So, I attached my own idea of spirituality and dark vs light on the force. I know it's not quite as the Star Wars verse explains it but I took a risk. In life it's all about balance, it's a constant and so I tried to apply that here. I kind of feel like nothing happened in this chapter and things are progressing slowly, I apologize, I sat down to write something and something completely different came out. Anyway darlings, let me know what you think, I love any and all input. You're all fantastic xo
After a lot of arguing and a rather explosive outburst from Chewie everyone found themselves in a tense sort of stalemate. The base was a buzz with the news that Kylo Ren had been captured, and those brave enough made excuses to board the Falcon to see for themselves. Poe was furious, Finn flabbergasted but Rey chose to ignore her friends in favour of her own moral compass. She knew in her heart what was right and wasn't prepared to sacrifice Ben's freedom for their comfort. She had argued that a bed be made in the large cargo hold, that Ben be allowed food and have his wounds tended to. Thanks to Chewie's stoic presence her requests were met with petulant acquiescence but they were met all the same.
Instead of a solid metal door, Poe had rigged up electro fencing in the holds doorway so that Ben could be monitored. He didn't like the idea of not being able to see a man he didn't trust. Rey was oddly ok with the humming and pulsing make shift prison bars. She even pulled a mattress into the Engineering Bay much to Poe and Finn's distaste.
"You can't sleep on the floor," Finn had argued when he found Rey dragging the beaten mattress down the Falcon corridor. He was concerned, it hummed around him like a song but she knew he wouldn't fight her long.
Rey sighed as she pulled, the mattress getting caught on the door. She looked to Finn pointedly and without thought he picked up the other end and maneuvered it passed it's … "I lived in an old At-At most of my life Finn, the floor of the engineering bay is paradise compared to that."
As predicted the argument ended there, Finn effectively clamming up the minute Ben came within ear shot. He had left her then to push the mattress over close to the doorway and that was where she remained. Her body dogged with exhaustion ached from head to toe as she lie there on her lumpy mattress, cheek pressed into the cool surface. Across from her, behind a wall of vibrating muted electricity Ben lie in a mirrored position of her own. His pale skin looked awash with starlight behind the hazy blue but he looked healthier. His fat lip was gone, his bruising reduced greatly, only his eyes told the tale of his bodies hardship. As Rey watched him she felt as he reached out through the force for her. His energy running a ripple along her body in a wave of curious care. She closed her eyes as it washed over her letting her know he was alright, that he was grateful. She smiled softly as she wound her own energy around it, through it and the melding energies sang in a wild vibration that jittered through the ship. Crates trembled against the floor as Rey's staff bounced lightly against the wall before clattering to the ground.
They lie and stared, their force energy crashing and swirling around one another. Through the force their emotions sang, a mounting crescendo of need, want, desire, compassion, fear and steady growing affection. They spoke without words, the vibrating growing in intensity. The crates jittered across the floor slowly, banging into one another and the walls behind them. Focusing solely upon one another they raised a hand in unison their fingers creeping in a gentle arc towards one another.
"What is this?" a voice called through the rapturous song annoyed and aggressive, "What are you… Don't do that!" Poe's words echoed all around her as he dropped to her side and groped for her shoulder pulling Rey back and away from electro fencing. He was pulling her into a seated position with surprising ease giving her a slight shake as he did so. The world around her rumbled and vibrated, the quaking shudder of a release. The Falcon groaned around them and Rey's eyes slowly drew back into focus.
Ben was sitting up from his position on the floor groggy and confused. When he saw the way Poe held Rey his emotions bucked and raged through the force still connecting them causing Rey to visibly flinch. Upon realizing what was happening Ben cursed beneath his breath and started to prowl within the cage like a wounded animal.
The uneasy nature in which Ben watched Poe did not go unnoticed by the General as he held Rey up with one arm and snapped his fingers in front of her face with the other hand. Blinking dazedly she shook her head and then adjusted her position so that she was sitting upright starring at Poe confusedly. "What are you doing?" she called angrily, narrowing her eyes at Poe as if her friend had just caused her grievous harm.
Poe shook his head in disbelief as he peered down at her, "Are you kid.. seriously?" His eyes jumped from Rey to Ben and then back to Rey as he rocked back to sit on his heels, his knees pressed into her make shift bedding. His voice raised an octave and Ben stilled, "The whole thing was shaking. What were you two doing?" an accusatory glance fell finally to Ben.
"No… No." Rey called sternly, grabbing Poe's chin to draw his gaze back on her, "You leave him, you have an issue you talk to me. He did nothing." She looked to Ben who stood with his shoulders hunched like a wild animal about to strike. He was panting lightly, his shoulders aching against the weight of his free'd force energy crashing back down against his body.
In a swift movement Poe stood. He was back in his brown civilian pants and out of his pilots flight suit. His white shirt was tucked into the waist of his trousers but pulled so that the excess fabric looped over loosely. The buttons at the neck were undone in a lazy fashion, usually hidden beneath his Corillian scarf but that article of clothing did not appear on his person. He looked almost hastily dressed, missing a belt, his hair mussed and shaggy. As Rey drew onto her feet standing before him she noticed the pink flush to his warm toned cheeks and a rouge that decorated his neck venturing down beneath his shirt.
"Oh," Poe called, unfazed by her observant stare, "I have issue," his voice raised, hands coming to rest at his hips "I have big issue." As he drew closer, like a posturing little boy trying to intimidate Rey noticed how kiss swollen Poe's lips seemed, damp under the glaring bay lightening.
Rey smirked and looked over at Ben who's posture hadn't changed an inch. "You ok?" she called lightly, letting him know she was good.
Ben nodded moving towards the fencing, his arm raised so that it rest against the doorframe. He leaned into the posture, shoulders sagging beneath unseen weight as he pressed his forehead into the cool metal. The tips of his hair buzzed beneath the close electricity causing him to shift back ever so slightly.
Ignoring Poe, Rey approached the doorway mimicking Ben's posture. Her hand spread wide against the hulking metal framework before she leaned forward into the buzzing and…
"Don't!" Poe called.
Too late.
With a loud zap Rey caught a shock to the face and stumbled back loosing her footing. Her body careened into Poe's who was ready to catch her. Blinking rapidly Rey cried out, "What the hell!?" swinging to slug Poe with and elbow to the gut.
Ben had jumped back as well, clearly very agitated to be on the other side of the fencing as Rey rubbed at her forehead and nose painfully. Beneath her fingers she could feel burning sting of reddening flesh. The damn fencing was not in fact muted after all, it was fully charged and decidedly very dangerous. "Poe…" she bit out through gritted teeth.
"Are you ok?" came Ben's quiet inquiry but Rey was wheeling around on her friend the General faster then anyone might think necessary.
"Why'd you have to go and do something stupid like that?" Poe asked admonishingly, he was making a face that said he thought she was being childish.
She on the other hand was of another opinion. While Poe was treating her to a friendly older brother type look Rey hauled back and punched Poe in the shoulder. Her fist his hard muscle and both cried out in shock as Ben let out a grunt of agitation. "Why?" Rey grunted, "Why. Is. It. Charged?" she asked, punctuating each word with another strike to Poe's assaulted shoulder. She was about to bend low and grab her staff when Poe swung for her upper arm and gripped it tight within his strong hand.
"Oooookay," He said pointedly. Rey could feel as Ben tensed, his dark emotions running wild as he watched the way Poe's hands welcomed themselves to her flesh. Jealousy melded with a fierce need to protect and Ben started his short stepped pacing again. "Chewie!" Poe called loudly, refusing to let Rey go, "Chewie get in here."
After a few moments the wookiee entered the engineering bay with a loud roar of confusion. He looked from Poe to Rey and how Poe's fingertips were now leaving little blenched fingerprints on her flesh. Rey noticed that Chewie looked to Ben next before stalking up to the electro fencing stopping shy of being shocked himself. His fur stood on end as he gaped at the mechanism and barked a few warbling yips at Ben.
"Don't come too close," he told Chewbacca, hands raised in mock surrender as he took a few steps backwards until he was sitting against a crate. Chewie growled and chuffed as he looked the fencing over, nodded to Ben and then turned back to Poe and Rey, "Good luck," Ben muttered as Chewbacca left the room only to return with a warm and worn looking mug filled with steaming liquid. He bumped passed Poe and approached the fencing lock, pressing a few quick buttons until a small window formed in the shielding. Chewie chuffed softly as he passed the object through the strong scent of caff wafting through the air. "Thank you," Ben stated earnestly as he held the cup aloft allowing the steam to roll in wafting waves up and over his senses.
As Chewie turned back to face Poe and Rey he grumbled loudly, his roar fluctuating in tone as he chuffed and nodded his head. Reluctantly, with the air of a man not willing to admit he was wrong, Poe released Rey's arm. "Come on," he said firmly as he turned to walk towards the door. Rey was hesitant to follow but felt Ben's force signature nudge her carefully. She looked at him curiously a moment as Chewbacca took up position at her back indicating that she was to follow Poe.
So, they left in terse silence, Poe leading them down the hallway passed the boarding ramp and into the main hold. He sat with exaggerated agitation, resting his back against the couch as he brought his feet up against the holo chess table. Chewie growled causing Poe to drop his feet, hands raised in mock surrender as he rest his head back and closed his eyes.
Rey crossed the room and stood with her back to a corner. She reached out through the force and felt Ben sitting back and enjoying his cup of caff with understated ease. When he picked up on her presence still with him he wound his force energy around hers like lovers sliding fingertips across palms slowly. As Rey smiled the Falcon jittered and Poe sat bold up right.
"Stop!" he demanded and Rey dropped the connection, startled back into the moment. Immediately the vibrations ceased and Chewie looked between them questioningly.
No one spoke over the next several moments, the air thick with tension. The energy around Poe crackled with unbridled agitation and hostility as he stared off deep in thought. Rey wanted to yell at him but thought the better of it, their friendship was worth more then the sum of all this foolishness. He would come around…
Chewie stood at the mouth of the doorway, he seemed to be listening for something, waiting. Rey got the odd impression things were about to come down around her as Poe avoided her eye. Her attention jumped from one to the other before, with a frustrated sigh she flopped down onto the floor on cross folded legs. It was a little more childish then she may have intended but she felt herself justified. Closing her eyes Rey reached out into the force, she allowed part of her core to slip away on undulating waves of energy. She was at one with the force energy that wove through the existence of all living things, her body growing lighter as she cast herself wide. She felt Poe's fear ripping beneath his agitation and Chewie's conflicted need to protect melded with the pain of all their heavy losses. As Rey felt through the force, the ground beneath her melted away, sounds muffled into a sweet hum and her consciousness swam on waves of winding energy. She felt her being reverberate along the the low hum of the Falcon's background electric systems. Somewhere the lights flickered and her heart beat fluttered against it. It wasn't just living things that sung with force energy, everything if you listened hard enough had a pitch and lilting moan.
All around her voices congregated, heart beats wavered, emotions crooned buffeting her subconsciousness about the space like a balloon floating on the air. She was no one, and everyone. Like a crashing tide she reached with the very core of her out into the world beyond the Falcon's hulking metal walls. She felt footsteps as they pulsated through the ground. A myriad of synchronized steps marching with a purpose. In the world beyond she felt pulled and torn in all directions. Too much happened too soon, she was everywhere and unravelling quickly.
Panic took hold quickly as she tried desperately to wind back in upon herself. Like rounding up the thread of an unravelling blanket she scrambled along the force. She felt as though she might float away on the breeze, as though she might never be whole with herself again. When suddenly she collided with a hard warmth. It felt like being gathered up like sand, mounded and moulded back into the shape of a human being. Tentatively she reached out and allowed her force energy to slide against the energy winding around her own. She recognized it in an instance. Ben must have felt her panic and sought her out. He was pulling and wrapping himself around her like a cocoon drawing her back into her being. Around her lights flickered and the ground vibrated. Poe was gripping the couch, knuckles white and eyes wide in furious agitation. He was saying something loudly, but all Rey could focus on was the hazy imagine of Ben holding her hand. She noticed she was floating, her backside a good several feet off the ground as a few random objects bounced around her on invisible waves of the force.
As the visage of Ben quickly evaporated Rey felt her body lower back to the floor. Poe looked like he'd seen a ghost but at least the tremors had stopped. "What?" Poe demanded.
Rey ignored him, relishing in the warm feeling Ben's force touch had left humming through her finger tips. It was like a high, or so she imagined having never experienced such a thing before. She smiled, like a young girl in her youth swooning over a boy. She'd never been allowed such a mundane experience so the ripple of this feeling flooding her was oddly welcome.
Her thoughts were quickly swept away as the sound of voices echoed off the Falcon's heavy walls. She couldn't tell how many approached just that there were numerous. This was what she had been anticipating, an ambush. Soon the room was filled with a swarm of familiar faces all as stern and concerned as the next. Commander D'acy lead the group followed by Lieutenant Connix a young woman with her hair worn in a familiar loop of braids oddly reminiscent of the late General Organa. Beaumont was at her heels his long face drawn in serious contemplation as he observed the room apprehensively.
Rey liked Beaumont, he was quick witted and incredibly smart though often hid behind his awkward sense of humour. Some found him a hard read but Rey figured she had him pegged. His thirst for knowledge made him a fast ally in the search for information locked within the sacred texts. He was always eager to help and had a kind sort of passion that made him very likeable. Now however, Rey had the sneaking feeling that Beaumont was not here as her ally, but as a blunt reminder as to their situation.
She watched him a moment as a Twi'lek with lovely violet skin and a bored expression slipped passed. Behind her trailed Finn and Rose deep in discussion. An older pilot Rey didn't recognize entered soon after still wearing his x wing flight suit. He found himself a position on the outer rim of the group standing next to Chewbacca to rest in a friendly silence. There was a mon calamari affectionally referred to as Junior and a sullustan who's name she could't quite place. He took up position beside the unknown x wing pilot and Chewie, his large dark eyes round and watchful. It was the beginnings of a make shift jury and Rey found herself growing increasingly agitated as the main hold filled with faces. Yet no one spoke.
When Maz arrived, her small eyes blinked as she looked around the room before making her way to Rey's side. The diminutive woman reached a kind hand for Rey's and gave it a small but warm squeeze. She had one ally it seemed.
Poe stood up, drawing himself tall as he looked around the room taking survey of all the faces. "Ok," he said slowly, eyes jumping from person to person, "Is that… everyone?"
Heads swivelled as everyone looked around, only Chewie, the x wing pilot and the sullustan refused to move, their backs pressed against Falcon's wall. Poe adjusted the waist of his pants, hooking his thumbs into the belt loops in an act of self importance as he moved to stand in the middle of the group. Those around milled back some so they had a better vantage point forming slightly misshapen circle with a gap around the doorway. "Where's…?" He said taking one last spin but was cut off as a voice cried from the doorway.
"Where is the boy?" General Lando Calrissian seemed to have no interest in keeping time but every interest on making an appearance. Even when Lando didn't seem to happy he still appeared to be smiling, his mouth drawn in a wide grin, all teeth and and charm. He had a kindness to him that extended to everyone around but was quick to turn should you cross him. He and Chewie embraced as he entered the room with the sweep of his cape. Chewie chattered at him nodding his head as the two dropped into a quieted conversation.
Poe looked positively furious but his respect for the great General Calrissian kept him steadied. Rey could see his hold over the situation faltering slightly and internally she whooped. Maz cast her a side long grin and shook her head just slightly before turning her attention back upon the Generals.
"In the hold?" General Calrissian called, eyeing Poe for confirmation. Rey saw the gesture for what it was, an offering of respect before Lando went right on a head and did what he wanted. "You can start without me, I have a boy to see," he said with definitive sternest and turned to walk away before any one could stop him. Rey motioned to follow but Poe was on her in an instance pointing a finger in her direction.
"You stay," he ordered, the tone not settling well with Rey but she listened at Maz's insistence. "Ok. Thank you everyone for coming, I know we haven't been settled for long but Im afraid we've got another situation we have to handle." There was a muttering amongst the rooms occupants and Poe continued, "We have captured Kylo Ren,"
Rey bristled, unable to hold herself back from barking out, "Ben,"
The room turned to look at her more quickly then she had been prepared for. Poe looked tired but pressed on ignoring her out burst, "There have been some pretty heavy concerns about what it is we should do with him now."
The sullustan said something in quick sullustese which chewie punctuated with a roaring growl. Finn looked visibly uncomfortable but pressed, "Chewie's right we can't execute him," Rey felt her heart warm beneath Finn's words and cast him a grateful but small smile.
"We need to be better, rise above. We can't start our new freedom with more killing. It needs to end," Rose chimed in rationally. She was standing quite close to Finn as she spoke, her shoulders set and sure.
Commander D'Acy stepped forward so that she stood shoulder to shoulder with Poe. Her sweeping mass of curls was pulled back and out of her face showing off more of her tight features. She was a sweet woman who fought for what she believed in. Her narrow mouth was drawn in a hard line as she spoke, making sure to avoid Rey's gaze, "We can't just let him go either. I find myself in this situation looking to what Leia might do…"
Shifting her weight Rey tried desperately to bite her tongue. She chewed on the inside of her cheek viciously swallowing the scream that was mounting from deep within. When it became clear no one was going to respond and Commander D'Acy was about to continue on Rey took a quick step forward, "Leia would give him a chance." she said firmly.
Maz took that opportunity to add, "Leia knew what needed to be done to save her son's soul. She gave her life so that he might walk in the light once more. If you are looking to her for guidance, I suggest you listen to Rey,"
The two women stood a united front solid and unyielding but the waves of the resistance beat against the foundation with reckless abandon. Lieutenant Connix crossed her arms across her chest as she levelled a glance at Rey, "They fought for years to bring him home," she spat bitterly.
Rey pressed, "All the more reason to give him a chance. You don't know the whole story, none of you do and you're so willing to condemn him over something that started off out of his control."
Chewie barked and yipped nodding his head as he cocked it to the side, gesturing towards Rey. The x wing pilot at his side began nodding, "Chewie has a point," he said calmly. "The only people who know the story right now are him and you so where does that leave us?"
"With an opportunity to be better," Rey cried, "Listen to his story, hear him out. Don't repeat the mistakes of the past."
The white haired pilot smiled sadly at Rey, he had a kind face and soft eyes accented by dark brows. When he spoke, those around him stilled, they listened awarding him the respect one would a General. "When Luke fought against the Emperor,his father Vader turned against his master and saved Luke's life. It was the final sacrifice of a man who lived his life on the dark side. Luke was convinced that Vader had found the light with this final act but the only person who could know that is Luke. I worry the only person who could know Ben's truth is Luke and he's no longer with us." As Rey prepared to jump in the pilot raised his hand asking her to stop, "I know you're training as Luke was, I know as they say 'the force is strong with you' but forgive me young one, how do we trust any of it? We thought the Emperor dead and gone but he's now been pulling the strings this entire time, building a force of planet killing star destroyers… there's too much at stake to go on the word of an untrained Jedi."
Chewbacca warbled sadly, chuffing as he bobbed his head, his mouth wide in exclamation. Rey wanted to run into the large wookiee's arms and bury her face in his fur but she squared her shoulders and prepared for this fight. "Chewie's right Leia sensed it all along and wanted to believe that the light and their love was strong enough to keep him safe but it wasn't. I know you don't know me, I know you have no reason to trust in my strength or my resolve but I will tell you this. Palpatine is dead. We stood against him, I lost my life in the process."
Again, Finn looked as if he wanted to say something. She could feel him fidgeting through the force, his fingers tapping an unsteady rhythm against his pant leg. It was Beaumont who spoke up instead, his tone cautious but kind, "There have been no records of people being brought back from the dead using the light side of the force," he offered softly, almost in apology.
Connix added a little too sharply, "He would know,"
Rey turned to Finn and Poe, her large brown eyes imploring, "You saw how I transferred some of my life energy to that serpent on Pasaana. You know it's possible."
"But you were dead Rey, that's not a little shared," Finn said sadly.
"No," Rey agree'd, "It's not."
Silence, she felt through the force as Ben reached out to her, their energies merged, twining together. His warmth washed over her, through her, as intimate as any lovers embrace. As she wound it around herself the floor began its jittering dance. Cupboards rattled and banged, crates bounced on invisible waves of bucking energy. Her body felt electric, as the atmosphere around her cracked and snapped.
"And this is why we have a problem," Poe called out, he didn't want to be having the conversation, she could see he really didn't want to drag her into this anymore then he already had. "This, what is this?" he gestured widely, the faces in their group a mix of shock, fear and astonishment.
When no one answered Maz turned to Rey. The vibrations were simmering but her skin still felt the prickle of energy winding through her. She could feel the flush against her cheek like the high from a good kiss. It was intimate and mildly embarrassing but Rey no longer cared what the others had to say about it. With a quick flick of her small fingers, Maz's opulent round glasses slid into place, "Come closer child," she said in her velvety smooth tone, pulling Rey to crouch before her. When her magnifiers were in place you could see Maz's eyes for the true ambered whisky color they truly were. Rey felt incredibly exposed beneath their luminous gaze but followed the small woman's tugging. She watched, her fingers hovering over the flesh of Rey's arm, dragging a light touch through the force. Her eyes were so close Maz looked like she were counting Rey's skin follicles individually. Along the line of flesh she moved thrown off by the sudden end of Rey's arm and the juncture where her shoulder sat. Blinking as she gazed up at Rey she tapped at the hem of the girls shirt and jerked her hand upwards slightly, indicating what she wanted.
Apprehension flickered as Rey, very aware of every eye in the room, stood up and slowly pulled at the fabric of her shirt exposing her midriff. Maz shifted forward, drawing closer now, her small orange fingers smoothed over Rey's belly button before snaking their way in a line over the expanse of bare flesh. Her head moved from one side to the other, her hand shifting in position, lightly working over Rey's stomach. "Here…" Maz finally said, pointing at a spot which had pinked up beneath her inspection, "Something happened here…" she looked to Rey for confirmation, but of what Rey hadn't a clue. Looking down at the place where Maz's finger was pressing realization struck like lightening.
"Ben…" she said softly, the occupants of the room shifted on an uncomfortable wave of tension, "That's where his hand… when he laid his hand…" but what different would that make.
Maz nodded slowly, "A life exchange, how then?"
Rey shrugged, "We're a dyad in the force," she offered in way of answer.
"Bound…" Maz said almost mystified, she turned quick to Beaumont who jumped at the sudden attention, "You, historian." she ordered authoritatively, "Have you read anything, heard anything about a force dyad?"
Shaking his had Beaumont seemed to loose his words, blinking wide eyed at the small queen of pirates.
"Hmmm," Chewie squawked and chuffed to which Maz smiled warmly, "it means that Rey and Ben are like two sides of one coin. They balance one another." Her hands wavered through the air like fins on a fish, "the biggest misgiving is that darkness is a negative, the dark side manipulates the darkness but a true balanced force wielder uses the dark side to enhance their light. Think of the the shadows cast by the sun, they are an inevitability. They show us the eb and flow of the world around us. Tethered to the light, a darkness brings balance, when left to run wild it destroys. Rey and Ben are bound as such,"
"What does that mean for us?" asked Commander D'Acy.
Maz shrugged casually, tugging Rey's shirt back down with a pat to the back of her hand, "Simply that your decision is far more complicated. However, it means you should put your trust in Rey."