Chapter Text
Rey watched the five younglings block the laser bolts from the small gray spheres floating around them. She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. It’d taken three years to find these five force sensitive children and she didn’t believe she was done. There were more out there, she knew.
I need to find them a teacher. She chuckled to herself and shook her head. A pair of dark brown eyes flashed in her mind and her stomach twisted into a knot. She closed her eyes.
It’d been five years since she’d last seen him. On a whim brought on by curiosity, she’d reopened the Bond. He’d stood in his dark room, his hair wet and plastered to his head. Water dripped down his naked torso and her mouth grew dry. She’d wanted to close the Bond then, but he’d stared at her, his dark eyes intense, boring into her, freezing her in place.
“What do you want?” His voice hadn’t been angry, more tired and annoyed.
She’d stepped toward him, not caring if anyone saw her talking to a wall. He’d stood before her, the Bond between them stronger than ever. She’d felt the coolness of his room, smelled the soap he’d used. He’d stared at her, waiting. Wanting to touch him, she’d reached out toward him.
The ship had shuddered then and for a moment, she wondered if it was her ship or his. The room rocked again and Kylo stumbled into his bed. He narrowed his eyes and a wave of his anger splashed against her, but before she could say anything, he’d vanished from her sight.
Rey felt a tug on her pant leg, bringing her back to the present. She looked down and saw a child with sandy hair and green eyes gaze up at her.
“What is it?” Rey sank to her knees to be eye level with the child.
“Rayda’s stomach growled and then everyone else’s stomach growled.”
Rey laughed and stood. “Time for lunch then.”
The children dropped their helmets and raced down the hall to the kitchens. Rey watched them go as she leaned back against the pale gray wall.
Ever since that day, she’d tried to contact him again to no avail. It hadn’t been until a week later, she’d received the news his ship had been attacked. There’d been no survivors. She hadn’t believed it. She’d have felt something, but the Bond had been closed from his end.
The destruction of his ship had been the end of the First Order. People had rejoiced through out the galaxy. It hadn’t been the end of the fighting, though. Small groups of First Order loyalists attacked planets that’d been under the Supreme Leader’s thumb, but they’d always been vanquished.
“Holding up the wall?” A voice brought her out of her thoughts.
Rey refocused her attention to Finn, who smiled in greeting. She offered him a small smile of her own as she pushed herself from the wall.
“Just thinking.” She strode across the pale tan floor to the soft pillows scattered through out the room. The large windows taking up one wall of the room, let in the natural sunlight. It’d been one reason she’d picked this room for training the children.
“About him?” Finn raised an eyebrow.
Rey sighed and left the room, heading for her living quarters. She didn’t want to talk about him to anyone. It always ended up the same; he’s dead and not coming back. Forget about him, you’re only hurting yourself. She’d had enough of the pitying looks from anyone who noticed when she thought about him.
Footsteps hurried after her and she slowed her pace. Finn wouldn’t give up until she spilled everything to him. It was one of things she admired about him. He was her best friend and she didn’t fault him for wanting to comfort her.
“Yes, about him.” Rey punched the code into her door and it slid open. She stepped inside without waiting for him.
“You think he’s still out there.” Finn followed her into the room without missing a beat.
She turned as her door slid shut. “Do you have some latent force abilities I don’t know about?”
Finn smiled and folded his arms across his chest. “When it comes to Kylo Ren, you’re an open book, Rey.”
Rey shook her head and sat on the dark blue bedspread of her bed. She ran a hand over her face and sighed.
“Am I really that transparent?”
Finn shrugged and sat beside her. “I’ve known you longer than anyone. I know when something’s going on, Rey.”
“I know he’s still out there.” Rey stared at her hands. “It’s as if something is missing. I’m filled with a need to find him, but I don’t know the first place to look.”
“His ship was destroyed, Rey.” Finn took her hand in his. “There weren’t any survivors.”
“I would’ve felt him passing. Leia would’ve felt it.”
“I don’t know what to tell you.” He stood and paced the floor. She watched him for a moment, wishing she could explain the feeling she had, the certainty of it.
“What about the Bond between you two?” Finn stopped in front of her. “Is it still there?”
Finn had been the only one other than Leia she’d told about her Bond with Kylo. She didn’t want to keep it from Finn. After everything they’d been through she’d thought he should know. It’d been awkward at first, but he accepted it and vowed not tell anyone else. She knew they’d either banish her or use their Bond to lure him into a trap.
“I’ve tried hundreds of times to reach him in the last five years, but its closed on his end.” Her voice caught and she cleared her throat.
Tears stung her eyes and her hands curled into fists. She felt adrift in an endless black sea, ever reaching for something to grab on to, but finding nothing. At night, the sensation grew stronger until it overwhelmed her, invading her dreams.
In those dreams, a figure dressed in black appeared before her, surrounded by trees. She couldn’t make out his features, but the need to run to him rose within her. Even as she did so, the shadow retreated deeper into the forest.
Was the Force telling her something or was her longing so strong, her mind had conjured the image. She didn’t know and might never know.
“I know everyone’s told you to forget him and move on, but I know you’re not going to.”
Rey shook her head. “I can’t, Finn. I need to know. I need to find him.”
Finn sighed and sat beside her again. “I’ll help you.”
He patted her hand and relief flooded her. Maybe this is what she needed, someone to believe her and stand with her. She smiled and placed her other hand over his.
“Thank you.”
Her door slid open and Poe rushed into the room. He stopped in his tracks as he stared at the two.
“Interrupting something?” He asked, a smirk on his face.
Rey narrowed her eyes and stood. Poe wanted her to move on more than any of the others. He’d made it clear he didn’t like her infatuation with Kylo Ren. Knowing about her Bond would make things with Poe even worse than it was now.
“No.” She bit out. “What do you want?”
Poe continued to smirk as he looked from her to Finn. Finn stood beside her, his arms crossed, waiting.
“One of our scouts came back with a report from the planet Taryn.”
Rey’s ears perked up at the name. They’d sent a scout weeks ago to check it out and search for more Force sensitives or users. The excitement in Poe’s voice was contagious.
“And?” Finn made a motion for him to hurry up.
Poe grinned. “They found a Force-user.”
Rey couldn’t contain her excitement. Finding a Force-user like herself in this day and age was rare. She hugged Poe then turned and hugged Finn. Both men stared at her with wide eyes, but then smiled at her.
“Let’s go meet this person.” Rey grabbed her pack filled with rations for the trip. Her lightsaber flew to her hand from the other side of the room as she headed for the door.
“I’ll never get used to that.” Poe said as his footsteps followed after her.
Rey ignored his quip. “Tell me what the scout learned.”
“Not much.” Poe matched his pace with hers. “Mostly rumors in a small city.”
Rey glared at him. “So we’re going to investigate a bunch of rumors?”
Poe shrugged. “They all pretty much say the same thing; a scary man with the ability to lift things with his mind lives in the middle of the woods.”
She stopped and blinked at him. “A scary man? In the middle of the woods? Has anyone actually seen him?”
“The scout went into the woods to find out.” Poe smiled. “He found a tree house with someone walking inside.”
Rey raised an eyebrow. “Really? Did this scout get a look at the person?”
Poe sighed. “He thought a sighting would be good enough.”
Rey gritted her teeth and spun on her heel. She didn’t want to go all that way to find a couple kids playing in the woods.
“We should check it out.” Finn put in. “It couldn’t hurt and you need something to take your mind off of him.”
Poe narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re still thinking about that monster? He’s dead, Rey. Move on.”
Rey closed her eyes against the rage boiling inside her. Poe didn’t understand and he never would. The Force filled her with warmth, soothing the anger building within. Anger would only make things worse.
Feeling calm, she nodded. “We’ll check this Force-user out.”
Poe grinned. “Great. I already put in the coordinates for the planet. Let’s go.”
Rey looked at Finn, who rolled his eyes then followed after Poe.
****
The Falcon flew over the trees and a wave of the Force rushed through her. She gasped at the strength of it and leaned forward in her seat to stare through the windows. The tops of the trees greeted her. She closed her eyes and reached out, hoping to touch the Force-user. A blast of power pushed her back in her chair. Her heart leaped into her throat and she struggled to breathe.
“Are you all right back there?” Poe’s concerned voice floated to her.
She closed herself off from the Force-user and she could breathe again. Calmness returned and she relaxed back in her chair.
“Rey?” Finn asked beside her.
“The Force-user is down there.” Her voice sounded stronger than she felt. “This isn’t a kid, Poe. Whoever they are, they’re powerful.”
“Oh, great.”
“How powerful?” Finn asked.
Rey looked at him. She didn’t know what to say. How did she compare Force-users when she knew so few?
She took a breath. “As powerful as Kylo Ren.”
“Perfect.” Poe swung the Falcon around a clearing. “Just what we need.”
“Did you get anything else?” Finn asked.
Rey shook her head. “He hit me with a blast of power. I don’t think he wants visitors.”
“Too bad.” Poe barked from the pilot’s seat. “He’s getting some.”
The Falcon landed and a mixture of giddiness and apprehension rose within her. She placed her head in her hands and took a deep breath.
You can do this. This is why you’re here. You need to do this.
“Come on.” Finn placed his hand on her shoulder and the comfort she took from it filled her being.
Rey pushed herself to her feet, grabbed her pack and saber and followed them out the door. She strode down the ramp as a cool breeze rustled through the trees. A single silver moon hung in the sky over the trees and insects sang their songs.
“I guess the element of surprise is gone.” Poe stepped up to her.
“Yeah.”
“Blasters at the ready then?” Poe pulled out his weapon.
“Let’s not give this person a reason to kill us.” Finn snapped.
“I don’t want to be caught off guard.” Poe spoke through gritted teeth.
“Finn’s right.” Rey whispered as she passed Poe. “You’ll only give him a reason.”
Not wanting to waste any more time, she headed toward the trees. She reached out with the Force and touched the other Force-user, retreating when she felt his attention drawn to her.
We’re going the right way. She smiled to herself as she led her friends through the forest.
A couple of hours and two breaks later, Rey spotted a light through the trees. As quietly as possible, she picked up her pace, stopping at the edge of another clearing. She ducked behind some bushes and peered through the leaves. The vision of a dark figure standing in front of her flashed in her mind and she gasped. Could it be? Is this what the Force tried to show her?
“You see him?” Poe asked as he knelt beside her.
Rey blinked the vision away and looked through the leaves. Her heart raced at what she might see.
A shadow strode by the campfire and sat beside it, its back to her. The scent of cooking meat and spices wafted to her nose. She wanted to leave their hiding place and confront this person, but a stronger sensation stayed her feet. Her companions prickled with restlessness and she placed her hands on both of them. Finn settled, but Poe continued to squirm.
The shadow stood, stepped around the campfire and headed toward the small house nestled in the thick branches of a tree.
“Can we go now?” Poe growled his question then burst from the bushes.
“Poe!” She whispered his name, but he didn’t stop.
“He’s going to get us killed.” Finn followed after Poe, his blaster rifle at the ready.
Rey cursed them and their impatience as she burst through the bushes. She raced passed the campfire, her lightsaber in her hand.
The figure stood under the tree house as Poe raced toward certain doom, Finn not far behind. None of them knew anything about this Force-user and rushing forward with blasters at the ready only asked for trouble.
“Hey!” Poe called out as he came to a stop a few feet from the figure. “You’re-”
The Force-user raised his right hand and Poe flew backward. Rey stopped in her tracks as Poe landed on the ground and slid across the clearing. He came to a stop near the tree line, coming close to a tree trunk.
The figure tossed a bowl he held in his left hand to the ground. Rey strode closer, hoping to defuse the situation before it got out of control. She stopped beside Finn as she heard Poe grumble behind her.
“We’re not here to cause trouble.” Finn offered, lowering his blaster. “We just want to talk.”
Large lanterns hung from the balcony of the tree house, revealing wooden planks nailed to the trunk, leading up into the tree house. The lanterns cast a glow over the figure’s black hair, but refused to expose his features.
She took a step forward and the sound of a lightsaber igniting brought her to a halt. A purple blade with a black core cast a glow against midnight clothes. Her gaze traveled up the blade to the cross guard of dark purple and her breath caught. She knew that lightsaber.
It’s a different color, but it’s the same blade.
She took a step toward the Force-user, but Finn grabbed her arm. He shook his head and it took all she had not to wrench her arm from his grasp.
“Go back to where ever you came from.” The figure growled, pointing his weapon at them. “I’m not interested.”
The purple glow illuminated a scarred face she thought she’d never see again. Rey’s heart skipped a beat. His voice still haunted her dreams and her memories. Her heart wouldn’t forget those intense eyes. His voice, his lightsaber, hope swelled within her. She’d found him.
“Ben.” She took a step toward him, but Finn gripped her arm tighter, holding her back.
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Who?”
“Kylo Ren then.” Finn snapped.
The man blinked at them and shook his head. “Who the hell are these people?”
Rey’s heart sank as she looked at Finn. Her stomach twisted into a knot and her knees wobbled, fighting to keep her upright.
“My name is Nazreal.” The man she’d known as Kylo Ren declared.