Chapter 7

"Lando!"

Rey jumped up and pulled Lando up into a standing position. "I'm so sorry." He pulled her into a hug.

"Nonsense, I should know better than to scare a Jedi." He laughed and sat back down opposite her this time. "What are you doing out here kid?"

"I could ask you the same thing." Lando went on to explain he was looking for recruits for the resistance and had run into an old friend, his friend waved to Rey. They hadn't talked to anyone from the resistance in weeks and it was nice to see a friendly face. They ate dinner together and made light conversation for a few hours until Rey started yawning.

"Do you have a place to stay? If not, I can find you something grander than this part of town."

Rey laughed, "Believe me, after sleeping in the mountain, anything is better."

Rey bid them a good night and headed up the street to her hotel. She climbed the stairs to the third floor and found her room. As soon as she walked in, she locked the door and went to her bag on the bed. She had thrown her bag in her room before she decided that it was time for a proper meal. She grabbed out her towel, washing things and headed back in.

It was a simple room, but more than she was expecting. She headed in to the bathroom, she sighed in content upon seeing the shower. She started it and while the water warmed the room, she removed her hair ties and undressed. In the mirror she could tell she had lost some weight, she wondered how long she had been in that cave. She would check after she was out of the shower. She jumped inside and washed the dirt and cold from her skin. When she got out, she pulled on a towel around her body. A second towel was used to dry her hair, she ran her fingers through it and left the bathroom. She felt a temperature change and noticed with flushed cheeks that Ben was pacing in her room.

"Ben?"
He whipped around. It looked like he hadn't slept in days. Without a thought he rushed across the small space and pulled her into a hug. "Where. Have. You. Been."

She could tell he was worried, but his anger made the energy around him crackle. "Searching for my crystal, it's only been a few days."

Ben pulled back but kept his hands on her face. "Rey…. it's been two weeks."

"What?"

"You've been missing. Dameron was so concerned he personally sent me a message. Poe went back to where he dropped you off, he couldn't find you. No one in that town said they saw you. So, I got my knights to go there and one of them intimidated them into letting us know you were on that planet. The only thing we knew was that you had gotten a speeder two weeks prior."

"How are you here?"

"Obviously I forced the bond to open as soon as you were open to it. There must have been something special in that cave that I couldn't open the bond. I've been trying for weeks!" He took in her features, the dark circles under her eyes, the sunken cheeks. He bet he could see a rib or two. Ben frowned. "Have you eaten?"

"Yes, Lando was on the moon, we ate together." Looking up at him, "Have you been sleeping?"

"How can I sleep when I know you're missing?"
"Ben, I'm ok. Please take care of yourself. I'm not sure why it took so long. It was peaceful there, it seemed like they all wanted my attention."

He pulled her close again, making sure to keep the towel in place. "Get changed, there's a lot to discuss. I'll get you a snack."

She grabbed her clothes and headed to the bathroom. When she came back, Ben had gotten comfortable on the bed, seeing her come back he sat up. She wore her grey robes as she came back toweling off her hair even more.

"Okay… I sent my signal to Poe, Will the first order intercept it?" She looked at him as serious as when he first interrogated her. "Maybe. Hux has been on a bender of trying to stop the resistance at every turn. He's going behind my back and planning things, sending out troops."

Ben's fist tightened as he talked about Hux, "I'll be on look out tonight. Did Poe manage to say where he would be if I was found?" She highly doubted that he would have told Ben just in case.

"He didn't know. My mother has put them on a secret spot and said not to mention it even to her allies. I have a suspicion on which side of the galaxy, but she can be cunning."

"That's ok, If I meditate long enough, maybe I can reach out to Leia."

"You're close with her." Ben had noticed the way Rey would smile as she talked about Leia or how they hugged one another from memories they had shared.

Rey met his stare, "One of us has to be."

Ben flinched at her words, "It's complicated."

"It doesn't have to be, I saw the way you danced with her. You still love her, that will never fade. Just, just go home to her."

"I can't."
"Yes, you can. You belong with her."

"You don't understand, if I leave no one will be here to stop Hux."
"We can stop him together." Even hearing her words and knowing that it was exactly what he wanted Ben shook his head, he didn't want her anywhere near the First Order if he could help it.

"No- "

"Ben- "
"Not a chance." She had folded her arms across her chest and Ben had stood from the bed. She seemed so intimidating to people, but with the height difference to Ben she just seemed small. "I don't want you anywhere near this. You'll go back to the resistance and do as Leia commands. She and I have been working on a stalemate."

Rey sucked in a breath, "You're working with your mom?" a moment later, "What are the terms? What has the first order agreed to?"

Ben sighed, "Honestly? Not much. We've got to maintain the planets we have holds on, we've cut the crime and slavery in half. If we step out, that'll just go back to the way it was before."

"What is Leia asking for?"

"A few things, she thinks we should create a government, but one government has never been enough. Between her and Dameron they came up with a better solution, each planet to have a delegate, each system to have a court and then somehow work up from there. So that every planet has a voice for their issues. It would help end that portion of the war. But the first order must remain somewhere in there otherwise I won't be able to get the leaders to step down. Some won't step down; they would rather die… which it may come down to that in the end."

During what he was saying Ben had been pacing throughout the room, after he finished speaking, he reached over on his end and withdrew some food. Tossing it to Rey he was pleased to see it kept form and was able to transfer. "I'm not sure how this will taste, but you really should eat more."

"Ben, I just ate dinner, and honestly I'm not that hungry."

"FN2187 says you eat a lot. So eat." Rey glared at his comment.

"I'll have to talk to Finn and tell him to not tell you things."

Ben smiled, "I've actually grown accustomed to your friends telling me about your habits, if not them, then my mother." Rey whipped her head around, "What do you mean."

"hmm?" Ben pretended to be occupied. "Oh, I'll be right there. Tell Hux to slow down or he'll have a hernia." Ben looked over to Rey once whomever was on his side disappeared. "I supposed I must go calm Hux down." He frowned thinking of how long this would take.

"You could follow Poe's lead and call him Hugs, that might make you feel better."

Ben chuckled, he walked forward and kissed her forehead. "I'm glad you're safe. If you don't hear from Poe by tomorrow at midnight, please open the bond and I'll come for you myself."

"That's not necessary, I'll just ask Lando." Rey smiled up at Ben as he vanished, her forehead still warm from his touch.

She ate the apple he had tossed her and a few biscuits. They didn't taste the same, but they were much better than nothing. She double checked the door and her window, then crawled into bed.

Rey woke in the middle of the night to pounding feet running up the stairs. She felt a headache and the room was spinning. She felt as if she had been drugged. Struggling to get up she threw as much of her stuff as she could reach into her bag and slung her staff over her back. She heard an explosion and saw fire from her window. The first order must have found the planet. Even knowing her life was in danger, her first thought was still of Lando and his friend. She didn't know where they had staying but she trusted that if Lando could outsmart the Empire, he could get out of this. Her only concern was that she didn't have a ship. How was she to get out of here. Worse, what if Poe and the resistance showed up to get her, she'd be leading them to slaughter.

She quickly felt through the bond. Ben… where are you? BEN!

She forced the connection open with all her strength, she was sweating by the time Ben appeared, he was sitting at a desk, head laying on his paperwork. She shook his shoulder and he jumped up. Putting a hand to his head he ignited his lightsaber, she hastily stepped back missing being stabbed.

"Rey! Don't … do … don't do that." He was dizzy and couldn't remember why. "I feel…." He looked up at Rey who looked worse for wear. "Did you eat the food I gave you; I don't think you should have…." He pulled out a garbage can from under his desk and vomited inside it.

"I figured it was the food I ate at the bar…" She watched him for a moment, thinking maybe someone had drugged Ben... but why would they do that. "Ben, the first order is here... I need you to get a message to Poe and tell him to not come for me. I don't want them to come right now, I'll just find someplace to hide."

Ben's eyes got wide. "THEY'RE THERE?!" Rey you have to leave. Find a ship, steal it. Get off that moon!" He tried to stand up, falling back into his chair, "Damnit! Rey, if they drugged me to keep me on this ship, it means they plan to blow up a couple planets you could be on."

"But we destroyed the planet killing machine."
"They have another, smaller version. I gave Dameron the plans to infiltrate and destroy it a week ago. Clearly, he's taking his time, I should have done it myself."

Rey sighed, "Ben, I don't think I can steal a ship, I'll try to find Lando. If I can't I will try to get a ship, whatever they drugged you with…. It's strong. It took so much energy to just open the bond."

"Rey, promise me, promise me you'll get off that Moon and as far from that planet as possible. I don't care how you do it. You have to live."

After a moment of hesitation, "I promise to get off this moon and away from the planet." Ben smiled, "I will make my way to get a word to the resistance now. No one should be expecting me awake for another half a day or so." Ben had finally gotten his feet under him and with a hand on what must have been a wall he was making his way out of his room.

"Ben?" He looked at her from what must have been his door fame, "Stay safe." The bond disconnected, Rey slung her bag over her back and made her way to her door. With a deep breath she flung the door open and was met with a storm trooper back. She shut the door quickly, locked it and turned to jump out the window.