Ben caught her in his arms, gently falling to his knees and cradling her close. Luke ran up beside him, searching her face.

"Can you feel her, Ben?"

Ben lowered his forehead to hers, like he'd done so many times before, and searched through the darkness. He could feel her, but he couldn't see her. This was a new darkness, not as thick as before when he tried to penetrate her mind.

"She's there, but I can't see her," he said softly.

"Do you still sense him inside her?"

Ben searched the darkness deeper, but all he felt was her own fear and anger not Palpatine's. He felt her pushing against him, forcing him out of her mind.

"No, he's gone."

"Let's get her inside," Luke said.

Ben picked her up and carried her towards the med bay with Luke in the lead. He passed many people on their way, but he didn't look their way. He didn't want to see their fearful eyes. Guilt rocked his body. He had failed her as a teacher. His distractions had allowed her mind to be weakened.

He gently laid her on the same bed he'd found himself in the night Palpatine had stabbed him. He stood beside her, holding her hand tightly in his own. Why wasn't she waking up? A shaking hand ran softly over her cheek.

"Is she alright?" Leia said, coming into the room.

"I—I don't know," Ben whispered.

"I need to know what happened leading up to this?" Luke demanded.

"We were in the town." Ben looked up to see Rose staring at Rey. A mixture of fear and sadness burned in her eyes. "We were caught, but were able to escape. We hid in a hut, but they found us there. I—I tried to help her fight them, but she held me out of harm's way. She—she killed them all… but—but she was laughing the entire time, as if she enjoyed it. I—I didn't recognize her. Today, I went to confront her and you know the rest…" Rose finished, quietly.

"Palpatine and Rey have a connection through their blood bond. She doesn't know how to use the Force properly, and he's taking advantage of it. She tried keeping it from me, but she admitted he communicated with her, can—can show her visions," Ben added.

Luke's eyes widened for a moment before he hid his true feelings. His head slowly nodded in understanding. He approached the bed where Rey lay, touching her shoulder softly. "This isn't her fault. She hasn't learned how to shut her mind off to Palpatine. He is all she's known for years, and their connection is strong. Even I sense it. She's not to be held accountable, Leia," Luke said, looking at his sister. Leia nodded her head, agreeing with her brother.

Luke turned to Rey, reaching out his hand towards her head. He closed his eyes, and for a few minutes the room was completely silent. Ben could feel Luke's presence push into Rey's mind, and could feel him searching her out. She stirred, but didn't reveal herself to Luke. She threw him out easily. He took a step back, as if pushed.

"Ben," Luke said, opening his eyes. "You must find her. She's withdrawn into her own mind. I feel much fear and shame. Bring her back to the light, and we can help her. Both of us."

"You'll help us?" Ben asked, surprised.

"I will do more than help. I will train you both as I should have done from the beginning. Darkness has risen inside of her, but there is light to meet it. It's true… you two are a Dyad in the Force. Palpatine knows this as well, and that is why he's fighting so hard to get Rey. He knows you will follow, and once he has you both he will take your power for himself. We will show Rey the ways of the Force, the way to the Light. Ben, it is your destiny to make this journey with her. The two of you are our last hope."

"I failed her," Ben said, low. "I was supposed to train her and I failed her."

"No, I am the one who failed. I failed you. I failed Rey. I didn't completely understand what I was dealing with. But, Palpatine understands fully. He has the upper hand. We—we can't lose another person to him, and he wants her badly."

"What do you need me to do?"

Luke's hand squeezed Ben's shoulder in gratitude. "You must pull Rey back to the light. She cannot hide from this. This is her fate as much as it is yours. Palpatine is trying to scare her away from it. He cannot win! Once you have her back, I'm taking the two of you away from here."

"Taking them away?" Leia said, her eyes wide.

"I have to, Leia."

"Luke, we are in the middle of a war. We are having to leave this planet in search of a new base! You—you can't just leave. And neither can they!"

"I'm not asking for permission, sister. I'm asking for understanding," Luke said, softly. "Leia, they are our only hope in this war. Palpatine has already gotten his claws into Rey. I need to take them somewhere safe, somewhere away from distractions. We will return to the Resistance, I swear!"

Leia looked from her son to Rey, her eyes shining with concern. She had a difficult choice to make. If she said yes she lost both Luke and Ben. If she said no the Resistance would lose this hope Luke spoke of. Rey needed help. Luke could give that to her.

"Alright," she whispered.

"Thank you," Luke said, kissing his sister's cheek. "Ben, continue to try and reach Rey, and I'll get your things ready." He walked to Han, shaking the man's hand. "I need to talk to you about the Millennium Falcon," he said, walking out.

"Wait… what? Why?" Han said, following Luke out.

Leia told everyone to leave the room as Ben got to work on Rey. She had withdrawn further into her mind than he originally thought, but he would take as much time as it required to reach her. He relaxed his body, relaxed his mind. He followed his feelings, sensing she was around this darkened corner or that darkened corner. This was the furthest he'd ever been inside her head. Still, he saw nothing.

Ben felt his worry and concern intensify the longer he searched. Rey was dodging him, keeping just out of his reach. A coldness tingled up his spine, whispering doubts into his mind. He froze, drowning in her shame and self loathing. She was so lost, so scared, that he felt as if it was his own feelings.

"Please, Rey… I'm hurting," he whispered, allowing her to feel his pain.

He felt wind sweep around him, felt it crawl up his body and through him. There was a sudden shift, and a small light grew in front of him. His eyes worked again, and he noticed he was standing in Rey's room. It was a carbon copy of the real thing, right down to the smallest detail.

The light grew bigger as the large window came into view. There she was, sitting on the windowsill looking up at the stars. Her knees were pulled up to her chest. She looked so small, so vulnerable, but what gutted him completely was the look in her eyes when she finally looked at him.

"That's close enough," she said softly, a tear running down her cheek. No… it wasn't close enough, but he did as she commanded and stopped.

"Are you afraid of me?" he asked.

Her face crumbled for a moment, but she recovered. Rey slowly wiped the tear from her cheek and looked back out of the window.

"I'm afraid of myself," she whispered.

"I'm not afraid of you, Rey," Ben said, pushing strength into his words.

She found his eyes again, a sad smile crossing her features. "You're lying."

"I haven't lied to you, not once. I'm not lying now."

Ben took a step closer but stopped. Her eyes widened for just a fraction of a second, but he saw the movement. He stopped, taking a closer look at her to make sure she was unharmed. She looked so tired. As tired as he felt.

"When I was a little girl, after my parents died and Palpatine stole me away, I made a promise to myself that one day I wouldn't be a victim anymore. I would find a strength in me that no one could ever harm me again. I wouldn't just take the abuse anymore. When I killed those Stormtroopers I felt that strength. I felt it consume me like fire upon my flesh. I welcomed it so easily. You want to know the scary part?"

"What?" he asked.

"I want it again. I want to feel that power again, but it scares me," she whispered.

"Because it isn't you, Rey," Ben said, daring to take another step.

She slowly looked at him, her eyes as wide as a scared child's. "Are you sure about that?"

"Yes," he said, quickly. He took another step, but stopped when he felt her pulling away. Instead, Ben lowered himself to his knees, as if giving himself up to her. She watched his every move, and the feeling of her pulling away disappeared. "You can't stay in here forever," he whispered.

"Yes I can. It's safer for everyone if I do. H—he's infected my mind. The things he's shown me… of what I can become with the Dark Side. He tells me over and over it's who I am! Ben, please leave me," she begged.

Ben felt helpless. He could taste her fear, could taste her raw pain. He had been blinded to just how much power Palpatine had over Rey since their escape. He felt his own fear choke him realizing he may be losing her.

"Look at me," he begged. Her eyes snapped to his. "This isn't your fault, Rey. You're facing what every Force user faces. The choice on who they will become. He's just a voice in your head. Don't give him the power to make your choice for you… he's done that enough in your life."

Ben saw hope build in Rey's eyes, but it was snuffed out immediately. She looked back out of the window, up at the sky as a storm began to roll in. He could see lightning in the distance. If he could just keep her eyes on him he could reach her.

"I can't fight it. I can't fight him. He's too strong," she said, her voice shaking.

"You can… I—I'll help you. There is a part of Palpatine that will always be inside you, Rey. But, there's another part of you as well. That part is us… that part is me."

"He—he's afraid of you. He knows who you are, and he wants to destroy you."

"If you allow yourself to believe that you can't come back from this then he already has," Ben whispered.

She looked back at him, her stoned faćade beginning to crumble. "I hurt you. And Finn. I tried to kill Rose."

"I'm here, unharmed. Finn and Rose are unharmed. You can come back from this." Rey slowly shook her head, her tears falling freely now. "I need my other half, Rey. I'm incomplete without you."

"You're safer without me," she cried.

Ben rose to his feet and took several steps towards her. Her face fell into her hands as she cried openly. He sat in front of her, his hand gently moving towards her. When he touched her leg she slowly looked up at him. Her red eyes plead with him to help her.

"You took my hand to escape your grandfather. I promised you I would walk this path with you. I'm asking you to have that much faith in me again. I failed you once, but I won't fail you again. Please forgive me."

"You're asking me for forgiveness?" she said, shocked.

"Yes," he said, fighting his own tears. "I wasn't there to protect you from Palpatine, from his hold on you. I should have been training you better. If you give me another chance I swear I'll do everything in my power to protect you. I'll show you that you can have that same power you crave, but that you can use it for good. You know why?"

"W—why?" she whispered.

"Because there is still good in you, Rey. It's not too late. Luke is taking you and me away from here. Come with me, Rey. Don't leave me here alone," he said, his tears falling.

Ben held out his hand towards her, his fingers slightly shaking. She stared down at it, her cries softly filling the space between them. She moved her hand towards him, taking his hand. He pulled her towards him, wrapping his arms around her shaking body. She held onto him as if she feared he would disappear if she let go. Ben kissed the side of her head, dealing with his own pain and emotions. His tears soaked into her hair, into her skin.

"I'm so sorry," she cried.

"He will not win this, Rey. I swear to you he will not win," Ben whispered, his voice breaking.

Ben pulled her from the windowsill, watching the rain fall outside of the window. The stars were hidden behind large clouds. Lightning lit up the room around them catching Rey's attention. She turned and watched with Ben as a violent storm passed them by outside. Palpatine knew he had lost this battle, but the war for Rey was just beginning.

Ben opened his eyes, seeing that he was back in the med bay. He quickly looked down at Rey to make sure she had followed. Her eyes were open, staring at him through her tears. She sat up, reaching for him at once. He was there. He gathered her into his arms, shushing her cries.

Luke and Leia stood in the doorway watching them. Their concern was evident upon their faces, but they remained quiet. Ben looked at Luke, nodding his head. He let the man know they were ready.

"They're making me leave, aren't they?" Rey asked.

Ben squeezed her gently, kissing her forehead. His fingers found the soft skin below her chin and raised her face to look at him. "No, Rey. This is Luke's idea. He is taking us both somewhere to train us. He's confirmed we are the Dyad, but we already knew that," he said, giving her a small smile.

She smiled back, but her smile fell as she winced. "Is he back?" Ben asked, concerned.

"No, I just have a small headache," she answered.

His hand held the side of her head gently, pushing warmth and peace towards her. The pain in her eyes dimmed immediately and she finally gave him a genuine smile. He helped her off the bed, throwing a protective arm around her shoulders. Rey leaned into his side, her body slightly shaking.

They walked through the halls. People stopped and stared at them. Ben tried to shield Rey from their prying eyes as much as he could. There were three faces he could not shield her from.

Poe, Finn and Rose waited outside close to the Millennium Falcon. Ben tensed, not wanting a confrontation with his best friends. Rey was in a delicate state. She noticed them, pushing further into his side. They allowed him to pass with her without a word.

Rey laid down in the back of the Falcon, releasing a low sigh. She yawned, her hooded eyes looking up at him. She looked so tired, too pale. "I think I'll rest for a little while," she whispered. He sat beside her for a few minutes, watching her eyes close and her breathing level out.

He walked back towards his friends. They watched him come closer, all of them wearing the same worried faces.

"Is she alright?" Poe asked.

"I don't know," he answers truthfully.

"You be careful," Rose said, tears in her eyes. "Take care of her," she whispered.

The four best friends hugged each other. He was leaving them again, for how long he wasn't sure. As long as it took to fight the darkness inside Rey. He would join them again, he knew.

Next, his parents waited to hold him in their tight embrace. "Listen to your uncle, Ben. Take care of yourself too," his mother whispered.

"Tell Luke to take it easy with my ship," Han said. Ben looked at his father's sad smile. He hugged him, as tightly as he ever had before. He hoped he had half the strength his father had. If he did, he could get them through this.

"She'll be alright, son. She's got you," Han whispered in his ear. Ben hoped that was enough.

Chewie hugged Han, following Ben back onto the Millennium Falcon. He would accompany them in case they needed backup. Chewie sat down across from Rey, his eyes watching her. She was fast asleep. Ben walked past her to join Luke in the cockpit, sitting down heavily in the passenger seat. Suddenly, he felt as though the weight of the world was upon his shoulders.

They had been flying for over an hour before the first words were spoken between Ben and Luke. Ben looked out into the vast darkness of space when Luke spoke.

"Are you ready to fight for her, Ben?"

He looked at his uncle, confused as to why he would ask him that. He should already know the answer. "Without a doubt," he said.

"It won't be easy. I've felt the darkness within her. It grows stronger with each hour that passses. To add to that, Palpatine can control her through that darkness. I can show her the way, but I can't save her. That falls on your shoulders."

"I already know this."

"Do you? Are you willing to crawl in the darkness with her?"

"Yes," Ben answered. "I'm already there with her."

"Hold on to that bond, Ben. It may be the only thing that protects you from the darkness. The light within you must rise to meet the darkness. It's the only way this will work. I believe if it weren't for the Force Dyad she would have already turned. She just didn't know how to use the power within her… now she does."

"I don't believe that," Ben said, softly. He looked away from his uncle, back out into the darkness. "There's good in her, I know it. I feel it. Her choice hasn't been made."

"This may not go the way you think, Ben," Luke said, quietly.

Ben closed his eyes. He leaned his head back against the seat. He couldn't think about any other way this would go, except that she overcame this. He drifted off to sleep, but all that consumed him was the image of holding Rey's lifeless body in his hands. All that consumed him was her opened eyes revealing no life inside them. Their connection was gone.

He awoke with a start, feeling someone shake him. He sat up quickly, for a moment forgetting where he was. He looked over at his uncle, who pointed out of the cockpit window. Ben looked, barely able to make out the shape of an island in the moonlight.

"The island of Ahch-To," Luke said. "Home of the Jedi Temple. This is where we will train Rey in the ways of the Force… and where you will save her.

Save her… Those words echoed in his mind as Luke landed the Millennium Falcon. The greatest fight of his life was about to begin.