Rey's eyes fluttered open, stirred by the morning sun. She sat up and stretched. She hoped sleeping would make her felt a little better than the night before, but she was wrong, if anything she felt worse. With little effort, Rey pulled herself out of her sleeping bag, rolled it up and walked out to look up at the morning sky. As she looks down to eye level she saw Ben a little further out, he was training.
She watched his movements as he swung his lightsaber. She watched as the lightsaber dances around between Ben's fingers as it spun and moved around.
She wondered how Ben would take it, if she fell to the Dark Side. Would he be angry? She did know he'd try his damn hardest to bring her back. Maybe that's good? Rey didn't know anymore.
Ben seemed to come back so pure. Yet Rey was filled with things she should be fighting harder. Rey could feel herself slowly giving in. She was trying to fight it but part of her gave in just that little bit every now and again. Rey hated it. She hated herself for not fighting the Dark Side hard enough, that hatred was enough to help the darkness rise. Rey took a deep breath, calming herself. Trying to remind herself of Jedi teachings. Not that she believed in much of it anymore.
Rey didn't know why, but teachings of the Jedi became a bore, and felt for of a chore than anything. She stopped reading them often as she used to, she stopped doing many things that a Jedi should do. All while she encouraged Ben to follow said Jedi teachings. She contradicted herself knowing Ben could be a great Jedi, but feared she couldn't be the Jedi Leia saw in her.
Rey began getting in with the build of the base joining the others in aid of completing it. Hearing nothing from the Final Order, means they haven't been found, which means more time to build the base.
1 week later and the base is nearly complete. The rebels utilised their surroundings and made it so the base blended in well with its surroundings. Even placing grass on the roof so from about it just looks like flat empty ground. The rest was made from wood, from fallen trees. A few trees had to be cut down, but Ben made quick work of it by using his lightsaber to cut the trees down. Over the next few days the final touches to the base will be added. Everyone felt rather proud. Their hard work, and teamwork resulted in a spacious, comfy base in which they can stay for time to come. There's more than enough room for everyone.
Over the week, Rey became much more distant. Finn noticed this and became concerned. He pulled Poe and Ben aside to see if they noticed it too.
"You think Rey is acting weird? Or am I losing my mind?" Finn asks
"Honestly, I've been getting a bit worried about her myself." Poe agrees
"Me too." Ben sighs "she won't talk, and all I want to do is help her. She knows that. I'd give my life for you guys and if I can help Rey, I will."
"I've tried talking to her." Finn says "she just doesn't want to know. She completely shuts down. Whatever she's going through, she refuses to acknowledge that it's there."
"That can't be healthy" Poe replies
"No, it's not at all." Ben sighs "it can't be good if she's hiding something. This could destroy her! Maybe I could try talking to her?"
"You can try, but don't get your hopes up." Finn replies "I thought she'd open up to me and she didn't."
"Worth a try." Ben shrugs spotting Rey from across the distance.
"Go for it" Finn encourages
Ben walks away leaving Poe and Finn behind him, watching him leave as he makes his way toward Rey, who seems to be working on the Falcon, alone.
"Hey" Ben says softly approaching Rey
"Oh, Hey Ben." Rey replies not even looking up from what she was doing.
"Uh..is everything...okay with you?" Ben asks handing Rey a tool.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Rey replies slightly muffled by the noises of her adjusting wires and bolts.
"Well, I've been worried about you."
"Why?" Rey finally looks up from what she was doing and catches Ben eyes. They're soft, warm, full of sympathy.
"Because I know that right now, you're not...well...you. Something is wrong and I want you to know that I'm here to talk if you want to. You aren't alone."
"This is something I have to do alone, Ben. I appreciate the offer of support, I really do, but this is my mission."
"Rey, a mission shouldn't change someone like this. You're withdrawn, quiet, the spark of hope in your eyes is gone. Your happiness is gone. This isn't you. Please tell me what's going on."
"Ben, I can't. I'm sorry."
"Yes, Rey, you can. Nothing can stop you from telling me, except yourself. What are you afraid of?!"
"I'm sorry, I can't. Maybe one day when this is all over I can tell you everything, but now, I can't."
Ben stayed silent for a moment before turning to leave, disappointment stung his heart. He thought she would open up to him. After all, he knew her better than anyone. He understood her. Ben turned to leave and Rey quickly went back to what she was doing. As Ben returned Finn and Poe approach to find out what happened.
"Something is really wrong." Ben's voice shook a little, sounded as though he was a little hurt "I'm worried and I don't want to make assumptions. Whatever she's dealing with is big and I'm worried it has something to do with the Dark Side."
"You think she could turn?" Poe asks
"I don't know." Ben replies "I have hope she'd never go to the Dark Side but from what I felt being around her I don't know what else to think."
"What did it feel like? Being around her?" Finn asks
"Usually, around Rey, I felt warmth, passion, compassion, drive, love." Ben sighs "Now? It's growing colder. It's like a sudden change in weather. I feel confusion, a little anger, fear, frustration, she's in pain and I have no idea of how to help her!"
"We have to do something." Poe replies
"I know." Finn says "but what?"
"We will figure it out, give it a little time, we will work this out over the next couple of days." Ben replies with a little hope in his voice and a sparkle in his eyes.
Ben was set on finding out what Rey was struggling with. He spent some time looking into ways of helping her with her fight with the Dark Side. Ben knew this was his chance to learn as much as he could to help Rey. He refused to give up on her.
Rey never gave up on Ben. She saved him, she believed in him from the beginning. She knew there was good in him. She understood his path was not with the First Order. He didn't understand this for some time. But he understood more when he saw the Final Order. That was where he started to realise his place. It wasn't with the First Order, Snoke, Palpatine, nor the Final Order. His place, was with the Jedi. Rey focused on it. She gave him strength, to fight and survive the Dark Side. To make it out and say he's ready to do the right thing. Rey pushed Ben's boundaries more than he would ever realise. He felt obligated to do the same for Rey.
Ben went about his daily duties, the thoughts playing on his mind all the while. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to go terribly wrong but he didn't know what.
Damn you, Force he thought to himself you tell me something is wrong but I don't know got to fix it! Ben sighs hoping that he figures something out before it's too late.
