Title: Break
author: Cindy Ryan
notes and summary: see part one

"Are you alright?"Leia asked.

Luke gave his sister a rueful look and Leia realized what she'd said. Still even for a ghost Luke looked drained.

"I know you're part of the Force now,"Leia began."But that looked like it took a lot out of you."

"it did but I made contact."Luke replied quietly.

"How is she?"Poe demanded from his seat on the other side of Leia.

"Aware of what's happening."Luke responded grimly."Though even in that brief contact, as strong as Rey is, I could sense her strength fading."

Poe cursed and ran his hands through his short dark hair and then over his face. Leila's heart went out to him. She had too much experience watching those you care about suffer and die.

"Can you disable it at Kylo's end?"Poe asked with an apologetic glance at Leia.

Leia had thought she'd schooled her expression enough whenever her son was mentioned. Apparently tonight it hadn't been good enough.

"General I didn't mean kill him I just thought..."Poe backpeddled.

"My son chose the dark side and with that must live with his choices."Leia stated quietly.

"Rey thought she could turn him back."Poe said regretfully."I know she would want us to try whatever we could to break this and save him."

"I'm not sure that's possible."Luke commented sadly."Their bond was created by the dark side and with Ben sinking farther away from us. Leia, as-much as I want to believe Rey's right..."

"If we can save both we will."Leia relented not wanting to give up on Ben entirely."The priority must remain to break the bond before it causes Rey any more harm."

"I'll do my best."Luke said and then vanished.

Leia could only pray her brother was strong enough. After a moment she turned to Poe. He looked beyond exhausted. Rey being in the infirmary on top of how busy they'd been expanding the base and training...

"Get some sleep,Poe."Leia suggested gently."I'll have the medical droids alert you if there's any change."

Poe stood as he shook his head leaning against the back of his chair.

"I'm okay, General."Poe replied."I got a few hours earlier."

Leia was about to make it an order but knew it'd fall on deaf ears. She'd known Poe Dameron long enough to pick her battles.

"Alright."Leia acknowledged.

"Don't think I could sleep anyway."Poe said as he walked to the door."Going to sit with Rey for awhile."

Leia nodded and the pilot left. Rey was lucky to have Poe. Leia had heard all the rumors regarding Poe's love them and leave them reputation. Now though it was obvious that the heartbreaker had fallen in love. Leia glanced at the picture of Han on the wall and felt a pang of grief and sadness. Love and being in the alliance seldom mixed well. for a time she and Han had made it work. Leia knew if Rey survived she and Poe could too.

Poe was used to being a man of action. Part of being a pilot. He was the one flying off on missions or coming to the rescue in the nick of time. He wasn't used to feeling powerless or the chair closer Poe picked up Rey's left hand and held it tight between both of his.

"I love you Rey."Poe stated huskily."I need you hang on. We're working on a plan.

I know you believe you can bring him back. Don't loose yourself trying to do that. He's using your link to hurt you that doesn't sound like someone who wants to be saved."

Poe knew Rey loved him. It was the only thing keeping him sane right now. Remembering her smile, her laugh. How Rey felt in his arms.

"Find your way back to us."Poe whispered

.

Kylo awoke and tried to sense what had disturbed him. It was then he felt it again a tremor in the Force; a familiar one. A presence he thought was gone from his life.

"Uncle."Kylo said to the dark room.

"You need to let this vengeance go, Ben."Luke's disembodied voice replied.

"Ben Solo no longer exists."Kylo snapped turning on his left side to go back to sleep.

"I think he does; and so do other people who care about you."Luke said as he shimmered into a blue glowing form. "Rey has done nothing but try to help you."

"Which is her mistake."Kylo responded harshly. "She will pay for it. I do not require her help."

"Are you that hurt that she turned down your rule the universe proposal?"Luke pressed.

"I need no one."Kylo stated as he closed his eyes.

As he closed his eyes Kylo felt the Force shift around him and another mind touch his. With an effort he shoved that other presence out.

/Stay out of my head, Uncle./Kylo thought angrily. /What Emperor Snoke created can not be undone./

/So you believe./Luke replied.

/It is true./Kylo countered. /You can not help her./

/I failed you./Luke continued. /I will not fail her./

Kylo felt the connection break and sighed. Time to go to phase two of his plan.