Chapter 19.

"So, you didn't speak with him?" Rey asked.

Finn hung his head, his silence was the only confirmation Rey needed.

The pair were back at the entrance of the base, recapping their side of what happened.

"No. He does look pretty scary. I didn't want to talk to him unless he started coming back, which he didn't. Rey, he was eyeing the ships pretty hard. Think he'll be try to make an escape?" Finn asked, studying her face.

Rey sighed, without a doubt she knew Sano would be trying to leave, she just didn't know when, and she could only guess he was trying to get to Cinnon'Ra, for whatever reason. She was determined to find out his ties to the knights of Ren. From what Flora and Kai told her of the place, it wasn't somewhere one would go for a vacation, or to start over for that matter.

"Yes, without a doubt. I wasn't able to find what I needed."

"Better get it before he leaves." Finn said as Rey's headache grew. Sighing again as she looked up to meet his eyes, the familiar buzz surrounded her as the force bond connected her and Kylo, who stood a few feet behind Finn.

Rey's eyes widened and Finn moved his head so that she was looking at him directly instead of past him.

"Hey, you okay?" He asked, his hand touching her arm, Kylo coming back into view.

Kylo's eyes squinted into a glare as he watched the traitor, able to see him now that he was touching Rey. A sudden fury exploded in his abdomen, surprising him. He wasn't sure if he was more upset that the traitor was there, or if it was the traitor touching Rey.

"Uh-um, yes. I have to go. Thank you for everything, I truly appreciate it Finn." Rey said, brushing past him and Kylo. She quickly walked into the forest, knowing that Kylo was following her, until she felt him stop a few feet back.

She looked at him curiously. "Why did you stop?"

Kylo looked around blankly. "I'm in the corner of the prisoner barracks, no more room to walk."

Sighing, Rey nodded as glanced around, making sure no one else was around. Looking back to Kylo, she steadied her breath.

"I need that crystal back." She said, her tone quiet yet assertive.

Kylo straightened, his body language told her he was gearing up for a fight, and she took a step forward, making him still.

Looking him dead in his eyes, she channeled the warmth of the force, falling evenly into the steady rhythm of the life and decay around her, focusing her energy and concentration on him.

"You will hand over my kyber crystal." Rey said, her tone angelic, softer than he ever heard it.

For a moment, Kylo was entrapped there, his body frozen, his blood warm, the air around him stilled. His mind was calm, for the first time since he was a child. His hand twitched to move along the inside of his cape, itching to grab hold of the crystal that lay hidden there.

Her eyes were so dream-like...Inviting him...a mix of warmth and cool...an even balance...and her voice, the softness was welco-

At that moment, his mind was heavy again, his body went back to being tense.

Kylo glared at her as he realized she tried to mind trick him.

Rey's eyes widened when she saw the trick didn't work, equally disappointed yet not fully surprised, knowing his mind was not as weak as any others.

Her mouth moved into a tight line, her jaw tense.

"You'll have to try harder than that, ." He snarled at her.

"Nearly worked though, caught you off guard. I felt that much." She bit back.

Kylo circled her, watching Rey as she slowly let the defeat take over her. Her shoulders slumped, her breathing escalated.

He could feel the worry and anxiety steaming off of her. Stopping in front of Rey, he peered into her mind, and right before she felt him and put her block up again, he saw she was trying to get another crystal.

"Caught you off guard as well, hmm? Why are you trying to get that crystal?" Kylo asked, his eyes piercing hers.

Rey glanced to the ground, debating telling him, but knew he already saw the crystal, and cursed herself for letting him see that much.

"It's... I just need it, okay? It calls to me. It hums, and I feel the intensity in my bones, thinking about it alone causes the same feeling. I feel almost sick when I'm not around it." She said, the words pouring from her, and Kylo watched as the eager passion spilled from her, over this crystal.

He knew all too well what it was.

"Ah, you've found a dark crystal."

Rey whipped her gaze to him, unsure if she heard correctly.

"Dark crystal?" she asked.

"Who is the owner of the crystal, as of now?" he asked, making sure his eagerness did not show. He felt the hum of the crystal, even though it did not call directly to him, through Rey he was able to see the chaos it held, and knew that if the crystal was to brand her, she would be pushed farther to the dark.

Rey hesitated, and Kylo knew she would not tell him. Frustration hit him instantly, feeling no other way around the matter at hand.

"Rey, stay away from the crystal. It's a dark crystal, whoever is the owner of it right now has influenced the kyber, heavily, to say the very least." Kylo's voice was almost aggressive as he nearly begged her to stay away from it.

Pondering this, Rey turned from him, her back to him. "But, this person who has it, is not a force user. I checked..."

Kylo exhaled hastily, as he moved to her, grasping the back of her arm and turning her to face him, frightening her. "Rey, stay away from this! Just because someone does not use the force does not mean they are not of the dark or light side. When a kyber crystal calls to you, it has chosen you as it's keeper, even if it belongs to someone else. Whatever emotion, or vibe you give off, the kyber captures it until it is molded to your saber."

Rey gulped as she stared up at Kylo, she was frightened that this was so important to him that she had nothing to do with Sano's crystal. "What happens when it's molded to my saber?"

Letting go of her arm, he stepped back, his voice huskier than before as the reality of his words set in for both of them. "It can influence your choice to the light or dark side."

Her headache returned, and Rey closed her eyes as she rubbed at her temple.

"Alright... But, I will not be joining the dark side... I will not. What's to happen if the person that has it, keeps it? They've already made such an impact on it already... I could destroy it." She said, and opening her eyes she watched as Kylo shook his head.

"No, that won't work. If it's calling to you so intensely, when you simply think about it, there is no way you would deny the brand, even if it's to save your little Rebellion." Kylo said.

They both watched one another, a silent plea in his eyes and fear in hers.

Rey wondered if he had any experience with any other kyber than his own, but his head quickly whipped around, and she felt absolute rage fill the air around them.

"What's hap-" she began to ask, but he interrupted her as she felt the bond tugging away.

"My... mother. She's coming to you. I can feel her..." He said, his voice tight as he turned and peered down to her.

"But, what if-"

"" He ordered, the bond cutting their connection and in that instant he was gone.

Rey gulped, running a small hand down her face as she tried to gain control of herself. She cleared her throat, and turned around to see Leia making her way to her on the path from the base to the forest.

"Rey?" Leia called, and Rey went to her, trying her best to offer her the best polite smile she could gather up.

"I'm here." Rey said, face to face with the general. Leia studied the girls face for a moment, quickly Rey put up the block even higher, just to make sure. She knew Leia was force sensitive, and even though her use was not trained, Rey was not willing to take any chances.

"I could have sworn...I thought... I thought I felt Ben." Leia whispered, shaking her head as her eyes fell. For a moment, Rey's heart broke.

The past few months were hard for them both, grieving the loss of Han and Luke, and Rey knew that Leia felt lost, even lonely. There were really not any words Rey could offer her in the time of need when Leia was mourning the loss of her husband, her brother, and even her son, who was lost to the dark side as he hunted her.

"I'm sorry, dear. I know we haven't had the chance to talk lately, but I had to find you. R2 told me you required his assistance in rummaging through the bunkers. Is everything okay?" Leia asked, and for a moment Rey felt a twinge of annoyance at the droid for not keeping it's trap shut, but knew deep down R2 was fully devoted to the general.

"It's Sano. I think he's planning an escape, Finn spotted him eyeing the ships quite a bit, and he's been very... hostile." Rey explained. Leia nodded, and hooked her arm through Rey's as they walked back to the base.

"I could sense that. C-3PO is keeping tabs on him, though he isn't very reliable these days. I'll up security and keep a better eye on him, and we'll make sure to double up on watch around the docks. I'm sorry it didn't work out with him. I'm just tired of losing people, and losing faith in people." Leia said with a sad smile.

For a moment, Rey wanted to tell her about Ben and the bond they shared, the crystal and map to Cinnon'Ra. However, Rey knew very well that just like her son, Leia would try to stop her from getting the crystal, and she wasn't ready to let go of that.

To Rey, getting the crystal from Sano meant that he would not be of much threat to the resistance, and if Rey herself destroyed that crystal, she could ensure no one else got their hands on it.

With that in mind, Rey decided that later that night, she would return to Sano's bunker and take the ring while he was there.

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