I Know Who I Am Now

A reunion.

When Rey woke the next morning Ben was sleeping next to her.  She studied him for a moment.  He was lying on his stomach, his dark hair falling over his face.  Rey brushed a strand out of his eyes and smiled. So much had changed since Jaku. She had met so many good people. Her brow furrowed for a moment as she thought of Poe. He had been so hostile, so cold towards her. She thought about when Rose and Finn  had been cross with her and then she thought about the two people who had always talked to her in a way that made her feel wanted and accepted, Leia and Ben.

Ben. How strange to think about when they'd first met, all that time ago on Takodana. How afraid she'd been of him. She pushed another strand of hair from his eyes and suddenly his eye lids flickered open. Rey smiled and kissed him, "Morning". He smiled back, a sight that Rey still relished, "Morning" he said, his voice hoarse. Rey leant forwards and kissed his forehead and he smiled again.

The sound of the rooms com link crackling made them both sit up abruptly. "Come in, come in this is Rose Tico, urgently requesting to speak with Rey. Come in...". Rey sprung from the bed completely naked, something about how Roses voice had sounded pushed her forwards "Rose? Come in, it's Rey. Speak to me, what's wrong?", a crackle of static and then Roses voice, filled with panic "It's Poe, he's taken over.  He has a group standing with him.  He has Leia, Finn and Chewie, he's taking them to the cells, I can see them, I'm the only one who escaped, I...oh my god I have to go, Leia! Leia...." more static and then silence, "Rose!" Rey cried as tears sprung to her eyes.  She dropped to her knees and turned to look at Ben.  His chest was rising and falling rapidly and his eyes were wide.  Rey stood, coming over to the bed, "Ben we have to go there, we have to, your mother......".  Bens eyes met Rey's for a moment and he hesitated before nodding. 

They dressed quickly and raced down to the hanger.  Kylo took his silencer and Rey took a tie fighter.  "We need to approach undetected, follow my lead" Ben said to Rey via the onboard com link.  "Agreed.  Be careful Ben" Rey said softly, a fizz of static and then Bens deep voice, "You too, see you down there".

Akan Kloss came into view and Rey followed Bens silencer at height so as to avoid detection. Ben watched his radar screen, scanning it for signs of life. They passed high above a settlement, the resistance base and then, with their engines barely revving, they landed behind some tall, grass covered mountains, "We walk from here" came Bens voice.

They walked side by side,  the heat and humidity causing their hair to stick to their faces .  When they reached the base Ben stopped suddenly in front of Rey, turning, his finger to his lips.  They ducked behind a building just as Poe and two other resistance members passed by, blasters in hand.  In that moment Rey felt a deep sense of disappointment rise within her.  Poe.  How could he?  To think she had kissed him.  The thought made her angry and she tugged Bens sleeve, pointing to a long shed with barred windows, "That's the prison block" she hissed.  Ben nodded at her and, with their hands resting on their sabers they crept out, running from one hut to the other until they reached the prison.  Two resistance members armed with blasters stood guard.  Ben hesitated, he didn't want to kill them, that he knew would upset Rey and would certainly have a negative effect on the coming together of their two sides.  He turned to look at Rey only to find her calmly walking towards the armed guards.  Bens eyes became wide and panic filled his heart, his stomach knotting up. 

"Hold it" one of them barked at Rey.  Rey stopped, her hands raised in surrender and then she spoke in a calm and hushed tone, "You will open the cells and let us in.  Then you will leave and forget all you know of this".  Ben watched with ore, his first time seeing a real Jedi mind trick.  Both resistance members nodded and walked ahead of Rey, opening the main door.  Rey signalled for Ben to follow and then they slipped inside.