Chapter 18

Rey was shoved through the city, past homes and hospitals. The noonday sun was now falling lower in the sky, the days and nights were obviously quicker on this planet than most. Through swirling dust, she was brought all the way to the other end of town, just past the cantinas and brothels. Accompanied by six armed villagers, Rey marched up to a huge cluster of rusted mining buildings. Multiple smoke stacks reached up into the clear blue sky, emitting a light gray smoke into the clear atmosphere. The whirr of machinery and the grind of multiple swelters and drills could be heard above ground, even though the mine was hundreds of miles below their feet. It was a tunneling mine, intricate and old fashioned, the workers burrowed and dug ever deeper into the planet below. Overused mechanical relays moved and creaked in the bright sunlight as rough dirt was sifted and sorted into multiple huge bins above ground. This mine had been operational for over fifty years, and it looked like it was running low on new parts. Accompanying the grinding and squeaking machinery was the every present stink of burning motor oil.

Workers darted two and fro in their wake as Rey was pushed along by her captors. Although Rey never thought of herself as an intimidating person, these people gave her a wide birth. It was as if they were terrified of her.

"Tell Machene that we have a visitor!" The huge man behind her roared, "Tell him we have an Offworlder."

A young teenaged boy with dark freckles and black hair trotted up to them, "He's working on the Fifth Drill," he said, pointing to the east, "I'll show you."

Following the young lad, Rey and her captors walked around the east side of the mine. Past several mammoth sized crane crews and diggers, they finally made their way up to an enormous underground drill. It had been hauled above ground for maintenance, and it sat in the sunlight like a giant mechanical slug made of metal and piping. It was even larger than the falcon.

"Machene!" The apish man behind Rey hollered, "We've got a visitor!"

Rey squinted in the sunlight as she saw a man on the top of the huge drill glance over his shoulder at them. He wore a protective mask, and thread-bare clothes just like everyone else. The mask covered his whole head, made partially of cloth and old goggles. He stood, his broad shoulders and lengthy body outlined by the now setting sun. Turning, he climbed down the massive drill quickly, his gloved hands and booted feet knowing exactly where to step so that he wouldn't fall to his death.

She watched him jump down the last steps of a ladder and walk toward her slowly. There was something she recognized about him. Perhaps the way he held his shoulders? Perhaps it was the rhythm in the way he walked? But she recognized him instantly.

Rey took in a deep breath as he came to stand in front of her. She stared up at his masked face, a frown turning her lips downward. "Take off your mask and tell these people to put away their weapons, Solo," She grumbled, putting her hands on her hips, "I don't know what you people are playing at, but I'm not amused."

The man in front of her put his head to the side and let out a muffled sigh. Reaching up, he slid off the protective helmet, letting his dark hair fall around his shoulders. "You were never one for pleasantries," Ben said, his deep voice booming from his chest with ease. He glanced over Rey's shoulder, "Put your weapons away," he muttered, "She's no slaver."

Finally feeling the muzzle of the blaster remove itself from her shoulder blades, Rey let out a sigh. Turning, she saw her captors reluctantly holster their weapons. It was as if they were disappointed. After a moment, she returned her attention to Solo. "Slavers?" Rey squinted at him, "I thought this was a mining planet."

The left side of Ben's mouth twitched as he took his gloves off, "What are you doing here, Rey?"

"I came to talk," Rey answered, lowering her voice, "Privately."

Ben Solo wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his sleeve as he let out a long sigh. "Fine. How did you get here?"

"I took the Falcon," Rey answered, peering up at the man she'd known all these years. His raven hair blew across his face in the late evening breeze, and he gazed at her with the same dark eyes she remembered. His scar, which ran diagonally across his features, had now faded with time. His skin was no longer deathly pale, but a sun kissed hue of tan. In a way she knew him, yet she didn't know him. The man who stood before her now was only a shadow of the sinister Kylo Ren she had known all those years.

A howling whistle bellowed over the mine, signaling that the work day had ended. All around them, the aged machinery ground to a halt, while men sighed in relief.

Nodding, Ben motioned toward the setting sun behind them, "My day is over. Come with me, it's time to eat."

Rey's mouth dropped open a little as he motioned for her to walk with him. It was just so odd. To have fought against each other for so many years, to suddenly act so… friendly. "They call you Machene. What does it mean?" Rey asked, falling into step beside Ben as they walked back into the dusty city. It didn't seem as though he was reigning over these people, which was a relief. If he wanted, he could go to some small corner of the galaxy and rule it like a king. Ben Solo was a powerful man; so it was possible.

"It's the local native speak for Mechanic," Ben answered.

"They act like you're in charge," Rey replied, raising her eyebrow.

"Around here the best mechanic is the one who is in charge," he answered, nodding to a fellow worker as he passed. He paused, half turning in place, "Ranktoa, is the turning radius infractor still working?"

Ranktoa, a short man with curly red hair, stopped and smiled, "Just like you said. Working like a tick in the sun."

Ben turned away, "Good to hear," he said, continuing on in the path which led to the local cantina.

"The locals thought I was a slaver," Rey said, "What are they talking about?"

Ben glanced down at her as he continued walking. "Come on, I'll buy you some food too."

Rey saw that he was avoiding the subject. It was painfully obvious. However, she supposed that he deserved some time to gather his thoughts. She had literally dropped out of the sky today. So instead of pressing it further, she followed him. The small city around them were gathering for a festivity, with dancers and venders and musicians. It was a beautiful night, with three moons rising quickly above them. Silently, Rey followed Ben into the dim lighting of one of the local cantinas.

The cantina was small, with a native band playing a catchy tune in the corner. Many of the local mine workers had gathered here to drink to the end of the day and eat their evening meal. It was smoky, and it smelled like greasy meet and stale beer. Minutes later, she saw at a dimly lit booth across from Ben. Staring at him, she took in a deep breath and held it. There were so many memories they shared, and most of them were bad. Why had she truly come to find him in this remote place of the universe?

He stared back, and lifted his eyebrows, "This feels weird," he finally muttered.

Rey exhaled, letting out an awkward laugh, "I know. Me too."

Ben sat back, a half smile pulling at the left side of his lips, "All those years," he said quietly, gazing at her in the dimness of the cantina, "By the Force, you drove me insane."

Biting at her lip, Rey shrugged. "The feeling was mutual."

Ben rubbed his neck, then leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table between them, "I swear, every time I thought I had you, you'd slip away."

Rey stopped smiling, staring up at him, "What were they talking about slavers for?"

His smile fading away, Ben ground his teeth together for a moment. Finally he glanced down at his hands, "Who else knows you're here?"

"No one," Rey answered, "I'm here on personal matters." Perhaps he thought she was checking up on him. He probably thought she was going to bring him back to the Alliance. He was, after all, a huge security risk.

Ben remained silent.

"I'm not a bounty hunter," Rey finally muttered.

"No," Ben answered, "But you are the symbol of the Alliance."

Rey blinked.

"I've seen the halo-vids," he said, his gaze flickering up to meet hers.

"That doesn't matter."

He shrugged, "Fine."

"Answer the question," Rey demanded, leaning her elbows on the table as well, their faces now only inches apart. She felt his warm breath on her face. This was really close. It was an intimidation tactic, meaning to intimidate him. It was backfiring. Rey felt as her cheeks began to burn.

Ben looked at her, his features emotionless. Finally, he sighed, "You left me on Cressic. The first ship I could get work on to leave was a slaver's ship."

Rey frowned. Slavers. They were the slime of the galaxy in its deepest and darkest form.

"I didn't know they were slavers," Ben muttered, "To be truthful they were also gun runners."

Her frown didn't lift.

"They raided this planet for slaves," Ben glanced around at the happy cantina, "It would have been easy. They didn't have the proper defenses. From what I understand, the slavers came here regularly. "

Rey's mouth dropped open, "Well they're not defenseless now," she breathed, her mind putting the pieces together, "They have those new blasters because you mutinied, and gave the people the weapons."

Ben's eyes softened, and he looked at her differently than he ever had before. He was warm. A quiet warmth that she had never sensed from him before.

Rey glanced around, "You saved them," her gaze landed on Ben, "So this is what you do now?"

He looked at his hands again, "Don't play stupid with me," he muttered.

She was used to the hostility. In a way, it felt like old times. "Then what? What are you doing out here? Playing hero?"

His dark eyes met hers once more, "I do what I want," he answered, "It's as simple as that. But what I don't get is why you care."

"Who says I care?" Rey leaned back against the booth once more, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"Why else are you here?" He gazed at her.

Rey was quiet for a moment as she gathered her thoughts, "I came because I needed to talk to you."

Ben sat back once more, "So talk."

Rey swallowed hard. She had wished that this conversation had been somewhere else. Somewhere quieter. Shaking her head, she let out a sigh. "Fine," she muttered, "I want to know why you let me win."

He looked at her hard for a few seconds, and then he looked away with a scoff, "You won. I didn't let you win."

She felt the lie hit her like a slap in the face. He was lying. It was obvious. "What?" She gasped.

Ben Solo got up from the booth, and started walking toward the door. "I don't know what you came for, and I don't care. So just leave."

Her hands turning to fists, Rey got up from the table, "I have come half way across the galaxy," she called at him, "The least you can do is tell me the truth."

"That was the truth," he muttered, leaving through the open door of the cantina.

"Ben Solo!" Rey yelled, following him outside and into an instant festival. People were dancing, musicians played merrily, while children ran up and down the streets. It must have been a local holiday, but Rey wasn't feeling festive. She followed his broad shoulders into the crowd, determined to make him stop. "Come back here!" She called, "Ben!"

He glanced over his shoulder momentarily at her, his dark eyes losing their bitterness. However, in that moment, a young woman dancer came and grabbed his hands and dragged him to the dance floor. Among the merriment, she pulled him into the street with the rest of the dancers.

Rey stopped and stared, her mouth dropping open as he was drawn into the merry crowd. They sang and danced around him, and for the first time in her entire life, she saw him smile. Ben Solo smiled. It changed everything about him. His lips curved up into a friendly grin, while his eyes sparkled in the early night. That was what had drawn her back across the galaxy. That inner light was what brought her to him. And for the first time, she could see it in him when he smiled.

Minutes later, however, someone grabbed her hands as well. A young man dragged Rey onto the dance floor amid the rest of them. She had never really danced before, but she did her best. It was a country style dance, with the people exchanging partners with the beat of the music. She was lead through the dance easily, and as if the rest of the dancers knew it what she wanted, she found herself dancing with Ben.

He took her hands, and led her through the dance easily. It was as if he knew it by heart already. Considering that he had spent the past two years here, he had probably danced these dances before. He held her close and then swayed her wide, guiding her with his hands to the beat of the music. She was swept up by him, her mind making her feel dizzy in the moment. What was she doing? Who was she dancing with now, really? All those years of fighting. All those years of being afraid. It made her head spin.

The music pitched, and he held her up and into the air easily. Slowly, he let her down as the music faded away. But he didn't let her go. She felt his hands on her waist. He was strong. Perhaps even stronger than ever, now that his mind wasn't clouded as it was before.

Rey blinked. No. It would never work. What was she thinking? She pushed away gently, "Can we talk?"

He let her go easily, looking away and brushing his hair out of his face. "Fine. Whatever you want."

To Be continued!

Plz review! Thanks all who have reviewed you guys are amazing! Best reviewers ever! 3