far away. "I hate weakness."

"In yourself, or other people?"

He paused. "Myself mostly."

She began to pace a bit. "What else?"

"Disloyalty."

"Again, in yourself or others?"

"Others."

"Whom do you hate?"

He cleared his throat. "Many people…"

"Luke."

"Yes."

"Han Solo."

"If you like."

"Do you believe that hatred is the opposite of love, Ben?"

She watched him shrug. "Perhaps?" he offered.

"It's not."

"Then what?"

She took a step forward. "Indifference. Apathy. You care about these men enough to hate them."

"I think you're reaching," he said, a smile in his voice. "Do you hate anyone?"

"No."

"Then you shouldn't claim any expertise on it," and he turned away from her. "Snoke may not have been the master I needed, but he did allow me to channel my hatred and disappointment. He showed me how to focus and hone my power…"

"Hate is not a power. It's a weakness."

"I wouldn't be so sure…" he turned back to her. "It is a powerful thing."

She walked to him, close now…she placed her hand to his chest. "Close your eyes…"

He did without thinking twice.

…and so did Rey…

"I see you…you're a child…" she began. "…Your mother is with you, and you are strong with the Force…and you are happy…she's hugging you and it's cold out…and your father…he's teaching you how to hold your lightsaber, even though you're still so young…and you're at the Temple…Luke is there…he's proud of you…and your mother…she's kissing your forehead…"

He stepped back, breathing heavy. He swallowed…she was watching him.

"There is love in you, Ben."

He couldn't speak.

"There is light."

"Why did we come here, in the middle of the mine?"

"To show you. To show that even when it's most dark, there can be light…" and she stepped closer and kissed his cheek. She stepped back again and smiled. "I see you."

He shook his head and turned away, leaving her there.

She was alone.

But she wasn't afraid…and she thought that this was her chance. She could escape. The place that she had moved the rocks was not far…she could feel the slight movement of air coming from her left.

She could escape.

Rey walked to her left…about a quarter of a mile through a smaller cavern…and there was the wall of rock. She held her hand out testing them…seeing if they were lodged in tight.

They weren't. They had been haphazardly placed back.

She breathed heavy.

It would be so very easy…


Ben was tense. He didn't like Rey going over his past …his private happy moments that he had fought to forget. These thoughts only gave him pain.

He had enough pain.

He almost resented her. Almost.

But he knew what she was trying to do, and he couldn't blame her. Not when he was basically forcing her to stay here.

She wanted him to turn as much as he wanted her to…

He was in his room following their interlude. He was shaking slightly and massively confused. The feelings that he was experiencing as a result of Rey's meddling…

No. He would check his anger.

And he laid on the bed…falling asleep.


"Supreme Leader!" a loud knocking was heard. He sat up in a panic, forgetting who he was; he was the Supreme Leader. He needed to answer the call.

Ben stood and opened the door. "What is it?"

"General Hux, sir. He wants to see you immediately."

He was irritated at the demanding sound of the request. "I'll be there directly," and he closed the door. He rubbed his face and left.

Long strides down the massive rocked expanse, he attempted to keep focus…and the memory of him destroying things when he was disappointed in something. His helmet. He had destroyed it when Snoke had poked fun of him.

He did not take criticism well.

He walked into the command center. "Hux. You wanted to see me?"

"Supreme Leader…I'm afraid that while you've been …hosting," he paused for effect. "…the Resistance has been sniffing about for us. I received word from Nal Hutta. They heard from one of their merchants that people from the Resistance are looking for the First Order, since they've all but disappeared."

"Why should this concern me?"

"Pardon me, sir," he smiled. "But they're looking for us. Would you ignore this?"

"We are doing no harm. They have nothing on us."

"They are looking for us. They are looking to destroy us. And while you're holed away with your Resistance girl…"

Ben advanced on him. "Watch what you say. Mind yourself, Hux."

"While you are entertaining your guest," he amended. "The Resistance is fast on our heels."

Ben began to circle him. "We are redefining what the First Order is. Let the Resistance find us. Perhaps they'd care to join…" and he stopped in front of him. "I have no disquiet about this news. The Resistance cares about our ability to destroy planets. We are only doing business."

Hux lifted his chin. "As you like, Supreme Leader."

"Is that all?"

He nodded.

"I appreciate your concern. But in the future…I'd say that I know what I'm doing," and he turned, and left.

And Hux watched him with contempt.

Ben walked up to the catwalk and toward Rey's room. He knocked on the door…

There was no answer.

He knocked again.

Nothing.

He opened the door…

She wasn't there.

Ben felt a sense of dread and worry…he walked in and looked around to see if she had packed anything.

No…it didn't seem like it.

He swallowed.

"Ben?"

And he turned to see her there. "Where were you?"

"I went for a walk."

He nodded, regaining himself. She was still there…"How was it?"

"Good. Are you all right?"

"Fine," he smiled. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"That was an intense talk earlier."

"Yes…"

"So, I just want to know that you're all right. And that you know why I did what I did."

He smiled at her. "I think I know."

"Do you?"

"You wanted me to see that I had people who cared about me."

"No," Rey walked into the room. "I wanted you to see that you care."

"Care? What about?"

She smiled. "About so much, Ben. You are a deeply passionate person who's been let down by those who aren't as passionate as you are."

He swallowed. "That's a gross simplification."

"I think it's pretty spot on. And I think that you know it. And that's why it hurts so badly…"

He felt heat rising from his neck…"I'm not hurt that badly."

"It's all right. I understand. But your hatred, Ben…it's there because you care so much."

He was deeply uncomfortable. He shifted. He rather wanted her to stop.

"Sorry," she said, recognizing his reticence. "I'm starting to like your planet here. It's lovely."

"Yes…" he replied amid distraction. "I hadn't thought about it that much, though."

"We could walk around a bit."

"No," he looked at her and advanced to the door. "No…I think it's best if I stay here."

"Why? What's happened?"

He swallowed. "Nothing," and he regained himself. "Nothing you need to worry about."

"Something has happened. I see it."

He considered her a moment. "Have you been in touch with the Resistance?"

"No!" she replied, aghast. "I promised you I wouldn't."

He nodded. "Where did you take your walk?"

"I…" she dropped her gaze. "I went through the rocks in the mine. Where the Resistance escaped before. I moved them, then put them back to keep out the cold."

And Ben seemed satisfied with that answer. "Promise me that you didn't speak to them," he was thinking of the leaks to Nal Hutta that Hux had referenced.

"I already did. But I'll promise you again if it makes you feel better."

"Thank you."

She smiled, shifted. "So…do you have any books around?"

"Books?" his eyes found hers. It was an unexpected request.

"Yeah. You know. Words. Stories. That stuff?"

"I can have some brought here. But I honestly don't know if you'd care for anything that we have…" he paused. "I can have someone send word to one of our Outer Rim ships to pick something up somewhere."

"How long will that take?"

"Mm…maybe a day or so."

She thought that he was distracted. He seemed as though he was only partially paying attention. "That sounds good. Do you want to talk later at dinner? You seem like you want to go."

He nodded. "Forgive me. I'll see you at dinner," and he left.

Rey was left there. She had been so close…she had stood, looking at the massive yard of ships, waiting to be used. She could have gone into any one of them and left.

But he would have found her eventually, she was sure.

And Rey still believed that Ben's turning would save the galaxy from tyranny. Or perhaps her turning to the Dark Side would solidify its doom.

She couldn't say.

But she didn't want to leave, she decided, after all.

She wanted to remain there for as long as she had said she would, and see what she could do. Do for Ben.

Before it was too late and he was lost forever.


She walked into the room they ate their dinners in.

Ben was standing behind his chair. He looked at her and smiled, motioning her to sit.

Rey took her seat across from him and sipped some water. "How are you?"

He sat. "Fine."

"That's good," and she scooped out some food.

"Do you love me, Rey?"

She met his eyes. "What would you like the next topic to be?"

He sighed a soft sigh. He cleared his throat, and looked around the room at everything but her. "Fate."