Rey stormed out of the mansion as fast as if the entire First Order was on her heels.
Darkness was growing around her, and it suited her just fine.
She rushed towards her ship, jumping in and starting the proper sequences without thinking.
She was about to take off when she felt it. His presence brushed against her. She hesitated.
Don't go, Rey. Not like this. Not again.
His words spilled into their Bond. She could feel his anger, his frustration, his remorse.
Her heart lurched. By allowing their bodies to merge, so had their souls. Even more than before. She could feel everything he felt. Every nuance, every flimsy emotion, every intent. She could feel it all if she wanted to. Their Bond had intensified to the extreme. They were even more part of each other now than ever before.
She knew just what he was asking her now. He was asking her not to leave him, not to block him out like she had on Crait. To not abandon him.
She closed her eyes and felt sadness wash over her. Loneliness. His or hers, she couldn't tell.
Finn's face swam before her mind, as did Leia's, and Poe's, and Rose's and…
She felt her resolve strengthen.
She cared for Ben, more than she wanted to acknowledge. More than she dared to examine.
But she cared for her friends, for the family they had become.
She could not, would not let anything harm them if she could help it.
She took a deep, fortifying breath and spoke clearly, calmly into their Bond.
As long as you insist on forcing your warped idea for the Galaxy upon innocent people, as long as you prefer to instill fear instead of respect, as long as you keep choosing the Dark Side over the Light or even over common decency, I have nothing to say to you.
Rey….
Leave me alone, Kylo Ren.
She pulled her mental walls up, effectively blocking him out. She wouldn't look back. She wouldn't crumble. She pushed the buttons and took off.

Ben stood at the edge of the balcony, watching her X-wing ascend slowly, turn around and then after a short flight make the jump into hyperspace.
Leave me alone, Kylo Ren.
The words danced around in his brain, bouncing off the reverberations of the figurative echoes of her slamming the door on him. Again.
She had called him Kylo Ren.
Not Ben.
Kylo.
Never before had he hated the name until he heard it roll off her tongue so coldly.
He wanted to destroy something. He wanted to hurt something. He wanted to roar.
So he did.
"REY!" he screamed at the retreating X-wing. She couldn't hear him physically, but he knew she could feel it, even through those barriers she was pulling up faster than he could blink.
His heart felt as if it had been ripped from his body, as if a chunk had been taken out of his soul.
Shamefully, he admitted to himself that he wanted to fall to his knees and bawl his eyes out.
And that admission caused him to become angry.
Anger was good.
He could channel anger. He knew how to handle anger. He was used to anger. He was used to pain as well, but this type of suffering was completely new to him. It was worse than anything he'd ever felt.
Even compared to the worst torture Snoke ever put him through, worse than Luke's betrayal or his parents leaving him behind.
Leave me alone, Kylo Ren.
The finality in her voice gave him steely resolve, even as it caused a tremor down his spine.
Enemies.
They were back to being enemies.
Or are we? He thought quietly.
Despite his anger, despite his anguish, he knew that when the time came to confront her, he could not kill her. He would not be able to take her life.
She was meant to be with him. He had seen it in every vision he had ever had of her.
Don't make my mistakes.
The strange voice snuck in again. Ben frowned at the faint memory. He didn't recognize the voice, nor the images that had flashed before him in his vision earlier. But they were important. Vital.
He looked up at the darkened sky.
She was out there. Somewhere amidst those stars.
She was off to Dantooine. To the Resistance Base. To warn her friends of an impending attack from his troups.
Heaviness settled in his soul as he found himself on strange crossroads.
He should head back and give his orders to Hux. There was no way around it if he wanted to retain any sort of credibility with his men. They were already losing patience, he knew. Chomping at the bit to do more than train. To get some action. Any more idling about and they would lead a mutiny. Probably with Hux leading them on.
A vicious sneer curled his lip at the mere thought of the redhead.
How he hated that little weasley mutt!
The man was an underhanded, arrogant little shit, but he served his purpose. Ben had to admit that he did excel in warfare. He had a vicious streak that had proven its worth in the past. It would come in handy again, along with that tactical mind of his. He really shouldn't waste any more time.
But if he left now, Rey wouldn't stand a chance. She would have no time to escape.
He frowned and felt a headache build behind his brow.
He could not hold his decision off for long.
But he decided that he probably had enough time for a quick trip to the fresher before he left.
He headed inside.
The fresher it is. He thought. After all, it wouldn't do to return looking like disheveled and smelling like her.
And if I just happen to linger a little, it won't have anything to do with a certain Scavenger having the time to get away…
His thoughts were traitorous, even to himself. But as long as Rey was safe, he would be able to live with his self-disgust.
He picked up his clothes off the floor, where they had been thrown haphazardly.
He headed for the bathroom and quickly shucked his pants. He threw everything on a pile on top of a small stool in the corner. Mild irritation at his own carelessness pricked at him. He usually would fold or hang everything with military precision. He decided he couldn't care about it right now.
He stepped into the fresher and turned it on.
For a few moments, he allowed himself to stand there and feel the rays of water pelt down on him.
The hot water briefly scalded him, then blissfully numbed him. His throat constricted painfully and his eyes burned. But it was from the hot water. That was all it was. That was all it could be.
Rage shot through him again, white hot and blinding and he felt the obscene need to act on it.
He grabbed a washcloth and started rubbing his arms and chest with a vengeance. He would scrub her memory from his body, scrub away the pleasure and happiness she had brought him if it killed it. He didn't stop until the combined sting of hot water, soap and skin scrubbed raw to the point of bleeding pierced his momentary lapse of sanity. He looked down and saw tiny red rivulets run down his arms and chest and drip down to the floor, only to disappear down the drain.
Pain is a good teacher, Kylo Ren. Pain leads to anger. It will fuel your power in the Dark Side…
The sound Snoke's voice echoed in his mind. Panic flashed through him briefly, before he realized it was a memory and not his Master, back from the grave.
Disgusted with his own twisted behavior and thoughts, he turned the spray to cold. The shock helped clear his mind and his system, snapping him back to the present.
He turned the fresher off and stepped out.
He quickly toweled himself off and started to put his clothes back on. It didn't take him long to realize that his shirt was missing.
Rey has it.
The idea that she had it, was both a comfort and a source of irritation.
Would she sleep in it? Keep it because it was mine?
He scoffed at himself for such frivolous and pointless thoughts.
With every piece of clothing he put on, he felt some of his former self click back into place.
With every piece of clothing, his resolve to not crumple because of her grew.
When he was fully clothed – minus the undershirt – he felt exactly that what she had called him.
Kylo Ren. Supreme Leader of the First Order.
He would do whatever he had to do to realize his plans for the galaxy.
As he put his left glove on, he gave it an extra little tug.
Determination made his jaw clamp down and his mouth twist as he exited the room and left straight for the front door.
He would make his vision a reality.
And she would rule at his side.
Just a matter of time…
He stepped out and went straight for his ship. He quickly got everything in position and took off without looking back.
Just a matter of time…

Rey once again broke records in getting back to the base.
Poe and Finn were in the hangar, both men scowling at her, one more intently than the other.
As she climbed down from the X-wing, Finn didn't even wait for her feet to hit the ground.
"Where on earth have you been, Rey? Why did you take off like that? We've all been worried sick about you!" He walked up to her with his arms outstretched, just ready to pull her in.
She sent him an apologetic look and simply brushed him aside.
"Not now, Finn, I'm sorry. I'll explain later."
Still walking as fast as she could without breaking into a run, she addressed Poe.
"Where's Leia?"
His eyes were still trained on her with a strange expression, but he answered in a neutral voice nonetheless.
"She's on the bridge."
She frowned as Poe's face scrunched up in a frown of his own. She had a distinct feeling that he knew more than he let on. She tried to shake it off, but the uneasy feeling stayed with her. She nodded and started running inside the base.
She headed straight for the bridge and found Leia standing with a small group of officers. They were hunching over a table, studying something that didn't interest Rey in the least.
"General Organa!" she shouted at the top of her lungs to be heard over the hubbub and commotion that was the Command Bridge.
The silence that followed was almost surreal.
The moment seemed frozen in time, everyone looked at her, what felt like a thousand eyes staring at her in question and surprise.
She felt it, but ignored them all as she sprinted across the room. Leia took several steps in her direction, meeting her in the middle of the room.
"Rey?" she asked with a worried expression. "Are you allright? What's wrong?"
Rey felt panic bubble up, the anxiety she had tried to keep in on the way back to the base no longer contained.
"Leia, we need to evacuate." She sounded slightly breathless, a combination of fear, stress and the physical exertion of running as fast as she could.
"Rey, calm down. What is going…" Leia said softly, but Rey interrupted her, grabbing her arms in a viselike grip.
"The First Order. They know where we are. They're going to attack any moment. We need to evacuate the base. NOW!" she insisted in a loud voice.
Leia's eyes instantly grew hooded and wary.
"Rey, come with me." Leia said softly as she turned.
"Leia, there's no time!" Rey's face was scrunched into a mask of impatience.
"We have to start the evacuation NOW! They could be here any minute. We need to get everyone out!"
Leia stepped closer. She stared Rey in the eye and the look she gave her would have given her pause if she had had the time to think about it.
"How do you know this?" she asked softly, barely above a whisper. "Who told you?"
The older woman's stare was hard but Rey was just as tough. A small frown and a tiny pull at the corner of her mouth were all that showed her vulnerable emotional state. No one would have noticed, but Leia saw it.
"Ben." Rey whispered so softly it was barely audible, but Leia heard it as if she had been shouting the single syllable from the top of her lungs.
Leia showed no emotion whatsoever, but Rey picked them up nonetheless.
"How can you be sure he was telling the truth?" she whispered back.
"I…" she started.
Rey averted her gaze briefly and heat climbed in her cheeks as she remembered what had transpired. How he had tried to seduce her to stay with him a little longer. How tempted she had been for a split second, before reality came crashing back with a vengeance…
Leia sighed when she realized what Rey couldn't bring herself to say.
"He had no reason to lie." She whispered. She was about to say more, but Leia cut her off unceremoniously.
"Save it." She muttered to Rey before raising her voice and pushing a button.
"Code Red. Start evacuation mode immediately. I repeat: Code Red. Start evacuation mode immediately!"
She turned back to Rey and said: "You can explain later."
Rey simply nodded and followed the instructed protocol of evacuating the premises.

By the time he returned to the Finalizer, he was in full Kylo Ren-mode.
Or mostly anyway.
As soon as his ship landed, the officer at the control panel alerted Hux, as the man had requested.
Kylo Ren emerged from the fighter and with forceful, determined strides walked towards the Command Bridge. He pinned the officer with a look that could easily rival his Force Choke.
"Have General Hux meet me in the conference room and have him assemble his Commanders."
He strode past it without another word, not waiting for a response but instead heading straight for the elevator.
He punched the button for the right level and watched the doors close.
Again, that irritating niggle of doubt wiggled in.
Why are you doing this? That voice inside his head whispered again. You don't want this. You'll hurt her. You'll lose her if you do this. Is that what you want?
He could feel his heart tug and squeezed his eyes shut in response.
He wanted to get this fucking see-sawing behind him!
Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth… Over and over and over again!
Anger at his own weakness made bile rise in the back of his throat.
Why was he doing this to himself?
The voice was right though. If he did this, Rey might get hurt.
He had already pushed her away. If he did this, he might lose her forever.
He tried to ignore the painful spasm in his chest.
The elevator stopped its ascend and the doors opened.
No time for doubt. He told himself. Steeling his resolve, he stepped out of the elevator and walked through the double doors leading into the conference room.
Hux was standing near the door, waiting for him.
Showtime…
"Ah, Supreme Leader!" the obnoxious twerp greeted him with fake enthusiasm.
"So good to have you back. I hope your trip has been worthwile." He continued.
"You may disperse with pleasantries, General Hux." Kylo Ren spoke forcefully. He stared at the man with ice in his eyes.
"Before my departure, you informed me that you believe to know where the Resistance is residing." He said cooly, his voice matching his demeanor.
"Yes, Supreme Leader. Our sources have informed me that they have struck up a new Base at Dantooine."
Careful not to show anything in his face or stance, the knowledge there was a traitor within the Resistance registered.
"Very good." He said. "Tell me, General…" he continued in a professional, detached tone, "how fast can our troops be readied and present at the target?"
Hux lifted his eyebrow and in a very smug manner stated: "Our men are ready, Supreme Leader. They can be shipped out in a matter of minutes. They could be at the target within three standard hours."
The prick looked happy. The thought of his glee made Ren sick to his stomach. He had no intention of pleasing this pawn in any way, but it was not to be avoided.
"Excellent." He muttered.
"You may ready your men, General Hux. And prepare my shuttle. We are to leave within thirty minutes."
If possible, he watched as Hux grew even more smug. As if he had been waiting for this very moment.
Kriff, he probably had!
"Anihilate that base. Reduce it to nothing. But…" he let his voice trail off as he walked towards the doorway.
He had his hand on the doorknob when he turned back and addressed Hux one more time.
"You will spare General Organa, Poe Dameron, FN-2187, The Wookie and the girl." He spoke slowly, intently. An icy glint shone in his eyes and he made sure everyone in the room knew exactly how serious he was.
"You will capture them and keep them unharmed." He narrowed his eyes and allowed a sick little smile to play with the corners of his mouth.
He watched Hux become slightly rattled at the sight of his smile, much to Ren's delight.
He decided to add to his General's discomfort.
"I have…" he trailed off and allowed a real grin to break through, menacing and foreboding, "special plans for them."
Hux stood rooted in his spot. Ren watched his Adam's apple bob up and down behind the collar of his uniform.
"As you wish, Supreme Leader." He said neutrally.
Without further ado, Kylo Ren left the conference room in lieu of his private quarters.
He knew what he had to do.