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Chapter 15:

Rey and Kylo had spent two full months on Florn totally alone except for when Luke decided to pop in to check on their progress. They survived off of protein bars from the shuttle and anything edible that wasn't poisonous that they could find on this part of the planet. They also did their best to stay away from the beings living on the planet.

It had taken them the whole first month to master running together without letting go of each other's hands or losing focus and causing the other to fall. As much as Rey said she trusted him, there were still doubts that she had and sections of her mind that she had closed off to him. Whereas there was only a tiny section of his mind that he kept Rey out of and she suspected it was where he kept his memories of his former lovers. She was glad that he kept her from seeing that. She didn't know what would happen if she accidently wandered into that part of his mind.

The second month of their training had consisted of one of them running through the jungle with their eyes covered and relying on the other to guide them using the Force. Once you got used to the feeling of the other person's body that task was relatively simple. Though Rey had accidently run Kylo into a couple of low hanging branches before she got the hang of his tall form.

The main thing that Rey had learned from their training was that the longer they held the bond open, the harder it was to close when it came time for their training to end at night. It was like cutting a hole in a wall and then trying to smear the rest of the wall over the hole to close it just to cut more of it away later. Rey wondered if there would come a day where she wouldn't be able to keep Kylo out of her mind at all and from all the time she'd spent in his head she knew he shared that same fear.

Through it all they were becoming closer, just as Luke wanted. There were moments when she felt Kylo's desire for her like a hand caressing her entire body before he got it under control and there were moments that she found herself longing to run her fingers through his raven tresses or brush her lips over the pale skin of his bare chest. Rey knew he could feel what she was feeling as well as hear her thoughts as though they were his own. And there certainly were moments that she felt putting their feelings for each other to the side was a bad idea.

None of that was comforting.

You are thinking very hard, Kylo's low tone broke her out of her thoughts. I'm sorry, did you say something, Rey asked blinking rapidly in his direction. Just asked if you wanted to go for one more run before we head back to the ship, he said, not looking at her.

Rey blushed bright red as she knew he'd picked up her earlier thoughts.

Sure. I know it's hot and icky here but I'm gonna miss it when we go back to the Vengeance, Rey said, mournfully. You could always run off toward the city. There might be rebel sympathizers here that can help you get back to your friends, Kylo said almost as if he were trying to give her a chance to escape. Our minds are connected enough that you would be able to find me no matter where I went on this planet and the same goes for you, she said, quietly.

He looked at her. Rey shrugged it was true. She could probably feel him across that galaxy if she tried. Besides if she left now she would just lead him straight to the Resistance.

So, does that mean you're staying with me, he asked, eyes dropping to the ground. I can't go…But I can't stay locked in a cell for the rest of my life or until you deem fit. I miss fresh air and natural light. I miss not being alone all the time. I miss my friends, Rey said avoiding looking directly at him.

He stood suddenly, and Rey thought he might be angry but when he looked down at her his eyes were sad. She realized that while she was lonely from missing her friends, this was the most social interaction that didn't lead to someone being maimed or killed. When she left he would be surrounded by people who weren't entirely loyal or friendly to him. He would be abandoned again.

Rey didn't know if the thoughts were hers or Kylo's and that was a little scary. Kylo held out his hand to her as he'd done so many times before and Rey took it as she had so many times in the last 8 weeks. She let Kylo pick the route they were going to take today.

Are you going to tell me where you disappear to, she asked changing the subject.

She ran full out using the Force to match her pace to Kylo's longer strides. Her eyes were closed, and she was seeing the world through Ben's eyes only. She trusted him to choose the right path, yet she knew he was managing to keep something from her. It must have taken tremendous effort, but he was doing it none the less.

It is just First Order business. I hadn't planned on staying here this long and things need me to run smoothly, he said glancing at Rey as they ducted under a branch and then jumped over a log. You let me see everything else, she said. You are hiding things from me also. If you want me to be completely open with you, then I expect the same.

Rey sighed.

If I told you where the Resistance was holed up, would you run off and capture them, Rey asked. Kylo hesitated before saying, If my officers knew, they would demand it. I don't want things to be like this forever, sharing a consciousness but still having to hide things from each other.

Rey was about to respond when something large hit the pair from the side. Rey ripped the blind fold off and got to her feet. One of Florn's Native species had finally gotten brave and came after the pair of Force Users. The Lamproid was holding Kylo's arms and legs while trying to bite him and sting him at the same time.

Venom dripped from its fangs and stinger landing on Kylo's bare shoulder but he moved enough that he'd managed to keep any from getting on his leg.

"Ben," Rey called out before she could stop herself and Kylo shot her a disdainful look around the body of the creature.

Rey reach out with the force and pulled the thing off of Kylo, though it's claws tried to hold on resulting in bloody slashes on Kylo's arms and legs. Kylo staggered to his feet and grabbed his lightsaber from his belt. He ignited it and stalked over to where Rey was holding the lamproid still with the Force.

"Who sent you, worm," Kylo demanded. The lamproid spit venom in Rey's direction before turning its strange face to Kylo to say, "You are food. No one sends me to get you. I hunt you."

Rey shuddered. The thing wanted to eat them. It was fighting Rey's hold for everything it was worth. Lifting inanimate objects was nothing like trying to keep a live struggling being held in place.

I wouldn't bring you to this planet just to have us get eaten by something that barely counts as sentient, Kylo said through their bond.

Rey looked into his eyes and could feel that this man, who was once her mortal enemy, would now give his life to protect her. Though Rey had already known that. He'd told her that keeping her safe was the only thing that mattered to him, but she hadn't really believed him. She guessed that spending two months inside his head had made it easier to trust him.

"I think I will eat the girl first, while you watch. See all my vemon has to do is touch that soft delicious skin before it starts infecting your body, slowing down motor functions and paralyzing the respiratory system," the thing hissed just as Kylo's vision went blurry.

Rey watched in horror as Kylo's hand on his lightsaber slipped for just a second before he tightened his grip just seconds before the vents on the side of his weapon could remove his fingers. Rey felt his panic as the vemon coursed through his veins. Rey had to do something.

Kylo, give me your blade, Rey called through their bond.

Rey could feel her own brain being affected too. They needed to kill this thing and get back to the shuttle. Kylo threw the blade to Rey who caught it and ignited it in one motion. Rey force pulled the disgusting creature toward her and bisected it, letting the two halves fall away from each other before running over to where Kylo dropped to his knees. He was fighting the toxin but it was very strong.

We won't make it back to the shuttle in time, he said hoarsely. Can you have someone come get us, Rey asked going to her knees next to him.

His skin was cool and clammy already. He was sweating and shivering too. Rey knew that even if she pulled completely out of his mind, she would never be able to carry or drag him all the way back to the shuttle through the dense dangerous jungle before more of those things showed up or Kylo died of the venom.

Kylo moved to press the button on his com-device and Rey let him but also tried to call on the Force to heal him. She laid her hand over his heart. He gave her wide eyes as she fell into a meditative state. It didn't take long for her to realize that her mind was too affected by the venom coursing through his body to heal Kylo properly. Rey held him close with his lightsaber still ignited in her hand ready to defend them should more Lamproids decide Rey and Kylo looked like food.

Rey stretched her feelings out making sure there was nothing nearby. By the time the force around them indicated that people were coming their way, Rey's nerves were shot and her hand that held the lightsaber began to shake. She was more relieved that she had ever been to see the 20 Stormtroopers that had been dispatched to recuse Kylo.

The two holding the stretcher hesitated when they saw Rey with the lightsaber clutched in her grip. Kylo opened his eyes enough to look up at Rey. With her free hand she smoothed some of his damp hair away from his face.

It's okay. They are here to help, he said weakly. The saber isn't for them. There are more of those creatures out there waiting for us, she said.

She frowned as another Stormtrooper came forward with a pair of shackles in his hands.

"My apprentice does not need to be shackled," Kylo said with his eyes still closed. "But, Supreme Leader, General Hux said that we were not allowed to bring her back on the Vengeance without shackles," the man stuttered.

Kylo sat up suddenly causing Rey to hastily yank back the lightsaber so that Kylo didn't cut his own head off.

"WHO IS SUPREME LEADER? ME OR HUX," he yelled but not with his usual authoritative menace. The Stormtrooper stuttered out a, "You are, sir." "Then put those kriffing shackles away and get us back to the Vengeance now," Kylo hissed. If any of them come near you with those shackles cut their hands off, Kylo ordered through their bond as he lay back against Rey.

The Stormtrooper did as Kylo asked and put the shackles away. Then he moved to help the 4 men who moved Kylo to the stretcher. He groaned as the men moved him and he reached out for Rey.

Rey took his right hand in her left so that she could keep his lightsaber in her dominant hand in case they were attacked on the way back to the shuttle. The Stormtroopers made a circle around Kylo and Rey as they moved back the way that the troopers had come.

Luckily the troopers had landed relatively close to where Rey and Kylo had been attacked by the lamproid. It only took them maybe 5 minutes to board the shuttle that they'd taken down from the Vengeance. It was only as they lifted off that Rey remembered that Kylo's shuttle was still in the jungles of Florn.

"Kylo's shuttle is still down there," Rey reported. "We retrieved it first, ma'am," the pilot of shuttle stated. "Oh, good," Rey said and then let herself slip into a meditative state so that she could check on Kylo.

He was fighting the venom that had turned the veins of his shoulder and arm completely black. Whatever he was doing, it was keeping the toxin contained to one area. Once they were back on the Vengeance the medical droids would be able save him without the risk of it not working.

Once the shuttle docked in the hanger, the Stormtroopers all but ran with the stretcher toward the Med bay and as Kylo hadn't let go of Rey's hand, she ran with them. Rey began feeding him her energy as she felt his heart begin to have trouble beating on its own and was more than relieved when the medical droids began to siphon the poison out of his system.

It was several hours later that Kylo opened his eyes and sat up. Rey was resting her head on the bed near him but was sitting on a tiny metal stool. Her eyes followed his movements as he checked out the spot where the venom had touched him. There wasn't so much as a scar.

You look a lot better now, Rey said in a small voice and sat up. I feel a lot better now. Are you unharmed, he asked. Yes, though Hux threatened to lock me in a real cell until you got better or…the opposite, Rey said with a grimace.

Kylo jumped to his feet and swayed as soon as he was up right. Rey moved to help him with a slight smirk. She knew he wanted to go throw Hux into a wall or something.

There's no need for that now. Phasma kept him away from me. Besides, the medical droid said that you need to rest. I can help you back to your room if you like, she suggested and Kylo nodded.

She stood up taller so that he could truly rest on her as they walked down the long and winding halls of the Vengeance. When they finally got to the right door, Kylo had to scan his palm and use the force to move the heavy tumbler that kept him safe at night. When the door opened Rey began moving toward the bed but Kylo shook his head and pointed to the desk. When they got there he sat heavily in his chair and began typing away on the strange looking holo-transmitter. Rey was shocked when a little blue version of Kaydel's face appeared.

"Rey! Rey is that really you," Kaydel yelled and Rey could hear commotion coming from just out of view.

Rey shot a surprised look at Kylo who had somehow managed to make his way over to the bed and was already soundly asleep. Rey looked back to that little device to see Finn and Poe almost pushing Kaydel out of the way to see. Rey laughed at the expression on their faces.

"Rey, are you okay," Finn asked. "Where are you," Poe asked. "We need to come and get you right now! So much has happened since you've been gone," Poe said. "Yes, I am fine. I don't need to be rescued. I'll come home when I am done with my training," Rey said. "Training," Leia asked, stepping into view.

Rey glanced at Kylo who looked more at peace than usual.

"Yes, Kylo and I have been training together for the last couple months. Luke suggested it," Rey said. "Really? Poe and Finn made it seem like you were kidnapped and that my son was probably torturing you for information," Leia said suspiciously. "He did kidnap me, I guess. We worked that all out. Now what's been happening since I've been gone," Rey asked.

Leia glanced somewhere behind her.

"There are new resistance members that I want you to meet," Leia said. "What? Since when? Who are they," Rey asked. "They showed up about a month ago. They call themselves the Last Hope," Leia said with a smile.

What do you guys think of Kylo training Rey in the old ways and allowing her to call home to her friends. Also who are these mysterious new resistance fighters calling themselves the Last Hope.

As always please review.