Author's Note: Sorry for a mighty delay in this new chapter, but I am hoping to get back into the swing of things. Also, I know that this is only short... but when inspiration struck I thought it best to act without delay. I hope you like it.
The Resistance Base did not have any ceremonial chambers within which to make announcements to its population. However, the dining hall was a large room, and at mealtimes most of the people would be gathered. So when the announcement came that the Base was to be abandoned, that The First Order had found them, this was where the news spread. Where a moment before there had been the chatter of voices and the clatter of cutlery, now there was only a cold silence. Their communal pause lasted only moments before everyone scrambled into action. For some, this was a new experience and they felt a real panic as they imagined enormous ships descending upon their position, their lives about to be extinguished any second. Others, many others had been through this routine before. Wearily, they accepted that almost everything that they had built there would have to be abandoned. They would only be able to take the bare minimum, they would be highly unlikely to return. Once a base had been abandoned it was either destroyed by The New Order or it was looted by scavengers. These were just temporary shelters, and were designed to be sealed upon exit. Once more, they were on the run.
Within a couple of hours, the passageways were silent, the detritus of existence discarded in the frantic pursuit of survival. Weapons, rations and people were now fleeing in all directions from the planet in every available ship. They would scatter across the galaxy and then regroup once a viable base was secured. The Skywalker siblings and Rey were amongst the last to pull up and away from the icey mountain. Rey glanced back through the rear view port and her thoughts returned to the majesty of that colossal waterfall. Luke, an ever silent presence, followed her gaze. Leia was murmuring to the pilot about the possibility of the New Order discovering any information accidently left behind on the base. They were obviously used to swift extractions such as this, and sometimes they were forced to destroy the base in order to cover their tracks. Yet, the extreme cold on the planet had caused certain logistical problems for a rigged detonation. So the base was to be left as it stood.
Without warning, in response to his sister's words, Luke suddenly raised his hand to the glass. Rey felt the Force flow through him with an intensity which she had not realised him capable of. He raised her hand to match his, and through his eyes she could once again see the waterfall. The heat from their hands combined and surged back towards the planet. The distance between their ship and the planet was increasing, but with the vision of the waterfall locked into their minds they remained focussed. Gradually, the ice began to melt, water trickled and then formed rivulets. The particles infused with the energy from the Force vibrated and with a huge torrent the waterfall burst into life. Thousands of gallons of water poured down the mountain side and gushed down their man-made passage ways. The momentum of the water was astounding, and for a moment Rey felt that she was part of it, she felt the vibrancy of the current as it swirled through the compartments and tunnels. Then just as abruptly as it had all begun, she realised that the water was slowing, the swift liquidity replaced with an ever increasing torpor. The water was slowing, cooling and refreezing. Inexorably, she withdrew and found herself once more standing on the ship. Luke was standing as he had before, yet now there was a fire in his eyes. For a second, he was open to her. She glimpsed the boy that wanted to be the best pilot in the galaxy and had thrown himself from one reckless adventure to another. He had been alone too, had known what it was to be trapped on a desert planet with no hope of escape. A young heart which had yearned for a chance to be part of something more. He met her gaze, and saw his younger self reflected in her eyes. For the first time since she had come back into his life, he felt a connection with the girl. He knew that his job was to be her mentor, yet reluctant to break this tentative connection he delayed in closing his mind, and gave her a somewhat sheepish grin. What they had done was amazing! Jedi's were not supposed to feel pride... yet for just a couple of moments the two stood side by side and basked in their accomplishment. The base was now completely sealed within a frozen tomb.