Chapter Eight – Rey

Rey watched out the window of the ship as Ben's speeder raced out of Remiton. She wondered what sort of errand he had to run. Maybe he had to confer with Lor San Tekka at the Tuanul Village in the Kelvin Ravine. She knew there'd been some kind of spiritual group there when she'd lived on Jakku, had even seen some of them journey to Niima for supplies, but had never been there. Finn had told her about the attack by the First Order led by Kylo Ren later, which had ultimately set the events of her discovery into motion. She blew out a breath as Ben disappeared in the distance, wishing she could have gone with him.

Alkos' reflection appeared in the glass beside her as he approached. "Ready to help me with these evaluations? We've already got a line outside, although not nearly as long as yesterday."

Rey smiled and nodded. She followed Alkos back to the training area. Helping people to focus on moving pebbles was more fulfilling than she realized it could be. They treated her almost reverently, even though she wasn't technically a Jedi in this world. She even knew a few of them from the Niima Outpost. They were surprised to see her there but didn't question it.

Several hours later, they finished with all the people hoping to leave Jakku to become Jedi. Sadly, none possessed the power to use the Force.

"Have the Jedi always been doing these evaluations?" Rey asked Alkos as he raised the ramp.

The blue-haired Jedi shook his head. "We only started doing them about five years ago. Master Skywalker wanted to reach out to impoverished planets that might not have the resources to send a Force-sensitive person to the Temple. Ben and I do it a lot; we make a good team. I think Ben also uses it as a way to provide information to his mother about what planets need the attention of the New Republic. I suspect he'll be reporting Jakku to her." His smile became a bit cheekier. "Plus, Ben loves flying this ship around the galaxy. Remember when he used to carry that little X-wing toy around all those years ago. Part of him always wanted to be a pilot like his father."

Rey didn't answer. She didn't know how to answer.

"It's okay. I know it was you there twenty years ago. Ben has his doubts but I know it. I was the one who found you in the woods after feeling a disturbance in the Force. Do you remember that?"

Rey looked up. She let the act of innocence fall away from her. "I remember."

"You were disoriented, clinging to a tree. There had been no ship and there's no way you walked there. Five days later, you left as mysteriously as you arrived. But you smell the same."

Rey tilted her head. "What?"

"Most people don't know this, but my species has a very strong sense of smell. We can tell when someone ages or surgery to look younger or is actually a shapeshifter impersonating someone else. Yet, you smell exactly the same as twenty years ago. I won't ask you why, at least not right now. But..." He paused, frowning.

"What is it?"

Alkos breathed in deeply. "You and Ben smell the same."

Rey blinked.

He continued. "Not superficially. Your more noticeable scent is of sand and desert flowers. Ben's is of earth and fire, a fire he keeps tightly controlled. But deeper, underneath, you share the same scent. I've never encountered it before. Even the closest identical twins have different deep scents. How can yours possibly be the same?"

Rey bit her lip. "I have some idea why, but I need to talk to Ben about it."

Alkos nodded. "You need to tell him the truth. You should also know that Ben was devastated when you left. Truly heartbroken. I'd rather not see him like that again."

Rey's stomach twisted hearing his words. "I don't plan on leaving him again," she whispered.

"Good. Listen, are you alright if I lay down for a little while? It's not so bad when I've got a partner helping me with the Force evaluations, but it drains me when I'm alone. I can show you to one of our extra rooms."

"Sure," Rey answered as she followed him past the kitchen and living area.

He stopped at the first door, opening it. "For you."

She peeked inside at a small room with a narrow bed, desk with a chair and a chest of drawers. A refresher opened on the side. "Perfect."

He tilted his head to the door across the hall. "That one's mine if you need anything."

She smiled. "Thank you."

He disappeared inside his room, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

Rey laid down on the bed. Comfortable, especially compared to the stable she slept in the night before. She resolved to tell Ben the truth when he got back. She'd have to find the right time, but he deserved to know what was going on.

Rage

The raw emotion stabbed through her so quickly she fell off the side of the bed. Before she could pick herself off the floor, the rage melted away.

Shame

Ben must have gotten so angry he'd done something he'd regretted.

Rey almost sent herself to him, but stopped herself at the last second. Seeing her appear right in front of him without anyone else seeing or hearing her would have been a lot to explain. Plus, she really didn't know what kind of situation he was involved in.

She hoisted herself up using the bed and paced around the room. The walls closed in around her and all of the sudden, the room seemed much too small. She rushed out of the door into the hallway, breathing heavy. Not wanting to disturb Alkos, she walked down the hallway away from his room.

The first door she opened revealed a room just like hers, devoid of any personal effects. The next door opened into a storage room. The next door caught her attention. This bedroom was being lived in, meaning it had to be Ben's. Seeing his living space intrigued her enough to override her sense of decency in regard to his privacy. She couldn't help but to snoop around.

His bed was somewhat larger than the narrow ones in the guest rooms. It made sense considering his large frame. It looked ripped apart, like he'd had a restless night without much sleep. A brown jacket hung over the chair, looking a lot like Han's. A few Jedi texts sat on the desk, one that he'd been studying still open. Rey smiled when she saw a familiar, worn X-wing toy off to the side.

She walked around the bed, running her fingers over the soft blanket. A small nightstand sat on the other side. A single framed photo sat alone on top of it. Rey loved the idea that he kept a real paper picture with him. So sentimental!

Picking it up, she examined it more closely. The smile fell off her face as her head spun. She involuntarily sat down on his bed, unable to look away from the image.

Han stood on one end, his goofy grin animating his face. He looked less scruffy than when she last saw him. His hands rested on Leia's shoulders next to him. Leia looked younger with her long hair down and streaked with much less grey. Her arm linked around Ben's. Ben smiled widely and his eyes squinted almost closed. The tiniest tip of his tongue squeezed between his teeth. Absolutely adorable.

It was the fourth person in the picture that disturbed Rey so much. The beautiful young woman hung on Ben's shoulder while his arm embraced her around the waist. Her auburn hair was perfectly braided around her head. Her brown eyes glinted with mischief while her full lips opened in a silent laugh. They all looked so happy.

Sadness enveloped Rey. She dropped the picture back on the nightstand and flung herself on Ben's bed. Tears drenched the sheets under her as she bawled. Choking on her grief, she grabbed Ben's pillow, embracing it. It smelled like him, that bit of earth and fire Alkos mentioned. Having his scent drift over her made her cry harder.

Of course he'd found someone! He's a Jedi Prince! Tall, handsome, powerful, and without all the anger he'd cocooned himself in when she'd first met him. How could any woman resist him? Just like Adalinah.

Then suddenly, Ben appeared right in front of her! He wore a helmet and goggles, so he probably was still on the speeder. It only lasted a blink of a second and then he disappeared.

Rey's eyes widened. He'd obviously sensed her emotional panic and their bond snapped him to her. He'd seen her crying her eyes out, clutching onto his pillow. She could imagine his confusion.

She wiped her eyes, needing to get control of herself. If he'd been on the speeder, it meant he was on his way back here. She debated getting up and going into the living space for when he arrived, but what was the point? He already knew she'd been in his bed. Surrounded by his stuff and scent, it was the best place to wallow in her misery and collect her thoughts.

She'd anticipated the possibility of him taking the typical vow of celibacy of the Jedi Order, but him being with another woman just seemed so much worse. Yet, maybe she could still be a Jedi working right beside him. At least he would be in her life, sharing her soul and space. It would be much better than the emptiness she'd experienced when he was gone. Maybe someday she'd even be content with just that.

She snorted. Unlikely.

Still holding his pillow, she grabbed the picture off the nightstand. She didn't actually want to look at it, but needed Ben to acknowledge it when he came back. His reaction to it, and her obvious invasion of his bedroom, might make it easier to decide just how much she told him about everything. While she waited, her body relaxed into the comfortable mattress. After her emotional outburst, she felt drained and let herself doze off into a light sleep.

It didn't take long before she heard his heavy steps in the hallway. She woke up, eyes going to the door, but not moving otherwise.

The door slid open. He stood there for a minute, studying her with that intensity he radiated.

Concern

"This is the second time in one day I've found you sleeping somewhere unexpected."

His warm voice washed over her. She shivered.

Then he plunked himself down on the desk chair "What happened?"

"Nothing."

He glared at her. He knew she was lying. It was written all over his face.

He pursued his lips and his eyes shifted to the picture she held. He gently plucked it from her fingers.

"It's a beautiful picture." Rey attempted to keep the misery out of her voice, but knew she'd failed as soon as the words were said.

He didn't look up. A small smile touched his lips. "Yes. My mother insisted it had to be on paper, even though I told her a holo would be just as good."

Rey said nothing. She fought back the tears threatening to break.

"It was taken at our lake house on Naboo. We all try to go every year, but sometimes our schedules don't always allow for it. I think my mother was just so happy my sister was there with us this year."

Rey's entire body jerked upright in shock. "Your sister?!" Without waiting for an answer, she snatched the picture out his hand.

"Yes, Mirabella. She hadn't been with us for almost two years before that. So many obligations."

Rey examined the young woman in the picture again more closely. The resemblance was there, she'd just missed it. The young woman had the same shape to her face as Leia, as well as the quality of her light brown hair. That mischievous twinkle in her eye? It was all Han's. Her full lips mirrored Ben's, and she even had a small mole by the outer corner of her left eye. This was Ben's sister. A sister he'd never had before. Relief washed over her.

Ben visibly relaxed. He tilted his head to her. "Surely you've heard of Mirabella Solo?"

Rey shook her head.

He chuckled. "Maybe don't tell her that when you meet her. She fancies herself quite famous."

Rey's spirits soared hearing him say "when" instead of "if" in regard to meeting his sister. She mentally kicked herself for overreacting so harshly, even ending up in his bed. She should have just asked him who the woman in the picture was! Although, in her own defense, Ben didn't have a sister before. "Famous?" she questioned.

"Mirabella is a singer, and even I have to admit, quite a good one. My baby sister has sold out arenas on several planets over the past two years. That's why she hadn't been with us at the lake house until this year. In fact, she's doing a concert on Naboo for the first time in a few days. I'd like you to come with us." Ben bit his lip with the invitation, almost like he was nervous she'd say no.

"A concert? I've never been to a concert. I'd love too!" She tumbled across the bed and grasped him in a tight hug. He was taking her with him, getting her off this planet!

His arms curled around her, hesitant at first, but then pressing her closer into his body. She stilled as he buried his face in the crook of her neck and breathed deeply. The heat of him surrounded her, her heart thudding faster. A slight shift of her head and she could kiss his neck. Shared desire flamed through both of them.

Then he pulled away. She had to stop herself from grabbing him again.

"Rey, we have to talk."

Rey sighed and sat back down on the bed. He was right.

"I need to know what's going on. Who are you? Are you the same woman I knew as a child, even though you would have been a baby back then? Why do I feel your emotions, know when you're lying? Why did I see you crying on my bed when I was on a speeder in the middle of the desert?" His eyes implored her for answers.

She licked her lips and took a deep breath. "Have you ever heard of a Force Dyad?"

He straightened up, brow furrowing. "I hadn't until last night when I spoke with Master Skywalker. He asked the same question."

"It means two that are one in the Force. You and I are a Force Dyad." His eyes widened, but she continued. "We are bonded in a way that not only hasn't been seen in generations, but was also prophesized. It's why we can sense each other's emotions. We can see each other over light years, even touch each other, especially if one of us is in need."

He stared at her for a moment. Then he asked in a low voice, "Were you that same woman twenty years ago?"

She nodded.

"How have you not aged?"

Rey's voice crept up in volume. "It was twenty years ago for you, but it was only two days ago for me!"

"How?" he repeated louder, throwing his hands up.

"Time travel. I traveled back in time to save you."

He blinked. Not a lie. Then he closed his eyes. "When I first arrived at the temple, Uncle Luke said you were there to right a wrong. Was I what was wrong?"

"No! Not you. What was done to you. The dark side manipulated you, your family abandoned you, Luke betrayed you. I fixed all that! Luke helped me." She touched Ben's hand, happy when he didn't pull away. "Luke cried when I told him what he did to you."

"I crossed over to the dark side."

"Yes, but you came back to the light in the end. You came back for me."

He pulled open the top drawer of the desk and pulled out a scrap of paper. Then he handed it to her.

Rey gasped. On it was a drawing of Kylo Ren's mask. "Where did you see this?"

"I dreamed of him last night. Disjointed nightmares, all with you and him. He chased you through a forest. He had you strapped to an interrogation chair. He fought you with a red lightsaber. I never saw his face under the mask, but I recognized his movements." He pointed at the picture. "Was this me?"

Rey nodded.

"From everything I've seen, we were enemies. I was a monster in a mask torturing you. What would you help me?"

His use of her own words from before struck her hard. Her eyes drifted down to the floor. Her voice dropped an octave. "I did hate you, especially in the beginning. But things changed. You deserved a second chance." Her eyes rose back to his. "Ben, I'll share my memories with you. It'll be painful, but you'll understand why I did what I had to do." She reached out to him, her hand hovering in the air between them.

He stared at her hand, his teeth biting at his lips.

Trepidation

Rey couldn't blame him for his hesitancy. She thought about the image of herself in the long black robes on the fallen Death Star, sharp teeth and hissing like a snake. She wished she'd never seen that version of herself. Yet, that had been just a flash. He'd have to confront a lifetime of those images.

Seconds turned to minutes.

"It's okay, Ben. You don't have to see. We can be together without it. Or not, if that's what you prefer. I'll leave and you'd never have to see me again. I'll be content just knowing you're alive." She put her hand down.

"No!" He put his hand up. "Show me."

She slipped her small hand into his large one. He curled his fingers around hers, so warm and inviting. She saw him close his eyes. Throwing a shield around the few memories she just couldn't share with him-

Grandfather

-she opened her mind to him.

He barely touched her consciousness at first, but then delved deeper. His hand shuddered around hers.

Rey's vision suddenly tunneled, like she was being pulled through a dark hallway. She tried to throw a shield up to protect herself, but it failed.

Both Ben and Rey slumped into unconsciousness. Their bodies fell to the floor, Rey landing on top of Ben, as their minds connected fully. Their hands remained entwined.