The Jedi

Author's note: I am not a conventional writer. I am not proud of it, I am simply stating a fact. I do not resolve disputes in ordinary ways, I do not explain many of my character's emotions and motives, and like to shock my readers. Even my warnings are unconventional, since in the last chapter I chose Mylo, the old man, to warn everyone about not proceeding. But you, like Rey, decided to go in search of Ben.

I also do not tag correctly and that, sadly, cand lead some readers to leave the story. If you are still here, it means that you can probably chew on iron and not break a tooth.

That being said I have a surprise for you.

The first is from balancedpadawan who commissioned Clara Gemm to create artwork for the bar scene in Canto Bight. I opened my Twitter account due to its incessant blinking and came across THIS! /ClaraGemm/status/1141701272732622850 It is so magical and has captured that intense moment between them so beautifully it made me sob!

Rey had expected him to be pissed.

A lot more than he's allowing her to sense, at least. This is the second time she gets in the middle of his needs in the last two days and completely derails his plans in a matter of minutes. He should be throwing some kind of a hormonal fit by now. But instead, he sits calmly on the pilot's seat with his hand set loosely on the lever, and his gaze focused out the window, flying the shuttle smoothly over the planet's terrain.

They are both very silent. The villa's erotic undercurrent has dissipated as if it were fog, leaving behind sentiments of shame and awkwardness. And maybe a little melancholy. At least from her side. Because Ben's feelings are clamped shut in the Force, and she is not in a mood to go prodding after such a night.

She unconsciously touches the spot on her neck where his lips had set her ablaze, trying to wrap her mind around what had transpired back in the villa.

Rey has been to the filthiest of towns in the Outer Rim, digging out the shadiest of characters along with her Master. She has sensed lust and desire in the Force while sitting in bars and cantinas all over the galaxy. But the things she saw and felt in that villa…

Rey presses her lips tightly.

Why does he do this to himself?

Give in to his basest of instincts and waste his body on meaningless partners. Is he this unhappy with his fiancée? What void is he trying to fill by bonding and dominating people even in sex? Rey does not understand, and it makes her feel a little resentment towards him. Just a little.

He glances at her.

But his expression is guarded in the darkness of the cockpit. Rey doesn't know what to expect of him when they return to the casino's hotel.

So she has done the same thing.

She has fortified her walls against him, and is looking out her side of the window at the vast expanse of land stretching in the night.

"What else did Luke say?" His deep voice permeates the tense silence.

Rey wants to sigh. "The Stormtrooper has given the coordinates to a planet that holds the mega weapon. He said the Republic will need to strike fast, before Snoke decides to power it up and obliterate a world." Rey pauses, allowing him the time to take in the information. "He says it's the next Death Star. Only deadlier."

Ben clenches his jaw without saying another word. Rey counts the mountain tops in the far horizon. A few more moments tick by.

"About what happened in the villa…" He begins sounding a bit guarded, and Rey shuts her eyes. Because she had expected this sooner or later.

"You don't have to say anything," she shakes her head in the dark looking back out the window. "I know it was bad timing. You weren't in control of yourself and it won't happen again."

It takes him a moment to answer back.

"Right."

"We don't need to discuss this again. It was meaningless."

At least for him…

Ben remains silent.

The city's lights begin to simmer in the distance and Rey can sense an emotion of regret emanating from him. She too feels this is an uncomfortable situation they are in, but surprisingly she doesn't regret what happened between them as much as he does. Perhaps she should feel thankful that he had the decency to release his hold on her when he did. Rey knows her heart would have been left in ruins if it had continued into anything more...

Rey chews her lip and starts counting the stars. Anything to get her mind off that wretched bitterness that's settling inside her.

And suddenly she tenses.

"Do you feel it?" She asks, searching out her window.

Ben darts his eyes at her. "Feel what?"

"I can't quite… I don't believe it's an animal. The thought in the Force is too complex…" And it raises the hair on the back of her neck. She reaches for Ben's arm, digging her nails in the muscle underneath.

She senses him looking at her as his pain spikes in the Force. "Rey? What's going on? Are you alright?"

"Turn!"

"What?"

"I said turn!"

A screeching sound seers through the metal of the shuttle, and suddenly their world is spiraling out of control as the alarms go off around them and the planet's rocky surface races to meet with them. Ben curses as he flips switches and grasps on the pilot's lever to level the ship, but fire has erupted in the back and they're falling just too damn…

Fast.

Rey brings her hand up at the accelerating ground, in a desperate attempt to slow down their fall, and then everything goes black.

There's a buzzing sound in her ears. And some kind of throbbing on her temple when Rey begins to regain consciousness. And heat. Unbearable heat all around her.

She blinks, staring at the metal overhead and the jagged edges of broken glass reflecting a bright orange light.

Rey coughs, bringing her hand to her aching head. Her mind feels so heavy and she has trouble sensing her surroundings. As if she's asleep, and yet not. Because this pounding in her head is letting her know that she is very much awake.

There's sticky substance smeared on her temple and her skin stings at the touch. Rey brings her fingers in front of her eyes, trying to discern what the stickiness is, just as a low groan drifts in the stuffy air.

Blood.

She stares at the dark color that's smeared on her hand. Her blood. What in R'iia's winds happened?

And why is it so hot in here?

Another groan resounds, a bit louder and very, very pained. And Rey believes she knows that voice from somewhere. It's in her dreams and in the back of her mind, day in and day out, a constant companion throughout her life and a fortifying presence in her hours of loneliness. And it can only belong to…

"Ben?"

A heartbeat passes and then his deep voice responds shakily.

"Rey?"

Her eyes widen and just like that her senses sharpen back to reality. And everything becomes very clear. The metal and glass are the remnants of their shuttle. The heat is because of a fire that erupted before they came crashing down. And the hoarse voice belongs to none other than Ben, who sounds hurt and very much in pain.

She lifts herself from the broken seat, ignoring the stinging on her temple and the pain on her left leg, and fumbles her way to where she knows he's seated.

His eyes are already fixed on her and his pale face has a wide gash running down his right cheek and disappearing in the collar of his shirt. Rey carefully removes a large shard of glass embedded in his face, before she grasps his overcoat and tries to pull him off his seat. But he stops her with his hand and a press of his lips. "You can't…" He whispers at her. "I'm hurt." He shuts his eyes and drops his head back, scrunching his brow in unuttered pain.

Rey notices a metal beam protruding from his left side. And her heart stops.

"Are you alright?" he croaks. "Are you hurt in any way?"

"No, no. I'm ok."

"Good… That's good."

She scans the insides of the crashed shuttle and the approaching fire and tries to assess his condition. Things are definitely not looking good.

Ben licks his lips. "Rey, you have to go and get help. The city is not far away."

"I know but I can't leave you here. The shuttle is burning. I've got to get you out first."

He shifts his gaze around. "There must be a fire extinguisher somewhere. Use that. Don't move me."

"Ben, the shuttle is ruined. Even if I put out the fire, it might still explode." She grasps his hand. "I have to get you out of here."

Ben shakes his head. "I can't move. And I'm too heavy for you…" He fixes those compelling eyes on her that glisten under the flames and urge for her to obey. "Please, get out. Call for help."

She wraps her hand around the metal on his side, instead.

His hand covers hers in an effort to stop her and he clenches his teeth. He's in pain. Rey can feel it as if it's her own and it maddens her to think of how gravely hurt he may be. But she's got to get him out. Rey has to.

Her hand grasps his cheek, the one that's still intact. "Look at me!" She demands.

His eyes focus on her and she can sense the quick rise and fall of his chest.

"Look at me," the teenage boy orders over her pained cries. Her leg hurts and she doesn't think she can make it back at the academy. Rey believes she will die right then and there. "You'll be fine. I'll take you to Luke, but you have to help me out. Stop crying and wrap your arms around my neck. I've got you. I'm not letting you go. I promise I will never let go…"

"I'm getting you out of here, but you have to help me out. Let me remove the metal from your side. No! Don't you dare shake your head at me, you stubborn oaf. I have to do this. We have to do this! Ok? Good! Good… Now. Bite down on this. That's it…"

His muffled cry of pain pierces her heart, and the blood that starts gushing from his wound makes her nearly lose her cool. But Rey steadies herself over him and shatters his side of the window with a couple of strong kicks. Air filters in and Rey coughs.

Stars, this heat in unbearable.

If they don't get out of this vessel now, they'll be burned into a crisp. She sets her hands under his arms carefully. Ben blinks lightly at her, but says nothing.

Rey fixes her gaze on those burning eyes and lifts.

He tries his best to steady himself on his feet, Rey knows it, but the blood seeping from his wound and dripping on the soft grass is too much and he soon crumbles to his knees pulling her down with him. But they are far enough from the flaming shuttle that is screeching and melting away in the dead of night.

Ben lies on the cool grass out of breath, and clutches at his wound. "Just for a moment," he says in a hushed voice. Rey knows he doesn't have just a moment. She tears his shirt open to reveal the extent of his wound, and rips out the ends of his cloak to press on it for the bleeding to stop.

"Hold here," she says to him, leading his cold hand over the fabric. She quickly proceeds to unravel her armwraps and tie them around his torso as firmly as possible without causing him too much pain. His pants are shallow and his forehead is glistening with cold sweat. And the color on his face is the palest she has ever seen it to be.

Ben doesn't have just a moment and Rey has to call for help.

She starts searching for her comlink but realizes she has left it back at the hotel. So she fumbles through the pockets of his clothes in search of his. She thinks she finds it deep into the right front pocket of his trousers when she sees his eyes widen. Rey know she's touched places she shouldn't have, but the expression on his face as his eyes snap to hers, is that of terror. And Ben does not feel fear easily.

"Run," he whispers, clutching at her arm.

"Wh…what?" She scrunches her brows confused. "I'm not going anywhere. What are you talking about?"

He shakes his head just lightly, gathering whatever strength he has. "You have to get out of here, now!"

Rey hears a familiar humming erupt a few paces behind her and she turns her head to look. Three figures are approaching through the smoke as if they are creatures of the night. They are all masked. Two of them are in black armor and with weapons barred that Rey has never seen before. But the third one… Stars, the third one is a Force-user with his ignited red lightsaber thrumming in his hand.

"Please, Rey… You have to go."

Her breath hitches as she turns to look at Ben bleeding helplessly on the ground.

"I'm not leaving you."

"No, no. Listen…" He licks his lips fixing eyes that plead on her. "They're after me, Rey. Not you. You can still get away. They'll kill you if you don't."

Rey's eyes blur as she grasps his hand that's clutching her arm, and tugs it off. Because he doesn't have just a moment.

"I won't let them harm you."

His face breaks into the most desperate expression she has ever seen.

"Baby girl, please… Run. Just run!"

Rey stares at the teenage boy clutching at her arms and looking at her with wild eyes. "Run, baby girl. Run!" He pushes her small body in the forest's foliage, and stands up just in time to clutch the attacking large feline by the throat with the Force. Rey blinks terrified at the boy suspending the wild animal in the air.

She closes her eyes and leans in to set a long kiss on Ben's forehead. Gods, it feels so cold already. She can sense his agony, feel his hopelessness and despair in his plead for her to leave. But Rey sets her own forehead against his gently, reaching out into the Force and gathering it like reigns around her wrists.

She rises to her feet slowly and turns around. Reaches for her saberstaff. And ignites it.

One of the armored men might be tall and big but he is relatively inexperienced with his heavy axe, and Rey easily decapitates him after a few strikes. But the second one is a woman. Agile and quick, keeping Rey's attention on her just enough to allow the Force-wielder to come at her relentlessly. It is a fierce battle on the grassy meadow. The flames eating on the shuttle eventually die out, and soon enough the only light that remains is that of blue and red coming from the clashing lightsabers.

Rey strikes, parries and strikes again in quick Force assisted movements, trying to keep the attackers as far away from Ben as she can. She barely has time to glance at him and assess his condition and worry eats at her with every passing moment. Because this fight is dragging too long and she has to put an end to it. But there's two of them and they are capable opponents.

Rey grits her teeth and wraps the Force around the woman's body pulling her directly on one of her saberstaff's blades. But the woman brings her steel weapon down on Rey's leg and she has to backflip in order to avoid it. The Force user is waiting for her and strikes while she is still up in the air. Rey swirls and he misses. She lands in back of him. She kicks his knees, bringing him to the ground and runs her saber through the woman who is already bringing her blade down at Rey.

The woman stumbles and falls to the ground.

And Rey barely has time to register her death, because she too is tugged on the ground by the Force-user and next thing she knows his red blade is at her throat.

The man chuckles darkly. This sinister, distorted sound that raises the hair on her skin.

"Jedi," he drawls through his mask. "Snoke will gladly send Skywalker your head. Along with that of his nephew's."

Ben.

Is the one and only thought that crosses her mind as she clenches her teeth at the masked figure standing on top of her. That and the unbearable feeling that she might fail him. She curls her fingers and raises her hand.

A crackle of purple light erupts in the night and the masked man is shoved away from her. It was a weak and unstable spark but it gives her enough time to jump to her feet. Rey falls in Soresu form ready to face the assassin again.

But he disappears quickly. Swallowed by the shadows of the night without looking back.

Rey straightens her back and turns. Because she knows exactly where that Dark power has come from.

Ben is standing a few paces away, clutching at his wound with one hand while the other one remains outstretched at the direction of the disappearing man.

He collapses to the ground.

"Ben!" she too falls to her knees and crawls to him because her legs can no longer hold her up. She pushes his tangled hair out of his pale face.

"You never listen," he whispers, his lips barely moving.

Her eyes blur and she breaks into a pained smile. "You're too stubborn."

She fumbles for his wound to see the extent of his bleeding and only comes across wet sticky fabric covering his whole body.

"Rey…

She sets a finger to his lips to shush him and he swallows thickly. His eyes burn with an unspoken need. But he is bleeding to death and there is no time for words.

"Not now. Stay. And tell me later. Promise me you'll stay."

He blinks lightly, but says nothing.

Rey sets her hands on top of the bloody fabric and closes her eyes.

She was never really trained in Force healing. It always required too much meditation and focus and Rey never had time to sit in one spot. But now she regrets it. She regrets every lost opportunity to learn and practice on countless of wounds, ranging from simple scratches to flat out broken bones. But she can't just simply wait for help to arrive.

Not when it comes to Ben.

She reaches out into the Light side of the Force. It's difficult to do, and the Light slips from the edges of her being numerous times because of the agony that courses through her veins. But she insists and persists. Just like Luke has taught her. Relaxing the tension of her shoulders and bringing down the panting of her breath. And allows herself to drift and become one with it. Allows it to course through her, and into the body that lays beneath her hands, willing the severed tissue to be stitched back together and the blood vessels to mend.

She allows to get lost in its Power.

Rey opens her eyes not knowing how much time has passed. She feels drained and sleepy, barely able to hold herself together. She lifts her hands from the man's wound and looks down.

A sob escapes her, in the silence of the night, and shudders her body. And then another and another. She clasps her mouth and leans over the man, as the sobs clench and quake at her insides and rob her of breath, as tears stream down her face, hot and thick, and drip on the man's clothes drenched in blood. Rey cries like she has never cried before in her life.

Because the man lying on her lap has his eyes closed, but is very much alive.

And he is no longer bleeding.

Author's note: Rey sobbing over Ben's body is a forever scene in my mind, and I pray we don't come across it in episode 9. It will break us to pieces. But in this story, she saves him (yey!) and we get to enjoy a bit more of their tense sexy moments together. Ooops! I think I dropped a spoiler.

My twitter account is Iretara iranaterra. Feel free to message me with questions or comments or anything that you want to discuss in the story. And not just the story!