As she told him the terrifying reality they were facing. He nodded, realizing his initial thoughts were right. "So it was when we fought in the temple, using the force, that it fed into him. Those moments in the tunnels as well," he paused, contemplating. "How do you defeat a foe who is more powerful than you in the force, without using the force?" He put it in a question like the many riddles that his master would always ask him as a Padawan. A riddle, perhaps, that didn't have an answer. He nodded, as he came to the realization. Dren got up and told her, "we have to stop him. Whatever it takes."<br/><br/>He looked at her. It was as if that connection they once shared was slowly coming back. He could feel what she was feeling, and it wasn't good. She was weak. He knelt back down to her, looking into her eyes. He forgot how easy it was to get lost in those eyes, like an endless sea of beauty. He swallowed hard. He wanted her to stay--but also feared that Darth Devorer would find another way out. He didn't want to leave her out of his sight--which was strange as he still wasn't sure he could trust her. She gave no reason to not trust her--but she was Sith, or at least associated with them. Why wasn't she siding with this Sith? He hated how his mind worked. He just wanted to trust her.<br/><br/>But what about the others? "You tell me you're Grey, but your comrades--they're Sith are they not? Given the chance, would they join with this Darth Devorer?" The thought had just come to his mind, and it made him sick to the stomach. Assuming anyone was still alive, it was a frightening thought to face more than just one Sith. Especially if his own comrades were dead.<br/><br/>He grabbed her arm, and placed it around his shoulders. He pulled her up, holding onto her, helping her to walk. The temple entrance, as far as he could tell from a pathway made of stone, was up the hill they faced. He pushed forward and helped her every step of the way. When she couldn't move he tried to carry her even more, but let her walk when she could. It was because she saved him that she was in this state, so he wasn't about to just leave her.<br/><br/>As they reached the top, he placed her down against one of the statues and observed the temple. His heart sank. What once stood was monumentally great, but was now just a massive hill of broken ruble. It would take decades to dig through it all. Just then, a small rat-like creature popped it's head through a hole in the ruble. It looked around, snarled at Dren, then ran back in. Perhaps there was a way. Dren ran to the side of the ruble and saw a small hole. He placed his hand into it, and pulled. The small hole became bigger--but it was still small. He studied it. Despite how small it was, it might be big enough.<br/><br/>He turned to Aeris. "It's a tight fit," he told her. He could feel the connection, a glimmer of it. He could feel her pain and struggle, and he instinctually placed his hand onto her cheek, feeling her warm and soft skin. His worry not only extended to his Jedi comrades, but now to her as well. She had saved him--and she was his friend; he didn't want to over-analyze it. "I want to go in an check if anyone survived. I don't know if I could carry you in. Are you able to join me, or do you need to rest?"