Force Dyad
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A/N-thank you very much to everyone who kindly read and reviewed the last chapter.
Chapter Fifty-Nine-An Interesting Revelation
Rey awoke to the golden threads of morning light shining in her eyes. She sat up slowly, using the heels of her hands to rub away the last remnants of sleep. She glanced over toward Ben. In the wash of new light, it made him appear almost ethereal. He really was a beautiful man. She watched as the light brought his face into focus, not yet animated with the warmth of who he was, for he was still in the land of dreams. She wondered what he was dreaming about, by the soft smile on his face, she hoped it was something joyful rather than the nightmares that usually plagued him.
Even though the plan had been to wake early to continue working on the Falcon, Rey was reluctant to disturb Ben, especially when he looked so peaceful. Stealthily, she climbed onto her feet, quickly gathering her things together so she could sneak away without disturbing him. Before she left, she noticed one of the Jedi texts Ben had been avidly studying the night before. He had fallen asleep in the middle of reading; the book lay propped open on his chest as he slept. Intrigued by what was so captivating about this particular text, she bent down and carefully picked up the ancient tome.
Rey hurriedly tiptoed away before Ben discovered her theft. The book was several hundred white pages, yellowing at the edges and as delicate as a butterfly's wings. It remained open on the last passage Ben had been reading before he fell asleep.
Rey touched the fine script that lined the page, her fingertips lightly tracing the words as she read. "Force Dyad…." She murmured, her eyes eagerly scanning the page. Some of the wording was difficult to understand, which was highly frustrating, but she persevered, determined to find out why Ben was so fascinated with this particular book.
Motioning for BB-8 to follow her, she wandered through the ancient ruins of the jedi temple out buildings, until she reached a series of stone steps. Climbing up them, she settled down on the topmost step and lay the book across her lap. In the early morning light, the pages of the book fluttered in the breeze. Rey smoothed down the pages, and with BB-8 helping to translate some of the more difficult passages, she began to read in earnest.
"A Force dyad, also known as a dyad in the Force, the pairing of two Force-sensitive beings, making them one in the Force. The power of a dyad is foretold to be as strong as life itself, and the individuals who form a dyad share a connection that is able to span across space and time.
Those in a dyad are rumoured to possess rare Force powers such as Force healing. This ability allows them to heal wounds and even resurrect the deceased, but it requires the transference of their own Force energy and is, therefore, potentially lethal to the healer. In addition, dyads are attuned to each other's senses, including what they can see, hear and feel. Their connection is able to cover a range of light-years, allowing the dyads to interact with each other across the galaxy."
It had taken the best part of an hour for her and BB-8 to translate just a few paragraphs, but Rey was completely astounded by the brief summary. It sounded so credible and incredible all at once. No wonder Ben was so fascinated by it. She thought about her own unique connection to Ben and wondered whether he had been searching through the texts in order to find an explanation for it. They certainly shared some of the same elements as the Force Dyad-they were definitely attuned to each other's senses, Ben's pain was her pain, his happiness impinged on hers. She was often affected by his change in mood, and their connection certainly was able to cover a range of light years, they had interacted with each other from the time she was born, living on a planet many light years away from his.
"But I've never been able to heal anyone." Rey said to BB-8. Then she paused, chewing on her lower lip as she dwelled on her strange experience on Tython after Ben had brought her back from that mysterious place, the world between worlds. "As strong as life itself…." She mumbled, her hazel eyes searching again for that particular line of text.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
Skywalker's loud voice made her jump as he suddenly appeared over the horizon. Rey slammed the book shut and hid it behind her back as she quickly rose to her feet. "I'm just enjoying the early morning sunshine. That's not a crime."
"I saw it!" Skywalker yelled at her. "You had no right to take it. Give me the book."
Rey thought the old jedi master looked half mad as he came running toward her, nearly tripping over his long brown robes in his haste to reach her. The map of wrinkles on his face told of the most incredible journey. His eye lines once told of laughter, of warm smiles and affection. His forehead of worries past and worries present. But mostly they were so deeply ingrained they told of a man who had travelled through many decades to that moment; to stand there as an old man, beaten and forlorn.
"Give me the book, Rey." Skywalker demanded again; his voice hoarse.
"What happened to you, Master Skywalker?" Rey asked, her tone dripping with disappointment. "How could you just turn away like this and let others shoulder the burden of your disastrous decisions? It's not fair…. especially to Ben. Out of everyone he has suffered the most because of your inability to face up to your failure. You need to own up to it and come back with us. You owe him that much at least."
"You have no right to speak to me like that, child." Skywalker warned her, his complexion turning grey.
"I am not a child!" Rey retorted impatiently. "In two days, I turn eighteen. A lot of time has passed, Master Skywalker, while you've been stuck here wallowing in your own misery."
"You have no idea." Skywalker answered gruffly. "The Jedi are romanticized, deified. But if you strip away the myth and look at their deeds, the legacy of the Jedi is failure. Hypocrisy, hubris. I am just the one of many failures."
"So, you just exile yourself here in self-pity?"
"It is the only way. At the height of their powers, they allowed Darth Sidious to rise, create the Empire, and wipe them out. It was a Jedi Master who was responsible for the training and creation of Darth Vader." Skywalker argued.
"And a Jedi who saved him. Yes, the most hated man in the galaxy. But you saw there was conflict inside him. You believed that he wasn't gone. That he could be turned." Rey countered.
"And I became a legend!" Skywalker replied bitterly. "For many years, there was balance, and then I saw... Ben. My nephew with that mighty Skywalker blood. And in my hubris, I thought I could train him; I could pass on my strengths. Han was... Han about it, but... Leia trusted me with her son. And I failed her in the worst way. I was so focused on trying to fight the darkness I had convinced myself was rising in him, it was too late…. I had allowed Voe to….to…" He took a deep shuddering breath and hung his head in despair.
Rey wanted to feel compassion for him but she just couldn't. The way he had alienated and treated Ben over the years was something she couldn't easily forgive. "You need to come back with us and right your wrongs."
"How can I?" Skywalker focused his watery blue eyes on Rey. "I never expected Voe to turn on me like that…. I refused to listen to others countless warnings…I know Leia blames Snoke for turning Voe's heart, but... it was me. I failed. Because I was Luke Skywalker. Jedi Master. A legend."
"The galaxy needs a legend right now. The Resistance is struggling…. we have all been doing our best…. Tai, Hennix, me…. but especially Ben. Without him stepping up and taking over the burden of our training we would all have floundered by now."
Confusion crossed Skywalker's face and he touched his forehead as if it pained him. "Ben has been training you?"
"Yes." Rey answered steadfastly. "After everything he's been through, after everything he's suffered…he still put others first. Isn't it time you did the same, Master Skywalker?"
When Rey returned to the Falcon, Ben was still sleeping. She knelt down beside him and placed the book back on his chest. She looked down at his handsome face, admiring the way the dark fringe of his eyelashes settled softly on his cheeks. She felt his warm breath against her face as she leaned in close. He murmured something in his sleep, Rey moved nearer, almost certain he had just said her name. As she did so, one of his arms shot out and wrapped around her, pulling her to lie down next to him. Rey just about managed to stifle her startled cry as Ben rolled onto his side, pulling her along with him. One look showed her that his eyes remained firmly closed. He tucked her against his long body as he spooned her from behind.
Rey remained still, contemplating whether to wake him up or not. She had to admit it was surprisingly comfortable lying next to him like this. It was a scenario she had dreamed about on occasion, but not like this, not when Ben wasn't aware of what he was doing.
Or was he?
Rey glanced over her shoulder again at his sleeping face. No, he was definitely asleep, she decided. She rested her head against his shoulder and gazed up at the hazy blue sky above. Her surroundings had taken on a dream like quality and she felt reluctant to move and disturb the quiet serenity she had found. Giving in, Rey shifted closer to Ben and made herself comfortable as she closed her eyes.
A/N-thanks for reading! Please review.