Force Dyad

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to their respective owners.

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

Chapter Twenty-Nine-Rash Promise

As the sun began to rise over the top of the mountain, creating a bold silhouette, Rey couldn't help but feel excited at what the new day would bring. She had spent the intervening weeks since her birthday building her lightsaber, rebuffing any attempts from Ben to help her, something inside Rey telling her she needed to work on this important project alone. To her immense relief, Ben didn't appear to be upset that she had spurned his offer. Instead, he seemed to understand her need for solitude. During the day he went off exploring alone while she remained with the starship, crafting her saber, doing her best to salvage what she needed to build it from Grimtaash.

It felt cathartic to Rey, utilising scavenged parts from the starship that Ben had restored with his own two hands. Whatever happened to Grimtaash in the future, she could live safe in the knowledge that wherever she travelled, she would always have a part of the ship that meant so much to her and Ben with her.

In the evenings, when Ben returned exhausted from a long day's hike over the mountain, Rey would put her work aside, and the two of them would sit companionably together around the campfire, talking about inconsequential things. Not once did Ben ask how the project was going. He sensed her need for privacy and was prepared to be patient until the big reveal. He had gone through a similar experience himself when constructing his own lighsaber. Rey was on a spiritual journey, there was something so personal and sanctifying about shaping her own weapon. She was pouring her heart and soul into it and wouldn't rest until it was completed to her satisfaction.


Rey's eyes welcomed the sun as it continued to bloom on the horizon, its golden petals stretching ever outwards into the rich blue. It lifted her spirits and ignited the thrilling sense of anticipation growing inside her. It was going to be a momentous day; she could feel it. She had finished constructing her saber and was showcasing it for the first time. Even though she was excited for the big reveal, she was nervous, too. She wasn't just putting the weapon on display; she was opening herself up for scrutiny. Rey knew she was being ridiculous. It was just Ben. He wouldn't critique her work. Any suggestions for improvement he might make would be for her benefit, but still she couldn't help feeling incredibly shy when she handed him the weapon for the first time and waited tensely for his assessment.

Rey watched as he gripped the haft of her weapon and tested its weight and balance. His hand was so much larger than hers that his completely engulfed the hilt of the newly fashioned saber. Rey became lost in trying to read his every facial expression, it proved frustrating, she sensed he was deliberately hiding his every thought and feeling from her purposefully. After what felt like several lifetimes, Ben finally finished his examination and handed it back to her.

Rey took it from him, bracing herself for what he was about to say. When he stayed silent, she huffed out an impatient breath. "Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Stop being flippant, Ben." Rey said exasperatedly. "You don't need to spare my feelings. Just tell me the worst."

Rey's insecurity was written all over her face, her shoulders hunched over as if hiding the treasure inside of her. She continued to watch Ben with wide, skittish eyes, waiting for his inevitable damming assessment of all her hard work, clearly intent on convincing herself that she had failed in some way.

Ben hated that she felt that way, and he knew no reassuring words from him would convince her otherwise. "Rey…." He began.

"I knew it!" Rey interrupted miserably.

"Will you let me finish?"

"Sorry." Rey mumbled, casting her eyes to the ground.

Ben could only imagine what was going through her mind right now. He smiled at her, hoping to lighten the burden she put on herself. "If you really want to know how good your weapon is, you need to actually use it." He said quickly before she had a chance to cut him off again. "While you've been busy constructing your saber, I've been setting up a training course for you."

His confession had an amazing effect on Rey, like a light turning on in a dark room, her eyes lightened and she smiled back at him. "I thought you just went hiking."

Ben let his smile widen into a brilliant grin that had Rey beaming at him. She was laughing now, feeling absolutely delirious. "I can't believe you did that."

"I can't believe you're actually doubting yourself." Ben chided her gently. "I warn you the course I've set up isn't going to be easy, though. It's designed to test your physical and mental skills. I've also utilised Skywalker's old tools that he left behind on the Falcon. Han gave them to me years ago when he was having a clear out and I've kept them ever since."

"Thanks, Ben." Rey said gratefully.

"Don't thank me yet, Rey. You haven't attempted the obstacle course yet." Ben teased.


The sweat lay on Rey's skin as softly as new spring rain as she battled through the obstacle course. Ben hadn't been exaggerating when he said the course was going to be tough. He had used everything he had at his disposal to test her mental and physical strength, utilising both Skywalker's tools and Tython's mountainous terrain to his advantage. Rey called upon energy reserves she didn't know she possessed in order to complete it. She followed the beaten path as it wound its way up the mountainside, sometimes scrambling on all fours as she fought her way over the rocky landscape.

Often a trio of colour coded training remotes would appear out of nowhere, testing Rey's evasion and deflection skills by flying about her on repulsorfields, firing sting-beams to distract her. She would ignite her saber, the shimmering yellow plasma blade skilfully fending off the stinging beams before they had a chance to reach her. As she continued on her journey, she found the red remote the most persistent, and the most challenging to her temper now that she was beginning to tire. As she tried to avoid its stinging beams, often she found herself diving to the ground as the beams missed her by mere inches, ricocheting off the rocks behind her. On one occasion she dropped her weapon and screamed her defiance at the remote, flinging a series of rocks at it in order to knock it off course, before calling her saber back into her hand.

By the time she neared the end, she moved with robotic precision but organic fluidity. Her hair was saturated with sweat, and the salty drops ran into her mouth like a kiss of life. It was the sweetest of things, to sweat, to feel the stress rise up and out of her skin with each molecule of water.

Darkness was falling by the time she made it back. She found Ben sitting in front of an open campfire, toasting bread on the end of a long stick. When he saw her, he stood up, assessing her critically. "Still want to thank me?" He asked.

Rey scowled at him, snatching the toasted slice of bread off the end of the stick he was holding. She tore off a huge chunk with her teeth and chewed noisily. "I'm going to freshen up." She muttered with her mouth full as she stormed past him and disappeared inside Grimtaash.

Ben just shook his head and smiled.


As Rey's dreams lingered, dancing in the way that dreams do, she awoke the next morning to the sound of the starship's comm signal going off. She waited impatiently for Ben to deal with it, but when the irritating noise didn't stop, she rolled out of her cot, muttering under her breath. Rubbing her tired eyes with the insides of her palms, she realised how late it was. He must have left ages ago, probably out preparing another tortuous obstacle course, she thought grumpily.

Raking her fingers through her hair to comb the tangles out of it, Rey yawned several times as she dragged her aching body up into the cockpit and slumped in the pilot's seat. The signal was patchy on Tython, it was only possible to get one if the weather permitted. Today was one of those days. Rey flipped a few switches on the console as she wondered who could possibly be trying to contact them out here. They had been off the grid for months now. The most likely candidate was Magda, she was probably just checking in on them.

As the flickering holo image coalesced in front of her, it wasn't the female Mon Calamari like she expected, but Finn. Rey had kept in sporadic contact with him over the years, but It had been so long since she had seen her friend in the flesh, that she was totally unprepared. "Hey." She greeted him lamely. Just the sight of him made her realise just how much she missed his easy friendship.

"Hi." Finn's familiar toothy grin spread across his face as his image flickered again. "You're a hard one to track down."

"You've been looking for me?" Rey asked, feeling confused.

"Yeah." Finn's smile faltered a little. "Your birthday passed ages ago. You promised to visit, remember. When you didn't show up, I started getting worried. I asked around and no one seemed to know where you were."

Rey felt a twinge of guilt tug at her heart. With everything that had happened recently, she had forgotten all about her rash promise to drop by the temple and catch up with Finn so they could celebrate together. "I'm so sorry, Finn. The signal is so patchy here… I meant to contact you…" She knew her excuses were pathetic and she could tell by his disappointed frown that he thought the same.

"Where are you?" He asked.

Rey repetitively tapped her fingers on the console as she tried to come up with a viable excuse why she couldn't tell him. Nothing came to mind and she was forced to go with the truth. "I can't say." She admitted.

"Don't you trust me or something?" Finn's tone was filled with despondency. "I thought we were friend's, Rey. Or has that changed?"

Rey felt another stab of guilt. "Of course, I trust you. You are one of my best friends." She implored.

"Doesn't feel like it right now." Finn muttered.

"You are." Rey insisted. "Look, I know I've been out of contact and I'm sorry for that. I'll come and visit you soon. I promise."

"What's wrong with now?" Finn questioned eagerly, a fervent light glowing in his dark eyes. "Skywalker's away if he's the one you're trying to avoid, it's the perfect time for you to drop by…"

"Skywalker's not the only one I would rather avoid." Rey countered as Voe came to mind.

Finn guessed what she was thinking. "You don't need to worry about Voe, either. She's gone."

"Gone where?" Rey's eyebrows shot up in surprise at this news.

"I can only tell you she's the reason Skywalker's away right now. Come on, Rey." Finn coaxed her. "It has been so long since we've been able to see each other. I've missed you. And you did promise…so?"

Rey bit down hard on her lower lip as she hesitated. She knew Ben wasn't going to like it…. but it would only be a short visit….and she had already let Finn down once, she owed him. "Okay." She found herself agreeing rashly. "I'll come."

A/N-thanks for reading! Please review.