Force Dyad
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to their respective owners.
A/N-thank you very to everyone who kindly read and reviewed the last chapter.
Chapter Forty-Four-A Warning
Rey's fingers curled into the fabric of Ben's tunic, not clasping it tightly, but just enough to reassure her they were staying together. After the unexpected explosion everything had now fallen deathly silent, all she could hear was Ben's rapid breathing, his face was so close to hers she could feel his warm breath skating across the sensitive skin of her cheek. His hand moved around her middle, warm and soft as he rested it on her lower back.
"You okay?" He whispered close to her ear.
"Yes." Rey whispered back. "You?"
"Yeah."
Rey let her body sag in quiet relief, her muscles becoming loose. In his protective embrace she felt her worries lose their keen sting and her optimism returned. She felt Ben brush her hair back lightly with his fingers. There was something so warm, something that felt right, resting in his arms like this. Rey felt like she could stay there forever, but just as she was enjoying the sensation of Ben's fingers gently stroking her hair, he let go, rising slowly to his feet and pulling her up with him.
Just as they both regained their footing, Han and Leia entered the room. Han had his blaster in his hand, his keen eyes surveying the immediate area for any sign of danger. "Ben? Rey? You kids alright?" He called out.
"We're good." Ben yelled back as he drew his own weapon. "What was that?"
"I don't know." Han was already heading toward the front window. He parted the heavy drapes and peered outside. It took his eyes a while to adjust to the pure black of the night. Once they did, he focused his gaze on the horizon, toward the distant line of trees that bordered the property, and what he saw chilled him. The trees that sheltered so many with their spreading canopy of green and provided so much were now lifeless sticks of charcoal. The unfettered light illuminated the scorched ground and the smell of burning lingered through the partially opened window despite the previous rainfall.
The others had joined him at the window by this time. Han jumped in surprise when Rey let out an anguished cry of distress beside him. "Grimtaash! Ben, she's gone! They've destroyed our ship!"
Then Rey was running, heedless of the others warning shouts, she fled outside into the night. Rey breathed as if no air would ever be enough, as if she were a drowning victim suddenly brought up from the depths. Her feet slid outwards on the wet leaves coating the ground, the cold evening air shocking her throat and lungs as she inhaled deeper, faster. With each footfall a jarring pain shot from ankle to knee. Her heart beat frantically, tears stinging her eyes as she continued to run in the direction of the burning ship. The explosion had taken what was sacred to her and Ben and cast it as confetti into the sky. Grimtaash wasn't just a ship, it was home, their route to freedom when life got too much to take. A whole host of precious memories were wrapped up in the starship and now she was gone forever.
Soon the air was too smoky to breathe. Rey fell on her knees, hands on the gravel, her long hair almost touching the ground as she sobbed wretchedly. It didn't take Ben-with his longer strides-to catch up with her. He hunkered down and pulled her into a gentle hug. In his comforting embrace the world stopped still on its axis. There was no time, no wind, no rain.
Rey snuggled in, weeping on his shoulder. "Grimtaash, Ben, she's gone. I can't…." She stopped talking, inhaling sharply as realisation struck. "BB-8! Ben, BB-8 was still on the ship!" In that moment Ben's arms squeezed a fraction tighter around her in understanding and Rey breathed more slowly, her body melting against him as every muscle lost its tension and she gave in to her despair.
Ben's own eyes were wet with tears as he focused his gaze over the top of Rey's head and stared at the ghastly orange flames, devouring hungrily, licking and lapping at what was left of Grimtaash. He thought of the faithful little orange and white astromech trapped inside and his throat tightened with grief. Eventually they were forced to move as the rising smoke began to choke them. Ben pushed himself back onto his feet, leaving his arm around Rey's shoulders as he guided her a safe distance away from the scene of destruction. He saw his parents approaching in the distance, ever practical, they had already scoured the house for vital supplies and were loaded down with heavy bags filled with food, water and first aid kits.
"Come on, Rey. We need to go. We can't stay here." Ben said softly. "Whoever did this are probably still close by."
"We know who did this, Ben." Rey answered bitterly.
"I know." Ben murmured. He knew Rey was thinking of Voe, but he knew the former jedi turned darksider was just a small cog in a large wheel. This went much higher than Voe. There was a simple reason why Grimtaash had been specifically targeted and the Millennium Falcon spared. This was a direct warning from Snoke that he wouldn't tolerate being disobeyed. Ben had rejected his offer to join him and in doing so was now a marked man.
"Stupid boy, I cannot be betrayed. I cannot be beaten. I see your mind. I see your every intent! You can run. You can hide. But one day you will join me. It is preordained."
Just thinking Snoke's name seemed to conjure the powerful dark Force wielder's voice inside his mind. Ben let go of Rey and clutched his head, groaning as if in pain. He clenched his eyes shut and shook his head frantically in a vain attempt to shake Snoke's voice out of his head.
"What's wrong with him?" Han said in alarm to Rey as he dropped the bags he was carrying and lumbered to Ben's side. "Hey, son, its your old man. What's wrong? Have you hurt your head?"
"Ben!" Leia gasped breathlessly as she finally caught up. "What happened?" She asked Rey.
"He needs space. This happens sometimes." Unlike the adults, Rey was totally composed as she pushed past Han and placed her hands on either side of Ben's head. "You'll be alright now." She whispered.
Ben stilled under her cool touch as her light chased away the darkness tormenting him inside his mind. His breathing came in short and shallow bursts as the pain in his head receded and Snoke's voice faded away into nothingness. "I'm alright now." He said to Rey as he slowly opened his eyes.
"You sure?" Rey checked as she dropped her hands back to her side.
"Yeah." Ben ran his fingers through the inky black strands of his hair. "Thanks."
"Ben, what the hell happened?" Han demanded. He was completely shaken up as was Leia.
"Nothing happened." Ben muttered, unable to meet his parents concerned gazes. He was still trying to come to terms with the fact that Snoke had managed to infiltrate his mind again despite all the mental barriers he had put in place. "It was a headache."
"That was no headache." Leia came to stand in front of him. She was forced to crane her neck to get a better look at his face because he was so tall. "What are you not telling us, Ben?"
"Nothing." Ben practically growled. He was tired of all the questions. "I just get a pain in my head sometimes. Its no big deal."
Leia was disbelieving. She glanced at Rey, who quickly avoided her enquiring gaze when she realised the older woman was looking in her direction. "You've seen him like this before?"
Rey shrugged. "Sometimes." She looked up at Ben, who gave a subtle shake of his head to warn her not to elaborate. She sighed, her shoulders drooping slightly. "Like Ben says, its nothing."
Leia was just about to ask more questions when BB-8 shot out of the burnt foliage where he had been hiding, only revealing himself when he heard Ben and Rey's voices floating toward him in the darkness. He rolled quickly toward them over the bumpy ground, his dome head jerking on his round body in his haste to reach them.
"BB-8!" Rey cried in delight as she tore across the ground toward him.
Ben was only one step behind her. His longer strides soon outpaced Rey's and he was the first to reach the overjoyed little astromech. "Such a clever little droid." He praised BB-8, who was practically vibrating with happiness at being reunited with his beloved masters.
Rey skidded to a stop in front of him, lowering herself down to BB-8's level and immediately fussing with the bent aerial on top of his head. "I am so happy to see you." She said happily, tears filling her eyes. Once she had adjusted the aerial, she threw her arms around BB-8's round body and hugged him to her.
A/N-thanks for reading! I'm sorry for the short chapter. I didn't have time to edit the rest.
