Force Dyad
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A/N-thank you very much to everyone who kindly read and reviewed the last chapter.
Chapter Three-An Unexpected Gift
"I have spoken with Voe about respecting boundaries." Luke Skywalker stroked his beard as he regarded his young nephew with worried eyes. "But, Ben, your overreaction to the whole incident concerns me greatly. There is never any justification for using the Force against a fellow student, no matter the provocation. How many times have we discussed this?"
Ben remained indifferent as he tuned his uncle out. He was sick of getting the same lecture over and over again from Skywalker. Voe had greatly exaggerated what had happened, twisting everything as usual to make him sound like the villain. Of course, his uncle took her side. He had come to expect nothing else. He didn't bother to respond when his uncle revoked his privileges again. He was used to it. However, it was the next bit that actually provoked a reaction out of him when he tuned back in….
"And I'm afraid as a further consequence of your actions, you will no longer be accompanying me to meet with Lor San Tekka to investigate whether his discovery of an ancient Jedi outpost on Elphrona is true or not."
Outraged at this cruel punishment, Ben shot out of his chair and glared at his uncle. He had been really looking forward to getting away from the temple grounds and the other students for a while. "That's not fair! You can't do this!"
"Sit back down, Ben Solo." Luke ordered him sternly. "Once again you are letting your emotions rule your head. This is exactly what I have been warning you about. Revoking your privileges doesn't seem to be doing anything, maybe this will have the desired effect. I will be taking Tai, Hennix and Voe with me instead."
Hearing that Voe was going to be one of the trio going in his stead, incensed Ben even more. "So, you're rewarding her and punishing me?" He protested "That's unjust. You're showing favouritism. Again!"
"Enough, Ben. My decision is final. Now leave me." Luke frowned, his face showing that as far as he was concerned the conversation was over.
Ben swallowed his retort, knowing that nothing he said was going to change his uncle's mind. "Yes, Master Skywalker." He muttered resentfully as he stormed out of Luke's office.
The more he thought about Luke's cruel punishment, the angrier Ben got. That his uncle felt empowered to micromanage every little aspect of his life, wanting every damn thing done his way made his blood boil. As he walked toward his hut, he saw the instigator of all his recent troubles smirking at him from a distance. Voe's obvious glee at his downfall made Ben snap. He charged toward her, his suppressed rage came out faster than magma and just as destructive. It consumed all that he was, so delicate under that carefully ordered world. Ben watched with satisfaction as Voe shrivelled before him as he verbally ripped her to shreds, even as the other students tried to intervene, he kept on going, far too angry to hold back any longer.
"I'm ashamed of you, Ben." Leia's voice was dripping with disappointment.
Ben raised his bowed head to glance at the flickering holographic image of his mother. Her thick, brunette hair was done up in elaborate coils. She was immaculately dressed, almost as if she had just come from a function. She most likely had, probably annoyed that she had been disturbed by a call from her brother in order to deal with his latest tantrum. "Voe deserved it." He muttered mutinously.
"No one deserves what you said to that poor girl. You shamed her in front of all her fellow students." Leia admonished him. She sighed, her jaw flexing slightly as she tried to suppress her impatience. "You will issue a formal apology to the girl in front of everyone, where you will express your guilt and remorse about the way you behaved toward her…."
"No way!" Ben cut in harshly.
"Ben, this is not a request." Leia regarded her troubled son thoughtfully. He remained defiant under her scrutinising gaze and she felt an uncustomary feeling of exhaustion wash over her. She had so much responsibility resting on her shoulders, there were so many people wanting a piece of her, claiming too much of her time. She knew she needed to prioritise Ben more. The sigh that left her lips was full of regret. "I'm asking you do to this for me, Ben. I empathise when you tell me that this girl is deliberately trying to provoke you, but…"
"She's jealous." Ben interrupted bitingly.
"Maybe she is." Leia conceded. "But that is no excuse for the way you reacted. Be the bigger person, Ben. Apologise. You'll feel better for it. I'm sorry, I have to go."
As soon as the holographic image of his mother faded, the voice in his head started tormenting him, taunting that his mother and Skywalker saw him as nothing but an immature child. Ben put his hands over his ears in an effort to muffle the malicious voice, but the words continued to flow into his mind-sweet and venomous, like cupcakes sprinkled with poison.
"You're wrong. It's not true!" Ben denied desperately.
Like always, when he was highly distressed, a halo of light began to form in the centre of his room heralding Rey's arrival. The blessed light bathed him with its comforting warmth. It quietened the contemptuous voice in his head and he was able to breathe normally again. Rey appeared, and as soon as she saw him, she bounced over in his direction, raising her skinny arms aloft so he could pick her up. Ben eagerly lifted her up and set her down on the bed beside him. He noticed she was dressed differently than normal. Her old pinafore had been replaced with a grey tunic style dress and her fine brunette hair hung in ringlets around her face. It looked like she was dressed for a special occasion. He was about to ask her what she had been doing when she surprised him by speaking first.
"Ben Solo sad."
Ben's eyes shifted to the side and became glazed with a glassy layer of tears at her quiet observation. He blinked them all away. His chin wobbled slightly as he tried to put on a happy face. He didn't want her affected by his mood. "I'm not sad." He said, flashing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "What have you been doing? You look all dressed up." He tickled her under the chin as a distraction to make her laugh.
Rey threw her head back and giggled like only a young child can. It was that infectious kind of laugh that lights up everyone else around them. It certainly lightened Ben's mood and finally he was able to give her a more genuine smile. "So, are you going to tell me what you've been doing?" He asked again.
"Dancing." Rey chirped as she slid off the bed. Her eyes were alight with excitement, her every muscle urging her on to move, to dance, to jump. Ben watched her skip and bounce around his room like she was revelling in being alive.
Had he ever been blessed with such childish innocence?
Ben couldn't remember, but right now, Rey's infectious joy was enough to lift his spirits. His smile grew wider the longer he watched Rey enjoy herself dancing around his room like a spinning top, until it came to an abrupt end with an unwanted visit from his uncle.
Luke gazed around the interior of Ben's hut as if expecting to find someone else in the room with him. "I thought you had company." He said, confused. "I heard voices."
"That would be breaking the rules, Master Skywalker." Ben did little to hide his sarcasm.
"Don't be flippant, Ben." Luke chided, settling down on the only chair in the room. He glanced at Ben's calligraphy set which was carefully displayed on a simple wooden desk. The rest of the room was sparse, the only other furniture being a bed and the clothes chest placed at the other end of the room. He cleared his throat and resumed talking. "I got a surprise call from Han." He revealed to Ben. "And after talking to him I feel that maybe I've been too hard on you."
Ben's eyes widened in shock at this admission. He couldn't remember the last time he had spoken to his father. It had to be at least three months. "What did he say? And why didn't he speak to me?" He questioned in a rush. "Does this mean you've changed your mind about me accompanying you on the trip?"
"Slow down." Luke advised, a hint of a smile pulling at his lips. "Your punishment still stands, Ben. I'm not going to change my mind about that."
"But you said…?" Ben argued until Luke's deep frowned warned him to pipe down.
"Han argued your case." Luke continued when Ben fell into a sullen silence. "He said maybe boredom could be a crucial reason why you keep acting up so much. You are way more advanced than my other students, I suspect you feel like that you are being held back because of it. So, your father suggested a project, something that will keep your mind focused. He remembered how much you used to enjoy tinkering with the Falcon. He told me he has recently acquired an old starship. It's a bit of a fixer upper, needs extensive repairs, but we thought you might enjoy the challenge of getting it into some kind of working order again."
There was an explosion in Ben's brain... the good sort... the type that carries more possibilities than he could be conscious of... but there were hundreds of ideas there in that buzz of electricity... he could feel it. It was the calling card of adventure, of different paths waiting at his feet. "You mean it? I'll have my own starship?" He checked. He was incredulous, certain this couldn't be real. He wished Rey could be with him in that moment so she could share his happiness.
A rare smile of affection took over Luke's face as he looked at his excited nephew. "Your father is on his way now to bring it to you. He'll be here by the morning." He promised.
A/N-thanks for reading!
