Chapter 7 Lesson 4
Rey yawned as she headed outside into the early morning. It was cold and she wasn't use to the cold. At night on Jakku it would get cold but her AT-AT she lived in would stay warm especially with the fire. Ach-To was cold with it's ocean breeze and now here. It'll warm up when the sun is actually awake too. Ben had found a nice clearing just a few steps away from the base. As the base grows so will the distractions so if they were to train they needed a quiet place. Rey found Ben already there and he sitting on a blanket, legs crossed and meditating. She heard him take a deep breath acknowledged her presence.
"Morning," He greeted her and stood up as Rey still had sleep in her eyes. She should be use to waking up early even before the sun. If she wanted any good scraps from Jakku then you start early especially to get out of the afternoon heat. "How much was Luke able to teach you?"
"He gave me an overview of the Force, taught me who the Jedi were and we never really touched on lesson three…come to think of it." Rey answered and Ben nodded.
"So nothing?" He confirmed and Rey shrugged because she didn't want to answer that. "Come sit with me." And Rey walked to him as they went to sit down next to him. "What do you know about the Force?" He asked as they sat casually as the sun started to rise.
"Luke said it was energy, it something that's everywhere and in everything. Jedi have the ability to tap into it." Rey answered and Ben was pleased with the answer.
"It is everywhere and people like us, Jedi, Sith, we're sensitive to the Force. We can manipulate it, bend it." Ben kept going and Rey nodded.
"So you control it?" Rey asked and Ben had to think a bit.
"More or less, it…controls your own actions but it can obey the commands you give it." Ben added and that seemed to complicate things. "I'll teach you to read, I'll translate the text and have you read it. It'll bore you but being book smart isn't bad." Rey managed a little smile. "You seem to learn by touch and feel though." Which was good and bad. She can learn quickly by watching, by actions but to read it, to understand can add. "Every morning, we're going to meditate on the Force and I promise it's going to be harder to do than saber training. You need to discipline your mind."
Rey continued to listen and while Ben was young and young in the Force; his bloodline was rooted deep in it. He was a true son of the Force. His grandfather was the legendary Jedi Anakin Skywalker. Anakin was a General in the Old Republic, one of if not the best star pilot. He was a war hero and maybe one of the most gifted Jedi ever. Vader was one of the most powerful Sith. His mother was the daughter of a queen and a founder of the Rebel Alliance. She came from royalty of the galaxy of the Force and of Skywalker. Luke was born of the Force as well, the son of Skywalker. Ben Solo is the son of a princess, a General and Solo a war hero. He was the nephew of Luke and all in all he was the prince of the Force. That was a hell of a legacy to have and it's no wonder Snoke wanted him. Ben can tip this galaxy in favor of either side. It was pressure that he had. Ben had so much to live up to and he could fail all of it.
And yet this prince found a scavenger, a Force sensitive being from literally nowhere. And this scavenger defeated him battle, turned him from the throne and now they sit side by side. She was now his student and possibly the only friend in this galaxy. This was an opportunity to learn no matter what and she had to use it.
"You need to be able to quiet your mind, to listen to the Force, let it lead you." Ben started as he got into a meditating position. Rey followed in his motion. "You mind needs to be just as strong or even stronger than your body." Rey then looked down to Ben's saber. It was unique as if he hadn't quite finished it. It seemed to be as if he was unsure of what he wanted it to be just like him. It was red to signal his allegiance to the Sith but the saber said something different. Ben looked down to his saber knowing Rey wanted to jump right into that part of the training.
"First, learn to use this," Ben reached out placing his hand to the side Rey's head. It was a gentle touch as he let his hand linger there for a moment. "Then, Ill teach you to use this." The saber floated to his hand and he ignited and Rey smiled a little. She turned facing out to the rising sun and closed her eyes ready to listen to the Force.
Balance
Ben decided today would be good to train at the side of the mountain. He was leading Rey behind him as the hiked up. She has gained a lot from meditating within the Force. Everyday for the last month the day started with the meditating between the Master and the Apprentice. They have already connected within the Force and while Snoke had said he did that on purpose they both felt he was lying. To connect on that level that meant a deep bond to be able to see one another so clearly. She even was able to get into his head before his heart had stopped. Now as they trained together and meditated in the Force they could bridge their minds.
They can both sense one another's feelings. Rey can feel Ben still fighting the dark and the light. His soul was still filled with rage, anger and hurt. Ben could feel Rey, her signature was unique and calming. It was like this soft breeze that smelt of wild flowers. And he went to find it when he began to feel the pull between the light and dark. It kept him in the middle. Her presence in the Force was like the smallest candle light in the dark yet it radiated so much heat and it kept him from going cold.
When they fought side by side in the throne room he felt complete balance. He felt like a true person and that has never happened before. He wanted to feel like that again and being around Rey, he didn't achieve it but he was closer.
Finally the two reached the top of the base and the view was great. Rey looked around seeing this was going to be a new training spot. The wind blew just a little harder up here as she took in the fresh air. She's barely been outside of Jakku and each planet outside from there was prettier than the last. She then turned back to Ben as he looked to her. She was still full of innocents. She sees the galaxy through this rose colored glass. She believes in everything and in him. Ben can only see the dark motives of the galaxy, the pain it inflicts on itself. He almost didn't want to subject Rey to it. Her innocents gave him the smallest ray of hope.
He walked to her and now it was time to teach her balance. Not just balance within the Force but within herself. She was going to fight she needed to be able to stand and to balance any attack. He was going to teach fighting moves, hand to hand moves but slow it down to make her feel each muscle work.
"Ready?" He asked and she nodded and then he stood next to her. He was going to teach her a routine to do and build from there. Rey followed his motions. "When you move don't just move to the rhythm but to the Force." Rey nodded while looking out. "Strength isn't just how hard you can punch but how you use your whole body for that one punch." Ben then started to show Rey the moves and she followed. Going slow is what was going be hard. That is what will build her strength and speed knowing what it all feels like. Rey began to stretch alongside Ben but then felt something. She lost her footing and Ben knew that was going to happen. Rey couldn't help but laugh a little as she nearly toppled over.
Ben stood up and gave a sigh. Rey straighten herself up again and brushed off the giggles ready to try again. Ben just looked at her and she nodded meaning she was ok. They started again and Ren realized just how hard this was going to be.
Between the meditation and the balance Rey felt different. As the days passed by she felt her stands changing. She felt taller, lighter and stronger. Rey headed to the top of the mountain as she did not meditated with Ben this morning. They meditated in different places but felt each other in the Force that is was like they were next to one another. This was good because they needed to be able to find one another in the Force. They had to know how each felt so they can call to one another.
Rey saw Ben there still sitting on the ground finishing his meditating session. He got up as Rey went to join him. But instead of standing next to him Ben went to stand behind her. He placed one hand on her shoulder and another on her back. She started the warm up feeling Ben pushing on her and she needed to maintain that balance even with something fighting against her. This was a new challenge and it would only make her that much stronger.
Rey closed her eyes feeling her body move and the resistance Ben created. She fought back from it while moving slowly feeling her body move. At first she only felt each muscle and bad it actually hurt. Now it felt like her body was one.
As Ben remained behind her, he moved with her as the cool breeze continued to swirl pass them. He continued to move with her and could feel her both in the Force and through his hands. As Rey finished the routine she felt something. There was a bubble of peace but something felt like it was trying to get in. She opened her eyes seeing the endless land before her. As she stood there Ben's hands hadn't left her. Something wasn't right though as she turned around facing him.
The Force bond they have been able to build upon was allowing her to dip into his own mind. She knew he was in pieces and only when they fought side by side did she feel him as a whole. When he was dying she could feel his soul being torn but now all of sudden she could see it. Snoke may have lied about connecting them just to get something out of them. No, they created it and for a reason she wasn't sure. But since then it's only deepen.
"You were never going to take the throne." Rey looked at him and his eyes met hers. "You never wanted it. Snoke may have been the enemy but you weren't going to take it." Ben continued to stand there.
"No," Ben answered the statement within the question. "I was going to let it all burn." Rey nodded know understanding those words.
"Let the past die." Rey repeated but it meant so much more. "All of it?" She asked and Ben sighed.
"This war won't end Rey." Ben began. "It started thousands of years ago. When the Republic was formed they thought they could have peace forever. The Jedi thought they were the end of it all. That ignorance lead to it's very downfall. The very thing they fought destroyed them." Ben then turned away for a moment as Rey knew she was tapping into something. "Luke and Leia tried to restart a failure." He turned back to her. "I come from both sides and I'm bargaining chip in this. I know what Snoke wanted, I know what my mother wants."
"Ben," Rey wanted to reason with him. He was more than a pawn.
"I want it to burn. Erase it all. I'm the one they want because of what I am. Luke thought I could build the Jedi back up, Leia thought I could lead the new Republic. Snoke thought I was new Sith Lord." Ben stood there. It was true, depending on the side he took he would win that side for the galaxy. He was the weapon they both wanted. He was torn from the inside out because he was being used. "I wanted you to join with me. You came from nothing, something I wanted."
Rey continued to look at him knowing what he meant.
"At least you knew your parents." Rey floated that out there but Ben shook his head no.
"No, my destiny was based on them. The pressure and to answer to the galaxy's problems were on me." Ben argued. "You grew up away from this, you knew nothing but the stories."
"And I starved," Rey countered. "I was left on some god forsaken wasteland so my parents could drink." She was finally admitting to what she knew and what Ben saw when they touched hands in the hut. "I wanted to believe they would come back for me. But their dead now." Rey stood there. "At least your parents loved you and wanted something for you. I meant nothing." Rey took a step back. "I'm no one from nowhere but you." She held out her hand. "Ben, there's so much you can do. The power you have, you can truly change this galaxy."
Ben looked at her and shook his head no.
"I don't see it like that." Ben continued. "I've seen the ugliness of this galaxy. It just wants to tear itself down. I wish I could see what you see Rey I do." Ben has lost hope and he lost it a long time ago. He stood before an orphan and she could still be on Jakku and she could have died there. But that innocent she held for the galaxy, the hope, that's the only reason why he was here.
"That's why you were going to stay on Naboo." Rey went on. "You were going to leave. You were going to let yourself die before that." That was true and he couldn't deny it because she was already hovering in his thoughts and yet he did nothing to block it. "You were going to run."
"That's why I left with you." Ben stepped back into the conversion. "Leave it all behind." Rey almost wanted to take his hand, grab an old Rebel ship and leave. They could and truly let the galaxy fight its own war and let it kill itself.
"If you're right, the war won't stop." Rey went on meaning they could run away but something will find them. They would have to rise to meet it someday. "You're a fugitive and the Resistance won't just let you leave." The galaxy will hunt him. Ben stayed still, he was trapped in an endless war. It was a war within the galaxy and war within his own heart and soul. He was still unbalanced. Rey took the moment and walked to him and without any thought she reached to his face, placing both hands on his strong cheek bones pulling him close to rest their foreheads together. "I'm not leaving." She declared.
Ben closed his eyes letting her presence wash over him. His soul was raging letting someone in, letting someone feel his most inner thoughts. But her own signature in the Force of that breeze and wild flowers allowed him to breathe. "I need to know my place in this, I need a teacher; I need a friend." He was the only one who knew loneness and abandonment like her. Two broken people finding each other was what was happening. She felt Ben nodded against her forehead in agreement. Rey's hands left his face and managed to wrap around his wide shoulders.
Ben was not use to hugs, being embraced or even being touched at least not in the last decade or so. But he felt his own arms wrap around Rey just like back in Naboo. Their foreheads still resting on one another as their breathing began to line up and match. They were connecting again in the Force and allowing themselves to calm one another. The absolute silence around them let their minds connect as Master and Apprentice, as friends and as two people. Balance was achieved.
And just like on the Falcon as they escaped Crait and Rey kissed his forehead because he remember that so clearly he placed his hands on her cheeks this time and placed a kiss to her forehead. Her eyes remained closed feeling it. Ben pulled away and she finally opened her eyes looking back into his deep brown ones. He reaffirmed he would stay but only for her. He pledge no allegiance to any side but hers. He owed no loyalty to the Resistance, to the Order, to the Force or to anything in the galaxy but to her. The moment she is gone, he will be too. Ben took a step back and left to allow both of them space to meditate.
Intelligence
Ben sat in Rey's quarter at the little desk. He had some parchment and a writing utensil out. On the old parchment were different symbols that formed the basic galaxy alphabet. Rey had to learn how to read it. She sat in her chair with one hand holding up her head. Most of the Resistance has gone to sleep. These two were always one of the last to go to sleep. In the other hand Rey was writing, learning how to write and make words.
Ben sat right next to her and he mirrored her with his head in one hand to keep himself propped up. He yawned a little as Rey finished a sentence and then read it out loud. Write it, say it and repeat it. Ben had been translating the Jedi text and soon hopefully Rey will be able to read it. Not only was he teaching her to read and write but to understand the words, the meanings.
Ben then reached for a little book. There was a very old library of books here at the base. It was all pleasure reading like stories of adventures. Rey was rewriting the book and reading it at the same time. Ben handed her the book and rubbed his eyes knowing the lights needed to go out soon.
Rey was already writing again. She so eager to learn and she learns quick. Ben rested his back into his hand and continued to guide Rey. This was all tranquil to him. It was peaceful. After the end of the day, the training, the repairs of the place, this seemed to be the most pleasant time. It seemed to be the most quiet for him. All he could hear was the writing utensil against the parchment and Rey's voice when she read out loud to him. He would correct her when needed and she wouldn't get upset she would nod and correct her mistakes. But as he continued to watch her, he could see sleep was settling into her eyes.
Ben decided to get up and grab something to drink down the hall and return as Rey continued with her studies. Ben walked to the eatery and it was dark with only a light on. The Resistance had completely turned in for the night. Ben filled a glass up with some water and headed back to Rey's quarter. As he opened the door he found Rey at her desk. The writing utensil in her hand, her face on her arm and she was asleep after a long day.
Ben took a large sip of his water and set the glass down and walked over to his sleeping student. He gently removed the writing utensil from her pretty much open hand. He quietly gathered the papers and the books and neatly stacked everything and Rey didn't stir. Ben then squatted down a little next to Rey and slid his hand behind her back and his other under her knees. He then hoisted her up with ease and she still didn't move. He turned around with her in his arms, her head a little on his shoulder. He then placed her down to her bed and began to cover her up. He stood there for a moment as she slept soundly. He could feel that she was calm and dreaming.
Ben left Rey's quarters and walked to his and now was alone. He walked to his bed and sat down. When he was alone it was the worst. At night when the day was done, when he was alone in the dark is when the darkness called to him. He much rather stay in Rey's quarters even sitting on the floor all night. The darkness seems to remain at bay when she is near. Ben then looked up to the closed door and stared at it. He took in a deep breath closing his eyes. He wanted the darkness to leave. He wanted the light to disappear. He wanted to be left alone from it. But instead it begins to eat at his soul a little more. He took in another deep breath still trying to hold back the closing in of darkness, the closing of his soul.
Ben then reached to his side where the blaster wound was. It was a scar now but he still gets pain from it. Ben reached to it and then stood up. He walked to the fresher and took off his tunic and looked at himself in the mirror. He was quite young but this war seemed to age him. Ben could see the scar above his eye, going down his cheek, down his neck, then to his chest. The blaster scar was just the new addition to mar his body. He looked back into the mirror to the man before him. He didn't know who he was. Kylo Ren pushed to get through as Ben Solo fought back. He was two different people and his soul didn't want to be one.
Defense
Rey and Ben were out back from the base. They were both holding to large sticks that Ben carved and sanded down to practice lightsaber training. In the woods near by Poe and Finn were watching.
"10 credits on Rey." Finn whispered but Poe looked confused. "You weren't there on Starkiller Base. She totally kicked his ass and she never held a lightsaber." Finn explained his reasoning. Poe shrugged and decided to place that bet.
"Jedi were elite warriors, you want to fight the galaxy? You need to be that warrior." Ben gave his words of wisdom. Rey took a fighting stands while Ben twirled the large stick that would mimic a saber. It will cause bruises but at least it won't kill them. He was training Rey in the most intense ways as he could. She had to be able to fight and not only fight but win, he wanted her to win. Ben stopped twirling the stick and held it up in defense.
Rey took him out once; she needed to do it again. But the reason why she managed to do it then was because he was caught off guard. Right now he was in full control so this wasn't going to be easy and not to say Starkiller Base was easy. They both started to strike and Rey can tell Ben was not going to hold back. If she ever came up against a Knight of Ren they were not going to hold back either. Ben has not made her training easy or made it feel like a safe environment because the battles she will face and knows they will face it will not be fair, they won't have mercy and those battles will not yield. He was going to allow the darkness prevail in order to protect Rey because if she dies in a battle it's on him.
Finn and Poe watched the two saber fight. It doesn't really matter who will win because this was impressive no matter what but then again, 10 credits can buy a drink at some point. Ben took a strike and Rey blocked it but he was faster and tapped her knee. Poe smiled and held out his hand as Finn turned over a 10 credits, for now.
Rey and Ben reset and this was going to go on for a long time. Ben had to get to get her to understand something though, unlike memorizing the alphabet or the steps of mediation she can't memorize this; battles are not steps. Each battle is different; sabers can connect differently each time. He can't give her moves to map out and learn. He can see and feel that's what she was trying to do. She was trying to remember what she had done on Starkiller Base each time they sparred. That can't happen and every time she tries he wins. That was luck then, this was something different now.
"Stop trying to do that." Ben pointed out and Rey knew what he was talking about but chose to ignore it. She charged on but Ben defended himself with ease. She got two good swings in and then he tapped her arm. Rey let out a sigh of anger and frustration. "What you just did." Ben turned around while twirling the stick. "It's not working so why are you doing it?"
Rey stood there with the stick in the ground as she leaned up against it. She didn't have an answer because she knew why. All her life has been repetition and for this didn't feel any different. Ben was trying to force her to break repetition. It was the idea it's always worked this way but being a Jedi, that's not a way to go.
"Rey," Ben had to talk something into her. "I'm not always going to be around." He had to get on a certain level now. "There might even come a day where it's me you're fighting again. The Knights of Ren are out there. You only defeated me when you did because I was already injured and exhausted." Ben took a step back because that was a little more difficult to admit than he thought. "You can't treat this like a routine. I can't give you a step by step in this. You have to defend yourself and you have always draw the line of defense. You have to act not react or," He paused for a moment. "You won't prevail. There's no such thing as luck."
Rey continue to stand there and knew what he was trying to get at. It was a stop trying to hit him and actually hit him. "Again." Ben demanded and Rey held up her training stick. He wasn't going easy and with each win he earns the more angry and frustrated he gets. "Hit me." He demanded and Rey walked to him and landed a strike and Ben deflected. "Force me back." He continued his demands meaning he wanted Rey to come at him, to force him back, to give him no room, to redraw the line of attack where he has to adjust and bend to her.
Poe and Finn continued to watch as Rey and Ben continued to dual. The dual changed though as they pressed on. More strikes were happening and Ben wasn't tapping her out as easily. Then Rey managed to kick him back and that's what he wanted. He advanced again but she was doing what he wanted her to do, forcing him to stay back. Rey charged a little and tried something different and slid to the ground, pass Ben and then tapped his leg well more like hit and he fell. Rey got up as Ben was on the ground.
Poe passed the 10 credits back to Finn as Finn smiled thinking "that's my girl." Ben finally got her to do what she needed as he got up. His face was neutral in the sparring match as Rey stood there and then held up her dualing stick meaning she wanted to try again. Ben twirled his and took another fighting stands. Now that she knows it feels like to win, she was going to keep trying.
And there endth the lesson. So what do you all think? Thank you all for reading, commenting, following and more. What's next? Well I think this story may turn into an M rating in the future, not sure yet. Anyways, that's later. What do you guys hope to see as we move along? What adventures should Ben and Rey go on? And where do you think they're going…? You readers are awesome, thank you so much.