Always, since he had turned to the dark side, he could sense her presence from across the stars. For years, he thought their connection was a lie that there was no one else on the other side of the string pulling them together. But, there she was on Jakku of all places. This girl — she has no idea what she is capable of. She needs a teacher. Her mind is in disarray. She's been shattered by a life of torment, and he means to piece her back together.

Rey is standing outside of her door. She's rearranging her jacket and straightening her belt just outside her room. She's careless in this sort of way. Rey doesn't seem to understand military protocol. He will have Hux instruct her on the basics later, but for now, he will let her do as she pleases.

Rey's eyes flicker upward and meet his. Ben can sense her excitement as she looks to him. He looks down at her through the visor of his mask. The collar on her jacket is folded in on itself. He outstretches his hand to her neck. She remains still as he fixes her collar.

Ben can sense that she's more relaxed. He once saw fear and apprehension in her eyes, but now he feel a new sense of trust.

"Come with me," he orders.

"Yes, sir," her voice seems to play with the idea of being in the military. It's endearing to watch her adapt to a life so foreign to her.

Rey walks by his side as he moves through the hallway. Ben stops before the elevator and presses the button to signal it to their floor. He places his hands behind his back as he waits for the elevator to reach their floor. The elevator doors part open. A pair of enlisted men step out of the elevator. They salute to him before they continue on their way through the hall. He walks inside the elevator with Rey at his side. Ben presses the button to his desired floor. The doors close, leaving the both of them alone in silence as the elevator moves upward. The elevator slows to a stop. The doors swish open. Ben steps outside of the elevator with Rey following him dutifully. Ben moves through the halls and stops before the door to the training room. He keys in an access code. The door opens and he steps inside. He waits for Rey cross through doorway before signaling the door closed.

Ben steps towards a small table with a small wooden box in the center of it. He pauses, bringing both hands to his helmet. He pulls his helmet from his head and sets it down on the table. His gloved hand touches the box. He can feel the energy pulsate from inside it energy that begs to be released.

Rey gazes at the box, her eyes wide in awe. She's focused more focused than he's seen her in the little time he's known her. Rey steps forward, her green eyes fixating on the wooden box like predatory bird eying her prey.

"What is inside that box?" her voice is just above a hushed whisper.

"You'll find out later," he replies.

Rey's eyes hover on the box. It's an odd phenomenon. The lightsaber inside barely resonated with him when he first placed his hands on it. Yet, the girl is drawn to it with such magnetic energy. Rey's energy seems to spill forward like an ocean tide as she looks to the wooden box. Ben can feel her desire as she takes one more step towards it. It's similar to the first taste he had of the dark side of the Force. The girls eyes are entranced as she looks upon the box. She tears her eyes away from it. They seem to soften as her eyes cast up to him. There's this haunted look that crosses her features. Her eyes flicker downward for only a second until they meet his gaze once more.

"What is happening to me? " the girl's words sharp.

Ben's gaze lingers as he looks upon her. "You might have heard legends of an unseen power, the Force. It's a power only some of us are born with."

"I've heard of Luke Skywalker," she answers.

Anger burns at the sound of that name. He looks to her, trying to maintain a measure of calm. "Luke Skywalker is not the man people believe him to be."

"You knew him?" she asks.

"I did. "

There's a quiet pause. Rey's eyes flicker downward. He can sense a tinge of sadness within her. Her eyes flicker back up to his. "What was he like?"

The memory of that night resurfaces for a moment. Ben can still hear the humming of his uncle's lightsaber. He remembers the fear and betrayal he felt as he looked upon the green blade. He won't answer her question. Not yet.

"That is a conversation for a different day," he pauses for a moment. "Rey, there are things you must learn things only I can teach you."

Ben's eyes gaze upon her. He takes all of her in the brown hair, her green eyes, all of her. He can feel that pull that draws them together.

"I want to learn," her eyes flicker back to the box for a short moment.

Their eyes find each other once more. There's this vulnerability in her eyes. He can feel her pain, but also the fire that still burns underneath all her sorrow. Ben turns to the box and unhooks the latch. He takes the metal cylinder into his right hand. He turns back to Rey and steps towards her. Her eyes are fixed on the lightsaber. She takes a sharp step forward, staring it down with such vibrant eyes.

Ben offers her the lightsaber. Her eyes look up to him for only a moment before they fixate on the weapon in his hand. Rey reaches out to it, her hands hovering over it for a mere second. She draws in a deep breath and places her hand around the lightsaber.

A sharp energy seems to shroud both of them. Her hand is trembling. Her eyes look up to him with such intense fear. Images of bright lights seem to surround them. The city is alive. Ben looks away from Rey only to see a small girl walking between a pair of adults. Her parents?

The scene changes. The small girl is screaming at a ship. The ship lifts into the sky as the girl struggles in Unkar Plutt's grasp. She calls out to them. "Come back!"

"Quiet girl!" Plutt snaps.

Ben's eyes turn back to Rey. Her eyes are dilated as she looks up to him. She knows where they are going next. She's trying to fight it. Tears form in the corners of her eyes.

Ben turns his gaze onto the memory. Her hands are pulling the torn sleeves back onto her shoulders. Her cheeks are stained with tears. She's still so young, a teenager at the very least. The girl is on her knees, her arms wrapping around herself protectively.

"I paid a lot of money for you," a man yanks her by the arm, pulling her from the floor.

"Please don't make me do this," she begs. "Please..."

The man is dragging her over to a bed. She's screaming and pleading. Ben turns his eyes away. He can't see this. He releases his hold on the lightsaber. Rey's knees buckle underneath her. He catches her in a low crouch before she hits the floor. The lightsaber slips from her fingers and clatters to the floor. A cold, whispering voice seems to resonate through the air, but Ben cannot seem to make out the words.

Ben looks down on her. There's this look of devastation in her eyes when she looks up at him. Her breath comes out in sharp gasps. He reaches out to her, expecting to feel anger. Yet, all he feels is this emptiness within her. It's as if there is a void in her heart that's sucking away her soul. Her hands dig into his chest, taking a fist full of his clothing between them. He steadies his arms as she shifts closer to him.

The shock of her visions seem to fade as grief seems to run though her. Rey shifts so that she can hide her face in his chest. It's clear why she is doing this. She's trying to hide her tears from him. There's a feeling of shame he can feel from her. She wants to hide how weak she feels.

"Rey…"

The sound of his voice seems to bring her back. Rey looks up at him with tear stained eyes. Her entire body is trembling in his arms. Her hands release their hold on him. She curls into him and sobs into his chest.

"I'm sorry," she whispers.

"You don't need to be sorry," he says.

"You've misjudged me," her voice is meek. "I'm not strong enough. I'm sorry..."

Exhaustion overcomes her and she slips away into a deep sleep. Ben looks down on her. Perhaps, it was too early to let her get close to a lightsaber. If he had known what kind of effect it would have on her, he would have waited until her mind became stronger. He sets her down gently onto the floor and retrieves the lightsaber. Ben tightens his grip upon the saber and focuses. He tries to wake the energy Rey seemed to have pulled from the lightsaber. Nothing.

Ben walks back to the table and places the lightsaber back into its box. He shuts the lid. His hand lingers on top of the box. Snoke cannot know about this. If he is aware of Rey's power, he may take her on as an apprentice himself. Snoke will corrupt the girl's mind and turn her into another one of his blind minions. That cannot occur. Her mind is still so fragile. If Snoke were to brainwash and make her another one of his blind followers, he would be unstoppable.

Ben looks to his mask. He takes it in his hands and places it over his head. Ben turns and walks back to Rey. He crotches to the floor and lifts her into his arms. He looks down onto her face. Her face might seem at peace, but her mind is still in chaos even as she sleeps. He places his hand on the side of her face and quiets the turmoil in her mind. He needs her well rested. Tomorrow he will begin her training and make her into what she is meant to be.