The stuttered final breaths that left the storm tropper was a sickening sound. It was without much speculation his death. Ben held a cold, dead-pan stare with the man’s lolling head. The mark of his lightsaber against the man’s armor had been molten red, a dull glow in the gray-tinted room.
His force senses were strained through the temple, keeping watch of his back and near-by surroundings with all-consuming vigilance.
He sighed as his mother’s would-be disappointment scoured him. He knew Leia wouldn’t be proud of him for selfishly killing another, one who had opted to run instead of fighting. Han might’ve felt different but due to bitter circumstances, he didn't particularly care.
As he felt his way through the temple, the hue of his lightsaber flooded the degraded halls. Moss and vines seemed to shy and slither up the walls. Small mammals, shadow-cloaked avians, and fierce looking insects scurried away at the harsh, sudden glare. He touched the moist bricks as he delved deeper, feeling a strong pull towards a darker, ague corner of the temple.
He felt his stomach churn as he stared at the door carved in the temple. Ben narrowed his eyes and tentatively reached out with the force out of caution. The moment he did, the Force reached back out with the warning of a vicious and surreal vision.
Ben snatched his arm back out of terror and complied a shield around his person.
Those visions had plagued him enough; he didn’t need nor want any more. Inching backwards was just the beginning of his retreat, fear of the dark-clad warrior intruding upon his reality had sent him sprinting away from the pull. He tripped over himself once before catching his footing and dashing up the stairs.
No! I refuse it! I won’t go through this again. I can’t! Underneath the turmoil he tried to compose himself under the realization that other storm troopers were scouting nearby.
He was stumbling towards cover when he felt pressure on his mental shield; on the Force inside of him that he had piled up to block out the Unifying aspect, specifically the part that allowed visions. Ben was mercilessly in his pursuit of peace. His arm snapped backwards at Odd as he started to release a furious, hot-white force push. But the moment he noticed her scuffled appearance and hastily cut hair, he instantly came back to normal. “Odd,” he mouthed concerned, looking at her from behind a decrepit corner.
The moment he heard the casual, careless talk of the passing soldiers; Ben pressed himself against the wall. His expression sunk with guilt in hopes that she hadn’t noticed the intent in his earlier gesture. Once she had made it to him, Ben had looked her over with worried eyes. His examination ended with him smudging away dirt on her cheek as she mentioned not being stronger. He cringed inwardly at her doubtful outlook.
His eyes softened with affection, the rest of his face remained taunt. “I’m just… really happy you’re not hurt, Odd. Forget about your hair. This look,” he stressed, running his hands through the strands of her now short hair. “This beautiful, alive look is the only thing I could ever ask for.”
The emotion that rushed from his core and out his mouth had been delayed on his mind. When it finally reached him just how much goo and cheese he had spouted, his cheeks reddened. To keep himself from being too embarrassed, he hugged her tightly to conceal his blush.
He glanced from side to side awkwardly for a distraction. “Uh… Di-Did you know they’re called Storm Troopers? Kinda like Jedi, they’re taken at a young age and trained for war. All they’re doing is the only thing they’ve ever known. Following orders.” The next moment was meant for thought on Odette's part. He wouldn’t give her enough time to voice them however. “But enough of faceless enemies, if you’ve got the map than its time to get out of here. I don’t want to linger and risk losing you.”