34. One

CHAPTER SUMMARY: The kyber crystals give Rey and Ben a window into their destiny

Rey sits cross-legged in the center of the cavern, dry, cracked earth stretching out on all sides, the ceiling looming high above.

Her eyes are closed; her back is straight. She's on a mat she took from the training room, large and square-shaped, thick enough to cushion a hard fall.

The kyber crystals are bright tonight, brighter than usual. Some are in motion, their surfaces changing as they reorganize internally, creating a soft flicker in their glow.

Rey takes a deep breath, filling her lungs with oxygen.

But she doesn't feel it. Not the air in her lungs, not the mat below, not her hands resting lightly in her lap.

It's like she doesn't have a body. In fact…

It's like she's not Rey at all.

She is and she isn't.

Part of her is aware of herself— the memories, the feelings, the experiences that make her who she is.

But part of her has ascended, rising above the smallness of an individual mind.

Because right now, she's communing with the crystals. They've taken her into the collective, allowed her to perceive things as they do.

And it's… beyond what words can describe.

The closest she can get is remembering the first time she went into an ocean, walking further and further, the waves lapping against her stomach, then her chest, then her neck. She closed her eyes and dipped down, submerging herself in the warm, salty liquid. She wanted to open her eyes so badly, but remembered Finn's warning, all the stinging and burning.

That's when the thought struck her. She couldn't help but wonder…

What's it like to be the water? Just be it?

To be everywhere all at once, every cranny, every crevice, every depth, every shallow, to see all the ocean's wonders all the time?

Well… Now she knows.

She knows what it's like to be the water. And the air. And the earth. And the blackness of space, so vast and vibrant.

She knows because the crystals know. When she communes with them, she sees like they do, and they see everything.

When she first started making out their words, she was confused. They'd argue about the strangest things, things they had no way of knowing.

Like the quality of saltwater on Cantonica. Or the shrinking numbers of Kindalo on Aleen.

How could they know such things, buried deep in this wasteland of a planet?

But when they invited her into the collective, she finally understood.

They're connected to the Force, bound to it as part of their very being.

And the Force is everywhere. So, they are too.

Nothing escapes their view, not the darkest depths, not the remotest planets, not the emptiest regions of space. The entire universe is open to them, all the time.

And when she's part of the collective, it's open to her too.

Sort of.

She can't fully experience the omniscience, not without going mad. The crystals protect her mind, limiting her access to their sight.

But she sees enough to understand them now, understand how they can bicker so furiously with each other yet still feel connected as a single being.

It's not just that they see everything as one.

It's that they know ultimately the entire universe is one, a massive engine where every single part, from the very large to the very small, comes together to form a whole. It's all interdependent, even the things that seem opposed— life and death, predator and prey, current and countercurrent. Even as these forces struggle against each other, one can't exist without the other.

She tries to remember this whenever she gets frustrated, consumed by some obstacle in her path or a situation that didn't turn out how she expected.

She thinks about the crystals, what it's like to see as they do.

And she reminds herself that whatever she's struggling with is necessary, part of a larger whole, even if she can't see how.

Suddenly, Rey jerks back, snapping abruptly from the collective.

She blinks a few times, disoriented. For a minute, she's confused, struggling to remember who she is, where she is…

It comes back slowly, her mind, her body, her surroundings.

She squints, bleary-eyed, like she just woke from a deep sleep.

She takes a breath, concentrating on the feeling. She rolls her shoulders a couple times, checking in with her body, the stiffness of her muscles.

She looks up at the crystals.

Why did they kick her out? Did she offend them somehow?

Before she can consider the question, she feels the answer, a warmth welling in her core.

She gasps, straightening.

The next instant, she throws the blanket off her lap and crawls to the edge of the mat, reaching for her boots. She digs her socks out of one of them, then starts pulling them on, moving quickly.

He's close. Very close.

Strange…

She should have felt it when he arrived on the planet.

Maybe being in the collective interfered with her Force senses?

It wouldn't surprise her. This is only her third time doing it, and the experience so overwhelming, seeing so much at once. It probably dulls her awareness of her physical surroundings, where she actually is.

Good thing the crystals ejected her just in time.

They're chattering excitedly now, as eager for him to get here as she is. They know why she's asked him to come, and they're dying for him to see what they've shown her.

She finishes tying her boots, then rises, brushing off her pants. She turns to the opening across the cavern and starts making her way towards it, her heart quickening at the sound of footsteps outside.

Ben emerges before she gets there, covered in a thin layer of dust, eyes alert, searching.

He halts when he catches sight of Rey.

"Well, fancy seeing you here!" She jogs up to him, grinning.

A smile twinges his lips.

He doesn't say a word, just leans in, curling a hand behind her neck as he descends.

He greets her with a kiss, soft and warm, his thumb at her cheek.

"Sorry for the wait," he murmurs. "My meetings took longer than expected."

"I'm sure you'll find a way to make it up to me." Her lips graze his.

He slips a hand behind her waist, both of them smiling as they connect again and again, small, playful kisses, like they're sharing secrets.

"I'm glad you're here," she whispers.

"That makes two of us." He draws her closer.

She wraps her arms around his neck, everything falling away as they lose themselves in soft skin and warm bodies, an easy, natural closeness.

The crystals shimmer all around them. They start to grow brighter, seeming to pulse, a heartbeat of glowing energy.

Suddenly, Ben pulls back, straightening to look around.

"Something's… different." His hands slide to her hips. "The kyber, the Force energy…" He examines the cave. "I've never felt it this strong before."

"The crystals are excited." Rey smiles. "They've been waiting for you."

"For me?" He looks back. "They know me?"

"Oh yes."

"But I've only been here once." He knits his eyebrows.

Rey tsks, pushing gently against his chest.

"We have a lot to talk about." She steps back, his hands falling from her waist. "But first…" She looks him over, noticing his black clothes look almost gray. "Maybe you should clean off a bit."

He glances down at himself, then raises his eyebrows.

"You're the one who invited me to a cave." He looks up teasingly.

"Yes, well…" She brushes a layer of dust off his arm. "I'm just trying to add some variety to your life, get you off the dreadnaught."

He grunts.

"Come on." She takes his hand, inspecting the grime. "I've got some supplies. Nothing fancy, but it'll do." She turns, walking to the center of the cavern.

He follows behind, lagging, brushing himself off as he goes.

Once she reaches the training mat, she crouches next to it, sorting through a miscellaneous pile— some portions, water, scraps of cloth.

"Do you sleep here?" He fumbles with something behind her.

"I usually stay the night when I come." She opens a canteen of water, setting it to the side. "I wasn't planning on it this time, but then the bond happened…" She lifts a swath of fabric, examining it.

He drops his waistband and a small pouch nearby.

She sets the fabric to the side, peering at the pouch.

"What's this?" She leans over, extending a hand.

"A surprise." He drops his overcoat on top of it.

"For me?" She perks up.

"Not so fast," he warns, a twinkle in his eye. "I'll show you mine after you show me yours."

"Hm…" She glances at the overcoat. "I guess that's fair." She reaches for it even as she says this.

"Patience…" He nudges her away with a boot.

She drops her hand, eyeing the coat.

He walks a few steps away, continuing to brush himself off.

Rey stares intently at the overcoat, trying to sense what's under it.

"Are you going to give me something to wash with or not?"

"Oh, right." She jerks back, returning her attention to the pile. She grabs the canteen and scrap of cloth, pouring water over the fabric

"Here." She rises, stepping towards him with the dampened cloth.

He takes it, wiping his hands cursorily as he inspects the cavern.

"I've never seen this before." He walks towards the cave wall. "The way the crystals are moving, changing their shape. I've only seen them do that when someone touches them."

"I haven't either, actually…" Rey walks up to him as he wipes the back of his neck. "They are really energized tonight, more so than usual."

"And that's because of me?" He turns, casting the cloth to the training mat.

"Well…" She tilts her head. "Because of us."

"Us?"

"Yes." Rey steps back, squinting as she looks up at the crystals. "They know why you've come, and they're excited we're here together, all chattering like crazy. They love talking about us."

"What?" He jerks towards her. "Why? What have you told them?"

"Nothing." She shakes her head. "But they know everything anyway— about the bond, our relationship, everything."

"But…" He narrows his eyes. "How?"

She purses her lips.

"Do you remember…" She turns to him slowly. "When I told you that the crystals think of themselves as a single being?"

He nods.

"Well, I've discovered why that is. A couple months ago, I asked them to explain it to me. And, in typical fashion…" She rolls her eyes. "They said it was impossible to explain, something that could only be understood by experience. So…" She shrugs. "They invited me in."

His eyebrows shoot up.

"To the collective?"

"Yes." She shifts to the wall. "They let me experience their single consciousness, what it's like to be them." She steps towards the crystals, all different shapes flickering brightly. She lifts a hand to shade her eyes.

"And what was it like?" He follows next to her.

She smiles, continuing to the wall. She stops just in front of it, kneeling before a small cluster at the bottom, seven crystals arranged like a flower, each one no larger than a fist.

Ben crouches next to her.

"Have you ever…?" She reaches for the center crystal. "Just sat and meditated until you felt like you could see everything around you— every object, every movement, everything both alive and dead?

"Yes, of course."

"Well…" Her hand travels, touching the crystals around the center. "Multiply that by a billion and you'll start to understand what it's like to see the way they do."

He immediately seizes.

He's shocked but processing quickly, surprise transforming to revelation.

He shoots to his feet.

"They're omniscient." He steps to the wall, not bothering to shield his eyes. "Of course, they are." He reaches for one of the clusters.

Rey rises, smiling.

He starts walking along the wall, touching a few of the crystals as he goes.

"They're so attuned to the Force, they practically are the Force."

"That's the gist of it, I think." She follows a step behind. "It's how they know so much, even though they've never left the cave."

"So, they see everything all the time?"

"Yes, together." She picks up her pace as he does. "They see everything together, feel everything together—"

"They feel?" He halts, snorting.

"Yes, they feel." She shoots him a look. "Each crystal has its own personality, its own thoughts and emotions. But when they're part of the collective, they share everything, so much so that every emotion is experienced as their own."

"So, when you're part of the collective…" He focuses on a cluster in front of him. "You see everything?"

"No." She shakes her head. "The crystals have to protect me, limit my sight to keep me from going mad. And…" She eyes a few of the clusters. "I suspect there are things they don't want me to see."

"Like what?"

"Like where my crystal is." She widens her eyes. "They're very adamant that I should come by it a certain way, at a certain time."

"Wait a minute." He turns. "If they already know how you'll come by your crystal…"

"They can see the future." She nods. "For them, time isn't linear but happens all at once."

His jaw drops.

He shifts back to the crystals, welling with a deep sense of awe.

"Rey…" He reaches for one but doesn't touch it, hovering an inch away. "Do you realize what this means?" He glides his hand over the crystals, feeling their energy.

"They…" He touches one reverently. "Are an archive. The ultimate archive. They're the seat of all knowledge, everything that's ever been or will be, only no one's been able to access it." He glances at her. "Until now."

She lets out a laugh.

"Ben…" She shakes her head. "My access is very limited. I don't have a clue what they're saying half the time and no matter how much they grow to trust me, it's in their nature to be secretive."

"Still." A smile twinges his lips. "There are scholars who've devoted their entire lives to studying kyber, yet you've discovered more than about them in less than a year. You…" He points at her. "Could be the key."

"The key to what?"

"Everything." He steps forward. "Understanding the crystals, the true nature of the Force, what the Jedi and Sith have been fighting about for millennia." He squints with a glimmer. "You could be the one who finds the answers."

Rey parts her lips, but says nothing. She feels herself drawn in, drawn into those dark eyes, so confident and full of possibility.

She recognizes that look. She's seen it before. And she can't help but be mesmerized by it, the way it seems to reflect a different version of herself— someone powerful beyond measure, not afraid of the power but emboldened by it, a beacon to lead others forward.

She looks down, a swell in her chest. The implications begin to set in— everything she could learn from the crystals, what she could do with that knowledge…

But the swell is soon countered by a heavy weight.

For a moment, she darkens, realizing what this really means, the responsibility that comes with the opportunity.

She gulps.

"And to think…" She looks up, squaring her shoulders. "All this time, people like you thought the crystals were only good for making weapons."

He flinches, looking away. He turns his back to her, walking a few steps by the wall.

"I hear you've been busy," she says quietly.

He halts.

And just like that, a thick tension descends, filling the space between them.

They both know what she means. It hangs in the air, an unspoken rebuke.

He's been mining a lot of kyber lately.

A lot.

She hears about it every time she returns to the cave, the crystals bemoaning the loss of more and more deposits, disappearing and respawning somewhere else just as quickly.

And the worst part of it is…

It's her fault.

It has to be.

Because it started not long after the bond brought them together in that labyrinth of tunnels. She told him what she'd learned, how the crystals are spreading out, burrowing themselves deep underground.

And he used that information. He used it to hunt them down and mine them.

She closes her eyes, sinking.

She needs to be more careful about what she tells him about the crystals. She has to protect them, keep them from—

"Do they mourn?"

She snaps up, startled by the question.

Ben shifts to face her. He appears even, but she senses his emotions, a twinge of guilt.

She takes a deep breath, turning to the wall.

"They don't, actually." She looks up at the crystals. "At least, not in a way I can tell. They complain about it, especially the fact that they have to hide, separating themselves in smaller deposits. But…" She tilts her head. "At the same time, they're very accepting, taking the loss in stride. Nothing surprises them." She widens her eyes. "The benefit of knowing the future, I suppose."

He nods, his face solemn. He turns to the wall.

A minute passes as both of them examine the crystals, clusters stretching out and overhead, lighting the cavern with a white-blue glow.

Rey closes her eyes, her surroundings falling away as she concentrates on the voiceless whispers swirling in her head.

For once, it doesn't take long to understand their words, a thousand crystals berating her impatiently.

"Alright, alright," she mutters, opening her eyes.

Ben glances at her.

"They're, uh…" She laughs, gesturing at the wall. "Keen on showing what you've come to see."

"Well, then." He steps towards her. "Let's not disappoint them."

She nods, taking a breath as she looks up.

He moves just next to her.

"Ok…" Her eyes travel to the ceiling. "Let's sit down." She takes a seat next to the wall.

He joins her, settling on the ground just a couple feet away.

"So, before we do this…" She crosses her legs. "You should know that the crystals are extremely difficult to understand. Their language is more felt than spoken, and they're very cryptic, sometimes on purpose but…" She shrugs. "Mostly it's because they only know how to talk to each other."

Ben listens, nodding.

"Trying to make sense of their words is a process." She raises her eyebrows. "A difficult one."

"When did you realize they talk about us?"

"Today." She grunts. "They've been doing it this whole time and I had no idea."

"What was different about today?"

"Nothing, really." She shakes her head. "I just finally put two and two together. For example…" She scoots towards him. "It started when I noticed they repeated the same word a lot, over and over. The best translation would be something like…" She squints. "Mold-breaker…?" She offers tentatively. "Or pattern-breaker? Then, a few weeks ago, I realized they often used the word in the plural— mold-breakers."

"And that's us?" He gestures between them.

"Exactly." She leans in. "Ben, it was so surreal…" She gazes up at the crystals. "They were talking about the mold-breakers like they normally do, only this time I had a better sense of the context because I've learned more of their words, and…" She shakes her head. "I realized they were talking about the time you put me on the memory walk."

"Really?" His eyebrows shoot up. "Why? What were they discussing?"

"All kinds of things." She straightens. "They didn't just talk about that but also the time I healed your shoulder, the time you helped me pick the lock, the time I kept freezing you in the training room—"

"But why?" He interrupts. "Why discuss those things? What were they debating?"

She looks down.

"Something about…" She starts carefully. "The truth of the Force. And…" She slides her jaw to the side. "How I have a better sense of it than you do."

"What!?"

"I didn't say it." She points to herself. "They did." She points to the wall.

"But…" He sputters. "If they call us both the same thing, how did you know they were talking about you?"

"Because." She juts her chin up. "I've learned how they indicate gender."

He twitches, looking away.

"A few thought you had the better sense of the Force," she adds hastily. "At least… the potential to."

He tenses, irritated.

"And what was the point?" He demands. "Why argue about that?"

"I'm not entirely sure…" She glances at the wall. "But I know it was something about the purpose of the bond."

"Really?" He perks up. "Did they say what it was?"

"That…" She points at him. "Is why you're here. I asked them about it, about the bond and its purpose."

"And?"

"And I want you to see what they showed me."

"Alright…" He knits his eyebrows. "But why did I have to be here for that? Couldn't you have just shown me the memory?"

"No." She shakes her head. "The crystals communicate with feelings as much as anything else. If I just showed you the memory, you wouldn't get the full experience. But if you're here…" She points to the ground. "In my mind when I ask them again…"

"Let's do it." He sits up. "Right now. Are they ready?"

"Oh, yes." She looks at the crystals. "Very ready."

"Good." He scoots close. "Just let me know when." He closes his eyes. She senses his eagerness, a boyish kind of excitement.

She smiles, closing her own eyes.

"I'm ready."

Not a second later, she feels invisible fingers slip into her mind. She can't help but recoil, that vulnerable feeling washing over her.

But it doesn't last long.

Because the crystals don't wait for her to ask the question. They swoop down on her, overwhelming her senses. She gives herself over to them, and they eagerly take control, sweeping everything away until there's only darkness.

The darkness is empty, but not in a lonely way. There's an evenness to it, not good or bad, just there.

Then, very slowly, it starts to change. It's as though the darkness just realized it's empty and needs to be filled. It maintains its evenness but grows more dynamic, the evenness no longer a void of feeling but a balance of it, like a scale teetering slightly from side to side.

Warmth blends with cold and as it does, a tiny light appears in the distance. It's faint at first, but grows brighter, soon joined by others, scattered across the darkness like stars.

Then suddenly, they're in motion, the stars rushing by like at lightspeed except they're in color, flying past in brilliant streams— blue, green, gold, pink, every color imaginable. They weave and blend, whipping by faster and faster.

Yet, despite the speed, the peacefulness remains, that teetering scale of warmth and cold, one sometimes stronger than the other but never overwhelmingly so. They coexist, an easy, natural balance.

But, gradually, the scale begins to tip, the warmth rising dramatically and the cold receding in turn, back and forth. The relationship between them changes, from steady coexistence to a violent tug of war, one seeking to shrink the other.

The streaming colors grow wild, unstable. Instead of blending gently, they grow frantic, crisscrossing all over the place so there's no longer a sense of speeding forward but jerking down and up, from side to side, lost in an array of clashing colors.

In an instant, it stops, the streaming colors no longer in motion, only twinkles in the blackness. The violent tug of war halts, not gone but suspended.

It's like time just froze. Everything looks frozen, feels frozen.

Until two celestial bodies creep into view from either side. They move towards one another, vague circular shapes, expanding and contracting subtly. One's a bluish-white and the other looks like fire, a blaze of red and orange.

As they get closer, they start to speed up, heading towards an inevitable collision. It feels dangerous, destructive, like the moment they touch, they'll explode, taking the whole universe with them.

But then, just before they speed into one another, they change, the edges of each circle growing hazy. Instead of colliding, they merge, a bleeding of blue and red that seems to search for a new shape. Its color starts to change, joined by greens and yellows and purples, all manner of shades swirling together in a giant mass.

The mass expands, consuming everything around it, swallowing the stars and the blackness as it grows brighter and brighter, the brilliant colors slowly blending until they disappear into blinding white light. It expands until it covers everything, until there's only shimmering whiteness.

But the white isn't just white. It only seems that way at first. After a few moments, it's true nature emerges, the combination of every color there is, coming together to form a single brightness.

It's beautiful, not just the sight of it but the way it feels, dynamic but peaceful, full of every emotion imaginable, gradients of warmth and cold existing all at once. There are cycles, combinations that grow stronger than the others, but they recede just as they overwhelm, another combination of warmth and cold emerging in its place.

It's perfect.

Perfect balance. Perfect stability. A oneness of spirit despite all the different colors, all the different emotions.

It's so beautiful that when the vision disappears, it feels bleak, like waking to find your happy life, full of peace and joy, was only a dream.

The crystals withdraw slowly, easing from Rey's mind. Ben leaves with them, invisible fingers slipping away.

She takes a deep breath, bringing herself back to the present, keeping her eyes closed until that terrible bleakness wanes and she feels like herself again.

She opens her eyes, squinting to adjust to the light. She blinks a few times, Ben gradually coming to view.

He looks strange, dazed, like he can't remember where he is. He's staring down, eyes distant.

"Ben?"

She tries to sense his emotions but he feels numb.

"Ben?"

He squints at the ground, eyebrows furrowed.

The next instant, he sits up, shaking his head.

"What the hell was that?" He points at the wall.

Rey tsks.

"Welcome to the joys of communicating with kyber crystals." She smiles wryly. "They don't exactly give straight answers."

"That," he spits. "Was a vision, not an answer. How are we supposed to make sense of that?"

"By talking about it, of course." She shrugs. "Trying to interpret what we saw, what we felt."

He rolls his eyes.

"We might as well have gone to a fortune-teller," he mutters. "Opened up a toccat to read its entrails."

"That wasn't divination, Ben," she admonishes. "The crystals actually know the future. We should listen to them."

"But can they not give us a clearer answer than that?" He throws a hand up at the wall. "Can't you talk to them? Ask them what it means?"

"I did." She widens her eyes. "But they ignored me, which is their way of saying 'Figure it out.'"

He pushes out an exhale.

"Listen." She draws a knee into her chest. "I know this isn't ideal, but it's the closest we're going to get to understanding the purpose of the bond."

He scoffs.

"What?" She leans forward. "You have a better idea?"

He looks away.

"That's what I thought." She leans back. "You said it yourself. The crystals are so connected to the Force, they practically are the Force. If we're ever going to figure out what it wants from us, they're our best bet."

He shakes his head, annoyed. But she senses him relent…

"So." He sighs. "I take it you have an interpretation of what they showed us?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." She juts her chin up. "And was thinking about that very thing when the bond brought us together today."

"Alright." He presses a palm on the ground, shifting back. "What is it then?"

She straightens, squaring her shoulders.

"I think…" She crosses her legs, wiggling a little closer. "That the key to the vision was that middle part, the part where it was like racing through space at lightspeed, all the colors rushing by. Tell me." She leans in. "What did you feel then?"

He glances to the side.

"I felt…" He purses his lips. "Like I was in a war. Especially near the end."

"Yes!" She practically interrupts him. "So, you felt it, too? The violence, like two sides were trying to destroy each other?"

He nods.

"Did you feel anything…" She pauses. "Familiar?"

"Sure." He shrugs. "A lot of things felt familiar."

"Yes, but did you feel anything extreme, the kind of thing you've only felt once?"

"Like what?"

"Like…" She looks down. "Death. Lots of it."

He instantly darkens. A heavy weight descends, crushing him. He struggles against it, but it only grows stronger, filling his heart with shame.

He knows what she means.

Because he felt it too.

She crosses her legs, resting her hands in her lap.

For a moment, both of them are silent.

"I know what death feels like," she starts quietly. "But what I felt in that vision, near the end, before everything froze… That's something I've only felt once." She presses her lips together. "It was when the First Order destroyed Hosnian Prime."

He bows.

"But, I felt something else too."

He glances up.

"Right after it, I felt something similar but on a smaller scale, thousands of lives crying out in pain. It reminded me of being on Starkiller, what I felt as we escaped, the planet collapsing in on itself."

He grunts, his lips twisting grimly.

"We lost a lot of people that day."

"I know," she whispers. "We've all lost a lot people. And we keep losing more and more and more. That's what I felt in that part of the vision— an escalation of death."

He gazes across the cavern.

"I just can't take my mind off it, the way one side kept trying to snuff the other out, going to more extreme lengths to do it— more violence, more destruction." She takes a breath. "And I couldn't help but think about the past, how we got to where we are right now."

He looks back at her.

"I thought about…" She extends a hand to one of the crystals, touching it lightly. "The Empire, how they used kyber to make the Death Star, a weapon capable of so much death. I thought about how Skywalker destroyed it. But…" She withdraws. "The Empire just built another one, nearly destroyed the Rebellion."

She sighs.

"Then the Rebellion bounced back, destroyed the Death Star again, destroyed the Empire. But that wasn't the end." She shakes her head. "The First Order just grew up in its place, built weapon that was even worse, destroyed a whole star system. Then the Resistance destroyed the weapon, and the First Order responded by nearly destroying us and building another one in its place." She cocks her head. "Sound familiar?"

He just stares.

"We…" She sucks in a breath. "Are stuck. We're stuck in a pattern that gets deadlier and deadlier every time we repeat it. It's like we're doomed to follow the same cycle, again and again." She pushes out an exhale. "Unless…" She leans in close. "We break it. Break the pattern. Break the mold." She beats her palm with a fist.

"Ben, this is it." She sits up. "I'm sure of it. This is what it's all for, the bond, our relationship. We…" She gestures between them. "Are destined to find another way to end this war, one where one side doesn't destroy the other."

He listens intently, black eyes swimming.

"I mean…" She throws up a hand. "Clearly, that's not working. The Resistance can't destroy everyone who thinks like you anymore than the First Order can destroy everyone who thinks like us. We have to find another way. That, or we'll just keep running in circles until we're all dead."

Ben looks distant now, deep in thought.

She backs away, watching closely. She tries to be patient, give him time to process, but it feels like a thousand insects are crawling under her skin.

She waits, tapping the ground with a foot.

"So…" She can't stand it any longer. "What do you think?"

He gazes across the cavern, seeming unaware of her.

After a minute, he sits up, turning to the wall. He reaches for one of the clusters, touching the center crystal.

"I think…"

She senses his emotions, a heavy reluctance.

Her shoulders sink.

"You…" She looks down. "You don't agree."

"I didn't say that." He turns to face her.

"You don't have to."

"Rey…" He sighs. "It's just…" He shakes his head. "That part of the vision, the violence, the jerking from side to side… It felt different to me."

"How?"

"Everything you just talked about, the Empire, the Rebellion, that's only been in the last century. But the vision…?" He raises an eyebrow. "It felt bigger. It felt like millennia. Didn't it?"

"I guess…" She bobs her head. "It did."

"So, if we're meant to break a pattern, it's one that's been going on for a long time, thousands of years even."

"Like what?"

"Like…" He dips his chin. "The struggle between Bogan and Ashla, the dark and light. How much do you know about that?"

Her eyes flit upward.

"Not as much as you, I'm sure."

"Well, it's been going on forever." He leans in. "The Force Wars of Tython. The First Schism. The Hundred-Year Darkness. You know that's where the Sith come from, right?"

She tilts her head.

"They were the exiles after the war," he informs her. "The Jedi banished them, deemed their interpretation of the Force a perversion, refused to recognize any value in it. And so…" His turns his head wryly. "The Sith sought revenge, wanted to destroy Jedi completely, just like they tried to destroy them."

She looks down.

"They weren't any better, really. The Sith were just as dogmatic, just as narrow-minded. They saw the light only as weakness."

Rey says nothing, just stares at the ground, processing.

After a minute, she looks up.

"The Sith…" She purses her lips. "They were behind the creation of the Empire, were they not?"

"Yeah."

"And what was left of the Jedi, they allied with the Rebellion?"

"What's your point?" He narrows his eyes.

"Well, it seems like these wars over the past century are just an extension of the Force wars, the struggle between dark and light."

"You could say that."

"So, we're essentially talking about the same thing. Two sides trying to destroy each other but never able to fully do it."

"Kind of…" He starts carefully.

"What do you mean kind of?"

"Come on, Rey. Think about it." He sits up. "Think about the end of the vision, celestial bodies like water and fire becoming a white light, expanding to cover everything."

"Yeah."

"Isn't that exactly what the crystals told you when you asked them about the dark and the light? There's only one Force, they said."

"They did—"

"And when you heard them talking about us," he cuts her off. "Everything you mentioned had something to do with the Force. I mean why argue about who has a better sense of it when discussing the purpose of the bond?" He gestures to the wall. "It just makes sense, it fits what they showed us— the scope of it, what we saw at the end. Maybe that's the purpose of the bond, for us to end all this squabbling about the dark and the light and build something new, a way of viewing the Force that reflects what it really is."

But…" She knits her eyebrows. "These wars, the Empire, the First Order, that's been part of the squabbling. You and Snoke wanted to use the First Order's power to wipe out the Jedi for good."

"That's true," he admits. "But politics aren't the heart of the struggle. Ideology is."

"What's the difference?"

He groans, throwing his head back.

"Rey…" He covers his eyes. "Can we not…" He drags a palm over his face. "Consult the crystals about this, describe both our interpretations and ask who's right?"

She snorts.

"First off, I don't know enough of their language to describe all this, and secondly…" She hugs a knee into her chest. "Even if I did, they wouldn't answer me."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, Ben…" She rolls her eyes. "Trust me. I know them. It won't be worth the effort."

He glances to the side. After a minute, he gets a sly look, like he's hatching some sort of plan.

"Maybe…" He has a glint in his eye. "We could go about this indirectly. Instead of asking about the vision, we could ask about the bond, get at the answer we need another way."

"Like…?"

"Like we can ask when the bond will end." He leans in. "Presumably, it'll stop once we fulfill its purpose. So maybe their answer will give us better idea of what that is."

"If they answer." She cocks her head.

"Would you at least try it?" He goads. "Surely you can ask something that simple, no?"

"Yes." Her eyes flit upward. "I can do that."

"Ok, so…" He gestures to the wall.

"Fine." She pushes out an exhale. "Fine." She crosses her legs. "I'll give it a try."

She adjusts on the ground, straightening and closing her eyes. She feels Ben watching her, feels his impatience.

She ignores him, concentrating on the voiceless whispers passing through, letting them fill the foreground of her mind.

It always takes a couple of minutes to get used to the language, sense the words, their meanings, as much felt as spoken. But soon, she's consumed in the conversation, making out pieces here and there. The first word she catches is "mold-breakers."

They're talking about them again.

She breathes deeply, reaching out through the Force. First, she calls to the crystals, trying to get their attention. One by one, they start swimming in her head, indicating receptiveness. She starts putting together the question, feeling every word, a language of the heart.

To her surprise, the crystals answer the moment she finishes, repeating the same thing again and again, a rising chant filling her mind.

She opens her eyes slowly. She blinks a few times, the crystals fading to the background, Ben's face coming into view.

"Did they answer?"

"Yes." She sounds distant.

"And?"

"They said…" She stares into space. "The bond will end when we become one."

His shoulders drop.

"That's…" He sighs. "Not exactly what I was hoping for."

Rey's eyes drift to the ground. She feels dazed, lost in the chant of a thousand whispers echoing in her mind, the way the words felt as the crystals repeated them over and over.

It felt like being in the eye of a storm, tension and violence swirling around her, threatening to sweep her into the fray. And yet, she felt so grounded, enveloped in a warm sense of belonging.

It felt like being in his arms. It felt like home.

"What do you think they mean?"

She snaps up, startled.

Ben watches her closely.

"I…" She takes a breath. She still feels dazed, faraway. "I don't know. Maybe they mean… our ideologies?" She scrunches her face. "Our way of thinking? Like a oneness of mind, sharing the same goals?" She flinches, already critical of this interpretation.

It just doesn't match what she felt…

"Could be." He brings a hand to his jaw. "Or maybe it's more literal."

"Like…?" She knits her eyebrows.

"Like a physical oneness."

She immediately shoots him a look.

"Not like that," he clarifies. "Though…" His lips turn up. "Perhaps we shouldn't dismiss the idea." He squints teasingly.

She shakes her head but can't fight a smile.

"I mean…" He scoots a little closer. "That the bond exists to bring us together even though we're apart. So maybe when we're physically together most of the time, it won't be necessary."

She nods slowly, considering this.

"Or maybe it's both," he continues. "When we're one in the sense of sharing the same goals, we'll be one in the physical sense as well— in one place, one position."

Rey grunts, rolling her eyes.

"In the same position, huh?" She raises a mocking eyebrow. "Like… ruling the galaxy together?"

He smiles, a glint in his eye.

"It makes sense, doesn't it?"

"I'm sure it does to you." She glares at him.

"Rey…" He pushes out an exhale. "Come on. Be logical about this. You're letting prejudice blind you." His sounds imperious now. "Think about it. Whatever it is we're supposed to accomplish, we certainly can't do it while we're on opposite sides of a war, opposite sides of the galaxy. We have to come together somehow."

"And ruling at the head of the First Order is the only possible way we could come together, huh?"

"It makes the most sense." He doesn't skip a beat. "We'll have more power, the best ability to effect change."

She shakes her head, looking away.

"Rey, for once, think about this objectively—"

"Ben, let me ask you something." She whips towards him. "If I asked you to abandon the First Order today, to join the Resistance and be with me, would you do it?"

"No."

"Exactly." She shoots forward. "So why do you expect me to do something you wouldn't even consider doing yourself?"

He clenches his jaw.

"Why do I have to be the one to bend, the one to abandon everything I'm building, everyone I care about?"

"Rey." His tone is clipped. "Do you not expect me to do the exact same thing, to become Ben Solo and abandon everything I've worked for so I can join you in tearing it all to pieces?"

"No."

He narrows his eyes.

She tenses.

"I admit…" She crosses her arms. "There was a time when that's what I wanted, what thought the bond was for, but…" She looks down. "As time went on, as the bond started to change, we started to change, I don't know…" She grows distant. "It just didn't feel right, anymore. These days I feel like the bond doesn't exist so we can convert each other but so we can compromise, find a middle ground." She gazes into nothing.

After a moment, she sits up.

"I don't know." She sighs. "I'm still figuring it out. My ideas about the bond are always changing. Every time it brings us together, I get a new piece of the puzzle and the way I think about it shifts, just a little." She tilts her head. "I'd like to it's evolving."

Ben stares blankly, his expression cold, like a mask.

"Tell me…" She narrows her eyes. "Is it the same for you?"

He just stares at her.

"Has your thinking about the bond changed since it started happening?" She raises an eyebrow. "Or…" She leans in. "Have you always just seen it as a tool to get what you want?"

She catches the subtlest flinch.

For a moment, they glare at each other, eyes locked in a kind of battle.

Finally, Ben looks away, twitching.

The tension is thick now, filling the space between them. It's feels almost palpable, like she could reach out and touch it.

"You know what I think?" She juts her chin up.

He doesn't look at her.

"I think…" She keeps her eyes on him. "You're so obsessed with this fantasy of us ruling together that you're blinded by it."

He hardens his jaw.

"I think it's the reason you refuse to see any truth to my interpretation of the vision, of the bond."

He tenses, but says nothing.

"It can't be true because it conflicts with what you want. You're too stubborn to consider a future different from the way you see it."

"I'm not the only one who's stubborn," he snaps at her.

"That's true." Her gaze doesn't waver. "But I'm willing to question myself, question my beliefs, my feelings. If I encounter something uncomfortable, I don't push it away. I confront it. I think about it." She leans in. "What about you?"

He struggles to maintain eye contact, wincing with a flash of insecurity.

But he quickly hardens, burying the feeling.

Rey closes her eyes, consumed with frustration.

But it's not the angry kind. It's the sad kind, that soul-weary disappointment that only comes from seeing someone you love be their own worst enemy.

She sighs.

They both feel heavy now, exhausted from the tension, this back and forth that seems to get them nowhere. She senses his irritation blend with a kind of heartache, almost like desperation.

She glances up.

He's wearing his mask now, that practiced coldness offsetting what she feels in him, making it all the more stark, all the more painful.

"Hey," she says softly.

He looks up, guarded.

"Take a break?"

He relaxes, some of that coldness melting away.

"Yeah." He nods. "Let's take a break."

He lets out an exhale, dragging a palm over his face. She takes a few breaths, concentrating on each one, gradually letting go of her frustration until she feels calm and even. They both shift a little, their muscles stiff from sitting so long. She stretches, twisting to the wall, then to the mat in the center of the cavern.

Suddenly, she straightens, remembering something.

"Hey." She turns to Ben.

He's rolling his neck, still a bit weary.

"Um…" She presses her lips together. "Can I, uh…" She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "See my surprise now?"

"Oh." He jerks back. "Right." He nods. He uncrosses his legs, pressing his palms on the ground to rise. Once standing, he arches his back, loosening his muscles. She moves to join him and he offers his hand to help her up.

By the time she gets to her feet, his expression has changed, his face soft, his eyes gentle. She can't help but note the contrast, how quickly he can shift from being so cold and to being warm, inviting even.

"Come on." His lips tease upward. He pulls her hand, guiding her to the center of the room.

She follows next to him, marveling at the change in energy, how just the touch of him can sweep the tension away. She squeezes his hand and he squeezes back, a silent assurance that even through all their arguing, their feelings for each other haven't changed.

She can't help but think back to what the crystals told her, what she felt when they swirled in her mind, chanting that the bond would end when they become one. Such peace in the midst of chaos…

She feels it now in the warmth of his hand, his gentle grip. It makes her feel safe, confident in the knowledge that in spite of the chasm between them, their connection is strong enough to bridge the gap.

He releases her hand as they reach the mat, lowering to kneel by his coat. He uncovers the pouch, and she feels a rush of anticipation at the sight of it. He rises, opening it.

He reaches inside slowly.

Then he stops.

He glances up, seeming to enjoy holding her in suspense.

She bounces a little, squirming with impatience but also relishing the moment, how excited he is to reveal the surprise.

Finally, he lifts his hand.

She gasps as soon as she sees what's inside.

A lightsaber.

"Don't lose this one," he warns, handing it to her.

She takes it with bright eyes, bringing it close to study it. The hilt is silver and gold, a black grip near the bottom. It's a little heavier than she's used to but well-balanced, like she could lift it with the tip of her finger and it wouldn't fall.

"I'm serious, Rey. This is an extremely rare weapon."

"Why?" She looks up. "What's special about it?"

"It belonged to a powerful Jedi…" He begins, a glint in his eye. "One of the fiercest warriors who ever lived. Dynamic. Unpredictable. Just the sight of the blade in battle could strike fear into the heart of the enemy. It was unmistakable, a unique color."

She knits her eyebrows.

"See for yourself." He nods at the saber.

She backs away a few steps, her eyes fixed on the weapon. She runs a thumb along the hilt.

Then, she switches it on.

An amethyst blade shoots out the end. Rey watches, transfixed, a purple glow lighting her skin.

"The color of a Jedi's blade reflects the owner." He clasps his hand behind him, smiling as she studies the saber. "The owner of this blade dabbled in the combat arts of the Sith. He was more aggressive than most Jedi, the only one known to master the form of Juyo without turning to the dark side."

Rey swings the blade at her side, feeling the force of it, a smooth, powerful strike.

"One could argue," Ben continues, "he simply learned to manage his darkness, kept it tucked away, a quiet rage he could unleash at will."

She weaves the blade from side to side, slow at first but picking up speed. She whips to the right, jabbing the air, the energy of the weapon coursing through her. It feels like a controlled flame, blazing hot but never spreading, a fire that will only destroy what it's intended to.

She turns it off, gazing at the hilt in her hand. She stares down at it, trying to imagine its former owner. She pictures a man, tall and stone-faced, the kind who's so cool it's unnerving. But just beneath the skin, there's fire, a passion for justice, intolerant of corruption, the will to protect and to lead.

"You know…" She tilts her head, studying the saber. "I think you're right." She looks up.

Ben stands a few feet away, watching closely.

"I think we are meant to change how people see the Force." She turns on the saber and the blade shoots out, casting a purple glow on the cracked earth. She brings it to her face, close enough to feel the heat, close enough to notice subtle gradients of red and blue.

She switches it off again.

"Anger, passion…" She steps towards him, attaching the saber to her belt. "The desire to control, make the change you want to see through will and power. There's value in these things."

His eyes flicker.

"As long as they're balanced." She stops just in front of him.

He observes her carefully, hopeful but guarded.

"But…" She juts her chin up. "I think I'm right too." Her gaze is calm and confident. "We can't change how people view the Force as long as the galaxy's so unbalanced. We have to make peace, confront the past, build a foundation for the future. That's how we'll show people the truth, that there are no sides, only one Force, one universe, one where we thrive together or die together."

He listens, hardening, a coldness returning to his eyes.

"Ben." Without thinking, she grabs his hand, bringing it to her lips. "Please." She kisses the warm skin. "Please." She looks at him, eyes pleading.

He softens, surprise and tenderness written across his face.

"Will you just consider the possibility that we're meant to find a diplomatic solution to this war, one where both sides can live?"

He swallows, staring at her.

"I know you don't want to destroy the Resistance." She encircles his hand with hers. "If you did, you would have done it by now. You don't want to destroy everything I've built, everything your mother's built because—" Her voice breaks. "Because you love us."

His throat tightens.

"Please, Ben." She closes her eyes, pressing her lips against his fingers. "Please. Promise me you'll think about it." She looks up at him.

He's vulnerable now, dark eyes full of pain and love, all his reservations grating against his intuition, the call of his heart.

"I—" He takes a slow breath. "I will." He nods.

Rey exhales, relaxing.

"On one condition."

Her face falls. She releases his hand, letting it fall to his side.

He stares down at her, eyes gentle but firm.

"I want you…" He starts slowly. "To consider that part of this diplomatic solution will be you joining me, leading with me at the head of the First Order."

She inhales sharply.

But the next instant, she lets the initial burst of anger go. She looks to the ground for a minute, processing. Finally, she lifts her head.

"I'll think about it," she says quietly.

"Ok." He nods.

"Ok."

They stare at each other a moment, evenly at first. But soon, their lips turn upward, a warmth gathering in their eyes.

He lifts a hand to her face, grazing her cheek with a thumb. She steps in, sliding her palms up his chest as he descends.

Their kiss is long and lingering, a manifestation of the desire to connect, push past all their bickering and focus on how they feel about each other. She curls her fingers behind his neck as their lips press softly, one kiss leading to the next. He tilts his head, smiling as they connect again, then again.

They pull away at the same time, reading each other, knowing instinctively what they want to do. He frames her face, resting his forehead on hers as they both close their eyes, surrendering to the warmth, both physical and spiritual, a oneness of the heart.

Who knows how long they stay like this. Neither of them has a sense of time. They're too lost in each other, in the peace of their closeness.

Finally, Rey opens her eyes. He lingers a moment before lifting his head, inhaling deeply. They gaze at each other, lips turned up in tacit smiles of understanding.

"Thank you," she whispers. "For coming here. For listening to me, considering my point of view."

He strokes her cheek with a thumb.

"And for this." She places a hand on the saber at her belt.

His smile deepens.

"That's not all I brought, you know."

"Oh?" She perks up. "There's more?"

He squints with a glimmer. Then, he backs away, his hands falling from her face as he turns to retrieve the pouch beside the mat. The moment he lifts it, she can see it's still weighed down, something else inside. He reaches in, letting the empty pouch fall to the ground. He turns back to her, extending his hand.

She takes what looks like another lightsaber, except this one's much lighter. She looks at it curiously, realizing it's empty.

"What's this?" She looks up.

"That's for your crystal." He nods to the silver cylinder. "When we find it."

Her eyes widen, and she looks down, gripping the empty shell. She gazes at the unmade weapon, feeling the thickness of the metal.

Her lightsaber.

She tingles, a spark in her chest as she imagines the future, how it will feel to finally have a weapon made just for her. She pictures a blade shooting out at the end, blue like Skywalker's.

No, no. That's not right.

Maybe purple? A deeper shade, like violet?

"You'll find out soon enough," Ben interrupts her thoughts, seeming to read her mind.

"Thank you." She looks up, her eyes glistening. "For this." She lifts the cylinder. "Thank you for giving me something to look forward to, for giving me hope."

He gazes down softly, understanding that her gratitude extends far beyond the empty shell in her hand.

He nods, smiling.

Then he looks up, his gaze drifting to the cave wall.

"The crystals are back to normal," he observes the cavern, the clusters glowing less brightly. "I guess it's business as usual now the excitement's over." He glances at Rey. "Do you think they're still talking about us?"

"Probably." She tilts her head back, eyeing the ceiling.

"Can't you hear them?"

"Yes," she answers absently. "But I can't understand what they're saying unless I focus. Otherwise, they're just background noise. I've gotten quite good at ignoring them, actually."

"You'd have to." He grunts. "If you sleep here."

At this, she snaps to him, a question in her eyes.

"Do you…?" She bites her lip. "Do you have to go?"

"Not immediately." He shakes his head. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason," she says quickly. "Just curious."

He squints, sensing there's more.

She looks down, a little sheepish.

"I just…" She shuffles her feet. "I guess I was hoping you might stay the night."

"I can do that."

"You can?" She brightens.

"Of course." His eyes grow warm. "No one expects me back until the morning."

She smiles, a swell in her chest.

"Come on." He nods to the mat beside them. "Get your things and let's go." He turns, stooping to retrieve his overcoat.

"Where are we going?"

"The shuttle." He brushes the coat off. "Where else?"

"Why not stay here?" She knits her eyebrows. "I have pillows, a blanket big enough for both of us."

He scoffs.

"Wouldn't you rather sleep on an actual bed?"

She bristles at his tone.

"Not really." She straightens, making herself tall. "I sleep just as well right here. Or on a rock. Or in the grass. I can sleep anywhere, really."

He eyes her doubtfully.

"I can," she insists.

"Well…" He slips on his overcoat. "Some of us are accustomed to sleeping on an actual mattress."

"Oh, come on…" She crosses her arms. "Surely you've slept in the wild before."

"I have." He stoops down for his waistband. "But it's been a while."

"Perhaps it's time to revisit your past, enjoy the wonders nature."

"Uh huh." He glances at her dryly. "It's truly wonderful, especially the way you can't turn the lights off."

"They're not so bright now." She looks up the crystals. "They're quite dim, actually, just a soft glow. It's very romantic."

"I can replicate this light on my shuttle, you know."

"Yes, but it's not the same."

He wrinkles his nose.

"That's it." She reaches for his waistband, pulling it from him. "We're staying here."

"Hey." He jerks it back. "This isn't an executive decision."

"Ben." She puts a hand on her hip. "I've spent the night in your world. Now it's time for to spend the night in mine. And guess what? Half the time I'm sleeping underground in a tunnel full of slaves, who by the way spend their entire lives sleeping on the mat like this one if they're lucky." She leans in.

He groans, rolling his eyes.

"Come on, now. Don't give me that." She grabs his waistband again. "It'll be good for you."

He grips it more tightly.

"As the Supreme Leader, you should know how a huge chunk of the galaxy goes to bed at night. Who knows?" She cocks her head. "Maybe it'll inspire you to move up your timeline to shut down the slave markets."

He pushes out an exhale.

"Fine." He releases the waistband begrudgingly. "Fine." He takes off his coat, casting it to the ground.

"That's the spirit!"

He rolls his eyes.

"It's not like it matters." He nudges the mat with a boot. "I can't sleep half the time, anyways. If I get six hours, it's a good night. A very good night."

"Do you really have such a hard time sleeping?"

He looks away, twitching. Instead of answering, he crouches next to the mat, organizing his things in a pile.

Rey watches, the realization setting in.

Of course, he doesn't sleep well. He has a lot to worry about. And a lot on his conscience…

She presses her lips together.

After a moment, she moves to the mat, taking a seat next to him. She starts untying her boots and he shifts to sit beside her, doing the same.

"Are you all set for Llanic?" His fingers move quickly.

"Mostly…" She grabs a heel and pulls. "I've got the team together, but I need to debrief them. I'm waiting to hear back from my contact in the market on Radama."

He nods, sliding off a boot.

"This one should be easy." He places the boot to the side. "All our intel indicates the cartel's leadership is weak. You might not have to deal with any bombs." He pulls off another one. "Though I'd expect to, just to be safe."

"Of course." She takes off a sock and stuffs it in her shoe. She pauses as she pulls off the other one, remembering something.

She's been meaning to mention this. But she's always so distracted when they're together. Better do it now before she forgets...

She takes off the sock slowly. She fiddles with it a second before putting it with the other one. She turns to find Ben staring at her.

He felt the shift, of course…

"What?"

"Uh..." She squirms a little. "I just…" She taps her fingers on the mat. "I just thought you'd want to know…" She looks down.

She feels his eyes on her.

"Do you remember that trooper, the one who beat the man looking for his wife?"

"Yeah?"

"Well…" She takes a breath. "As it turns out…" She glances up. "That wasn't an isolated incident."

His shoulders drop.

"My team was spread all over the camp on Kaddak and…" She scrunches her face. "Everyone saw something similar. Some more than once."

He hardens.

"I'll take care of it."

She nods.

They both turn forward, a little awkward now. Rey stares at the ground for a few seconds. Then she reaches for her new saber, sliding it from her belt. She places it carefully next to the mat.

"Rey…"

She turns to Ben. His expression is solemn.

"I want to know if you see something like that again, if anyone does."

"Of course." She sits up. "I'll give you a full report."

"Good."

She takes a breath, returning her attention to her belt, undoing the clasp and pulling it off. She sets it next to her boots, then straightens, shifting the Ben. He's pulling off his undershirt, casting it on the pile with the rest of his things

"Alright!" She smiles. "Time for you to get a taste of how the other half lives."

He sighs, shaking his head.

"Don't be grumpy, now." She pats his thigh. "It'll be easier than you think. People do it all the time." She turns to the mat, grabbing the blanket.

Then she crawls to the pillows at the other end. There are two of them, a little flat but comfortable. She grabs one, stacking it on top of the other as Ben sidles up to her. She scoots down, lying on her side and resting her head on the pillows. She throws the blanket over her.

A second later, he lifts it, curling up beside her, his bare chest at her back. He slips an arm under her, the other wrapping around the front. Whatever irritation he felt is gone now, replaced by tenderness. He rubs her forearm a couple times, his breath at her ear, then covers her hand tucked at her chest.

She exhales, closing her eyes and melting into the warmth.

This… This right here.

This is what home feels like.

It's everything she imagined it would be— to feel like she belongs, like she's precious, a human treasure to be loved and protected, never to be cast away.

She squeezes her eyes shut, wrapping her arms around his wrapped around her. He tightens his hold, nuzzling the back of her neck.

She smiles.

"See…?" She whispers. "This isn't so bad."

"No." He kisses the skin behind her ear. "It's not so bad." He breathes deeply, his chest expanding at her back. She wiggles against him, enveloped in his body. It almost feels like she could withdraw into it, become lost there.

For a few minutes, they just lie peacefully, eyes closed, arms wrapped around each other. His breath is warm and even, tickling the hair at her neck.

But soon, it travels, the steady stream moving with his lips as they press softly against her skin, first to her ear then drifting down, following the curve until he reaches tender flesh just above her collarbone.

"You're not tired?" She tilts her head.

"I'm a little tired." His lips travel up her neck. "But I'm also distracted."

She smiles, tucking her chin.

"Well, I'm sorry to be so distracting."

"No, you're not," he whispers in her ear.

He adjusts his arms, a hand moving over her body, slipping under her shirt at the bottom, seeking the warmth of her stomach. His breath changes, less steady now, heavy on the exhales.

Rey shifts, turning onto her back.

He lifts a little, propping on a forearm.

She gazes up at him, taking a moment to study his features, the angle of his jaw, his full lips, dark locks falling over his face, black eyes with hint of fire. The light of the crystals casts a soft glow from above, giving him an otherworldly look, like he's in a dream.

She lifts a hand, brushing back a lock of his hair. Then she curls her fingers behind his neck, pulling him down.

They connect, sweet kisses blending softly as he slips a hand under her hip, sliding up the curve of her back. Her heart quickens at his touch, the way she tingles as he travels across her skin.

They're both smiling as they connect again and again, enjoying the closeness, the shared warmth. They start to build heat, her fingers weaving through his hair as their kisses grow hotter, hungrier. She grips his dark locks, the other hand at his shoulder, feeling the thickness of his muscles. He opens his mouth into hers, gripping the flesh at her hip.

Suddenly, he pulls back, the flame of desire tempered by a realization. He breathes heavily, glancing from side to side, a bit self-conscious.

"What?" She knits her eyebrows.

He lifts his head, looking around the cavern.

"Isn't it…" He struggles to catch his breath. "A little…" He narrows his eyes at the wall. "Weird to do this in front of the crystals?"

Rey lets out a laugh.

"Ben…" She giggles. "Trust me. The crystals aren't watching us now any more than they normally do."

"Are you sure?" He eyes them suspiciously.

"Yes. They see so much all the time that they barely have a sense of their physical location. To them, they're not here but everywhere."

"Hm…" He looks thoughtful now. "That must be overwhelming."

"Not really." She shakes her head. "They're used to it. They see this way from the moment they come into being, all of time and space stretched out before them." She gazes at the crystals scattered across the ceiling. "They are the universe," she whispers reverently. "They make me feel very small."

She senses him darken. She looks back to find him staring at her, eyebrows knitted.

"You…" He brushes a strand of her hair. "Are not small."

"I didn't mean it in a bad way," she says quickly. "Just the opposite. Being part of the collective, seeing the way the crystals do…" She glances at the clusters, growing distant. "It's given me perspective at exactly the time I needed it."

"What do you mean?"

She sighs.

"Things…" She takes a breath. "Have been hard lately. This escape network we're trying to build just can't get off the ground. My team is so massive they're becoming hard to manage, all these little subgroups and missions. It's so easy to get wrapped up in it, to feel like the whole galaxy will implode if I can't get things right." She widens her eyes.

But soon she softens, her lips turning up.

"But it won't." She shakes her head. "It never does. No matter my successes or failures, the galaxy will go on, life will go on. In the grand scheme of things, my struggles are just a speck, just another star in the darkness." She grunts, smiling. "It gives me a strange sense of peace." She gazes at the crystals. After a moment, she looks to Ben.

His eyes are flickering, confused, a little critical, but also… awed.

She lifts a palm to his face, stroking his cheek with a thumb. He gazes down at her, softening at her touch. He lifts a hand, taking hers into his and bringing it to his lips to kiss the backs of her fingers. He closes his eyes for a moment.

When he opens them, he has a strange look, tender but uncertain. It's like he's debating with himself, deciding whether or not to say something. He releases her hand, letting it fall. She sits up a little, curious but sensing his need to process. He stares at her silently, and she stares back, waiting.

"I…" His eyes tighten, pained.

But it's that beautiful pain, the kind that only hurts because it's so heavy.

"I…" He exhales slowly. He brings a hand to her face, caressing her cheek.

"I love you."

Rey falls back on the pillows, surprised.

"I know." She nods reassuringly.

"I know you know." He looks down. "But…" He looks back at her softly. "I wanted you to hear me say it."

The moment the words leave his mouth, her heart skips a beat. She catches her breath, unable move or speak, only look at him, look into his eyes, feel his emotions, that weight crushing down on him, everything he feels about her, all the love and tenderness, his heart so full it could burst.

She remembers the first time she felt him this way, in this very cave. She remembers his black eyes, so bright and expressive, his voice, confident and knowing, telling her she's special.

It starts to wash over her, every memory of every tender moment, everything he is, everything could be, everything he makes her feel, how much she wants him, yearns for him, aches for him.

She shoots up, taking his lips hungrily, wrapping her arms around him.

"I love you." She can barely speak between kisses. "I love you so much."

He doesn't skip a beat, meeting her passion with his own, taking her in, slipping a hand under her shirt, seeking warm flesh.

She wraps her legs around him, gripping his hair, gripping his shoulder, opening her mouth into his.

They lose themselves in the moment, surrendering to the call of their bodies, the call of their hearts. They grasp and grab at each other, taking what they want and not thinking twice.

They're so focused on each other that they don't notice it, don't see the cavern growing brighter, the crystals starting to shimmer.

They're whispering furiously, debating, talking over each other.

There's so much to discuss.

Change is coming, and it's coming soon. There's rough road ahead, of course. Change is never easy…

But the pain will be worth it, the suffering a natural, necessary step on the way to the end.

Or the beginning. As far as the crystals are concerned, those two words are synonyms.

Yes, the universe is about to shift. Tonight brought them that much closer.

The mold-breakers are merging, starting to take their shape. It's going to be so, so beautiful…

And they can't wait for everyone else to see it.