Force Dyad
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A/N-thank you very much to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter.
Chapter Seventy-Five-Discovery
Rey stared wide eyed at Beaumont Kin, taking time to let the information sink in. "Are you sure you've translated it correctly?"
"As sure as I can be." Kin replied with a smirk.
Beaumont Kin had sought to become an educator in his youth, and had been on track to become one of the youngest professors at Lerct Historical Institute when the Hosnian system was destroyed. He had abandoned his academic career and joined the Resistance, becoming a captain in the intelligence division. He had a fascination with the early Republic era that followed the vanquishing of the Sith. This led him to visiting sites in Malachor, Moraband, and Devaron in his quest to learn more about the ancient Jedi and the Sith and the long-forgotten conflicts that affected the galaxy.
Kin was also fluent in nine languages, including the Wookie language Shyriiwook and was able to translate the languages for others. Being fluent in so many languages and being well versed on the ancient Jedi language had made him a useful tool to Rey and Ben as they tried to decipher the more incomprehensible parts of the ancient Jedi texts.
Rey continued to stare at the smaller man in disbelief. Beaumont's blue eyes twinkled with pride at her reaction to his discovery. He admired Rey greatly and spent a great deal of time trying to garner her attention without success. He was enjoying having her gaze focused solely on him. He puffed out his chest, trying to make up for his short stature.
"We could spend more time discussing what I've discovered over refreshments. What do you say?" Beaumont offered hopefully.
Rey barely heard him; her hazel eyes had become completely unfocused as she sensed Ben's brooding presence heading their way. She could feel his anger and turmoil churning through their bond- a clear indication that his talk with Leia had not gone well. "Thanks for all your help, Beaumont." She mumbled as she gathered the old tome to her chest. "I'll catch up with you later."
Without further acknowledgement she strode off, half jogging, half running to meet Ben. Kin stared after her, his blue eyes losing their sparkle as he watched her go.
The confrontation with Leia had triggered all of Ben's old feelings of hurt and rejection. Emotions and long buried memories began to resurface, tormenting him as he stormed away from his mother's quarters. In this mood he knew he wasn't safe to be around. He made sure to avoid all contact with those closest to him. The only one who could help in his time of distress was Rey. He scoured the base for her, opening himself up completely to the Force, allowing their unique bond to draw him toward her.
Ben wished he could stop the triggering, but if he felt threatened emotionally or was left to fend off his dark moods by himself it returned with strengthening vigour to torture him – it made him go into survival mode, to act cold and indifferent to protect himself. Even so he was cognisant that he was falling into old patterns in order to stave off the hurt. He had learned to make better choices than he had in the past. He couldn't undo the trauma he'd been through, but he had learned to adapt and overcome.
By the time he encountered Rey, he was somewhat in control of himself again. As soon as he spotted her, he abandoned all decorum and ran to meet her, his arms open and spread wide to engulf her in a bear hug. As her arms wrapped around him in return, he breathed her in, the feel of her lithe body pressed firmly against his was instantly soothing.
The pieces of his heart that had been struggling to piece themselves back together after resolving to have nothing more to do with Leia Organa, became so quiet when cuddling with Rey; it was as if they had found peace, as if they needed her glue to bridge their gaps and connect.
"That was the last time, Rey." Ben confessed hoarsely. "I am giving her no more chances."
Rey glanced up at him, noting the tightness around his eyes, the bitter tone in his voice. She wondered what the Resistance general had done now to make her own son decide to totally reject any future overtures. She had been hoping for some kind of reconciliation between the pair, or at least for them to come to some mutual understanding, but it seemed to only have strengthened Ben's resolve to cut his mother out of his life.
"What happened?" She asked quietly,
"Not here." Ben stroked the back of her hair with gentle fingers. "Let's go to our lake."
This time, when they left the base on the speeder, Ben let Rey take the lead. He sat behind her; his arms wrapped tight around her waist. He rested his chin on her shoulder and closed his eyes, allowing her to take complete control of the machine. He felt her reach back and touch his face tenderly, before taking off at high speed.
The jungle was a chorus of greens as Rey expertly guided the speeder through the thick foliage that threatened to set them off course at every opportunity. Rey let the Force guide her, soaking in the aura of the jungle, of a million wild souls that surrounded them on all sides. The humidity pressed down on her, beads of perspiration broke out on her forehead, the warm wind doing little to cool her down. She glanced behind her often at Ben, his grip remained firm around her waist, but his eyes stayed closed.
Just like the first time Rey's view of the lake took her breath away. The picturesque diorama remained a salve to her soul because of the memories it invoked, that sense of love kept so safe within its confines. This was where Ben had spontaneously proposed, the place would always hold a special place in her heart.
When they climbed off the speeder, Ben put his arm around Rey's shoulders and they walked together to the edge of the lake. Green grasses lapped at blue waters, as if it was the land that kissed up to the lake, creating a view that breathes. The view of the lake calmed Ben's soul in much the same way it did Rey's, as if that body of water was as much within him as out there in the cradle of hills that circled it.
Pulling her down beside him, they sat at the water's edge, and Ben finally told her everything.
"She was just using me again, Rey. She sees me as nothing but a weapon. And not just me… you, too." Ben confessed tautly. "She wanted us to go to Exegol in a final push to end this infernal war."
"It can't be true!" Rey gasped. She struggled to comprehend the enormity of what Ben had just revealed. She couldn't believe it was possible for the emperor to cheat death. Ben's mental catalogue of Sith lore, just like Beaumont's, was vast. And if he thought that it was possible for the emperor to cheat death, then she had no choice but to believe it, too.
"According to Skywalker, Sheev Palpatine claimed to my grandfather that he'd discovered the secret of eternal life from his own master, Darth Plagueis, right before betraying and killing him. Skywalker always assumed it was a lie, meant to tempt my grandfather to the dark side – "Ben said sombrely.
"I remember reading that passage Luke wrote." Rey interrupted him passionately. "If the emperor has truly survived, it renders all previous sacrifices pointless."
"If Darth Vader failed to end him, what chance would we stand?" Ben's hands clenched into fists. "It's been Palpatine all along, Rey. It wasn't Snoke manipulating me, it was him. Just like he ruined my grandfather, he nearly succeeded in ruining me…."
"Ben…don't!" Rey pleaded. She pulled herself up onto her knees to face him, putting her hands on either side of his face. "You are nothing like Vader. You are stronger than he ever was. You resisted Palpatine every step of the way and won."
"Because I had you." Ben's dark eyes reflected his misery. "When I thought I had lost you forever I nearly succumbed, Rey. I was so close…if not for Magda pulling me back from the brink."
"Don't go back to that dark time, Ben." Rey leaned in and kissed him, determined to stop his morbid train of thought. Now was not the time to reflect on the past, but to prepare for the future. She pressed her lips hard on his, in a burst of love, seeking the connection that always simmered below the surface.
Ben's kisses became as demanding as hers, the fire between them growing larger, overwhelming them both and taking them to the brink. "I love you so much." He murmured over and over.
The unexpected parting of his hot lips, his tongue that slipped past hers, shot through Rey with a jolt of electricity. Their breathing came faster, until they were both panting hard. Rey was overcome by her body ready and willing to be satisfied. She gasped with the enormity of the feeling.
The deluge came out of nowhere. One minute they were rolling on the ground, clutching and claiming each other, when the heavens opened and the sun warmed rain soaked their skin and clothes until they were completely drenched.
Rey let out a little squeal of surprise and Ben groaned in defeat as he pulled himself to his feet and scooped her up off the ground. He ran for the nearest shelter with Rey clinging to him, her long, brunette hair suddenly becoming a heavy burden as she pushed the wet strands away from her eyes. As Ben ran the rain kept on coming, the earth utterly soaked in its nutrient marinade, the trees taking a long drink now the rains had come.
"Damn." Ben swore as he collapsed next to the speeder.
Rey fell against him, her breath coming in short bursts. "The weather certainly knows when to pick its moments on this cursed moon." She complained.
Ben smiled, reaching out to tenderly stroke the bright spots of red colouring her cheeks. His own hair clung to his scalp in inky black tendrils. He drew her closer and put his arms around her, and bowed his head on her shoulder. "Oh, sweetheart, believe me I'm as frustrated as you are." He watched in bewilderment as Rey pulled away from him and climbed back to her feet. "Where are you going?"
Rey gave him a devilish smile. "Well, I was thinking, we're already wet…." She left the rest unsaid as she darted back out into the downpour.
She jumped right in the nearest newly formed puddle with both feet, watching the released spheres of muddy water fly and splatter up her legs. She laughed loudly, gesturing and encouraging Ben to join her with outstretched hands. Soon he was beside her, jumping in with both feet. They could feel the happiness growing inside one another without saying a word. As the rain continued to pour, they whooped and giggled at their own brilliant silliness like a couple of carefree children.
The evening came as a welcome relief from the humidity. As soon as the rain stopped, the mugginess returned with full force. Ben and Rey had retreated under the welcoming shelter of the trees to seek relief from the intense heat. As the evening cast her dusky gown, the air became fresher and more restful. Rey looked at Ben's face, relieved to see him looking more relaxed and peaceful. She knew it was time to share with him what she and Beaumont had discovered buried in one of the old jedi texts.
Rising to her feet, Ben watched curiously as she walked over to the speeder, and untied a bag she had strapped to the back of it. "Did you bring food?" He asked hopefully. Hunger pangs were beginning to bite.
"No." Rey smiled at him apologetically as she came back and settled down beside him. "Just information." She tugged open the ties of the bag and fished out the old tome she had been studying earlier.
"What information?" Ben frowned, taking the ancient book out of her hands. It was one of the oldest texts, its pages fragile and browning with age.
Rey folded her legs underneath her and faced him directly. "Beaumont and I had a breakthrough while you were occupied with Leia."
"What breakthrough?"
Rey leaned forward and gently unfurled the delicate pages of the text until she found the relevant passage. It was heavily encrypted; she and Beaumont had managed to decipher it quite by chance. What it had revealed was illuminating.
"You and I have come across references to a Dyad before in the other texts, but it was never fully explained." Rey began.
"Yes." Ben said slowly.
Rey licked her lips to moisten them as she continued. "The text is referring to an ancient prophecy." She told him. "A prophecy foretelling that there would be a Dyad in the Force, which had been unseen for generations. A dyad in the Force is a rare phenomenon that occurs when two Force-sensitive beings share a unique Force-bond with each other, connecting their minds across space and time. Physically, they are two separate individuals, but in the Force, they are one. This connection makes it possible for the bonded individuals to communicate with each other across great distances." She leaned forward and gazed into his eyes intently. "Do you see where I'm going with this, Ben?"
"Rey…" Ben whispered, awestruck.
"I've never come across anything that describes our unique bond like this does." Rey said breathlessly. "There's more…the prophecy describes the Force Dyad as a "power like life itself." The beings who form the dyad in the Force will come to possess the uncommon power of Force healing - an ability that can be used to heal a wounded person or animal, although this process temporarily weakens the healer who transfers some of their Force energy. It goes on to say that this ability can be lethal to the user if they utilize it to resurrect a deceased individual for it requires them to sacrifice all of their life force to do so."
Ben watched the range of emotions crossing Rey's lovely face as she spoke. She was processing the enormity of what she had discovered, just like he was. They were in synch, like they had been from the day she was born.
"This rare connection makes it possible for the individuals to communicate across light-years. The bond giving the dyads the ability to see and feel what the other is experiencing, and also gives them a clear sense of the other's thoughts and emotions. Another unique aspect about the Dyad relationship is their ability to pass objects to one another through the Force, regardless of the distance." Rey expelled a deep, shuddering breath. "Ben, its us. We're the Dyad."
A/N-thanks for reading! Please review.
