So sorry for the delay all! This week has been super busy and I ended up scrapping most of the chapter as an idea hit me. There's a bit of a mix for this chapter, but you will understand why at the end of it, I just hope it flows cause if reread, changed, and rewrote it over at least a half dozen times.

As usual...you guys amazing my with the reviews and comments. I am so very lucky that each one of you is reading this and I have tried to keep up the standard you guys expect of me :) Keep the reviews coming! They have spawned some amazing thoughts that are driving the next few chapters...so hang on!

Not to forget...I still don't own this...boo...all rights to Disney.

Chapter 27

Within a month, four more groups of sensitives had arrived on Ahch-To, swelling their numbers to just over thirty that needed training. Once learning the truth, there had only been three who had elected to leave, but the rest were on board to help, each for their own reasons.

There were now five young ones running around and causing havoc at every turn it seemed, but Tsaro had been moved to a larger hut, keeping a tight matronly control, most of the time. Space was starting to become a premium on the island, with Ben and Rey went into discussions about building the living areas out further to the base of the mountain with the counsel, while looking to add a few more modern conveniences.

Poe had made arrangements for all the supplies to be shipped, once the location had been decided and the construction was just beginning on a large mess hall, while an updated wash building was next to be built to the delight of all.

Finn came in on the supply run with the work crews, having seemed to always not be able to stay for training up till then. Rey felt like he had been making excuses, but didn't want to push him into anything as it need to be his choice to stay and train, just like everyone else. Rey met him at the landing pad and he dropped his duffle, giving her a big hug while Chewie began unloading supplies with Lando, both greeting her warmly and giving her the latest news on everything back on Ajan Kloss.

"It's about time you decided to stay." Rey said, giving him a shot in the ribs, "I managed to get you in a hut by yourself. It's small, but you will have your own space." Rey said as they walked up the hill, two of the new boys racing after each other laughing.

Finn shook his head, looking around at all the people milling about, "It sure has changed." He commented as he surveyed the large building being erected behind most of the huts.

"Thanks to all of you, we have a good start. Poe said they were still recruiting so we are just trying to keep up with everything." She directed him down a path to a small hut that was wedged between two larger ones.

Once inside, he could see that there was barely enough room for a bed, table and small firepit in the corner, but it was enough for him. He turned and really took a look at Rey. Her cheeks were pink from the walk and cold air, her eyes light, but ringed with dark circles showing the strain of the task she was undertaking and he suddenly felt bad for pushing her off for the last few weeks. He could sense the strain the weight of the training and pending darkness was having on her and he chastised himself again for not being there for his friend because he didn't want to see her with Ben, yet.

He shuffled his feet, uncomfortable under her gaze for the moment, "I'm sorry. I should have come sooner." He said softly, finally meeting her eyes again.

Rey's mouth twisted up in a half smile after getting a clear shot of all his thoughts, "I know this isn't going to be the easiest thing you have done." She said, reaching out and placing a hand on his arm.

"You, ah, look...good." He said, fumbling for something to say in the moment as he tried to find their easy banter again, but failing miserably.

Rey laughed, "That's not what you were thinking a moment ago." She teased and he frowned, feeling his cheeks warm at her implication.

"I guess I will get to work on that one." He mumbled and finally chuckled with her, pulling her into a tight hug again.

"Come on. I will take you to the first lesson. They are about to start." She said moving away with a smile and turning to head out the door again as he dropped his bag and followed.

Ben caught a glimpse of Rey heading out of Finn's hut and lost his concentration, the rock he was levitating wobbling and falling with a thud to the ground as his small group regarded him with smirks.

He cleared his throat, "Alright, your turn." He instructed turning on his firm tone that completely shut down any kind of further snickering as his eyes followed Rey and Finn as they made their way.

Rey felt as small peak of jealousy and she tilted her head to find Ben watching her and Finn walk across the clearing to a small group in a hut with only three walls. Everyone was still chattering with each other as the lesson hadn't started yet, Nelo at the front, debating with the Lanai instructor as Ann lounged provocatively across one of the benches chatting with a girl from one of the newer arrived groups.

Jek pushed his way through the larger adults and slammed into Rey's hips, "Master Rey! You teach today? Please?" He begged, his large brown eyes staring up at her as his little mouth pouted.

Finn's eyes widened with humor as he watched the interaction, Rey, crouching down to come to eye level with the boy.

"I can't today Jek, but I need your help." She said with a smile, her eyes flicking up at Finn, "Do you remember Finn?" She asked as they both looked up at him.

Jek frowned a little, "Yes. He try to find me in ship." He said and turned to Rey, a proud smile spreading across his face, "He couldn't."

Rey swallowed a laugh, "Well, he's like you and me, and he will need some help with his training. Do you think you can be a help for me?" She asked, watching the boy's face screw up with his thoughts before her looked at Finn assessing him.

He gave a sharp nod, "I show him what I know. I listen good for lessons." He said firmly to get his point across.

Rey smiled, standing and ruffled his white hair, "Yes you do. Thank you Jek." She said and the boy immediately grabbed Finn's hand, dragging him to the front as the others were being seated.

Rey laughed and waved as Finn mouthed "Thanks a lot" at her before being swallowed up by the group for introductions. As Rey left, she noticed Ann watching Finn closely, chewing on her bottom lip in thought before she slowly rose and made her way over to him, hips swaying as she did. Rey huffed and made a mental note to caution Finn when it came to her, as she seemed to make her way quickly through the men that had paid her any attention.

Rey headed back out across the field and noticed that Ben had handed over instruction of his group to a Lanai and wasn't to be seen. She headed to their hut, following his light presence in the back of her mind, slipping inside quietly.

Shutting the door behind her she found him sitting in his chair, cup of tea in his hand, staring into the small flickering flames. She headed over to him, feeling his unease, but not able to pinpoint the reason.

"You okay?" She asked, running a hand across his shoulder and moving to thread her fingers in his hair at the base of his neck.

Ben sighed at the gesture, leaning into her hand, "I'm fine. I just needed some quiet." He said, not exactly lying, but not telling her the whole truth either.

Rey knew it wasn't the whole truth, but let it go and plopped down into her chair with a large sigh. They had ramped up their training together, and had visited the grey quite a few times in the last week. The shell around the dark was continuing to work for the time being, but they both could tell that it was thinning. The strain of the training and the looming darkness was weighing on both of them heavily as they felt that time was ticking away faster than they were going to be prepared for.

Even though they were in the same space, she felt as if their bond was stretched too thin lately and it was all pressing in on her. Rey closed her eyes, rolling her neck to relieve some of the strain in her shoulders and she felt Ben shift to look at her.

"I think we should try to bring in another person for our sessions in the grey." Ben said with a slight hesitation in his voice.

Rey opened her eyes and glanced sidelong a him, "Okay." She drawled out slowly, waiting for a better explanation to his idea.

Ben took a deep breath, "I have been feeling, more and more, that we are running out of time. Something is coming and we need to be ready." His face was serious as he stared at the flames, lost in his own thoughts.

Rey sat back in her chair and watched him for a moment. She had felt his anxiety and doubt rising more with each group that came, but she figured he was just dealing with all the changes and the people. However, now she realized there had been so many pulls drawing away her attention, she hadn't realized how concerned he actually was.

"What did you have in mind?" She asked while examining their bond more carefully and reached out to his mind.

Ben raked his hands through his hair, it had grown quite a bit since Malastare and it was constantly in his face. "Nelo. He is the best so far when it comes to control. We start sessions with him, working to draw from him in the grey." He said as if he had been working on this idea for a while.

Rey thought it through carefully, "Makes the most sense. We need to be able to learn somehow." And she nodded slowly starting to get a better sense of the plan Ben had formed, but still not feeling like they were connected like they usually were.

They lapsed into silence again until Ben's anxiety got the better of him and he began to pace. Rey watched him, feeling the dark calling him to comfort his fears, his face getting more and more serious with each pass of the room he took. Finally, she couldn't take the distance between them anymore and got up to stand in his path.

Ben nearly ran into her, not noticing she had gotten up to stand in front of him, "Wha..." He started to say before being silenced by her hands threading in his hair as she boosted herself up on her tiptoes while pulling his head down towards her.

Rey's plan worked, as she figured it would, and she caught Ben completely off guard as her lips met his in a surprising kiss. Rey realized, when she was taken off guard by his troubled mind, that their bond wasn't just stretched, it was paper thin with the strain and this was one way to bring it rapidly into focus. She found that she wasn't just needing to reconnect with him through their bond, she craved to have him close.

Ben froze as his mind tried to comprehend what was happening until his arms moved on their own to slowly wrap around her frame, crushing her to him. His senses honing in on her, connecting her to him in every way possible. The way she smelled, the way she tasted, the way her body fit against his, and a soft whimpering moan escaped him against her mouth with the intensity of it all.

The demand of the kiss began to ease off to a slow, lingering worship of her mouth, letting one of his hands wander up to the middle of her back, while the other trailed down to the center of her sacrum, pushing her tight against him. She sighed happily against his lips before he dragged them down, trailing his kisses to her chin, then to the rapid pulse point in her neck, feeling the goosebumps rise under his tongue.

He chuckled against her neck as she squirmed, "What was that for?" He rumbled low, not moving his lips from her neck as he spoke.

Rey leaned into his mouth, her body yearning for more, "We have been too far away lately." She said softly, letting her fingers slide through his silky waves.

"I've been right here." His whisper kissing her skin warmly, the confusion lacing his mind as he was trying to figure out what she was meaning.

Rey hummed with pleasure at his administrations, and opened her mind to him, pulling his attention from everything else they had been focusing on to the thin thread of their bond. She wrapped her light around him, letting it curl up slowly, filling him up as it warmed them both.

Ben dropped his forehead to her shoulder as he felt what she had to bring to his attention, causing the guilt to rise while he basked in her light, realizing just how starved for its warmth and comfort he actually was.

"I'm sorry." He said with a pained tone and planted a light kiss on her shoulder.

Rey shifted away reluctantly from his warmth, lifting his head to meet his dark eyes, "I have been drawn away just as much as you. We just need to remember why we are fighting for this." She said with a small smile, her eyes bright. "If we keep doing it for the whole galaxy, it's too much. We need to remember it's for this too."

Ben nodded and pulled her close, knowing that they needed to get back to training and the outside world, but not wanting to let her go just yet.

Ben and Rey found Nelo at the end of a very long day, Jek shadowing him closely, hanging on to the edge of his robe, eyes lighting up as he spotted Rey and Ben approaching.

"Master Ben, Master Rey!" His childish voice called as he sprinted over to them and launched himself at Ben, making Rey and Nelo catch their collective breathes.

Rey's heart caught in her throat as she watched Ben freeze, shocking Nelo and her, and catch the child with the force, lifting him and giving him a quick spin before setting him back down giggling his head off. Ben's face was pure seriousness, but his eyes sparkled with amusement in the boy's free laughter.

"Dat was fun!" He squealed, his eyes flashing mischievously, digging in his feet before sprinting at top speed back at Ben.

Ben caught him again nimbly, his hand outstretched as he spun the boy effortlessly before setting him back down at his feet in a fit of giggles.

"Alright. That was the last one." He said as the boy's eyes flashed at him, "Aren't you supposed to be going to Tsaro's with the others?" he asked, attempting to maintain his stern features.

"Awww," Jek said with a bit of a pout and glanced at Rey who tilted her head at him, her eyes telling him he should relent. His features shifted and he became proud, "Master Rey, I helped friend Finn all day like you ask."

Rey smiled, "That's great Jek. Can you do the same tomorrow?" Lifting her eyebrows in a challenge to him.

"You, bet!" He said and sprinted off in the direction of the huts just as Tsaro's voice could be heard clearly across the field calling his name.

Rey watched the boy run for a few moments before turning to Ben, "Really? You know he's going to expect that every time now." She said, mock disapproval in her voice while her face was purely radiating with her affection for the boy.

Ben just shrugged; his eyes still filled with the pure unfiltered emotions that he had felt radiating out from Jek. "I'm okay with that." He said under his breath as Rey just shook her head at his obvious soft spot for him.

Nelo nodded to them in a respectful bow of his head as their attention turned back to the reason why they had come to find him, "I am assuming you were looking for me?" He asked in his smooth tone.

Ben's face smoothed over, "Yes. Rey and I would like your help."

Nelo unclasped his hands and ushered them over to a table under the canopy of one of the covered training areas and they sat in the dimming light.

"What is the help you are needing?" He asked the warm timber of his voice never altering from its calm state.

Ben struggled for the was to explain himself and just thought for a moment, "We have told you about the space in between, the grey, and how we have contained the darkness so far," he started slowly as a recap, but Nelo cut him off.

"Forgive me Master Ben, is this about the amount of power it requires of you?" He asked plainly and Ben and Rey exchanged surprised looks.

"Yes. It is Nelo. How did you figure that?" Rey asked curious. With the sun setting behind the huts, it caused Nelo's skin to practically glow in the fading light.

"I have figured that with the amount of power you use to manipulate the force on two planes, you would be left with minimal reserves once finished." He concluded logically with an insignificant shrug.

Ben nodded gravely, "You have an idea why then, we are looking for as many sensitive as possible." His face was grim as he regarded the man.

Nelo nodded, "The day you gave us the choice I knew, you couldn't be able to pull that much power and hope to survive." His eyes flicked to Rey with a tone of sadness to his voice, "I didn't need to be Sordi to devine that outcome." He added with a slight air of superiority.

Rey hung her head with the weight of it, "We should have told you all the full truth of it, but how do you explain that?" She said more to herself than as an explanation.

"Shall we meet tomorrow? During morning lessons?" Nelo said smoothly, obviously choosing to ignore the fact that he hadn't gotten the full truth right away.

Ben nodded sharply, "At the training outcrop. We will be away from prying eyes to start then." He added with a look for confirmation from Rey.

She nodded in agreement and Nelo rose, giving them both a respectful bow of his head before turning to head out across the dark field. Rey watched him go in silence feeling what Ben had vocalized earlier, that something was coming, and it didn't feel like it was going to be good. A small chill ran up her spine in the cool evening air and she hugged her arms around her torso tightly.

Ben turned his head a little to watch Rey's profile in the dim light, her concern and anxiety over the future washing through him, completely unchecked. He stood, resolved to make her feel better and held out his hand to her silently until she noticed and looked up at him.

"Come with me." He said softly, his face serious, lips pinched.

Rey's mind flashed to how his face had looked just like this in Snoke's chambers after they have defeated the guards together. He was asking her to follow him, with concern and love, but deep down worried she wouldn't trust enough to take his hand.

Reaching up, she placed her hand in his, watching his features relax a little as she stood, and let herself be led by him across the dark field in silence. He weaved between the huts while the muffled voices of the sensitives drifted on the air, relaxed minds going unfiltered, enjoying their time before sleep. It lulled Rey as they walked slowly, the warmth of his hand radiated out to her whole body somehow, like he was her own personal sun.

Ben led her in the direction of their hut but froze in his tracks as a presence edged on his mind again, just out of his reach, causing Rey to run into him with a small squeak.

"Ben?" Rey said, catching herself as she hit his solid frame, feeling his concern spike to a high, his whole body stiff with alertness.

Ben held up his hand to her, silencing any further comment as his eyes scanned the area before he lowered it to his saber, but didn't unclip it just yet.

Rey closed her eyes and reached out, sensing what he was, catching just the last lingering moments of what he felt, as he carefully checked the complete compound for the feeling that gnawed at the back of his mind. She had felt how he had caught it like a whiff of smoke on the air, drawing his attention, but it faded quickly, slipping away as he chased the nothing that was left.

Ben walked forward out into the open, still leading Rey, holding on to her hand like an anchor to where he actually was, as he searched with his mind. His determination was singular, scouring everywhere for something that seemed to be a phantom now.

"Arrh!" He finally grated out between clenched teeth. "It was there!" He complained and released his grip on the hilt of his saber.

"I felt it for a split second too. It's not the darkness though. It didn't feel like the darkness." Rey said softly, trying to recall the exact feeling that touched her.

"It's...familiar to me...somehow." Ben grated out as if he was trying to will the memory to clear and come to him.

With a frustrated sigh her turned, facing Rey, realizing he was still holding her hand, "Let's go." He said a little more gently, trying to clear his mind and get back to the moment. He lead them back between two the huts in the direction of theirs, trying to put the frustration out of his mind, just for a little while.

He shut the door behind them softly, but stopped Rey from getting too far, "Look." He said, a lightness coming to the tone of his voice, causing Rey to turn, curiosity filling her face.

She saw Ben reach out and flip down a small piece of metal across the frame into a latch and realization dawned on her. It was simple, but it was a lock. When latched, no one could just walk into their hut unannounced.

A slow smile spread across Rey's face, "Did you do this?" She asked with a small laugh, the moment in the field forgotten for the time being.

Ben shrugged, looking just like his father in the moment, his face sly, "I had one of the workers do it during lessons." He admitted, his face thoughtful again, "You and I…." He started, struggling for words and frowning at his feet.

When Rey showed him how thin their bond was, it had hit Ben hard and it had been on his mind for most of the day, especially when Finn was around now. As easy as things seemed to be with her now, he couldn't seem to articulate how he felt when he was with her.

He didn't have to look up to feel how she gravitated towards him as he wrestled to find what he wanted to say. She never cut in, never became impatient, she just waited and let him find the words.

"This…us…that we have discovered," He tried again, unable to look her in the eyes as he spoke, his posture stiff, "I want….more." He finally fumbled, raking a hand through his hair as he met her gaze.

Rey didn't want to slip into his mind to understand what he was thinking, she wanted to just let him say what he was wanting to, but she was confused and tilted her head at him, "More? I'm not sure…" she trailed off.

Ben stepped towards her, "More of it all. Time, life, training….it all." He said gesturing to the whole hut and the whole of what they had.

He took another step and could feel her nerves fire as she froze, waiting for him to keep going, "I don't want to hope." He said shaking his head a little with a frown. "It's dangerous and means I have something to lose. But….I can't keep from hoping we have this…more...for a very long time." The words finally seeming right as he placed his hands on her hips lightly.

Rey smiled, sliding her hands up his chest, "I want more of this with you, too." Her brow knitting together for a moment, "Well, maybe less people." She added with a cheeky grin.

Ben huffed a laugh of surprise to her comment and nodded while lowering his head to hers, "Yes, definitely less people." His voice low, feeling it vibrate against Rey's hands.

Something nudged Ben to consciousness slowly, his body warm and lethargic as he had only been asleep for a short while. Rey was draped over him partially, her arm and leg heavy with her sleep while they were both still, only in their under clothes. He forced his eyes open a crack seeing flickering from around the frame of the door, his mind confused by the sight, as it wasn't sunlight but it was very bright.

He shifted slightly, causing Rey to mumble in her sleep as he blinked again, trying to focus on the light around the door, starting to sense that something was not right. He shifted again causing Rey to roll to her other side with an annoyed grumble again their door rattled before someone started banging on it urgently, snapping them both up immediately.

"Rey! Ben! Wake up!" Came Finn's voice hollering through the door with more pounding.

Now that he was fully awake, Ben could hear yelling from outside and he jumped up behind Rey, dressing quickly as she did, the light growing around the door as smoke started to waft into their hut under it.

Rey flashed a frantic look at Ben and they raced to the door, calling their sabers to them as they did, while they unmatched and threw the door open. Rey came face to face with Finn, soot smudged and coughing, his hand raised to bang on the door again, his eyes filled with fear until he saw her face.

Behind him was a scene out of their nightmares. Huts and structures were burning in different places, and the new mess hall that was almost completed, was entirely engulfed, flames rising up almost thirty feet in the air. Everything was lit up by the eerie flickering golden light as smoke curled it's way on the wind creating shadows and reflections of scattering people everywhere.

Rey froze, her eyes widening at the sight and the sounds of the roaring flames and yells from the sensitives in the air. She glanced at Finn who was coughing at her side and turned to look at Ben. His face was frozen in horror, his body rigid as the wind and smoke whipped around him. She could feel his heart pounding as his panic rose within.

She jumped into action, grabbing Finn, "Gather everyone you can at the landing pad, it's the largest area away from all the structures." She yelled above the noise and Finn nodded, taking off running around a hut that was still untouched by the fire, his voice drifting on the wind yelling directions.

Rey spun, grabbing Ben's forearms, "Ben." She said drawing his eyes slowly to her face, his look not quite registering her face so she gripping him a little harder, "Ben." She insisted, giving him a slight shake.

Ben's attention focused on Rey, "I...it's all burning." He said, his voice shocked, Rey feeling his mind locked on his past memories.

Rey took a second and reached up, placing a hand on his cheek, "We need to help." She said, her eyes urgent and insistent as he leaned into her hand for a moment and blinked a couple times, clearing his mind.

Rey's hand focused him on the present and his mind shifted into gear as a thought shot panic through him, "Tsaro and the kids!" He said and took off in a dead sprint towards the back of the caretaker's huts.

Rey did her best to keep up as he raced through the compound to the caretaker's hut, but his legs were much longer and it didn't take much for him to be a good distance ahead of her. The closer they got to Tsaor's hut, the more were on fire, Lania and sensitives all working together to put out the fires and help each other out, Rey pausing for m ear seconds to give directions and ensure those she came across were safe.

Ben skidded to a stop as he rounded another hut to find Tsaro's hut completely engulfed in flames. The scene was straight from his past, the hut collapsed, completely consumed by fire, burning his face as he tried to approach.

"NO! TSARO!" He yelled, sheer panic taking over his voice, the ground shaking under him with the force of his emotions.

Ben froze, and closed his eyes, his darkness rising to the surface and busting through his restraints like a live thing, clawing it's way to the surface, and he raised his hands.

Ben felt the draw for the very ground under his feet, the island itself, the violent waves crashing on the rocks and drew it forth, pulling from everything around him in a whirlwind of the force.

Rey help a couple of the new arrivals who were coughing and hacking after getting two others out of a hut and helped all four get on the path towards the landing pad, seeing Finn wave and point, before something caught his eye and he took off running. Rey was torn as to whether she should follow him, but then she felt it, the deep pull of Ben through their bond.

The smoke and fire swirled angrily against his manipulation as he drew from the grey around the hut, surrounding the flames in a dome that cascaded around the whole structure. Ben felt the comforting anger rise from his fear, filling him, giving him the push he needed. He struggled to closed the dome around the flames, sweating, his hair sticking to his forehead with his effort, fighting against the thought of what he would find when the fire was out. He suddenly felt the light of Rey merging with him, controlling the force, easing to where they wanted it, working to snuff out the fire.

Rey watched Ben for a moment feeling him draw on his deep, dark reserves to pull from the grey and she stepped beside him, sensing his end goal and raised her hands following his lead, the light filling her with warmth, grounding her to the island itself, merging and wrapping with Ben's force like a churning eddie, swirling, but never mixing. The flames, licked at their suffocating dome as if they were trying to escape, until, they dropped their hands, clenching their fists shut in a unified movement, extinguishing the fire like a candle being blown out.

Ben and Rey panted as they opened their eyes to see Nelo and Sordi, with Raan and Damia on the other side of the, now, smoking skeleton of Tsaor's hut. Their eyes were wide with astonishment as they stood frozen, extinguishing canisters in hands, forgotten.

Ben braced his hands on his knees for a moment as he caught his breath, then stood, racing to what would have been the door of the hut, horror filling his face as a noise drew all their attention back to where the sensitive were.

"Rey! Over here!" Finn called again, coming around the side of another hut that had been put out by Nelo and Sordi just moments before jumping in with Raan and Damia to work on Tsaor's hut before they were stopped by Ben's force work.

Ben came around the rubble, spotting Finn nearly collapsed with joy when he saw what the man had in his arms as he strode towards them in the smoke. Jek was dirty, streaks of tears standing out on his cheeks being carried on Finn's right hip, while another young girl was on his left, just as dirty and scared, clinging to Finn's neck, her once red, curly hair, matted down with ash and mud.

Everyone rushed over as Finn set them down, and Jek launching himself almost immediately at Ben with a fearful sob. He lifted him easily, while Damia lifted Shol, the small girl who had only been there a few days, and she burst into tears, mumbling incoherently to Damia. The two had snuck out of the hut just before the fires started after hearing Tsaro mention to another caretaker that treats had been made in another hut.

Rey looked at Finn, her eyes grateful, before turning to the rest, "Get everyone to the landing pad," She addressed Damia and Raan before turning to Finn, Nelo and Sordi. "Is there anyone else? Tsaro?" She voiced, her tone panicked as she looked around a little at the charred remains of her hut, then expanded her search to the smoke-filled field and burning structures.

Finn coughed, wiping his face on his shirt for a moment before answering Rey, "Tsaro is with the others at the landing pad, I found her right after leaving you, the other kids are with her. You all were the only ones unaccounted for when I spotted Jek and Shol crying by the cliffs." He said, and Ben's knees did buckle and he sat face stoic, relief flooding through him as Jek clung to his neck with his tiny arms.

Rey blinked back tears, "Okay, you three search everywhere again, just in case we have missed anyone." Finn, Nelo and Sordi taking off into the smoke, while Raan and Damia took Shol in the direction of the landing pad. Turning Rey looked down at Ben with concern, feeling him grasping to reign in his control, unaware of the silent tears trailing down his face from relief.

Ben looked up at Rey, the panic starting to easing off as another feeling started to slowly filter in to him, "Take Jek." He said, standing and moving to give Rey the boy. His face was hard and cold, detached again, yet he was gentle with Jek as he pried his fingers apart from around his neck.

Rey's brow knitted together and Jek complained, "Ben…." She started and then felt what he was sensing. The ominous phantom had stepped out of the shadows and was calling for Ben alone.