Author's update: Hello my readers. Sorry for the short update and the time it took me to upload. I've been under the weather lately and have not been able to do as much writing as I planned. I will try to get the next chapter uploaded as soon as I am better. Until them, hope this helps.

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. Never have, never will. I simply play in their world.

"It left

A mark.

Every word,

Every moment,

Every sigh and

Every half-smile:

It left

A mark."

-D.J

Kylo Ren

"Officer Kandia respond."

"I am here Supreme Leader."

"Meet me outside my quarters now."

"On my way Sir."

I can feel Rey's energy lingering in the necklace and I am reluctant to give it up but with this I can find which desert planet she has hidden herself on.

"Papa!"

Despite the mask covering my face I close my eyes against the memory of that vision.

My daughter calling out to me with such trust.

Such innocence.

It is well that the vision is only that...a vision.

No doubt in the end I would have disappointed her just as my parents disappointed me.

It is better this way.

To long for something I can never have...only madness leads down that path.

The beads rattle in my hand as I await the analysis officer. She is quick to join me.

Though young for an officer's rank she has sharp instincts and a keen mind. She had proven her dedication to me and I trust the task of finding Rey to her.

"You have need of me Supreme Leader?"

"I want to know everything about this necklace and I want that information now."

The beads make soft, chiming noises as I lay the necklace into her outstretched hand.

I see curiosity alight in her gaze and she proves herself yet again when she refuses to look away from my masked visage.

"I will personally analyze this and give you the answers you seek Sir."

She snaps me a quick salute and moves to go back to her lab.

"Officer Kandia," she stops and once more I have her full attention, "I want that necklace returned to me intact. Is that understood?"

No hesitation, no prying questions. Just a sharp nod of her head.

"Understood Sir."

"Go and return quickly with the results."

Again that sharp nod of her head as she sets off at a brisk pace.

Should she provide me with the answer I will need to think of a suitable reward.

But only if she succeeds.

I return to the bridge. I must do something while I wait for the analysis and my time with Rey has given me another clue where to start looking.

"Commander Trach bring up all desert planets within the Expansion Region through the Outer Rim."

"Right away Sir."

"Have you discovered something Supreme Leader?"

"The scavenger and her allies are on a desert world, General Pryde."

"Planets and their orbiting moons Sir."

Tatooine. Geonosis. Jakku. Jedha. Savareen. Pasaana. Arvala-Seven.

These along with a dozen more appeared in the star charts. Most were scattered along the Outer Rim but there were two that were the exception.

Pasaana and Arvala-Seven.

Which one Rey? Which one did you seek and why?

Why would a woman in love with the green worlds be drawn back to a desert planet?

There was something here that I was missing. That I wasn't seeing.

"Supreme Leader, analysis of the necklace has been complete."

"Do you know where it originated from?"

"Yes Sir."

"Where?"

"Passana Supreme Leader. Molecular structure suggest materials harvested from a region known as the Forbidden Valley."

"Meet me at hanger seven Officer Kandia."

"Understood Supreme Leader."

"There is a primitive festival taking place in that location Lord Ren," I turn my attention to Pryde, "we have division already set up to maintain crowd control."

"Contact them and have another squadron deployed. I want both crew and ship taken into custody by the time I get there."

"Commander Trach send word that I want my ship prepared and on my way."

I leave the bridge and Pryde follows me. I sense his curiosity along with his hostility behind the stoic mien he presents.

"Supreme Leader is there a reason you feel the need to go after them personally? We have squadrons on the planet that will take care of their capture."

"There have been too many mistakes regarding the scavenger, General Pryde. Palpatine grows restless for the girl."

Office Kandia has caught up with us and falls into step, the beaded necklace held in gloved hands.

"What more can you tell me about the necklace."

"Made by the native Aki-Aki for the Festival of Ancestors. Each necklace has different beads that corresponds with local theology. They believe that these necklaces allow their 'gods' to bring them blessings."

"Who makes the necklaces?"

"Children, Supreme Leader. The Aki-AKi believe that the children hold the future of their race and they craft the beads to shape that future."

An interesting if archaic notion. However that would explain the energy that I sensed in the necklace. Not Rey's, though hers was unmistakable, but another.

One who is young but has a resonance in the Force.

"What design does the necklace display?"

We're almost to the hanger and my TIE is prepped and awaiting my arrival. I stop at the threshold and wait for Kandia to respond.

"Fertility Sir. The beads and husk dolls represent a desire to procreate. To continue the familial lines."

I close my eyes and wonder what cruel trick the universe is playing now.

The vision of Rey and I together...the laughter of our child...

Just what did she see while wearing this?

"Is that all you have to offer Officer Kandia?" Pryde interjecting himself into the discussion, "Superstitious nonsense from an obvious backwards culture. Ridiculous."

"I am relaying the facts as they appear Allegiant General."

"We have no time for such trivial matters. Now that we have the location, dispose of that thing. It is useless and of no importance."

"Sir?"

Kandia is looking at me but Pryde once more oversteps his authority regarding the matter.

"Did you not hear me Officer? I said destroy it."

I hold out my hand for the necklace overriding his command.

"Return to your station Officer Kandia and continue your research on Pasaana. I want to know why the Resistance is on that particular planet."

"At once Supreme Leader." The necklace is back in my possession and I tuck it away and out of sight.

A crisp bow and she turns smartly away from the pair of us.

I can hear the creak of Pryde's gloves as he clenches his fist around his swaggerstick.

"What possible use can you have for a necklace made by a child Lord Ren?"

"That is my concern General Pryde," I have no desire to defend my actions to him, "Concentrate your attention on the ground forces. I want transports on Pasaana and holding cells waiting for the prisoners. Is that understood?"

I can hear his teeth grinding and wait to see what hand Pryde will play next.

"As you command...Supreme Leader."

Icy rage beneath the civilized veneer but he obeys my orders.

I leave Pryde standing at the threshold as I prepare to go after Rey.

"Night Buzzard respond."

"What is your command Lord Ren?"

"Our quarry is on Pasaana. I'm going after the scavenger, concentrate your search pattern around the Forbidden Valley. I want her crew alive for questioning Ap'Lek."

"As you wish Lord Ren."

It was time to make an end of this.

Pasaana was only a few lightyears from my current location and the journey is unremarkable.

I have heard nothing from ground forces since deployment and there is a restlessness in the back of my mind that is not my own.

Rey is agitated and I can feel her disquiet through the Force.

"Sir!" Scout SF-7499 over my comm, "I've spotted the-"

Static on the line as his voice goes silent.

"SF-7499 what did you see?" Nothing but static and I clench my hands around the controls, "Scout respond."

Silence greets my demand and I shut down the comm. The trooper must have been spotted and eliminated either by Rey or one of her allies.

The planet comes into view as I jump out of light speed, a floating ball of red and brown with tiny specks of white. I begin my descent into the atmosphere, my trajectory aimed for the Forbidden Valley.

I can sense her.

A flame against my soul, chasing away the chill of darkness. A kiss of fire that leaves me breathless at the intimacy of her touch.

Rey.

She knows I'm here for her.

Static over my comm and an unfamiliar voice breaks the silence.

"Lord Ren, this is ground unit AX-4255. Units TR-0866 and TR-0971 in pursuit of the scavenger and her team. Pursuit pattern indicates they are fleeing to Lurch Canyon. Commander Syr has located the Millennium Falcon on the edge of the Forbidden Valley."

"Secure the Falcon, I want it transported to the Steadfast immediately." I switch comms and speak to Syr directly. "Rendezvous with my Knights Commander Syr so that you may begin your search for the Falcon's missing crew. Leave the scavenger to me."

"Right away Sir. Falcon is processed and leaving for the Steadfast now. Awaiting transport for prisoners."

Adrenaline kicking through my veins, tightening my throat as panic blooms in the back of my mind.

I change trajectory and turn from the Valley and head straight for Lurch Canyon. I am still too far out of range.

"Ground units pull back from the scavenger. I am coming for her."

Silence over the comm and I have to believe that they too have been eliminated but the panic that grips the back of my mind has not eased but is only growing stronger.

Rey, what is happening to you?

I reach for her through the Force but her mind is in chaos and I cannot make contact.

I push my TIE to the edge of its endurance, racing to get to Rey.

Something has gone terribly wrong.

Ben!

She screams that name into my mind, anguish and regret a tidal flood that leaves me shaking as I break through the cloud cover and the red sands of the planet come into view.

I'm sorry I should have sa-

A caress along our bond, bitterness and longing that leave me gasping for air when her voice goes silent.

I reach for her, demanding that she finish her words.

Darkness in her mind, her thoughts closed off to me...and I no longer sense the bright flame of her soul.

"REY!"