Last On: They both land on the planet. Well, Kylo actually crashes. When they meet, they switch back to their bodies, falling unconscious when they do. Kylo tries to force Rey to return with him, but then the ship doesn't start.

Chapter 7

It took them only several minutes to determine the problem. Ben and Rey stood outside the ship, facing where a panel had been removed. Inside was an indent where a roundish object was missing.

"Where is it?" Ben asked, turning to stand over Rey.

"I don't know." When Ben heard her reply he lifted his hand. Rey hunched her shoulders and attempted to pull out of his reach.

Ben quickly grabbed her shoulder, and continued moving his other hand up to her temple. He dove into her mind gently, and it only took a few seconds to confirm her words. "Hmm, you don't know," he said. "It must have been stolen then. Likely when we were out cold from the transfer." Ben dropped Rey and began to walk around, studying the ground as if looking for tracks.

Rey turned to the forest and began a hike north through the forest.

"Where are you going?" shouted Ben, but Rey didn't turn back to answer him. He growled. Then he turned back towards the craft. If there was a thief about, he didn't want to leave anything valuable behind, so he gathered the two bags from the ship. Then looked for the survival gear loaded into every First Order Craft. This one was missing several items, and he would have wondered how anyone let her leave in a craft that wasn't stocked to code, but he didn't have the time.

When he caught up to Rey, she was looking wide eyed at his damaged ship. "Rough landing?" she asked with a smirk.

"I wasn't flying," he answered her.

"By the looks of this, I think they call it 'falling,'" Rey retorted with a smug smirk.

She looked to him for a witty reply, but all she got was gruff, "Hmm."

Rey knew where to look first. She went to the compartment and opened the panel, then looked back in shock. The same component of both ships was now missing. "This makes no sense. The part is worth almost nothing. If someone were scavenging parts off our ships, they'd better take the Yip Coils or the T-Drive first. Those are easier to get to, and worth a lot more."

"It still stranded us," said Ben. He began to walk around the ship again, looking downward for tracks. "I don't see any tracks here. It'd be hard to go anywhere on this ground without leaving tracks." Ben kicked some loose dirt with his foot.

"If it had been me, I'd of had half the ship ripped apart in the time you were gone. Clearly they were not motivated by money," said Rey, who hadn't been listening to Ben.

"No, clearly not," Ben replied. "Come then, there's no more use staying here. They could still come back to rob the ship. We'll go north, and find somewhere to set up camp. Look for Firewood along the way," ordered Ben.

"Hold on, the ship may not be flyable, but it can still provide shelter. And I never agreed to follow your commands, supreme leader," said Rey, her snappiness clearly returning.

"You are my prisoner," Ben barked.

"Only so I could get a ride out of here." Rey stomped into the downed craft. "Clearly you can't provide that anymore." She slammed the shuttle door closed.

"Fine!" Ben shouted, before storming off.

He stomped through the woods, angrily kicking a few rocks and logs as he passed them. Then for some odd reason, he began to remember the last conversation he had with his mother. He seemed to hear her words in the wind. "Her trust is hard to win over."

And he remembered his response. "I'll protect her, mom," or he was almost going to say mom. "She will be treated well." Of course he didn't know his mom was talking about Rey then, but it is obvious to him now.

'She doesn't want my help,' his mind responded.

'If you leave her now, anyone could come. And she's pretty much unarmed thanks to you,' the compassionate side of him turned.

He then remembered Snoke taunting him with his own compassion. A weakness, he'd been taught. He could hear his old master's voice saying the word, "Weak."

He stopped, and sat down on a large log. The image of Snoke dropping dead, and the two of them fighting to survive against the Praetorian Guard filled his mind. He knew one of them alone wouldn't have stood a chance in that fight. But thanks to his compassion, they both did.

Ben stood up determined. He chose a path and marched through the trees.

Here's the next chapter, I hope you like it. I have a clear idea on the direction to take this piece, though I'm not sure about all of the steps to get there yet. In a couple chapters we'll catch up again with the Ghosts, it'll be a flash back chapter over some of these events. I'll try to make it clear then.