Force Dyad

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A/N-thank you very much to everyone who kindly read and reviewed the last chapter.

Chapter Fourteen-Luke Skywalker

Ben watched his uncle approach with wary eyes. Skywalker was dressed in the familiar white tunic and long, light brown robes, similar to the Jedi masters of old. Ben was wearing all black-black leather jacket (identical to the brown one his father often wore), black pants and boots. A black leather holster, which held the blaster Lando had gifted him as a child, hung low on his hips. Another holster crisscrossed the upper half of his torso, hiding his lightsaber from public view.

"I hardly recognised you." Luke's initial greeting was lacklustre as always. His sky-blue eyes drifted to Rey standing half hidden behind Ben. His expression softened and he bent down slightly as he introduced himself. "I'm Luke." He said gently. "We didn't get a chance to meet properly before."

Ben scowled, hearing the criticism beneath the supposed pleasantries. He had an urge to snatch Rey and hide her out of sight of Skywalker, but stopped short of carrying through with it. Rey was able to decide for herself.

"You must be Rey." Luke continued in the same gentle tone. He reached out his hand toward her but she recoiled slightly. Luke relaxed his facial features into a more welcoming smile and lowered himself further so they were more on the same level. "Don't be afraid, little one. Nothing can harm you here."

Ben stared at his uncle incredulously. "Are you serious?" He sneered as his hostile gaze moved to Voe and Hennix. Voe glared right back, while Hennix struggled to make eye contact. "They kidnapped Rey…."

"Now is not the time, Ben." Luke interrupted him. "Let's get your little companion settled somewhere comfortable, then we can debate the rights and wrongs about what happened."

Ben ran his hand through his shoulder length black hair three times in quick succession and fixed his uncle in a stare that could have frozen the ground at their feet. "Rey stays with me."

"You're being ridiculous, Ben." Luke did little to hide his frustration with his nephew's stubbornness. "She will be well looked after. Dinner is just about to be served. I'm sure she must be hungry. She can eat with the other young padawans." His attention shifted to Hennix. "Go and fetch young Finn for me, Hennix. He'll look after her."

Hennix, relieved to be out of the firing line and away from Ben's fiery glare, quickly left to do Skywalker's bidding.

"Who's Finn?" Ben demanded. He had never heard the name before. "Don't tell me you've been recruiting more kids, when you're already struggling to teach the ones you already have adequately."

"Stop being facetious, Ben." Luke snapped impatiently.

"I'm not being facetious. I'm speaking the truth. You are spreading yourself too thin, Master Skywalker. Some of your apprentices are slipping through the net-like this one for instance." Ben argued as he pointed at a glowering Voe.

"How dare you!" Voe exploded hotly. She struggled to school her pretty features into a pleading expression when she noticed Skywalker frowning at her temperamental outburst. "I did everything you asked of me, Master Skywalker. Unfortunately, due to Tai's indecisiveness and lack of leadership, I was forced to take control of a delicate situation. The little girl was being kept in less-than-ideal circumstances, so I took it upon myself to remove her from a potentially dangerous situation. Hennix agreed with me. He'll back up everything I've just told you."

Knuckles white from clenching his fists too hard, and gritted teeth from the effort to remain silent, Ben's tall form exuded an animosity that was like acid - burning, slicing, potent. His face was slowly turning red with suppressed rage. "You liar! Wait until Tai gets here, he'll dispute everything you've just said. You're pathetic."

A smug smile pulled at the corners of Voe's full lips. "We all know that Tai pities you. Sometimes he's too compassionate for his own good. In most circumstances that's a good thing, but when it concerns you it becomes a hindrance. Someone needed to make a decision and act on it for the good of that little girl right there." She countered, pointing a finger in Rey's direction. "And that's what I did, Master Skywalker." Voe added as she smoothed her features into a contrite expression for the older man's benefit.

"She hit me." Rey piped up suddenly. She darted a nervous glance up at Ben when she felt everyone's attention fall on her suddenly.

"That's not true." Voe said defensively. "The kid was getting hysterical. My hand accidentally came into contact with her when I was trying to restrain her."

Every word Voe spoke stung, only fuelling the fire that burned inside of Ben. He was struggling to suppress his anger toward Voe anyway, but after learning she had dared to hit Rey, it was like she added gasoline to it. His jaw rooted, and he felt the Force ripple through his fingers, as with one wide sweep of his hand, he tossed Voe backwards like she weighed nothing more than a feather. She landed heavily a few feet away, the wind knocked out of her completely.

"Ben!" Luke commanded. "Enough!"

Ben's eyes narrowed as burning rage hissed through his body like deathly poison, screeching a demanded release in the form of unwanted violence. Breathing heavily, his gaze fell away from his livid uncle when he felt a slight tug on the leg of his pants. Looking down, he found Rey staring up at him anxiously. The black cloud of Ben's anger immediately dissipated under her worried scrutiny and he was filled with shame at his loss of control.

"I don't like it here." Rey said tremulously.

Ben hunkered down in front of her, stretching out one hand to rest on her gravity drawn shoulders. The sadness in her expressive eyes hurt him, and he hated that he was partly the cause. He opened his mouth to reassure her that they were going to leave now, but was interrupted not only by the late arrival of Tai, but also Hennix, who had brought the new padawan Finn back with him.

"Rey." Luke intervened quickly before his nephew could say anything. "This is Finn."

Rey stared at the dark-skinned little boy with the twinkling eyes and bright smile who was looking at her with interest. "Hi." He said cheerfully. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes." Rey whispered.

"Good." Finn's smile widened. "Come with me. You can sit next to me if you like."

"Thanks." Rey mumbled shyly.

Finn reached for her hand and began to tow her after him. "How old are you?" He asked.

"Six." Rey answered as she glanced over her shoulder in Ben's direction. Ben shot her reassuring smile and she immediately relaxed as she let Finn lead her away.

Ben pushed himself back onto to his feet and slowly turned to face his uncle again. "You win." He said coolly. "It seems we won't be leaving just yet."

"This is not a game, Ben." Luke sighed. "I just want to talk."

"That depends if you're actually going to listen this time."

"I always listen." Luke responded without a hint of irony.

Gloom crept into Ben like the damp into bare timber. It seeped into his pores, travelling to his heart which beat more morosely. His shoulders slumped in defeat and his eyes cast down in a mournful gaze. His mouth set in a semi-pout as he followed his uncle back toward the one place he hoped never to set foot in again-the jedi temple.

As Tai closed the heavy wooden door behind him, Ben cast his sour gaze in Skywalker's direction. "You heard Tai." He said sarcastically. "Do you believe my version of events now?"

Luke sat back in his seat and regarded his nephew with a troubled expression. "You really don't need to be so defensive. I never stated that I didn't believe you."

Ben felt the tips of his ears getting hot. He lounged in his seat, knowing that would irritate Skywalker when he didn't sit up straight. He waited for his uncle to chide him, but it seemed that the older man was willing to let it go for now. "What are you going to do about, Voe?" He demanded instead.

"She will be suitably reprimanded for her rash actions; I can assure you." Luke answered evenly.

"That's not good enough. She kidnapped Rey and hit her. She needs to be punished properly." Ben argued.

"That is not your decision to make." Luke replied evenly.

"You're going to let her get away with it again." Ben accused. "When will you realise you've failed with Voe. She'll never be a jedi. Not with that uncontrollable temper and jealousy of hers."

"You are in no position to judge, Ben, considering your own past actions." Luke pointed out. "With proper training- "

"You think you can train the darkness out of her? It hasn't worked so far. In fact, it's made her more- "

"Stop it, Ben." Luke cut in, finally losing his patience. "This rivalry you have with Voe needs to stop."

"The only rivalry is on her side. I couldn't care less about her." Ben snapped back. "You promise to listen but like always you sit in judgement of me. Nothing has changed. Why do you think I left in the first place?"

"Ben..."

"No!" Ben retorted. "I'm done talking to you. I'm going." He said, rising from his chair.

"Of course, I can't stop you." Luke said, frowning.

"Good. Finally, we understand each other. Goodbye, Uncle." Ben sneered as he dropped the title of master, he no longer considered himself one of Skywalker's students.

"I haven't finished." Luke continued and Ben drew to an abrupt halt. "As I said, I can't stop you leaving, although I very much wish you would put aside your animosity and reconsider…."

"No chance." Ben said through gritted teeth as he kept his back turned toward his uncle.

"If that is your final decision."

"It is."

"Fine, but you'll be going alone."

"What?" Ben's eyes narrowed as he spun on his heel so he was facing Skywalker again.

"You can leave if you want to, Ben. But I can't in good conscience let you take Rey with you. The others have told me of the desperate circumstances you were living in on Trask."

"That's not true!" Ben denied hotly. "They're lying!"

"So, you weren't living in the attic above an inn in a black-market port?" Luke's tone was scathing.

"It was temporary." Ben growled. "We made good friends there. Rey was happy and well cared for."

"I beg to differ. She may have been well cared for but happy is another matter." Luke walked around his desk to stand in front of his glowering nephew. "I think you saw what you wanted to see. Its clear Rey is very attached to you. She's sensitive and mindful of upsetting you. I sense how strong she is with the Force. She needs stability and a place to nurture her growing ability. Do you really want to deny her that chance? Do you really think wandering around the galaxy, living hand to mouth, is giving her a good and secure life? You can't be selfish, Ben. If you really care for her, then let her go."

A/N-thanks for reading. Please review.