It is still dark when Ben meets Poe in the airlift. They greet one another with matching curt nods as Poe tosses Ben a pack.

"That's a week and a half's worth of portions, some first aid equipment, a blaster, and some extra clothes. I found a few extra things lying around that might fit you."

Ben hadn't packed anything to avoid raising Rey's suspicions. He had simply dressed in the dark red robes that Rose had found for him, grabbed his saber from under his cot, and creeped out the door. Poe's foresight was appreciated.

"Also, I would like you to meet BB-6, your companion for the journey," Poe said, waving a hand towards an older, blue and gold BB unit, which beeped a timid greeting to Ben. "She has all of the radio information you will need and she is a great co-pilot. Old girl has seen some things and is a wealth of knowledge. Be good to her."

"Thank you, General. What ship will I be taking?" Ben asked, wanting to speed up their interaction. He was afraid that Rey would wake to find him missing or he would lose his resolve and go back to her.

"You'll be taking the ship that is already stationed for take-off. It's kind of pieced-together junker, but it will do for this purpose. It doesn't look like much on the outside, but it purrs like a kitten and runs like a fathier."

He looked over the ship and hoped that Poe was right.

"May the Force be with you," said Poe a little awkwardly, extending a hand to Ben.

Ben was surprised by the gesture, but he took the man's hand and shook it firmly. "Thank you, sir." Ben thought of his mother's gravestone for a moment. "And thank you for loving and fighting for our Tialga."

Poe's eyebrows rose in surprise. "It was the honor of my life," he said, his voice a little raspy. He cleared his throat as Ben turned to go. "I meant what I said about Rey. You break her heart, and you're done for!"

Ben chuckled at that, taking Poe by surprise yet again. "I would expect nothing less. Good luck breaking the news to her, General."

Poe barked a laugh. "Perhaps my most dangerous mission to date!"

OOO

Ben felt Rey wake just as he left the atmosphere of Dantooine. He decided it best to close the bond off for now. According to BB-6, the journey to Mustafar would take several hours. He thought that some meditation would help calm his nerves a bit. He was worried about Rey. She was going to be angry, especially after the day they had shared before. He could only hope that she would find it in her to forgive him. For his part, he would try to make her understand, though he knew from experience that that was not always the easiest task.

He was also worried about Mustafar. He believed that his mother was with him, somehow. She would do her part to keep him from falling into total darkness. Not only was Mustafar the site of Darth Vader's castle, but beneath its surface, it was said that a locus for the Dark side of the Force rested. His mother, or the Force, he found it hard to tell after visiting her yesterday, seemed to understand that he needed to go.

He sat on the floor and quieted his mind, as Rey had taught him to. He was just beginning to find the peaceful drift of the force when he felt a firm blow to the gut, knocking the wind out of him. His eyes flew open, looking for the culprit. In front of him stood a very angry Rey, armed with her quarterstaff. He scrambled to his feet and extended his metallic hand.

"Rey, I'm so-"

"I can't believe that you let Poe talk you into a mission without me!" there were angry tears in her eyes. Ben longed to take her in his arms, but he knew that would be risky right now.

Ben's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't told her that it was his idea in the first place?

"Wait, this was YOUR idea?" she roared. "I'm going to kill Poe for lying. Why is he trying to protect you?"

"I don't know. But yes, my idea, please, let me try to expla-"

"Poe told me that you're going to try to find the Knights of Ren."

Ben was quiet for a moment. "That's what I told Poe, yes."

"So that's not why you're going."

"Not exactly, they may be there, but I have no idea" he reached out to her. "It will be easier if I show you."

She rolled her eyes, but reached out and took his hand. He showed her how he felt vulnerable and unstable with the Force because the light and dark were not working in harmony within him, his acceptance that the dark side should be the side of the force where he draws most of his power because of who he is, the details of his nightmare…

She shakes her head and drops his hand, breaking their shared trance. "Why didn't you talk to me about this?" she asked, still sounding angry.

"I wasn't sure how. I started to, but I wasn't sure that you would understand or accept me as a true darksider."

She rolled her eyes again. "I loved you when you were still parading about as Kylo Ren. I know that the dark side of the force is your more natural weapon. I thought that I've told you that I don't think that dark equals bad all of the time," she was sounding more hurt than angry now. "Did you think I was lying when I told that?"

He was quiet, seeing how he might have been wrong. "I also was afraid to bring you with me. You're safe there."

She violently tossed her quarterstaff to the ground. "Have I not shown you that I am strong and more than capable of carrying my own weight?"

"You have, I just don't want you to have to. Not this time. Not for me," he said sharply, his anger rising.

"Next time, give me the choice!"

"Rey, you wouldn't have let me go alone no matter what," he snapped.

Her face hardened, but she looked away, knowing that he was right. "Leia is with you, at least. Right? I heard you ask for her help yesterday."

He nodded and sighed. "I don't know how, but I know that she is. Or she's sent extra force or something."

"I'm not sure that's how the force works, but fine," she huffed. "but you better come back to me as soon as you find what you're looking for."

"Of course, my little scavenger. With you is where I belong."

She stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his chest. "Mustafar doesn't sound like a very nice place."

"I don't think you would care for it much, no," he responded, hugging her tight.

"What if the Knights are there? Will you be in danger?"

Ben mulled this over in his head a bit. "I don't think so. Hux never cared much for the Knights. His father believed that the First Order needed to fight both with armies and with force sensitives and guerilla warfare like the Rebels, but Hux had his father killed later. I get the impression that they didn't much agree. If the Knights are there and they have no loyalty to Hux, I'll ask them to join me, but I won't make them, Rey. The Knights may not even be there. We only met there from time to time."

Rey felt uneasy about the whole situation, but she simply nodded in response. "You'll keep me posted though, yeah?"

"Of course." He kissed the top of her head.

"Real is better," Rey whispered disappointedly.

"I agree fully," Ben said softly. "I'll be back with you soon. I'm sorry for leaving the way that I did."

"I'm not sure that you are," she retorted, still hanging on to her anger. "I'm still angry, but we did have a really good day yesterday."

"The best we've had on Dantooine," he said in agreement.

She kissed a mark that she had left on his neck the night before. "Agreed."

With that, she was gone and Ben was alone, left holding on to air.