Life has been so crazy and I hope that each and every one of you is safe and healthy out there right now. We seem to be flattening the curve here in Canada, so hopefully life will be able to return to a little sense of normality soon.
Sorry these chapters are taking longer to get out, I have been having writers block lately with everything else that has been going on. Thank you to all who have commented, guest, and regular alike! Eleve Osarian...you continue to amazing me with your incredible reviews.
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Stay safe and health all! And I guess isolation has delayed Disney's offer to me (HaHa) so as per usual, all rights to them.
Chapter 31
Ben lay in bed the next morning, the sun still below the horizon, his sleep having been interrupted many times throughout the night. Mercifully, he didn't have dreams, but he couldn't seem to relax and fall into a deep restful sleep.
He had thought about getting up a few times, but Rey would burrow into his warmth in her sleep and he chose to just hold her and take in the time like that with her. He glanced at her peaceful face and remembered when he had watched her sleep for the first time. He had taken her from Ajan Kloss after she had faced him with such scared fury and he had carried her all the way back to the interrogation room.
Sitting in the quietness of the room, watching her sleep had been the very first time he had felt...still. The rage subsided and he had relaxed in that room, letting his hands hang loose off his knees, but it hadn't occurred to him at that point the depth of her effect on him.
He let the slow sleeping patterns of her mind seep into his, stilling his in an almost meditative trance as he focused on her warmth and feel of her in his arms. His mind drifted to the dream he had, how her skin was flushed from the heat of the sun, the gauzy dress so unlike her normal Jedi attire, floating around her as she had moved towards him. She had been so happy and at peace, as if there was no dark past chasing either of them, and he frowned, drifting out of his mediation.
Rey shifted in her sleep again, subconsciously sensing his turn to troubling thoughts and she mumbled, frowning. Ben sighed and slipped out from behind her, grabbing the extra blanket off the bed and laying it over her gently as they hadn't bothered to dress before falling asleep.
He moved quickly to gather his scattered clothing and dress, the morning air raising goosebumps quickly across his skin. Once dressed he moved to the fire pit and stopped, looking at the coals thoughtfully. He closed his eyes and reached out, focusing his power on the simmering charcoal, feeling the force weave through everything until he managed to find the spark and coax it to a flame.
He opened his eyes as the flames burst out around the leftover charred log and crackled to life and he reached down, placing a few more pieces on the flames, feeling smug. He filled the water kettle and placed it on the side of the flames to heat as he spotted his saber. Glancing at Reys sleeping form again, he rose, grabbing his saber and slipped out the door silently.
He clipped the saber on his belt and moved to the edge of the hill to the outcrop and saw Nelo, sitting in the middle of the flat stones, meditating. He frowned slightly and turned looking around for a moment, annoyed that he was having to find another place to practice. His gaze drew up to the peak of the hill and he strode off, lengthening his stride to a quick pace as he headed to the temple.
Rey rolled, still half asleep, searching for Ben with her hand and coming up empty. Her body was warm under the double blankets and she stretching languidly, feeling the odd tender spot from their love making the night before.
She peeked her eyes open a little and saw the fire crackling happily with the tea pot starting to boil off to the side and she smiled at his thoughtfulness. She reached out, trying to locate him through their bond and was surprised to find him slightly out of breath, thoughts fixed on his goal to train in silence in the temple.
Rey's lip twitched up with a small smile and she debated on whether or not to get a little more sleep or get up to have a shower before the rest of the camp got up. Finally deciding on the later, with a sigh, she slipped out from the warm covers and started to hunt for her clothes that had been hastily discarded the night before, flushing at the thought, even with the cool air on her skin.
She was just reaching for her shirt when there was a knock on the door and Finn walked in, "Morning Master Re-OH...Oh stars! Sorry!" Finn rushed seeing Rey's half naked form while she screeched and quickly covered herself with her shirt.
"Finn! Hells! What do you think you are doing?!" She bit at him, turning her back, pulling her shirt hastily over her head before spinning back around to glare at his back.
Finn's shoulders were hunched and his face was pressed in his hands tightly, "I'm sorry! I saw Ben heading up the mountain...I just thought...I didn't think when I knocked...Oh stars, Rey!" He rambled felling incredibly embarrassed.
Rey's temper eased as his words and she covered her mouth as a giggle bubbled up inside of her, "Kriff Finn, turn around, I'm decent." She said her eyes dancing with humor as they met his and she started to laugh even harder as his cheeks were noticeably flushed.
"HELLS! You aren't going to tell Ben are you? He will kill me!" Finn said in horror and Rey just laughed a little harder.
"Finn calm down...Ben will probably already have sensed something. I will talk to him." Rey said, the laughter brining tears to her eyes till she managed to calm down a little. "You obviously needed something?" She asked as she caught her breath.
Finn frowned at her, obviously not finding the situation as funny as she did in the moment, "Ah, yeah. I figured if you were on your own, maybe you would want to grab breakfast, like we used to. I guess I was a little too excited about the thought." He mumbled at the end, feeling the embarrassment rise up again and shifted his gaze to the floor.
Rey smiled at him and walked over, draping an arm over his shoulder, "Breakfast sounds good." She said with a grin and steered him out the door.
"You really aren't going to tell him, are you?" Finn mumbled as she closed the door and started to laugh again.
Ben had almost reached the steps of the temple when he felt the flair of surprise bolt through the bond from Rey and he froze in his tracks, reaching out to identify the source of her feelings. The feeling turned to anger and them humor and he relaxed, hesitating to decide on whether he should go back. Her feelings remained light and filled with humor so he shrugged it off for the time being and continued to the temple.
The air was cool and humid, with a light musty odor as he entered the cavernous space where the low pool was. He could sense the convergence of power in this place, but not like it was in the Sith temple. This was in complete harmony with the space and the whole rest of the island, creating a centered peace that filled him with a different kind of calm.
He glanced around and made his way off to the left of the pool as there was a larger open space for him to move through the saber exercises. He unclipped his saber, rolled his shoulders, closing his eyes for a moment to center his mind and thoughts.
Ben starting slowly on the first form, focusing on precise technique as he slashed, his muscles warming to the memorized patterns, repeating them a half dozen times before incorporating them into the second form, visualizing his opponent's mistakes, and taking advantage in different strike zones, working each area over and over until he felt the sweat dripping down his back, his hair sticking on his head. He paused, in his training to drink from the other cold pool in the corner of the cavern and remove his shirt, dropping it in a damp heap by the first Jedi pool.
Back to his ready stance he began to work again, starting on the third form, creating a defense. He always struggled with this defense and how it was used to protect those fighting with you. Up until recently he had either fought alone or with the Knights of Ren and they were all a dominating force. He had never had to protect anyone until Rey came along.
Ben worked tirelessly until his arms and legs were feeling week and wobbly before he stopped again, noting the sun had moved to shine into the cavern from the point outside and he flicked off his saber, dragging a hand through his soaked hair and turned, feeling the familiar hum in the air.
Are you going to come down any time today? Rey said, her projection standing in front of the pool as her eyes raked over him appreciatively.
Ben strode towards her, stopping just out of her reach as he towered over her in presence and power. You could come up here and train. He said, he voice low and taking on a feral aspect through the bond in challenge.
Rey smiled at his taunting, Come down and I will make you breakfast while you shower. She said tilting her head at him in counter.
Ben took a half step closer, Come up here and train and I will let you win at least once. He said smoothly, not wavering in his gaze.
Rey lifted her eyebrow and grinned, You will let me win? She challenged his comment first before continuing, Come down and I will make sure there is hot water for you instead of a bucket of cold water for your shower.
Ben paused for a moment until breaking and grinning at her and ducking his head in a bow, As you wish. But I still expect breakfast. He said bending down to grab his shirt that was at Rey's feet, giving her a momentary show of his rippling muscles.
If you hurry it might even be warm. Echoed over the bond as she faded from the cavern, her musical laugh lingering.
Ben's grin, remained as he pulled his shirt over his head and trotted out of the cavern to head back down to the camp.
oooooooooooooooooooo
Life seemed to take on a regular routine of training and socializing for the last few days of the Visitors celebration. The men had an extraordinarily good catch since their last visit and Rey felt like the island was trying to provide for the group that was trying to keep the great darkness at bay in its depths.
Ben and Rey were training as much as they could with Nelo and the sessions were taking less and less out of Nelo, which was putting Ben in a much better mood. Rey had gone to join in the celebrations and Ben had elected for some quiet alone in his hut to reflect and meditate.
He was just stretching after his session when a tentative knock sounded on the door. Ben crossed the hut quickly perturbed by the intrusion. He opened the door with a scowl and found Tsaro and Jek on the other side and he rapidly schooled his expression.
"Master Ben, Jek insisted on seeing you." Tsaro said, obviously frustrated by Jek's behavior leading up to them showing up at Ben's door.
Jek shot a scowl over his shoulder at Tsaro, "Master Ben, you please come to celebration tonight?" He asked whining slightly as he said please.
Ben kept his face neutral as he regarded the child, not wanting to attend, but strangely wanting to tell this boy yes to make him happy. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "I wasn't planning on going this evening." He said carefully and watched Jek's face fall in disappointment,
Ben's shoulders slumped a little in resignation, "But...I do need to have supper." He said, raising his eyebrow as he tried not to smile, while Jek nearly vibrated out of his skin in excitement.
Tsaro huffed a little in annoyance as she gave Ben a tried look for giving into the child's whim, "You have answer, come now." She said to Jek, indicating that she wished him to leave back to the party with her.
He bounced out of Tsaro's reaching hand and snagged two of Ben's large fingers in his small hand, tugging him forward out from where he leaned on the frame.
Ben opened his mouth in protest, but closed it quickly by the joy that flowed unchecked to him at their connection. And he let Jek lead him forward towards the music and revelry in the late evening sunset.
Ben had avoided as much of the revelry as possible, but he was surprised at how the unfiltered emotions that Jek projected changed his views of the excitement.
Lanai of every shape and sized milled around, their flowing language mixing perfectly with the music and atmosphere, creating a joyful cacophony that assaulted his senses. Jek dragged him to different booths, excitedly showing him food, sweets and different games, insisting he try each thing as they went. Ben found his smile coming easily as he failed poorly at one of the guessing games while Jek laughed with the others.
"If I knew Jek would get you out and laughing, I would have sent him on the first day." Rey said softly at his side. Ben knew without looking at her that she was smiling widely at the pair.
"Master Rey! Try, try! Master Ben's not so good." He giggled in his childish honesty.
Rey laughed and attempt the game, surpassing Ben easily as they paired up objects. She succeeded in getting enough matches to win a prize, allowing Jek to pick a crudely carved figure, dressed in handmade clothes.
He reached out to hand it to Rey, "No, no. For you Jek." She said and laughed as he bounced in his pleasure of the gift.
The sun was starting to dip as the crowd milled towards the makeshift dance area, couple already twirling and moving to the lively tunes.
Tsaro appeared out of nowhere, a soft smile on her face, four other yawning little ones in tow, "Alright, young sprout. Time for bed." She said firmly, her tone remaining soft.
"Awww, phoo!" Jek grumped, crossing his arms stubbornly across his chest in defiance. His eyes drifted to Ben and Rey sparking with hope.
"You must listen to Tsaro Jek. Thank you for sharing your evening with me." Ben stated crouching down to the boys eye level.
Jen frowned again, but sensing the finality Ben was flowing to him through the force, putting out the flames of rebellion in the little one, "You fun, Master." Jek said with a grin finally and scurried off to follow behind Tsaro.
Rey slipped her hand around Ben's arm, and he instinctively bent his arm to tuck her hand in closer, "You really like him." Rey finally stated softly, mind curious as to why.
Ben watched the group quickly swallowed by the crowd, "He reminds me of one of the young ones that was at Luke's temple." He said in a low wistful tone, his words almost lost in the noise of the music.
Rey leaned in, giving his arm a squeeze at the sadness that welled up inside him at the thought and she picked up on the image of a young boy, around Jek's age with a dimpled grin, dirty blonde hair and curious blue eyes.
Ben let her meander within his faded memory of the boy before he glanced over at the couple's now swaying to much slower music. Looking down at Rey he gave into the urge before it was cast away, leading her forward to the dance area.
Rey tossed him a curious, but excited look as one of his arms encircled her waist and the other held her hand gently against his broad chest. He moved slowly, guiding her with light pressure as they swayed to the slightly melancholy tune, his eyes focused solely on hers, the world falling away for the moment.
ooooooooooooooooooo
The mood on the island shifted again as the Visitors left and the regular routine was put back in place, with training, meditation and skills. And a few days later Sordi came to Ben and Rey saying he had another vision, same as the first, but clearer, and more defined. They both sat with him as he went through it in detail, showing them both till the end as Rey fought her tears, watching the darkness envelope Ben.
The vision had rattled Ben worse than the first time, shifting him into an obsessive research mode, that had him grilling Tsaro and the counsel on any details they could give him from the Annals or the holocron.
He met with them over and over, each time his frustration building till it started to get the better of him as they continued to not be able to provide him with any answers to his questions.
"There must be some further information in this book that you haven't explained, or covered that could help." Ben said with a growl of frustration at the counsel members.
Alcida frowned at his fury, "You presume deception? Temper your fury for great darkness young Master." Bit back sharply at Ben and it is anger spiked inside, blurring his vision red as she continued, "We search for answers, as you ask. Found none to help stop darkness. It threatens all. Will advise when cooler heads prevail." She said with a dismissive sweep of her hand.
Ben huffed in his fury and swept out of the small hut ducking to exit and nearly running Finn over in his blind frustration. Ben felt the overwhelming desire to fling the man across the pathway and watched his surprised and apologetic look turn weary and defensive in an instant.
It was like a dose of cold water on his rage to see a reflection of who he was in the posturing of the other man's defensive stance and he took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment, "I let my anger get the better of me." He mumbled shortly as a way of apology.
Finn stood shocked at the rapid change in Ben's emotions, watching him calm himself, and feeling the dissipation of the darkness that happened in front of his eyes. Finn stumbled for words, suddenly remembering why he had been looking for him in the first place, "It's all good," he started carefully, his words hesitant as his eyes narrowed critically at Ben watching his stoic manner smoothed over his face. "Poe sent a message, Maz has gone missing."
Ben's brow knit in further frustration, "I fail to understand how that may matter to me." He ground out shortly striding forward to find Rey and Nelo as he was late for their session.
Finn rushed after him mocking his tone, "It may matter, as Maz sent a coded message to Chewie that she found out something about how to defeat the darkness just before she went missing." His words stopped Ben so abruptly, Finn almost ran right into his solid form.
"Did she say what it was?!" He said spinning around and levelling a sharp look at Finn.
Finn stuttered for a moment, feeling Ben's inadvertent push of the force on him and he straightened, instantly defensive again and pushed back, "You can just ask, you know," Finn snapped, his voice dripping with acid.
Ben started at the push back and for the second time in the last few minutes he took a calming breath, as his chagrin washed up in him, "You are correct. I….didn't mean….I shouldn't have." Ben stumbled as he tried to reign in his anger over the strain of trying to prevent Sordi's premonition while finding a way to stop the darkness.
Finn just eyed him critically as if he were trying to figure something out, "What aren't you telling us?" Finn said slowly, sensing something was off.
Ben's features smoothed over to hide his surprise. Finn's sessions were obviously paying off and he would have to be more careful to guard his thoughts and emotions around him, "Nothing that concerns you." Ben said, his patience just holding his anger under the surface.
Finn pressed him, taking a step forward, "Is Rey in danger?" his voice raising a notch as he took another step towards Ben.
"No more than any other time." Ben snapped and turned on his heal to leave before he was stopped again.
"Wait, whoa! Are you in trouble?!" Finn exclaimed, getting the faintest of impressions, causing Ben to freeze and turn slowly back to Finn. "Don't you dare try and be a martyr! I'm not losing my best friend because you two decide the universe deserves it! It doesn't, and there is always another way to win." Finn nearly yell, having strode forward with a finger in Ben's chest to accentuate his point.
Ben didn't know whether to be furious with Finn for stabbing a finger at him or laugh at the twist of fate that had him passionately yelling at him that there was a way to save him, and therefore Rey, so he just blinked a few times, regarding him curiously.
"Are you actually concerned for my welfare?" He said slowly, not actually meaning to mock him in any way by his question.
Finn stuttered and stepped back, realizing how close he had gotten to Ben's imposing form, "I….well….you are connected to Rey, so…." He said with a frown, trying to figure out how their conversation had taken such a turn.
Ben sighed and resisted the urge to roll his eyes, "Rest assured, Finn, we are going to do everything in our power to survive all of this. I nearly lost her once. I am in no rush to lose what I never thought I could have." He raked a hand through his hair and wondered why he was explaining himself to Finn, of all people.
Finn just snapped his mouth shut at Ben's words, "Well, good then. Fine." He stated for lack of a better thing to say.
Ben turned to the path again to head to meet with Rey and Nelo when he paused looking back at Finn, "If you are truly serious in wanting to help, come with me." He said, silently cursing himself for his spontaneous thought.
"Ah, yeah. Okay." Finn replied, utterly confused by the last few minutes but following Ben regardless to the hill and down to the outcrop where Rey and Nelo were seated.
Rey glanced up with unveil curiosity at Ben and Finn's arrival, taking note of the waves of frustration that had been ebbing and flowing for the last few hours through the bond.
Finn filled Rey in on Maz being missing and they went through the same range of questions with Rey that Finn had no answers to for a second time.
"I will send a message to Chewie when we get back. I assume he is looking for her?" She asked, her brow deeply lined in her concern.
Finn nodded, "He and Lando were on their way to her place to see what they could find."
A thoughtful silence lapsed over the group as Nelo had watched the whole exchange silently. Finally Ben turned to Finn, "Sit, beside Nelo." And proceeded to sit himself.
Rey tossed him a cautious look, "You trust him, and we need to push further." He said softly, nodding his head in a sharp motion of encouragement.
Rey took a cleansing breath to calm her nervousness and nodded back imperceptibly to Ben to continue with his explanation as to what they were about to do.
They settled into their meditations as the hours passed, Rey and Ben drawing gently on the doubled powers of Nelo and Finn till the sun had lowered to the edge of the horizon. Rey and Ben tested the bonds slowly, tentatively, not pressing the power to hard for feel of stretching the line on Finn and Nelo to thin.
Finn's reassurance and Nelo's insistence pushed the session late into the afternoon, till Ben pulled them all out, sensing the deep fatigue creeping through the four of them.
They all slowly opened their eyes, and groaned, stretching out cramped limbs from being seated for such a long time on the sun warmed stone.
Rey gave the pair a once over carefully, "How are you two feeling?" She asked noting how Finn slumped with fatigue.
"Like I just ran the first year gauntlet." Finn said referring to a hellish obstacle course the first year storm troops were forced to run in order to pass and be deployed. It had been like a right of passage to most, the final test on their path as a trooper.
Ben stifled a chuckle, he had been the designer of the course and had based it on Jedi training regimes, knowing that those not sensitive in the force would have an extremely difficult time passing it. It had been a rebellious nod to his past that he worked into his life outside of Snoke's control.
"You did well, go get some sleep." Ben said softly, shocking Finn once again with rare praise.
"Yeah, okay." Finn said, to tired to make more out of it at the moment and rose, giving Rey's shoulder a gentle squeeze as he passed and walked up the hill slowly beside Nelo the two discussing the experience in low tones.
Rey watched him go before turning her thoughtful gaze on Ben, studying him carefully in the dim twilight. He seemed tired, the lines on his face deeper, causing a harsh look as the shadows played off his features and she worried. It seemed like a lifetime ago when she first gazed upon his face, surprised at how handsome he was, but now he looked older, weathered by the burdens of these trials they had endured.
"Come on. Let's get go home." She finally said, standing and reaching her hand out to him.
Ben let his gaze follow from her hand, up her arm to her face before he reached out to take it and rose, his legs complaining due to the inactivity. Ben was thoughts remained reflected inward as they trudged up the hill, fingers intertwined, the force humming between them as it always did with their contact.
Ben reflected over the last few hours noting that Nelo had been a warm ball of sun in the grey, while Finns energy had been more diffuse, harder to focus and maintain the tether on and he couldn't figure out if it was because of the lack of training or a manifestation of Finn's actual corporeal self in the grey. If they could find a way to focus the energies, it would prove to be a better boost of power, but he didn't have a clue on how they could manage it, let alone if they were even on the right track.
Ben sighed with his heavy thoughts as they entered the hut and he paced as Rey made them some food and tea.
"Ben, sit, eat." She finally ordered him after watching him work on wearing a path in the stone as he thouht and paced in his usual pattern.
He sat heavily in his chair, feeling like the day had defeated him despite the progress they made by adding Finn and he continue his quiet contemplation of their work in the grey until Rey roused him from his thoughts.
"What happened between you and Finn? Something changed." Rey finally asked after he had finished the majority of his meal.
Ben sighed, "Nothing really, I just think we have reached some sort of understanding." He said quietly, not quite sure himself what had changed. His thoughts were troubled, feeling as if they were heading to a precipice and not ready for what they were about to face and it was getting worse as the light began to fade outside.
Rey let the silence fill the room again, her own feelings following on the same path of Ben's; that they were nearing a cross roads on this journey with the great darkness. Her anxiety was building and mixing with Ben's making her ability to focus difficult and her effectiveness in the grey diminish.
She thought about the warmth that was provided by the addition of Finn's force, but it was scattered, and harder to pull from and it caused her concern as to how it would be adding others let alone the full compliment of the group in the island.
"Should we..." She started at the same time as Ben stated, "I've been thinking..." Causing her to smile as they sat with the flames flickering.
"I've been thinking, we should start bringing in more people to the grey." Ben said, his face as concerned and serious as the emotions rippling off him.
Rey huffed a humorless breath, "I was about to suggest the same thing." As she studied her mug, focusing on the warmth it was radiating to her hands.
There was a flash and low rumble from outside that drew Ben's attention up to the window, the weather seeming a direct reflection of the feelings flowing through the Dyad.
"Do you...feel something coming?" Ben said softly, his gaze still focused on the window and his voice low and filled with worry and distant.
Rey paused at his words, thinking that he was talking about the weather and realized he was referring to something else, something darker, "Yes. For a while now." She whispered, a chill settling over her.
Ben stood, walking quickly to the comms unit as Rey watched, "Ben to Poe." He said with authority, then waited, itching to pace.
"Go ahead for General Poe." A voice cracked across the air waves and Ben frowned, not recognizing the voice on the other end.
"Put General Poe on." Ben growled and another lapse occurred before Poe's voice came across the radio, groggy and obviously unhappy.
"What in hells is the emergency Ben." Poe was irritated, obviously having been woken up to come to the radio.
"I need a ship to come and get the kids." Ben said as Rey stood, and rushed over feeling her stomach drop as a wave of fear washed over her.
"Ben..." She breathed, half in shock at his rash move, yet in complete agreement of his action feeling the sense of his urgency. She obviously wasn't the only one surprised as Poe's voice sounded again.
"Say again? You want what?" He questioned, obviously much more alert since Ben grabbed his attention.
Ben's lips were pressed in a thin line, obviously still not used to having to request and not just order others into action, "We need a ship to come and get the children, and all non-essential persons off the island. As soon as you can manage it." He repeated again, trying to maintain his calm.
As he waited, a low rumble sounded like thunder moving in from the distance, getting louder and louder as it neared, sounding like a destroyer was flying right over the temple grounds and the ground started to shake.
"Ben?!" Rey said, the walls of their hut rattling and shaking with a worrying force, the sounds of people exiting their huts in confusion as the shaking continued.
Ben reached out with his free hand as they wobbled unsteadily, "Poe! We need that transport!" He bellowed into the mike.
"What the hell is that?!" His voice came across again and Rey grabbed the mike.
"Poe, just make it happen, we need them off the island, NOW!" She insisted and they took off out of the hut as a few yells echoed across the camp.
Ben and Rey looked around as stones tumbled from the peak of the temple, crashing down the hill and mercifully missing the structures to come to rest half way into field. The rumbling eased off leaving the sound of violently crashing waves on the stones far below the camp.
"Is everyone alright?!" Rey yelled as more people gathered and they took a head count, sighing with relief that all were present and none of the structures had collapsed. Tsaro had all the kids swarming around her, chattering excitedly, not sensing the danger that had just passed through.
Voices calmed as the episode seemed to pass and people began to filter back towards the direction of their huts as Rey turned, her concerned eyes to Ben's smooth features, reading the worry that was only reflected in his eyes.
The darkness is coming. He said across the bond in his low tone.
