Chapter 13

There was nothing more daunting than seeing the white and gray half Mon Calamari Class B, half Old Empire Star Destroyer appear as the Millennium Falcon slowed out of hyperspace. Rey inhaled, nerves trembling down her arms and legs as Koita Mathe's voice slithered into her thoughts, "Would the Resistance do their jobs if Ben is apprehended?"

"They're worried for you," Ben told her, looking from the hybrid ship to Rey. "Can't you feel it?"

"It is not myself I am worried for." She told him, taking the commlink and waiting for someone to talk to her.

Silence ensued and Ben turned to study her face as she waited, eyes pointed forward.

"Tell them I am your guest."

She looked at him. "What?"

He inhaled, his eyes soft. "Trust me," He said.

Peace washed over her, so much so that she reached out and took his hand as it reached for her. She knew, rather than thought or realized, that he had played the part of a skilled politician before. He knew what to do in this moment.

The commlink buzzed with static before Poe's voice barked, "Corellian freighter, this is the Rising Dawn. Is that you, Rey?"

Rey pushed the speaker button with her thumb, "Roger Rising Dawn, this is the captain of the Millennium Falcon. Good to hear from you, Poe."

Nothing. Rey grinned and shook her head. He was probably screaming across the ship in victory.

"How in the hell…? You know what? I don't care. Get your ass inside here, Finn's been worried sick and so have I."

Rey chuckled, "Copy that. Millennium Falcon moving to board the Rising Dawn." She caught sight of Ben and swallowed. "I'm bringing a guest with me."

"Bring them on board, the more the merrier."

Ben chuckled to himself, waiting until Rey put away the commlink before asking, "He really doesn't think before he speaks, does he?"

Rey smiled, "Not all the time."

SWSWSW

Finn bolted, full speed, around pilots and droids until he could see the bright orange of the rotund BB-8 waiting to take him to the main hangar.

"Beebee Ate! Is she okay?" Finn shouted, skidding to a halt as the droid moved to the side, possibly in fear of being tripped over.

BB-8 chirped excitedly, nodding his head. Without further gestures, he rolled forward at a quick pace, Finn on his heels. He rolled easily through the hangar doors and around a cluster of pilots who had also heard the news of Rey's arrival.

The Millennium Falcon, repaired to almost pristine condition, glided into the main hangar bay and shuddered to sleep, the landing lights flickering on and the cargo ramp lowering with a hiss of steam.

"Rey!" Finn couldn't help but shout, stepping around gathering pilots and commanding officers. "Is she there?" He asked Poe, "Can you see her?"

"Relax, buddy." Poe smiled, his face a picture of disbelief. Finn turned to him at the mere suggestion that he shouldn't be overjoyed at the prospect of Rey surviving. Poe, still staring at the Falcon, smiled, "The danger's over for her. She's…" He trailed off, his face freezing with disbelief.

Finn whirled around, seeing Rey, Rey! move slowly down the gangplank in perfect condition, still wearing the clothes she had worn for the funeral. His smile spread across his face so much that he thought he was going to taste his ears, and his heart! Oh, his heart ached with sheer joy and love for this incredible woman who always seemed to land on her feet.

Until he saw the figure that moved behind her, holding her hand.

Black clad, silver lightsaber attached to his belt, hair perfectly combed, and scarred eyes sweeping one end of the hangar to the other, hand forming a death grip on Rey's, walked Kylo Ren.

Rey nodded to Poe, then turned back to the man who followed her, waiting.

Kylo looked quickly to her, and swallowed, lifting his eyes to Poe and straightening himself. He released his grip on Rey and lifted two fingers pressed together: a sign of surrender.

"I surrender to the custody of the Resistance."

As one, the eyes of the Resistance turned to look at Poe. He stared, dumbstruck, at the man who had tortured him years ago, the one who had haunted General Organa in more ways than one. His eyes flicked to Rey and parted his lips.

She nodded to him. "It's true," She said. "He's not safe within the First Order anymore, none of the Knights of Ren are. And Kylo is enemy number one."

Poe looked from her to Kylo, then back again. He nodded, "Take him to the brig. Lock him in his own cell."

Finn watched as Rey whirled back to Kylo, her eyes wide as he dropped his hand to his side and began to walk down the ramp.

"Ben?" She whimpered, reaching out for him.

He ignored her, and instead unfastened his lightsaber and handed it to her. "Don't worry," He told her. "The Force is with you."

From behind him, Finn heard a low roar rumble through the hangar. He looked up and saw Chewbacca step forward with a pair of manacles. Oh, this is going to be good, Finn thought, a smirk touching his lips.

Kylo took one look at the Wookiee and flinched backwards away from him a step. Chewbacca wailed, clicking a button and snapping the manacles open. He moved to grab the dark figure, but Rey stepped between them, arms spread wide and stared down the giant Wookiee. She lifted a finger.

"Don't hurt him," She growled. "I'm warning you, Chewie. He's my guest."

"What?" Finn gasped, shifting his weight. Was this the same Rey that fought him on Star Killer Base? The same Rey that had watched him skewer his own father?

Chewbacca growled at her, trying to step around her, but her hand flew open and the eight foot tall Wookiee was pushed back several paces, much to his surprise.

"I mean it," Rey growled. "Not a scratch on him."

Chewbacca looked taken aback, if that was possible for his hairy face to portray. Kylo stepped close to Rey, and whispered to her, speaking only one word lost to Finn, possibly her name. She dropped her hand and stepped back, setting her jaw like that one motion was the only thing that was keeping her together.

Kylo outstretched his hands toward Chewbacca, watching his face the entire time. With a grunt, Chewbacca fitted the manacles onto his wrists and clicked them shut. Finn exhaled, feeling a miniscule flutter of relief to hear that sound echo in the pindrop-quiet hangar. Kylo walked, escorted by Chewbacca, with his head held high and eyes pointed forward. Everyone watched them go, all except for Finn who turned immediately to Rey as she melted to come towards him and Poe.

"Finn," She sighed, her features rearranging to relief.

"Rey!" Finn cried, catching her in a warm hug. He smelled her hair, it had been washed with good quality soap, but it was her. His girl come home again. "Rey," He faced her, "What happened? How did you get Kylo Ren? Kylo?"

"There's a lot to explain," She told him, shooting a glance over his shoulder. "He's been good to me, Finn. He kept me safe, helped me to get away from the First Order."

"Rey," Poe's voice interjected, making the both of them turn. "Welcome back."

"It's good to be back," She smiled, dropping her hands from around Finn's neck to hug Poe for a quick squeeze.

Finn wanted to pull her back into his arms, but a different sight caught his eye: three councilmen and two senators. That wasn't a good sign.

"I'll take Rey back to her quarters," He said quickly, reaching for her forearm.

"Before you do, Captain," Councilwoman Tria told him, stepping around Poe, "We would very much like to hear Captain Rey's apprehension of the prisoner."

"Prisoner?" Rey asked, eyes flicking to each person gathering around Poe.

Poe inhaled deeply, and cocked his eyebrow at Rey. "Why don't we go somewhere you could tell us about how you met your… guest? Finn, you can come along."

SWSWSW

Ren had been in his cell for about an hour before Poe had ordered him to the interrogation room. Rey's testimony of what had happened to her was not complete and Poe -and more dangerously, the Council- knew it; she was hiding something. He despised thinking that perhaps she and Ren had somehow become affectionate, even lovers. How could it be possible to move from mortal enemies to, well, whatever it was that they were in such a short time?

Poe waited outside the door to the interrogation room, waiting for a petty officer to bring him a tray of tea. He really didn't want to go inside, but he knew that if he didn't, Rey would find a way to contact Ren and that was going to be the final nail in her coffin. The petty officer came, the smells of lyphon tea wafting to him.

Lyphon tea was a poor man's drink, made with common leaves and few of the orange and white flowers of the lyphon plant that gave it it's name, but it was nothing spectacular. It was a gesture of goodwill, poured into a clear glass teapot with black glass cups. Poe inhaled and elbowed the button on the door, shooting it to the ceiling and allowing him to enter.

Ren sat with his hands clasped over his stomach, leaning back on his chair when Poe walked in. Seeing him sit there, cool and confident, Poe had a sudden urge to throw the tea in his face. He swallowed that urge, however and set the tray down on the table in front of him and poured him a cup, Ren's eyes upon him the entire time. He slid a black cup of the purple liquid to Ren, noting that his manacles had been removed and had not left any marks as Rey had threatened.

Ren accepted his cup with a small sip.

Poe began, "So, the going rate for enemies of the First Order is ten million credits."

Ren placed his cup back on the table, "How much for two?"

Poe chuckled, "All the credits in the world would be enough to give you up, Ren. Not after the interrogation you gave to me and many of my fighters."

Ren shrugged, indifferent. "Waste of an opportunity, if you ask me."

"Yeah, well I'm not asking." Poe snapped. "What happens, Ren? We kill you, have a little fun in the doing of it, give your body to the First Order, get paid. Then what? War keeps going, no one wins."

"Like I said," Ren grunted, "Wasted opportunity."

"But if I trust you, I'm putting the survival of an already fragile resistance in your hands."

"Do you know the difference between the First Order and the Resistance?" Ren asked, lifting an eyebrow slightly, "The First Order's people can eat 'hope.'" He cocked his head softly in thought and added, "And trade it, and make it. Whereas the Resistance trades and makes words with 'hope.'" He focused on Poe, "Words are fleeting, they die with people. My mother knew that, that's why she tried so hard to gain ground when all she had was words."

Poe leaned back and sauntered to his designated chair. He moved it to sit close to Ren and plopped himself down, half leaning onto the table. "I'm listening."

"Do you know why people fear mosquitoes more than they do rafthars or lions?" Ren asked, his voice dangerously calm. "It's because mosquitoes attack when you're not expecting it. In places you didn't know were exposed until you find yourself scratching a place you didn't know was there, even though it's your body. With lions, its something big, you can feel the fear growing in you before the animal even bares its teeth. Mosquitoes, you're afraid before you even feel it."

Poe blinked. "If you're trying to say something, Ren, now's the time to do it."

"I'm saying for a Rebellion, you don't do much rebelling."

Poe leaned away. What exactly did he think they were doing for the last ten years?

"You've been playing war games," Ren answered, taking his teacup. "My mother liked to hit people head on rather than go through channels. It worked," He raised an eyebrow and sipped as if in congratulations, "For a time. That time has passed away, much like a majority of your fleet."

"The First Order's gotten too big, you mean?"

Ren set his cup down on the table. "Exactly."

"How big?" Poe asked.

Ren's eyes glittered, reminding Poe of a teacher who was proud of his student for finally getting to the point. "The Supremacy," He said.

"Snoke's ship?" Ren nodded. "Where'd you guys get that thing?"

Ren hesitated, then answered. "I don't know." Poe could feel he was telling the truth. "Absolute disclosure wasn't Snoke's strong suit."

It hit Poe like a colliding ship. He leaned away, then breathed, "The Vulture. The encrypted plans. You were trying to figure out what Snoke was doing."

"I succeeded," Ren corrected. "I just don't know what they are… yet."

"'Yet?'" Poe asked, raising his eyebrows.

Ren lifted his right arm and pulled at the sleeve, forcing the tight cuff over his forearm to reveal muscular flesh, interrupted by small mounded veins, and a single, almost tattoo like black strip running across the underside of the forearm. Poe leaned forward, squinting as he observed thin gold lines crossing over it like the thing was alive.

"What is that?" Poe asked, looking up at him.

"My bargaining… chip."

SW

Rey sat, exhausted from her meeting with the council, with her hands placed on her stomach, feeling the Force as it told her about her friends. Finn was ecstatic about her survival and kept jabbering about everything that happened when she was gone. To appease him, she told him and the council of superiors the bare minimum of what she had encountered on the Nest. How many Knights of Ren called Ben their brother, their dinner, their way of seeking out the weakest among them, then Ben using his influence as their leader to get the Millennium Falcon fixed, and then came home. She knew, just like she knew breathing, that she could not tell them about her intimacy with Ben or that she had been worshipped as a sort of Dark Empress. They would think her to be compromised, a spy even. Kaydel Connix would relish the opportunity to point a finger and scream spy.

Rose worried Rey the most. The usually quiet engineer was downright silent and her feelings towards Rey were harsh. While Finn was talking, Rey sent out a gentle finger of the Force to softly rifle through her thoughts. She was remembering her sister, Paige. She did it often, but this time the memory was cold, angered. She was upset at Ben for killing Paige though he had nothing to do with her passing, and with Rey for bringing him to their home, alive.

Rey turned back to Finn in time to hear his question: "How could you bear to be with Ren that whole time?"

She had to fight against the wildfire in her stomach to answer correctly, "He-ugh… we had many similarities. He was rather charming after a while."

Rose turned to frown at her the same moment Poe walked in, bringing them to their feet.

"As you were, guys," He commanded. His hair was greatly mussed, and his feelings mixed with frustration and intimidation. He waited for them to resume their seats before beginning. "So, I had an in-depth conversation with our uninvited guest."

Rey shot the Force to the brig, feeling to ensure that Ben was unscathed. He was.

"What's he offering?" Finn asked, his back rigid.

SW

Ren looked down at his arm, "It is a data server of whatever I want. Including a universal decryption code."

"It's in your skin," Poe told him, looking wide eyed from the device, to Ren, and back again.

"I knew Hux was planning a coup from the moment he objected to my becoming Supreme Leader, I couldn't very well leave it on my nightstand."

SW

"I didn't notice anything on his arm," Rey told him, frowning and thinking back to when he presented his shirtless body to her. There had been something on his arm, she had glimpsed it for a moment when he was fighting Koita Mathe, but he moved so fast and no one seemed to make special mention of it, so it was quickly forgotten in favor of the unspoken duel they all played.

"It wasn't common knowledge, and he was careful with showing it." Poe told her. "According to him, a droid installed it and Ren wiped it's hard drive by sticking his lightsaber in it's head. A simple surgery is being prepared to remove it."

A chill ran down Rey's spine at the thought of a surgery.

"What are his terms?" Finn asked.

Poe shifted his weight. "Rey," He answered, looking at her.

All eyes in the room turned to her; Finn's in horror, Rose's in disappointment. Rey however, was torn between smiling with absolute flattery and a need to stay humble. She nodded in small acknowledgement instead.

"What do you mean Rey?" Finn demanded. Rey couldn't stop the smile at the feeling of protection he exuded.

"He wants to train her to become a proper Jedi." Poe answered.

SW

"You expect me to hand over my best fighter? Again?" Poe demanded.

"Rey's skills are impressive, but on the grand scheme they're mediocre at best." Ren leaned back in his chair, "She could be just like me or better with proper training."

Poe stopped his pacing and faced him, "You turned away from the Light, you want Rey to do the same?"

Ren cocked his eyebrow, "If that's how she feels, you can't stop her."

Poe shook his head. "Nah-uh. Rey's not going." He declared, then added, "Alone."

SW

"What?!" Finn, Rose, and Rey screeched.

"Finn's going to Jedi training with Rey," Poe half smiled, "Along with someone else."

SW

"Does that traitor even know what the Force is?" Ren demanded, jumping from his chair to begin pacing.

"He sure does," Poe lied, grinning and watching Ren move, pleased that he had thrown Ren off balance. "And I'm one hundred percent certain that he'll keep Rey from joining the Dark Side."

Ren exhaled what sounded like a growl before stopping and facing Poe. "Then I want one more student."

SW

"Me?" Rose squeaked, eyes wide around. "Why me? What did I ever do to you?"

SW

"She is strong with the Force," Ren explained, gripping the back of his seat. "If I'm stuck with my equal and a rock, I may as well have a real student."

"How do you know she's strong in the Force?"

"She exudes it when I'm around," Ren explained, "She'll be a formidable match when she's trained properly."

SW

"Where are we going to train?" Rey asked, butterflies tickling her at the thought that now -at long last- she was going to have a proper teacher.

"You said Ach-To was designed to produce Jedis, right?" Poe asked. Rey nodded. "We'll leave you there, have the Falcon do a fly over once a week to check up on you guys."

"And the Resistance can spare us?" Finn asked, gesturing left and right to Rose and Rey.

Poe inhaled, his feelings grave.

Rey hardened her jaw, "It can. Why?"

Poe turned to her, his features soft. "You are still in trouble for inviting the First Order to Leia's funeral."

"But I brought in Kylo Ren," She defended.

Poe hesitated, "Rey, that's the reason you're not in the brig right now facing charges of collusion without consent."

"What?" Rey shouted, sitting up in her chair. "Is that what you and the council discussed as soon as I left?"

"Rey, calm down," Poe told her. "You broke the rules, you pay the price just like any pilot would."

An echoing silence ripped through the room. Rey leaned slowly away, lips parted, feeling as though she been slapped. Rey was more than a mere pilot, she was a walking legend, the closest thing to a Jedi, and everyone in the Resistance knew it. A small part of her memory stabbed at her deflated ego, reminding her of Master Skywalker's cynical speech on legends. She closed her mouth, no one had ever challenged her legend before. No one had ever dared.

Immediately, Poe backpedaled, "This is your shot to prove to everyone that you're more than just a pilot. You're a key member of the Resistance and anyone who thinks you're not can rot in hell."

SW

"Say I don't do this?" Poe asked, watching Ren retake his seat. "Say I take that chip and hand you over to the First Order, then what?"

Ren looked at him, a king in his castle. "The Knights of Ren."

The words struck Poe like a blaster to the chest. "Your personal hit squad?"

Ren nodded. "I call them, they come get me, we take on the First Order, then kill you. Or, I don't follow that order."

"How can you call anyone when you're a prisoner?" Poe asked, rising slightly. "You do what we let you here, not the other way around. You may have Rey on your side, but she's easy to take care of. You're a prisoner of the Resistance, Ren."

Ren stared at him, his lips perfectly sealed. Poe had barely registered that Ren flexed his hand when his throat tightened, and it became harder to breathe. He tried to clear his throat, but the vice tightened harder, like a snake taking advantage of every squirm of a writhing prey. Ren lifted his hand, his fingers curling slowly into a fist, eyes unwavering.

"Am I a prisoner here, Commander Dameron?" He whispered, watching Poe drop to his knees. "Really?"

Poe sputtered, his innards yearning to vomit but unable to find escape through the tightening. Suddenly, the vice dropped and his head hit the ground, his lungs jumping wide to take in breath and his innards sloshed about trying to settle. He looked up at Ren, panting, watching the man's hand settle back down over his stomach.

"You don't have two people who happened to be strong in the Force," Ren told him, his eyes beginning to glitter, "You have the two people strong in the Force. Here on this ship." He looked around, noting the cracks in the interior, the slap-stick repair work of two ships hybrided together. His eyes rolled back to Poe, on his knees before him. "If you hurt me, you risk upsetting Rey. What would she do if motivated? Hmm? You've seen her anger…" He narrowed his look, that familiar intrusion onto Poe's brain thrusting him back onto his bottom on the cold floor. "Ah, yes. She's frightened you, before. Especially with a broken lightsaber searing her hand. The way she dismantled that Storm Trooper in the forest. Not giving him quarter, not even flinching when she took off his head."

His look darkened, and Poe remembered with stunning detail the man who interrogated him without ever laying a finger on him.

"Can you imagine what I'm like, if Rey is hurt? Physically or emotionally?"

Poe slammed his hand onto the table, clinking the glass tea set, and hoisted himself up, fuming with every puff of precious air.

"I can call the Knights of Ren whenever I please, and so can Rey. She called to me to inform me of the funeral, she can call to the Knights for help if need be."

"Would she?" Poe spat, wrenching himself to a proper standing position. "Would she stand by and watch us die for you?"

"Want to bet?" Ren asked, a half smile coming forth. "I bet…" He looked to the roof in contemplation, "How much is this ship worth? Ten thousand credits? How much for that little droid that caused me so much annoyance during our first meeting? I'll add another two hundred for him. That's only if I'm wrong. What's the cost if I'm right, Commander?" His smile faded, "Can you pay it?"

He reached for his cup of tea when Poe shoved the tray and cup off the table, the shattering glass staining the ground as well as the silence.

"I want you off my ship," Poe hissed.

Ren leaned forward, glaring into Poe's eyes. "I'm here because of Rey. I go where she goes. If she's not next to me when you arrive at the next port, I'm not leaving."

SWSWSW

Rey made her way to the medical wing, feeling the Force jitter around her. Ben was fine, though she could feel he was in pain.

"Rey, wait up!" Finn called, his footsteps clattering behind her.

She found it easy to ignore him, though the act of doing it weighed heavily on her and she slowed her pace until even Rose walked past her, her feelings still heavily confused and terrified.

"Jedi?" Finn asked, his voice laden with bewilderment and awe.

"I know!" Rey squealed, genuinely excited. "Finally, someone is willing to teach me in the ways of the Force. And you, too!"

"You learned about the Force from Luke," Finn reminded her.

"Yeah, but there's loads more to learn," Rey told him. "Not just lifting rocks and fighting for the greater good. There's more, I know it."

Rose had stopped before the observation window of the medical wing, staring inside. Rey and Finn joined her, Rey's heart skipping a beat when she looked in. Ben was seated on a gurney, his forearm inside a white, half-surgical unit, his tunic half hanging on his free arm to reveal a black tank top over bulging muscles. The moment Rey stepped into the window, Ben turned to look at them, his three students all peering wide-eyed at their master.

"Let me in," Rey breathed, reaching for the door handle.

The door opened easily enough, though Rey still felt the need to push it open and rush in, her heart thundering in sheer excitement as Ben reached out his free hand to take her waist and pull her close, his forehead settling neatly in the hollow of her throat. Rey clutched his head at the temples, and pressed her lips into his hair.

"Are you alright?" She asked, pressing her cheek into his hair.

He gave a short grunt of discomfort before answering, "I'll live."

Rey leaned away, still allowing him to hold her. "Did they give you a sedative?"

"They kindly informed me it was on that tray over there," He gestured to a tray of vials across the small room, then turned back to her, "Then they left me alone. It's nothing, though. The procedure is almost over."

That didn't stop Rey from crossing the floor to find a dose and brought it back to him, cracking the small plastic open with her hands and holding it to his lips to drink. He swallowed it, his eyes closing as the relief swept over him. Rey smiled as she tossed the empty vial into the waste chute, her body warming comfortably at the feel of him happy to see her. His eyes opened, amber flecked with gold shimmering before her, churning within her an overwhelming desire to lean in and stare into those eyes while their lips touched.

He twitched his face towards the door, his eyes hardening almost as quickly. Rey turned as he discreetly lowered his arm, prompting her to take a step back to admit her friends into the room.

"Finn, Rose," She breathed, "I want you to meet our master," Their eyes met again, only this time he was uncertain of her next words. "Master Kylo Ren."

She hated that name. That forced, abused title that ravaged anything good about the man it labelled, but she swallowed her hate. So help her she would know him as Ben Solo and no one else, but it was up to him to show that side to his students. He smirked at her, his special smirk, in gratitude.

At once, Ben turned to Finn and Rose, watching them come into the room, Finn striding in chest puffed to exude confidence, Rose flat scared.

"Padawans," Ben began, taking in the sight of them from head to toe. "It was not my desire to teach you, but, well, shit happens." He rolled his eyes and sighed, "I won't be an easy master. It is desirable to teach children and not adults as children have not developed bad habits long enough to be permanent. As such, I haven't taught apprentices, only peers who had a detailed introduction from Master Luke Skywalker."

Finn's puffed chest impression began to falter and Rose's already pale face went paler.

"I'll help you," Rey assured them, speaking more to Finn and Rose than Ben. "I have the Jedi texts."

The medicine must have taken full effect for Ben to have swerved away from Rey that fast and that far. He gaped at her, eyes wide. "You what?"

She nodded and shrugged, "Yeah. Master Luke wasn't going to teach me anything because of how powerful I was, so I took the texts. He wasn't using them."

Ben stared at her, eyes wide, hardly blinking. "No one, ever, touched the sacred texts."

"Why not? They're interesting if a bit tedious."

"You read them?!"

"Yeah. Well… not all of them. Some of the chapters are very intense and way beyond my level of understanding. Why?"

Ben gaped at her, the half surgical unit beeping until it released his hand and brought him out of his stupor. He rubbed his forearm, "I'm going to need to see those texts."

"No problem, they're on the Falcon."

Ben's eyes looked ready to burst from their sockets, "They're on the Falcon?!"

"Do you guys need a minute?" Rose asked, leaning back towards the door.

"No," Rey and Ben said in unison, still looking at each other.

"Is this going to be a thing the entire time?" Finn asked, lifting a hand and gesturing between the two of them.

"Yes," Rey and Ben answered in unison.

Rey turned to them, her eyes locked on Ben as he massaged his newly fixed arm, "Ben and I are balanced in the Force. What he can do, I can easily catch up on and vice versa."

"But I'm your Master," Ben told her, running his thumb over the clean line of replenished flesh on his forearm. "Whatever those books may have taught you, I will show you how to apply it. My way." He looked at her, then added, "Is that clear?"

Rey hesitated. She had wanted a teacher, and these were the stakes. She nodded, "Yes, Master Ren."

"Good," Ben declared, rising slowly and shouldering his tunic. "One down, two to go."

"What is that?" Finn demanded, ignoring Ben and looking at the medical droid as it cleaned off a small, black device.

"It needs the encrypted files." Ben told them. "It's useless without them."

BB-8 rolled squawked loudly, followed by Poe. "All done and dusted, I hear?" He asked, looking to Ben and Rey.

"Chip's yours," Ben told him, rising. "Given that I have your word on the matter."

"You have my word," Poe told him instantly, a timbre of doubt ringing in Rey's ears.

Ben inhaled, hearing the same tone. "Show me the files."

A computer was brought forth, the encrypted files opened, and Ben watched as the decryption device was inserted. BB-8 chirped at him, It needs a passcode.

Ben reached over and turned the computer, tapping a dizzying array of no less than twenty two keys that turned the hovering red screen green, then almost clear save for thin, black lines scattered over the screen.

"What happened?" Poe asked, frowning and eyes scanning the screen.

"It's working," A small voice answered. Rey turned and saw Rose, immersed in one of her intelligent trances, move slowly towards the computer. "It's decrypting the plans."

Poe looked from the screen to her. "Why is it so slow?"

Rose's mouth opened, her breathing sputtering as her eyes twitched over the screen. She huffed, her eyes widening, "It's a ship." She lifted her finger and dragged it from the bottom of the screen to the top, showing him more of the small lines steadily crawling in indistinguishable stokes. "It's… many ships. Big ships."

"Why is it so slow?" Poe asked again.

"They're detailed," Rose whispered, her voice chock full of awe. "They're unbelievably detailed."

"They will be," Ben answered, leaning back on the gurney.

"In about, how long?"

Ben shrugged, "About a month? Two months?"

"Two months?" Poe exclaimed. "We don't have that kind of time!"

"Yes, you do," Rose breathed, still staring. "These are blueprints." She turned to Ben, "These ships, are they commissioned the moment they're ready to fly or be used?"

Ben lifted his head, his features light. "Used."

"What's the difference?" Poe demanded, looking from one to the other.

"She's right," Finn breathed, his face melting to awe as well. "Each ship, a useable ship, is complete with everything a crew needs to make a single voyage. A ship this big-"

"Will need gardens and paddocks for food," Rose interrupted, her excitement growing. "Full armories, not to mention the fuel needed to fly the thing and barracks for crew and soldiers!" She trailed off, astounded. "You have, plenty, of time before this ship is done decrypting."

"How. Long?" Poe asked, looking from one of the three faces to Rey who stood equally clueless.

"It takes roughly five years for a finished ship to be commissioned as useable." All eyes fell to Ben as he spoke. "Five years of a small, dedicated crew to keep the gardens and livestock in production, standard maintenance, testing of the weaponry, et cetra. Once it receives it's commission, it's filled to standard capacity and given flying orders. You have four hundred ships currently in production at your grasp and you want it to be finished instantly?" Ben tutted and shook his head, "Unwise to say the very least."

Poe nodded slowly, "We could take these ships. Repurpose them, give them as gifts for Resistance allies."

"Your rebellion can survive," Ben corrected. "But only if you take the time to rebel."

He trailed off the same moment the hairs on Rey's neck stood on end.

"What?" Finn asked, flinching forward at their change. "What is it? Should we be feeling it, too?"

Ben turned to Rey, his face calm whilst hers rose with danger. "You feel that?" She asked, turning to him.

He nodded solemnly. "Hux," He breathed.

"They found us," Rey worried.

In an instant, Poe, BB-8, Finn, and Rose bolted from the medical bay down the corridor. Rey moved to join them, her mind focused on jumping into an X-Wing to defend them, but a firm grip seized her forearm and held her back. She whirled back, seeing Ben drawing himself close to her, his entire body exuding calm.

"No," He told her, "You have been destined for a better purpose than flying." He slid his hand down her forearm to her hand and squeezed it. "Take me to the bridge and I'll show you."

A fog descended over Rey, one that muddied everyone but Ben and herself. She gasped, and his face lightened, he felt it too. As one, they moved. The ship shivered around them, but they didn't waver. Chaos shot around them, pilots shouting their dismay as they prepared to mount an assault on these new invaders, astromechs moving to and fro in mountains of anxiety, and in the command bridge, a determined fury overwhelmed the officers and Poe as they scrambled to make sense of this new threat.

Rey turned her head to Ben as he leaned into her ear. "This is your family?" He breathed, moving his hands to cup her shoulders.

She nodded, "The only family I've ever known."

They felt a flicker around the fog, someone had identified them but there was too much going on to do anything about it. In the bay windows, among the swirling nebulae and stars, TIE fighter jets emitted like smoke from a solitary, massive, star destroyer.

Ben looked from the fury to Rey, the fog dissipating only slightly as his mind worked. "Defend your family, Rey." He breathed, looking to her. "Show them the lengths of the Force they take for granted. Show your family what they are to become."

Finn's voice echoed in her ears, a loud, senseless echo that barked orders filled with concern and fear. Rey knew what Ben was asking her to do, like he was asking her to put on her shoes, even though she had never used the Force to this magnitude before. She inhaled, and stepped away from him, remembering the children gathered around the fighting arena on the Nest. They starved for the chance to see what they would become, clamored around each other in case they would miss a better shot, a better use of the Force.

Rey halted an arm's distance away from the observation glass, ignoring the calling of her name behind her. Slowly, she closed her eyes and stretched out her hand. Though the fog remained, the Force was in sharp focus around her like a needle freshly minted. She felt a TIE fighter gather it's courage to mount an assault on the command bridge, could hear the settings switch to torpedoes. Such a small thing, she thought. It felt like an egg upon her palm, one daring to be crushed. She bent the tips of her fingers, feeling the Force bend to her will that the alarms in the TIE fighter erupted in her ears, and the panic of the pilot elevated her heartbeat.

She clenched her fist suddenly, the tightness of her nails against her flesh causing her eyes to fly open in time to see a pile of scrap heap fly at them and disintegrate in a fiery fury when it slammed into the shields. She reached out her other hand and caught another ball of jet and crushed it, too. The knowing satisfaction that she was defending her family washing over the fog, brought to her focus Ben as well as the officers that stopped their task to see her reach out and crush TIE after TIE.

SWSWSW

Ben moved towards Poe, eyes still fixed on Rey. "Have your officers prepare a jump to lightspeed," He commanded, "She won't be able to keep this up when the Finalizer arrives."

Poe whirled on him, "'When?'"

Ben dared to look at him, and nodded gravely. "Hux has been notified of your location. Trust me, he's coming."

Poe looked from him to Rey, then back again. "You ever know anyone who can do that?" He gestured to Rey.

Ben nodded slowly, "Snoke. I never tried it, I knew the consequences."

"Should she be doing this?" Poe demanded, flinching as a TIE obliterated before their ship with an earsplitting BANG!

Ben watched, feeling the Force swirl like a hurricane around Rey. She moved, one hand reaching out for a TIE, another tracing her next victim with an absent hand, her footwork perfect for a swordswoman or a mother washing laundry. She was absolutely perfect in that moment.

"No," Ben breathed, licking his lips as he watched her. "No one should. That's why it's so interesting. Very few have ever had the strength to attempt it before."

SWSWSW

Rey continued crushing, ignoring those behind her in favor of those that zoomed beyond the windows. What started out as twenty or so jets was now eight and dwindling. She couldn't stop, knowing that they could come back and murder her family. She grabbed the last jet, feeling it struggle against her in sheer panic, and squeezed her hand closed, smiling. She inhaled, feeling the balance of peace wash over her, but it was muted. The star destroyer remained, and within it were battalions of Storm Troopers and it's own cannons. It, too, needed to be eliminated to keep her family safe.

"Rey, that's enough," Ben's voice cooed behind her. He had moved closer to her, concerned.

"They'll hurt my family," She murmured, feeling the dimensions of the star destroyer. "They'll hurt them."

"The effort will hurt you," Ben pressed, coming closer.

"I don't care," She murmured back, lifting her hands out. "For my family, I would die."

She seized the bow of the Star Destroyer with one hand, the stern with another, her fingers tightening. At once, her nose began bleeding and her body twitched, but she held on. A growl ripped from her chest as slowly she pulled her hands apart from each other. The Star Destroyer shivered, pieces of paneling shooting off it to flutter into space.

"Rey," Ben's voice was in her ear now, his hand touching her hip. "Rey, let go."

She screamed, pain wracking her body as she flung her arms apart, splitting the Star Destroyer in half, shards of its hull splintering off like water droplets. Spots dotted her vision as she released the Force, and the world shifted, Ben's arms quick to catch her and lean her back. Voices spoke around her… Poe's voice, commanding "Scramble the jets to rescue any survivors."

Ben's face came into focus, his eyes darting about his head until they settled into the right spot. "Did that feel good?" His calm voice filled with jest.

"No," She breathed.

"And that, my young apprentice, is why the Jedi use jets instead of the Force to take down Star Destroyers."

Rey looked at him, her chest heaving so much that her words came slowly, "I… needed to defend…"

"I know," He said softly. "Now you know, don't do that again."

She inhaled, and blinked slowly. "I can't… move my legs."

"Can you move your arms?" Rey nodded, lifting her arms so feebly she might as well have been underwater. "Wrap them around my neck. Come on, you can do it."

SWSWSW

Finn stood beside Poe, his jaw nearly on the floor as he watched Rey willingly grip onto Ren's shoulders, her nose barely brushing his neck. He was… gentle, with her, carefully drawing her up against his chest and daring to turn his face so that his lips brushed against her drooping eyelid, almost begging for a kiss. Ren faced forward, his resolve hardening as he stepped away from the window towards Finn.

He stopped the moment he reached Poe. "They need training." He growled, "Anything less, and you'll kill them with your demands." With that, he moved away down the corridor.

A shiver ran down Finn's spine and he straightened, his jaw closing as his eyes met Rose's, her same reaction to feeling it, too. It was… nothing. Nothing that they could describe. It was merely a feeling, than a word. But that feeling beckoned to them and only them so much so that Finn made a gesture of dismissal towards Poe and followed Rose out the room, wordless.

Please Review!