Chapter 2

A Jedi's strength flows from the force.

'Rey I'm worried about you. You barely eat, you barely sleep…'

Rey's red rimmed eyes snapped up from the broken saber to meet Finn's.

'How do you know I don't sleep?'

'Rose told me. She's worried about you, too.'

'Well tell her not to worry, I'm fine.'

'No you're not,' he insisted taking another step towards her.

Rey slammed her hands down onto the work bench.

'Everyone around here seems to know what's best for me. Leia, Rose, you.'

She silently added Kylo's name to the list.

'Has anyone ever thought to ask me what I want?' she shouted.

Finn looked down at her with sad, hurt eyes.

'Rey, we care about you—'

'Do you? Do you really care about me? Or do you all just care about winning?'

Before Finn could respond to her hasty retort, Rey ran out of the supply tent and into the darkened wood. She ran until her lungs burned and her legs ached. When her body refused to go any further, she leaned against a tree to catch her breath. The feel of the strong, ancient bark pressed against her spine helped her centre her thoughts. Closing her eyes, she enjoyed the rare moment of calm connection with nature.

'You see? You don't belong here.'

Rey's eyes sprang open at the sound of his voice and there he was before her. Supreme Leader Kylo Ren of the First Order. His Dark energy unfolded around her like tendrils. She suppressed a shiver. He wore no helmet and his raven hair was unkempt as if he had run his hands through it multiple times. His eyes were as intense and unrelenting as she remembered. She glanced at his scar with a guilt ridden heart, then pushed the difficult feelings aside. It wouldn't do any good to show weakness in the face of her enemy. Jutting out her chin, Rey fought to keep her sympathetic nature at bay.

'You're not really here,' she called out, masking her disappointment that he was just a figment of their growing bond.

'Well I am and I am not. Part of me seems to be here all the time, just as part of you seems to be constantly with me.'

Rey was surprised at his honest, unguarded answer. Perhaps this was a sign that there were still vulnerable cracks in his seemingly unyielding facade. She wanted to probe further, but suddenly realised with a spark of panic that he might now know the location of the Resistance.

Kylo casually waved a hand between them.

'I know your thoughts, Rey. You have nothing to fear. I have yet to discover where you and your band of traitorous scum are hiding. All I see right now, is you in my quarters.'

Relief ran through her like a calming river. Though his decision to reveal that she was currently standing within his private space sent a feeling of unease and gently burgeoning arousal running through her. Why did their meetings always have to be so disconcerting? Was he as affected by her as she was by him?

'I can see you are in your chambers,' she offered weakly, trying to conceal her heightened emotional state. She focused on the stark white walls around him.

'Why didn't the bond between us break when Snoke died?' she asked with curiosity.

'Because this isn't his doing. I believe this is the will of the Force.'

Rey doubted Kylo's theory. Why would the Force bond two such as them? They still remained on opposite sides of the war, despite her wish that he would join the Resistance and fight alongside her. She thought they had shared something, when they fought Snoke's guards together. It seemed that the pull to the Dark was still too strong. She felt a mix of sadness and jealousy swirl in her stomach and couldn't stop the repetitive thought from blossoming once again in her head.

Why did you choose the darkness over me? Why aren't I...enough?

She hoped he wouldn't tap into her vulnerable, unspoken confession, though she knew he would delve into her mind as he pleased.

'Leia has taught me well, I know the Force would not want to align me with such a monster as you,' she retorted, anger dripping from each syllable.

She regretted mentioning Leia the moment the words left her lips, instantly feeling the pang of hurt she had caused him echoed within her own mirror heart.

Kylo narrowed his eyes.

'You still think that I'm not worthy of you. What do I have to do to prove myself?' he demanded.

A moment of silence settled between them.

'There's only one thing I want from you,' Rey replied finally, taking a slow step towards him.

'Tell me and it's yours,' Kylo promised, just a moment too swiftly. His eager response prematurely drawn from his lips, by the tantalising tingle that rippled over his skin, as Rey moderately narrowed the proximity between them. He waited impatiently for her crucial response.

'I want Ben.'

Kylo stared down at her. Working his jaw.

Well, answer her. Tell her what you told me. You might have more luck convincing her.

'Ben Solo, is no more,' he rumbled.

'I don't believe that.'

I like this girl more and more.

'Quiet,' Kylo hissed to his father.

Rey glared at him and Kylo realised she thought his outburst was directed at her.

Now you've done it.

'Rey I—'

She interrupted him sternly.

'I want you to leave.'

Anger coursed through his veins. She wanted him to leave? His darkside rose to the surface and roared primally. No one gave orders to Kylo Ren. No one.

'Do you have any idea what I'm offering you?' he pressured.

'Yes and I believe I already told you I don't want any part of it.'

You can't bribe her with meaningless trinkets like the galaxy, son.

Kylo growled loudly in frustration at his Father's constant interruptions and Rey's refusal to yield. Rey offered him no sympathy for the outburst. She looked cold and unforgiving. She took a step away from him.

That was counterproductive. You've lost her now.

She turned her back on him and the small, simple action cut Kylo to the bone. Another rejection to add to his seemingly endless supply.

'Go,' she ordered.

Kylo knew he was beaten. It was time to depart. He needed to regroup and decide what his next move would be. He closed his eyes and when he reopened them, he was alone in his quarters, staring longingly at the space that had been occupied by Rey just moments before.

She'll never take you as you are. She wants more, Ben.

'Don't call me by that name.'

You can call yourself whatever you want to, kid, but it doesn't change the fact that she said no.

'She just needs some persuading,' Kylo said with a crooked twitch of a smile.

He pressed the intercom.

'Get me Hux, right now,' he snapped before removing his finger.

What are you going to do?

'I'm going to give her some incentive.'

Hux strode into the room and looked at Kylo with thinly veiled disgust. It amused him to see such open hatred from the unimportant underling.

'Put some troopers at each of the distant out-posts, have them obstruct all trading with anyone from the outer rim,' Kylo instructed.

'Sir? This seems like a waste of resources, we can't possibly stop all shipments—'

'When I want your opinion, I'll ask for it, Hux.'

Kylo lifted his finger into the air to indicate he wanted silence not a discussion.

Kylo sensed the flare of outrage that surged through Hux. He waited for him to push it down and comply like the good little rabid cur that he was.

'Very well, Sir,' he managed to reluctantly reply before turning abruptly and leaving the room.

What now?

'Now I wait.'

You think starving her friends will have her running into your arms? You have a lot to learn about the art of seduction, my boy.

'It will force her out of hiding and give me a chance to talk to her in person.'

This won't go the way you think, son.

'I don't remember asking your opinion.'

Someone has to try to get through to you.

'When will you see that my way is the only way?'

Your way led to my death, kid. So excuse me if I question your methods.

The vile taste of remorse rolled around in Kylo's mouth. He stripped off his tunic and picked up his saber, needing to train. It would help clear his mind. It was also necessary to prepare. As irritating as his father's unrelenting voice was, he was right. When Rey did come to him, it would not be an easy negotiation. Still, he was confident with some encouragement, she would see the light...or the dark as it were.

'Cut off?' Leia repeated.

'Yes Ma'am,' Poe confirmed.

'All communications between us and the merchants have been shut down. We can't get through, there's something jamming our signal.'

'It's the First Order, I know it,' Finn said angrily.

'Calm down Finn we don't know anything yet,' Leia reprimanded.

'We know if we don't get those supplies soon, we have weeks, maybe only days before we run out of food entirely!' Poe yelled.

'We have to gather more information. We need to know if this is a calculated move or just a trade agreement gone awry,' Leia instructed.

Leia was the only voice of reason that could get through to the hot headed rebellion boys.

'We have to send someone to the outpost,' Finn realised.

Leia nodded at him, pleased that he had reached the same conclusion.

'I'll go.'

Poe and Finn turned to see Rey standing in the entryway with her hands on her hips.

'We'll go too,' Finn said stepping towards her.

'Yeah,' Poe readily agreed with a nod.

'Can I just check who's in charge around here?' Leia asked firmly.

'You know I have to go,' Rey came forward and stood in front of Leia. She pushed her thoughts into her mentors mind, a skill she had acquired through her training with the Jedi General.

You know as well as I do that it's him. He's trying to draw me out.

Leia silently answered her.

Exactly Rey, you don't have to be Admiral Ackbar to spot this is a trap. You can't go running into this thing with your eyes closed.

Rey laughed internally. No matter what life threw at Leia, she always kept her sense of humour. It was one of the reasons she loved the aging General so very much.

How about I go running into it with my eyes open then? she offered.

Both of the women were still for a few moments.

'Ahhh, are you two having a staring competition or something?' Poe asked eventually, looking at each of them in turn.

Leia sighed and looked resigned, she nodded once at Rey. Rey smiled. She had won this round.

Rey turned to face Poe and Finn.

'We'll leave early tomorrow morning. Be ready.'

At daybreak as she packed up her things in their shared tent, Rey explained to Rose why they were going to the outpost.

'Well I'm going too then,' Rose announced, rising from her bed.

Rey groaned.

'Rose, I have enough insubordination from the troublesome twins. I don't need you to start ignoring me too,' she complained.

'Exactly, you can't handle those two by yourself! I can help keep them in line for you. I'll bring my taser,' she said with a smirk.

Rey gave in and smiled at Rose.

'It would be nice to have some female company.'

'I got your back,' Rose winked.

'I suspect that Kylo is behind all this,' Rey confessed, frowning at her friend.

'Why?' Rose asked, her voice tinged with concern.

'He wants me to join him. To rule with him. He is...very persistent.'

'He doesn't know how strong you are.'

Rey tried to smile.

'There is something between us, some kind of connection,' she said tentatively, wondering how Rose would react.

'The Force,' Rose said knowingly. Finn had confided in Rose many times regarding his experiences with the invisible energy source.

'Yes, but it's more than that. We know things about each other. We can see into each other. Hear each other's thoughts, and sometimes even see glimpses of each other's pasts and futures.'

'Wow. That sounds... intense. Finn has never described it to me in that way. He said it's more like an instinct or a guiding light. What do you see when you look into Kylo?'

'A sea of anger, guilt, hatred and self-loathing but also... a glimmer of hope.'

'You still think he can be saved. You're not the only one, Rey. Once the whispers about Leia's son were confirmed to be true, many amongst our ranks hoped that he would turn once again to the Light, myself included,' Rose said excitedly.

'I don't know if it's possible. It might be too late.'

Saying the words out loud was almost too much for her to bear. The bond between them strengthened with every passing day, but it's impact weighed heavily on her fractured heart. If Ben couldn't be saved, what would that do to her own ruptured soul? Intertwined as their fates appeared to be.

'Well if anyone can bring Ben Solo back to us, it's you,' Rose said with a look of admiration.

Rey was used to that look. It was given to her freely and easily by the remaining Resistance members, but she still doubted she was worthy of their reverence.

She didn't know how to respond to Rose's compliment without inciting anxiety from her dear friend, so she silently finished packing her bag and turned to leave.

Rose caught her hand as she headed for the exit and gave it a tight squeeze. It eased Rey's worried mind. Rose always knew how to make her feel better. They walked towards the Falcon hand in hand.

Kylo dreamed of Rey every night, but in his dreams her decision to choose the Light over him always ended the same way, with her untimely, devastating death.

Watching Rey die over and over was pushing Kylo further and further into the darkness. Anguish and pain had become his constant companions.

His dreams never altered, he was kneeling on the ground, cradling Rey's cold, dead body to his chest, rocking her gently as he felt the last thread of hope in his soul unravel and become lost forever.

But that night, the dream ended unexpectedly. As he kneeled over her lifeless body, he had a vision of another Rey wearing black attire and shrouded in a long cloak. She carried a modified saber in her left hand. His mouth went dry at the sight of her and he watched in silent awe as she sauntered towards him.

'Why are you down there, my prince?' she asked with an amused expression.

Kylo looked down. The body had disappeared. Had it returned to the Force around them? Grief enveloped him and restricted his lungs.

'She's gone,' he croaked.

The other Rey reached out her hand and tilted his chin up towards her.

'I'm right here,' she cooed, holding out her hand.

'Take it,' she ordered firmly.

Kylo did as she demanded and she pulled him to his feet.

'It doesn't have to be this way Kylo, if you convince me to join you. We can be together. Forever.'

Tall dark stone walls grew up around them and a large stone throne appeared in front of them. Angular, claw like spikes jutted out from the throne from every angle.

'You can still save me. If you turn me away from the Light, the shadows that you glimpsed of my passing will disappear and be replaced with the bright glow of our eternal reign.'

Rey led him towards the throne. She gently placed her hands on Ren's chest and pushed him onto the majestic seat. Kylo watched with an intense gaze as she climbed into his lap, wrapping one hand around his shoulders while the other gently stroked his chest.

'Isn't this what you want for us?' she whispered in his ear.

'You aren't real,' he said swallowing hard as he fought the tempting apparition.

'I could be. If you want me to be,' she breathed.

Kylo looked into her eyes and saw reflected in them the many glorious years of their reign together. The most powerful couple in the galaxy, able to wield the Force unlike any other, acting in perfect harmony, almost as if the old prophecies were true, almost as if they were...

'A dyad in the force,' she whispered slowly and meaningfully.

Kylo felt elated as his theory was confirmed. He knew they were connected for a higher reason. He knew that hack Snoke hadn't bridged their minds as he had claimed. He just manipulated what was already there for his own selfish gain. But their link was something more than he could even begin to comprehend. It was pure and real, like his feelings for Rey. It truly was the will of the Force.

Filled with a renewed sense of purpose, Kylo's eyes flashed with desire. He pulled his dark beauty roughly towards him and joined their lips together. Rey melted into the kiss, smiling against his mouth as she hungrily gripped his hair within her fingers.

'I'm trapped Kylo, and only you can set me free.'

She spoke the words against his lips as he fell deeper in her Dark enchantments.

She moaned softly as she tilted her head back to give him access to her neck. Her hood fell away as he pressed firm, passionate kisses down her throat.

'I will free you, Rey. I will never give up. They can throw the very fires of Mustafar at me and I would still come for you,' he burned the oath into her skin.

'Yes, my knight, yield to me,' Rey cried out.

'To no one but you. Just you.'

Rey placed her hands on his cheeks and focused his eyes on hers.

'Go to me now, my dark warrior. Right now. I'm coming to you.'

Kylo suddenly jolted awake in his quarters and spring to his feet.

'Ready my ship,' he growled through the intercom. His plan had seemingly worked and time was of the essence. He had to act fast in order to intercept Rey and save her from herself. After all, he was her only hope.

Kylo was unaware that another had connected with his dream that evening. An ancient force wielder who wished to escape his father's rule and dominate the Galaxy he believed was rightfully his. He was restricted by ancient laws to only observe from afar, but it wouldn't always be that way.

Living apart in the Ethereal realm of Mortis with only the Father and the Sister for company, the Son had become angry and jaded. He was sure that Mortis was not his primary destiny. It was his father's wish for them to stay in the static realm, not his own. His father's only concern was to protect the balance of the Force. His Sister protected the Light and he, the Dark. His Father channelled and maintained a balance between them both thus maintaining the equilibrium of the Force amongst all living things.

The Son found the Sister to be infuriatingly obedient. She never questioned the Father's orders and never doubted their objective. Son wanted more than a life of observing and never affecting change within the galactic realm. Now the Son felt he was on the brink of achieving his deepest desires.

The Father became more frail with every passing hour and as his body began to crumble, Son inched closer and closer to his goal. Soon he would be strong enough to escape the Force bonds that tied him to Mortis and no one, not even Father or Sister, would be able to stop him from achieving his destiny.

As the embodiment of the darkside itself, Son often connected with the Force projections or visions of Sith or other powerful Dark Force wielders within the Galaxy. That night was no exception.

At first it was just an annoying whisper in his ear that he tried to ignore, then he heard a female voice, solid and clear and... tempting.

A dyad in the Force.

A dyad had not existed within the force for centuries and to his knowledge, there was only one known documented record of such a phenomena written in the Sith old tongue.

Now that his interest was piqued, he connected fully with the Darksider's dream. Kylo Ren as he called himself, though the Son knew it was a facade, held little interest for him. A powerful being to be sure, but not one that could rival his own power.

The girl, however...the girl was interesting to him. There was untapped power there, unconnected with any known Jedi bloodlines. The mystery of her apparent lack of ancestry was enough to make her an object of curiosity to him, but there was more. She possessed so much raw, untamed potential. She lacked the necessary teachings, but with the right instruction, he sensed she could rival even him. However, her choice of Force mate was. . . woefully disappointing.

Perhaps. . .after all this time. . .he finally found someone he could share his life with? Was this girl the key to his salvation from Mortis?

This was the sign he had been waiting for. It was finally time to step into the world and make himself known as it's true Dark Leader.

His future partner displayed a strong attachment to the broken man he observed through the Force, but that was of little consequence. Once she realised there was another who could fulfil her desires, she would forget her feelings for the lesser male. He was certain that even a bond as strong as a Force dyad could not withstand his almighty power.

The darksider would need to be dealt with of course, but that was a minor detail. Dispatching of him wouldn't pose much of a challenge for a superior being such as himself.

By the end of the vision, the Son was utterly convinced that the final words Rey uttered were for him and him alone.

Come to me now, dark warrior.

'I'm coming,' he whispered into the void.

All he needed to do now was wait. Wait for the Father to weaken enough so that he could fulfil his promise to the one known as... Rey.

The Father sat on his throne in the temple-like structure he shared with the Daughter, contemplating his life's many victories and failures. The deep lines etched on his face reflected his overly anxious mind. He was dying. Though he did not fear what the afterlife had in store for him, he greatly feared what his death would mean for the Galaxy.

For so long he had fought to keep the balance of Light and Dark between his children. Without him, the balance between them would break, and his children would be able to leave Mortis. He knew with unwavering certainty that Daughter would do what she could to maintain the equilibrium in his absence, but he knew that Son would want to use his death to his advantage and tip the scales in the darkside's favour.

It was difficult for Father to blame Son for his aspirations; it was in his very nature to disobey just as it was in the Daughter's to comply. The Light and Dark within them dictated their actions.

'Father?'

The Daughter entered the room and took his hand with a concerned look. He did not have to voice his worries to her, for she knew them all.

'Father, I will not leave Mortis, not without your permission,' she stressed again as she knelt before him.

'You are the light of my life, Daughter,' the Father said as he placed a hand on her cheek. He pulled his hands away from her and gripped the sides of his throne. Standing up was a slow and arduous process now that caused him much pain. The Daughter extended her hand towards him, but the proud man shooed her away.

The Father sighed.

'Once I am gone. Your brother will leave Mortis.'

'I know, Father.'

'We must take steps to prevent this.'

'What can we do?'

'Unless I can find a way to extend my life, I fear it is hopeless.'

'Can such a thing be done?'

'I do not know Daughter, I do not know. Return to your studies on the subject and share with me anything of interest.'

'I will, Father.'

'And watch your brother closely for me, Daughter. You must report any unusual activity on his part to me immediately. Is that understood?' he said firmly.

'Yes Father.'

'Thank you, my child. Leave me now.'

Daughter left Father to his melancholy thoughts. She walked down the corridor to her chambers with a heavy heart.

Daughter loved Father but she also loved her brother. She did not want to disobey Father, but the thought of spying was distasteful to her Light infused soul. She arrived at her room and sat down at her desk. Picking up the last text she had been examining, she began to read though it felt like a hopeless task.

A luminous tear fell down her cheek and she wiped it away. Her sadness was overwhelming. When Father was gone she would have lost more than a family member, she would lose her only ally, her only confidant and her only friend. Though she loved Brother, they did not share the same connection.

Brother's thoughts were always dark, and he refused to even attempt to understand her contrasting point of view. Her Father was able to understand them both and nurture their opposing natures whilst keeping them under constant surveillance.

'How can such a task be achieved without you, dear Father?' She asked the empty room.

She returned to her book to distract her from her depressing thoughts, but they pierced her contemplation like red hot pokers.

When Father dies and Brother leaves...what will become of you?

She felt immense guilt for worrying about her own fate while her father faced his tragic end, but she could not help it. She feared what an eternity of solitude would do to her fragile soul.

'Am I to have no-one to share my life with?' she asked with a sob.

The thought of everlasting loneliness seemed like a fate much worse than death to Daughter.

She put down her book and looked out of the window at the ever-changing landscapes below. Mortis stretched out beneath her in a never-ending struggle of dark versus light, night versus day and death versus life. Flowers bloomed and died, rivers overflowed, then ran dry. The only constant in Mortis was the inconstant.

She called out to the Light Force which had always guided her heart.

Please counsel me in my darkest hour. Tell me where my destinies lie?

She was disheartened when she received no response. She told herself to be patient. The Light had never failed her before and it would come to her aid once more, just as soon as her future path became clear.

She just hoped it wouldn't be too late.