"I thought quite a lot of people did."

"Rey," Anakin says, voice soft. "You need to give him something. Place a thought just below one of your shields - he'll break them all otherwise. It doesn't need to imply anything true - but it needs to be enough he'll draw his own conclusions. Enough he'll leave you alone, and that he won't just hunt down the rest of Tuanul's escapees."

"- That pilot's likely far enough away that it would be safe to show him escaping."

She breathes, clearing her mind and listening to Anakin. But - it's too risky. Even if the pilot did get away, he mightn't be far enough. She needs to buy him more time. Always more time.

"I tried to help you once," she says to Kylo Ren instead.

"I don't need help."

"Clearly." She pauses. "You were my friend. I was alone in this universe and you were my only friend." She laughs. "That's so fucked up."

"I could be your friend again," he says, softly. "What have they ever done for you, that you protect them? Are they your friends?"

"I have no friends. I have the Force." And Anakin. "That's all I need."

"The Force is a tool. It is no more your friend than a blade would be."

"The Force is life. It connects me to the universe. I say that's pretty friendly to me."

"Life is friendly to no one."

She shrugs. "Your life sucks, I get it. Doesn't give you a reason to be such an arsehole."

"I bring the truth of pain and hatred," he says after a moment's contemplation. "Everyone hates each other. It seethes beneath their skin, lurks behind their lying smiles. I am merely honest."

"Guess I should start my speech about how love is the strongest force in the galaxy. But, really, I'm not feeling super speechy right now. Guess all that mind rape sucked it out of me."

"Then I suppose I'll have to pull your speech out of you - along with everything else," he says, raising his hand to start again. (And ignoring the ghost trying to punch him.)

She closes her eyes and prepares herself, trusting in the Force to keep her strong.

She thinks of her mother, and her childhood - before Anakin, who she pushes down into the deepest reaches of her mind - all the pain and loss and everything that made her the way she is today. It makes her powerful, resilient. Even with all the pain and hardship she has endured, it strengthens her.

She remembers him as he was, before his fall. Everything she did to try and help him. Comforting him in his darkest moments.

He batters her shields, no finesse like Anakin trained her with, no consideration for leaving her mind intact - he's angry and he hates her like he hates everyone, and he knows what she feels and her pain feeds his, trapping them in a feedback loop as Kylo pushes everything he is into her mind, relentlessly seeking.

Anakin closes her eyes, trembling...

And opens them calm.

She knows Kylo - knows Ben.

And she knows Rey even better.

Emotion, yet peace.

Anakin's memory slides before Kylo's assault -

The X-wing.

Poe.

A resistance fighter escaped.

And Kylo withdraws.

"I have what I want," he says. "You could not keep it from me. I will be back, though."

And he turns and stalks off.

Rey screams in pain and anger and frustration and even betrayal.

"No."

"He'll get away, he's long gone, it's alright - Rey - Rey you need to focus, need to rebuild your shields - "

"Needed more time. I could have done it. I could. Why?"

"I'm sorry, but I - I can't stand to see you hurt, you're the only thing I have - "

She takes a deep breath and laughs, ragged.

"I suppose I haven't accumulated as much wisdom as I thought since the last time someone I love was threatened. I'm sorry."

She can't deal with this right now.

"I can't - I need to get out of here. Stop him."

"I'll help," she says, voice hard.