A/N: A big thanks to SirenBanshee. You are one amazing beta!

xXxXxXx

They cuddled for a little while longer until Kylo's stomach growled and he decided he should check up with Burman anyway.

"How did the children react?" he asked as he took a shower.

"I'm not sure," Rey answered.

"You don't know?"

"No. I informed Sirena of what would happen and told her to come get me if the children panicked. I addressed the children directly as well beforehand. Those who felt it when you reconnected Ember understood, and Temiri promised me they would keep an eye out for the new kids. I'm guessing everything went fine, as neither Sirena nor Temiri has come knocking. Besides, the effects weren't as violent as last time."

"They weren't?" Kylo asked, looking around the curtain with curiosity.

"No. They were still strong though, don't get me wrong. It's a decidedly odd thing to feel. But it wasn't as violent? I don't know how to explain this."

"I wonder if it's because Burman didn't lose control like Ember did, or because the nature of his disconnection was different," Kylo mused out loud.

Rey shrugged. "I guess we'll find out the more people you reconnect."

Kylo agreed with a hum.

"It's all very interesting, if you think about it," Rey continued. "You should write down your findings. For future generations. Or just general research. It's all new after all, and I hope this type of situation won't happen again in the future."

"Not if I have a say in it, no," Kylo answered, stepping out of the freshner in only his pants and drying his hair. "But I'm no scholar, Rey. I doubt that what I'll write down will be of much use at all."

"You don't know that," she answered. Kylo smirked as her eyes roamed his body. She wasn't shy about it anymore. "Maybe one of your Knights, or one of those children, will turn out to be a scholar and will be grateful for the notes you made."

He huffed a small laugh. "You're very optimistic."

"Okay, then say your notes will be bad. A little bit of information is better than none at all, isn't it?"

"You really want me to write this down, don't you?"

Rey merely smiled brightly at him.

"Fine," he conceded. "I'll see about taking notes."

Rey bounded towards him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Have I told you yet that I love you?" she asked with enthusiasm.

He hugged her back, grinning, and planted a kiss on the top of her head. After a moment, Rey stepped back.

"I'll let you check up on Burman," she said. "I'll see you tonight?"

"As always," he answered.

Once she disappeared from view, he put on the rest of his clothes and called out for Phasma.

"Sir, you're awake," she said as she walked in. "How are you feeling?"

He glanced at her, then shook his head at her uncharacteristic care, realising it was probably still a result of what happened the day before.

"I'm fine, Phasma," he answered. "I could use a light dose of pain medication given that the headache isn't fully gone, but there's nothing else wrong with me."

"I'll send for some, sir." She shortly spoke into her comm. "It will be here in five minutes, sir."

"Thank you." He gazed at her. "I know it must have been difficult for you, but you did the right thing," he told her. "I honestly do not know what would have happened had I been interrupted at that moment. I was…deep into the Force and I'm not entirely certain that my mind was still fully connected to my body. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Phasma nodded. "I think so, sir."

"Good." Kylo dragged a hand through his damp hair. "How's Burman doing?"

"He's been awake for about 45 minutes, sir. The Guard has reported that he's gone to the kitchen for breakfast and to the med bay for pain killers, and then returned to his rooms. He hasn't come out since."

"Ember and the other Knights?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary has been reported, sir."

He nodded and, after a quick breakfast in his office while Derek briefed him on the most important matters, Kylo made his way to Burman's rooms.

"How are you feeling?" Kylo asked as soon as Burman opened the door after his knock.

"Well enough, sir. Merely a slight headache."

"Are you up for meditation?"

"I believe so, sir."

Kylo turned to Phasma. "Is the training room free?"

"Ember is training some of the Guard in sword fighting. They can move outdoors."

"I will introduce you to the Force," Kylo said to Burman while Phasma dispatched orders and they walked towards the training room. "I will not make you wait any longer than necessary."

"Thank you, sir. I admit that I am curious."

"No doubt."

As they arrived, the Guard were filing out, Ember coming last. She greeted Kylo before looking at Burman.

"I assume congratulations are in order?" she said.

"Thank you, Ember of Ren," Burman answered.

There was a moment of silence while Ember sized him up. "Don't allow your dumb ass to get sucked in," she finally said.

"I'm not."

"What?"

Burman gazed at Ember, determination in his eyes. "I'm not dumb," he answered.

Ember stared at him in confusion. It took a moment for Kylo to get past his shock, but then he smiled.

"You are right," he said, causing Ember to turn her confused eyes on him.

"Okay," she finally commented, drawing out the word. "Still, don't get sucked in."

"I won't."

With a final nod, Ember walked off. Kylo signalled for Burman to get inside before he turned to Phasma. She beat him to it though.

"I'm to stay outside?"

"I believe it would be best."

"What if he does get sucked in?"

"I will call for you if I need assistance."

"Only then? I have failed if you have to fight at all, sir."

"You can't fight when you're not in the room with me."

"You get my point, sir."

Kylo chuckled at her. "I do," he conceded. "Fine, but stay at the side and don't interfere as long as we're sitting down, no matter what you might see or feel."

"I will, sir."

As they walked in, Burman had already gathered pillows and was sitting in the middle of the room.

"I assume this will be similar to yesterday?" he asked.

"Indeed." Kylo sat down. "But I won't be entering your mind, merely guiding you as you do all the work yourself. I'm also here to stop you in case things go wrong. I have faith that they won't." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "We'll start with ten minutes of regular meditation."

Burman easily agreed. Kylo was happy to notice that Burman's almost nervous excitement settled down quickly once he started concentrating on his breathing. He wondered if all the meditation exercises would make it easier for Burman to connect with the Force. He remembered how Ember had struggled in the beginning, trying to figure out what the Force was about.

Just as he'd done with Ember three months ago, Kylo lectured Burman about the essence of the Force and instructed him to find it within himself. He assured him that whatever he said wouldn't leave the room. Burman gave him a quick nod before frowning slightly in concentration.

Even though Kylo had hoped for a quick result, he was surprised at the seeming ease with which Burman found it. When Kylo asked him what he felt, he answered without hesitating. His answers were precise, showing a comprehension Kylo hadn't expected at all.

Deciding to take a risk, Kylo guided him towards the Light, asking him to focus on life and growth. He looked on with a smile as Burman's face lit up as he described what he saw and felt. Kylo steeled himself before warning Burman to stay centered, to not get persuaded or tempted, before turning him towards the Dark.

Just like what had happened with Ember, the Dark was quick to grab hold of Burman. The Knight's face twisted into an ugly grimace, his hands clenching and a growl escaping from his throat. Kylo could feel Phasma shift where she was watching them from the side, but he ignored her.

"Death," Burman whispered. "Decay. Horror. Blackness. Blood. Revenge."

"Burman," Kylo said warningly.

"Power."

"Burman. Focus."

"This is atrocious."

Kylo blinked. "What?"

"I much prefer the Light."

"Oh."

Kylo opened his mouth to say more, then snapped it shut with an audible snap of his teeth. That was not what he'd been expecting.

"Do you understand that one cannot exist without the other?" he finally asked Burman.

"I do."

"There must always be balance. Where Darkness grows, Light rises to meet it, and vice versa."

"I understand."

"Good. Now slowly let go of the Force and ease your mind back to awareness of your own body. Once you feel anchored again, open your eyes."

It took Burman another five to ten minutes before he opened his eyes and stared at Kylo.

"That was…different."

Kylo snorted. "You can practice allowing the Force to flow through you on your own if you want," he said. "Try to get a full understanding of what the Force is about. Do not reach for either side without me present. It's not because you could resist today that you can do the same at any other time. From tomorrow, I will resume regular meditation practices with all the Knights. You will join, as usual, and after I will guide you further into your connection with the Force."

"Yes, sir."

"I will see you at dinner."

"Unexpected?" Phasma asked once the door had closed behind Burman.

"You could say that," Kylo answered, mindlessly sending the cushions back to where they were kept. "Although, after having seen his mind, I shouldn't be surprised."

Phasma didn't answer but he knew she was curious.

"There's a reason why he's still caring for the other Knights even though he went through the same horrors as them," he indulged her curiosity. "It seems that, even as a child, he was strongly inclined to help others. The Dark does not help others, it destroys."

"And Ember?" Phasma asked.

Kylo looked at her. "Ember has a fierceness that can be molded either way. Base Z pushed it in the wrong direction. Her rejection of the Dark is a choice, not instinctual like Burman."

"I see."

xXxXxXx

They all easily settled into a new rhythm. Whereas Kylo expected a drastic change in Burman after his reconnection with the Force—much like Ember's changed eye colour—it took him a while to realise the change was much more subtle than that. His thinking seemed to be quicker, his comprehension of situations more complete. Where he had always needed an explanation when Quicksilver spoke up, he now often understood what was being said. All in all, it seemed like his focus had sharpened and a sort of fog had been lifted from his brain.

It took the other Knights even longer than Kylo to comprehend the change. Kylo had, after all, watched young Burman being drilled into the ground and then set free. As soon as he caught on, he could easily predict exactly how the change had taken place. The others, however, were often stunned into surprise and confusion when Burman made a decidedly intelligent remark.

As soon as Kylo was certain Burman was fully stable and wouldn't succumb to the Dark, he decided to return some freedom to Quicksilver, Daze and Rogue. They were free to roam around and use weapons while in the training hall. They weren't, however, allowed to carry weapons anywhere else and Rogue was still to be accompanied at all times.

Phasma relayed report after report about their movements and, sometimes, even their conversations. It was obvious that they took their punishment seriously and weren't inclined to go against any of the restrictions put on them.

Both Ember and Phasma agreed with him that it would be safe to return all their freedom to them, but that it would send the wrong signal to the rest of the staff. After all, they had already been saved from execution. To lift their punishment too quickly would set a bad example. Out of principle, they would also be the last to be reconnected with the Force, even though Kylo thought Quicksilver was more than ready for it.

About a week and a half after Burman's reconnection, Kylo informed Dot that she was ready as well. She agreed with her customary sniff and nod, but Kylo could see the apprehension behind it.

Luckily, his session with her didn't take as long as the one with Burman. For once, Dot still had plenty of memories of Base Z. He was surprised to find in her a headstrong, almost arrogant child that, at first, resisted the indoctrination. Even back when she'd been at one of the other Bases, she'd been punished more than once for butting heads with a teacher.

It was only when she was starved into a fever and then mostly left to her own devices to recuperate on bread and broth, that she had realised she had to change her ways in order to stay alive. Kylo had been surprised to see her connection with the Force lessen by half as her mind hardened and she shoved away part of her pride.

It died abruptly during target practice after she'd fully recuperated from her starvation. The memory had to play a couple of times before Kylo realised she'd placed all of the Force that was still with her within the bullseye of the target and then, quite literally, proceeded to shoot it dead. Kylo couldn't help the laugh that had escaped him. When he'd explained to Dot why he found it so funny, she'd merely shrugged and answered that she much preferred straight-forward solutions.

Reconnection finally happened when Kylo managed to convince memory Dot to keep the Force hidden within herself instead of shooting at it. First, he'd tried pulling the ball of Force away from the center of the target, but the arrow had made a trick shot and hit it anyway. Plucking the arrow out of the air had only caused memory Dot to hit it with a second one.

Kylo did learn that he was likely going to end up with a headache every time he reconnected someone. The reverberating boom seemed to be a recurring thing as well. Same could be said for a worried Rey clinging to him afterwards, distressed that she couldn't help him. That last bit, however, was not something he wrote down with his other findings.