Force Dyad

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A/N-thank you very much to everyone who kindly read and reviewed the last chapter.

Chapter Six-An Invisible String

The galaxy was Ben's light in every dark night, the brilliance in the velvet black. As he powered the Grimtaash past the planet's verdant atmosphere, he was suddenly surrounded by the dark blanket of space, contrasting with blacks and yellows, and the occasional white, which was shaped as a circle and sometimes a crescent. The stars dotted the blanket in an intricate pattern. Ben immediately felt freer, he relaxed, his breathing coming quick and even. He let Grimtaash hover seamlessly in space while he pulled up details about the Jakku system using the ship's computer mainframe.

Ben quickly skimmed the flood of information that began to appear in front of him. Jakku-an isolated planet located in the Jakku system within the Western Reaches of the galaxy's Inner Rim. It was once a verdant world with forests and water, but some past calamity turned it into a barren globe of scorched badlands and marching dunes. Tuanul, Reestkii, and Cratertown were settlements on the planet, while the trading post Niima Outpost was considered the only major settlement on the planet. Lacking a communications grid, spacers seeking to escape debts, create a new life or simply see the galaxy often wound up at Niima Outpost, owing to it having the only navigational beacon.

Ben wondered if this was the reason Rey's parents had ended up there. He had thought for a long time they were running from something or someone. Maybe they owed a lot of money and couldn't pay their debtors. Perhaps the debtor had caught up with them and Rey had paid the price. Ben found his anger toward these unknown people growing with every second and he found his hand was actually shaking as he punched in the coordinates for the desert planet.

An alarm went off on his console, indicating that someone was attempting to hail him. Ben's eyes narrowed in irritation, sensing that it was probably Skywalker. One glance out of his viewscreen showed his uncle's X-wing floating in space not too far away. He flipped a switch and activated the comm's system. "Just let me go, Master Skywalker." He said curtly.

"You know that's not possible, Ben. I want you to stand down and come back with me." Skywalker did little to hide the impatience in his voice.

"No." Ben's response was equally as impatient. "Just let me go."

"I can't do that, Ben. I restricted your access to Grimtaash for a reason." Skywalker tried to soften his tone. "I understand you're struggling, Ben. I want to help. I do. I don't want any trouble. Come back with me and we'll talk."

"All you do is talk. You never listen." Ben retorted bitingly. "I am asking you for the last time…just let me be on my way."

"That's not an option." Skywalker said grimly. "Ben…"

Ben flicked another switch and cut his uncle off mid-sentence. Grasping the flight controls in his hands, Ben used the lever to swing Grimtaash around in a wide arc until he was facing Skywalker's x-wing. As he looked through the viewscreen at his uncle, Ben felt his breath stutter in his lungs before he let it go, feeling the tension drain from his body. His breathing returned to normal and he felt as if he could face the problem.

He could do this.

He had to.

For Rey.

Ben called upon the Force, feeling it flowing strongly around him until the very air was vibrating with it. He felt Skywalker's Force signature clash with his and knew his uncle was doing the same. With one quick jerk of the lever, Ben sent Grimtaash hurtling right toward Skywalker's x-wing at high speed. He could almost envision the shock on his uncle's face at his reckless manoeuvre. If Skywalker didn't move out of the way soon, their ships would collide. Ben kept his nerve as he continued to surge forward, his brow furrowed in concentration. Skywalker's x-wing remained suspended in front of him, still stubbornly believing that Ben would pull back at the last minute. It was only at the last possible second that he realised his nephew had no intention of backing down.

Ben watched with satisfaction as his uncle scrambled out of the way to avoid the collision. His x-wing rolled off course, giving Ben just enough time to swing Grimtaash around and jump to hyperspace before Skywalker could follow, which had been his intention all along. It was a manoeuvre that his father had used many times in his youth during his dangerous smuggling runs. Ben thought if Han Solo could see him now, he might actually be proud.


The desert heat rained down on Ben like the breath of hell. The scorched sand shimmered in the intense white rays of the sun as he told the repair droids to get lost. As he closed Grimtaash's ramp, he reached for his water bottle as the muggy heat continued to press down on him. Even sweating was no good. It trickled down his neck and back like warm soup. His thick, black hair clung to his head in sweaty tendrils, locking in the heat, frying his brain. As he let the water trickle down his parched throat, Ben scanned his surroundings. Everywhere seemed deserted. Anyone sane was in hiding from the blazing midday sun. He had arrived at the worst possible time. Ben knew he should wait until the sun had moved lower in the sky, but his pressing urgency to find Rey kept him moving forward.

Niima Outpost was nothing more than a junkyard settlement on Jakku. The outpost was named for and founded by Niima the Hutt after the Battle of Jakku, to capitalize on the new scavenging opportunities the battle created on the planet. It was also the only spaceport on the planet, although it was referred to more as a landing field rather than a spaceport. Salvage made up the backbone of the economy, but other branches such as black-market trading, mercenaries for hire, and other unlawful activities also existed.

Ben stripped off his jacket and held it above his head to try and shield himself from the intense heat. As he wandered through the outpost, he remained unimpressed. The facilities were almost non-existent. Rows of white canvas tents like structures made up most of the scenery. The only other point of interest was a bizarre looking awning roofed block or concession stand which was placed dead centre in the dusty town.

The concession stand was where Ben decided to head to next. He hoped whoever ran it would be able to provide him with some useful information. The sun continued to beat down on him with unrestrained brutality as he approached the stand and used a curled fist to rap on the metal shutter secured on the front of it. Ben waited impatiently for someone to respond. When nothing happened, he used the toe of his boot to forcefully kick the stand. The shabby structure shivered on impact, causing the occupant inside to finally make the effort to open the shutter.

"WHAT?"

Ben suddenly found himself faced with an enraged Crolute. His nose wrinkled in disgust at the rancid aroma of dried sweat rolling off the bloated creature. In turn the irritated Crolute regarded Ben with suspicion.

"Kriffing offworlder! If you have something to trade come back at a more reasonable time and not during my siesta." The Crolute barked at him. He was about to close the shutter again, when Ben lost patience and stretched one long arm through a gap in the barred window, grabbed the front of the Crolute's metal apron and jerked him forward.

"I'm the only one allowed to ask questions." Ben snapped as he called to his saber. It flew into his opened palm and he ignited it, pointing the shimmering blue blade at the shocked Crolute's bloated face. "Name?" He demanded.

The Crolute's eyes nearly crossed as he stared at the humming blue blade dancing wickedly in front of his face. "Unkar…. Unkar Plutt, Junk Boss of Jakku at your service, sir." He stammered ingratiatingly. "What do you need?"

"What I need is information, Plutt." Ben tightened his grip on the collar of the Crolute's metal apron threateningly.

"Then you've come to the right place." Plutt wheezed. "Normally I charge for that sort of service- "His voice rose higher in panic when Ben used the tip of his saber to singe the hulking Crolute's tough hide- "but for you I'm willing to make an exception."

"That's more like it." Ben relaxed his hold slightly. "I'm looking for a girl…"

"A girl?" Plutt squawked. "You won't find any beauties around here. Most of them are withered old hags…I deal in junk not…"

Ben shook Plutt in annoyance. "Not that sort of girl."

"What sort are you after then?" Unkar blustered.

Ben didn't know if the hulking Crolute was being deliberately facetious or was just thick. "The girl I'm talking about is around five years old, small and skinny for her age, brown hair usually worn in three buns at the back of her head…."

Unkar Plutt immediately twisted his bloated features into an indifferent expression. "Never seen a girl like that. The young ones never last long around here. Now if that's all…"

Ben's suspicions were immediately roused. The rancid stench of nervous sweat was rolling off the stinking Crolute in waves. He smashed Plutt's obsequious face against the bars covering the window, causing the junk boss' nose to bleed. "Wrong answer, Plutt. Try again."

Plutt groaned. "I told you I don't kn…"

Ben pointed his saber directly in front of the Crolute's pig-like eyes. "If you don't want to lose an eye, I suggest you start telling me the truth." He threatened.


In the haze of the afternoon Ben could feel his loose shirt starting to cling to his back in places and there was a slight sting to his eyes. He used one hand to sweep his long fringe out of the way as he followed the hulking form of Unkar Plutt to one of the larger canvas tents.

"Inside there. "Plutt grunted. "I paid a fair price for her. Her parents were nothing but filthy junk traders. Sold her for drinking money. If you ask me, she was lucky that I was the one who bought her. If it was anyone else…."

Unkar Plutt suddenly found himself confronted with Ben's shimmering blue blade. He saw murder in the young man's dark eyes and decided it was in his best interests to shut up. He grimaced and licked his lips.

Ben scowled, narrowing his eyes. "If you've hurt even one hair on her head, I'll kill you." He warned Plutt.

Plutt shook his head and held up his hands in supplication. Ben considered killing the filthy Crolute anyway when a faint cry coming from inside the tent distracted him. He parted the flaps and rushed inside the darkened interior, his keen gaze searching for Rey. Ben could feel the Force awakening around him-it grew stronger with each passing second, the very air seemed to vibrate around him. He followed its path, like an invisible string tying him to the frightened girl he could now see crouched in the corner.

"Rey."

His husky voice seemed to have an electrifying effect on Rey. She raised her head sharply in his direction, the fear reflected in her hazel eyes turning to one of hope. She slowly rose from her crouched position, her gaze never leaving him, as if not she could not quite believe he was real or just a figment of her imagination. Her long-tangled hair had broken free of her usual hairstyle. It hung about her thin face, obscuring the layer of grime that was only broken by the tracks of her tears.

"Ben." She whispered uncertainly.

Ben fell slowly to his knees so as not to spook her. "Its really me. I've come to get you, just like I promised."

Then Rey was running to him. Ben held out his arms to her and she ran straight into them. She sobbed into his shoulder unceasingly, hands clutching at the material of his shirt. Ben pushed himself back onto his feet. "Its alright now. I'm here."

The humidity of the day encased them both as Ben stepped out of the tent onto the hot sand. The sun temporarily blinded him as he waited for his vision to adjust to the increased brightness. When it cleared, he found himself regretting not killing Plutt when he had the chance. The junk boss was surrounded by five of his paid thugs.

The bloated Crolute grinned at him maliciously. "You have something that belongs to me. Did you really think I would just let you take it?" He laughed.

A/N-thanks for reading. Please review.