Star Wars: A Resistance Story. Book 3

Chapter 1: The Knights of Ren.

"My Lord? They're here."

A heavy silence fell on the main deck. All the Officers nervously glanced at the Supreme Leader who was staying perfectly still as he was facing the huge bay window of the Finalizer. The Resistance was no more. And its last members would be soon destroyed. The Battle of Crait had erased all act of rebellion. 

Slowly, he turned on his heels and nodded slightly before heading to the Great Council Room where his guests were waiting. As he crossed the door, the Knights bowed, but more because they had to and not by respect. He then settled on the former throne of Snoke and one of the Knights stepped closer:

"Congratulations are to be made Supreme Leader. You finally end all resistance..."

Kylo Ren nodded slightly again, waiting for the next part. He knew them but above that, he knew their real reason to be on the board of the Finalizer: his war's reward, Ly'ra Erso.

"What about going straight to the point? You don't have any patience for all these tomfooleries and neither do I. Just say what you want to say."

His words were followed by a silence, the seven Knights glancing at each other before the first continued his discourse:

"Is it true that you have on board the child of a Nightsister and a Jedi?"

And here we are. Kylo let out a sigh and looked away a moment before glaring back at the group in front of him. The news were spreading quickly in the Galaxy.

"Yes. But you won't have her. Her powers almost killed her last time she used them."

"So she's useless. And you should get rid of her, My Lord..."

Kylo rageously pushed away using the Force the insolent Knight, sending him rolling across the room. The others seemed to try and grab their weapons but the new Supreme Leader drew his saber quickier than the six people in front of him.

"You tend to forget that you have no word in this, Lords. I am keeping her here with me. And if you have anything to say, we'll talk about it at the next council meeting. Until then, an advice: don't stay on my way."

Kylo headed towards the exit furiously. But the voice of a Knight stopped him.

"And what about the Jedi? Snoke told us you would convert her. What's the result? Our Supreme Leader is dead and she escaped with the Resistance!"

Kylo kept his eyes fixed on the door in front of him, just as  the last vision of Rey surrounded him. The disappointment he saw in her eyes as she decided to close the Falcon's hatch, hurt him even more than she could have with her saber. She tried to turn and save him from Snoke's hold, just like Han did few days before, but he pushed her away. She didn't know. She couldn't know. She couldn't know all the stakes there were behind his presence in the First Order. She couldn't understand why he couldn't follow her and come back to the Light. Maybe she would never know. Maybe even she would hate him until her death. But if it was the price he had to pay to save the Galaxy, then may it be. Maybe he should have talked to her during his Force connections with her? But he knew that it was way too dangerous, as he didn't know who was putting them in contact. In the end he was right, because it was Snoke who played with them since the beginning. The young Sith then turned towards the Knights and put his saber away.

"I'll take care of her myself. Her training is far from being over, she doesn't have a saber anymore and she'll become a threat only if she finds a new Master to train her. Skywalker is dead and there is no more Kyber cristals in the Galaxy. No one will come to help her. It's over."

"But there is someone who could teach her more..."

Kylo then turned a cold glance at the men, stopping right away their idea. If one of them was making the mistake to attack Leïa, he would kill them himself, very slowly, with all his rage and anger. He didn't say another word and everyone stayed perfectly quiet. Once his discourse over, Kylo Ren stepped out of the room, leaving the Knights behind him, and he headed towards his room. He quickly crossed the corridors and the Officers and the Stormtroopers stepped out of his way as fast as they could. He could feel their fear as they were looking down. He was scaring everyone. Or more precisely, his anger's crisis were scaring everyone. 

"Ah! Supreme Lead..."

Kylo stepped in his room, closing the door with a simple nod to the door, just in front of Armitage Hux. Once locked, he turned towards his bed and quietly studied Ly'ra's figure. The young woman seemed to have a lot of troubles to get over her Force's demonstration. She was still unconscious and really pale. The young man sat down on the bed, put his hand on the pilot's face to make sure that the mental barrier he had placed few days ago was still strong.

Ly'ra Erso might be his last chance to fulfill his mission and he knew he couldn't do it alone. So he couldn't lose her. But of course, convince her to play his game and join his side wouldn't be easy, but with the threat of loosing the control over her powers, she could be rational. For now, he would have to keep her safe from everyone aboard. Especially from the Knights of Ren and from her former fiancé who was trying every single day to convince the Supreme Leader to allow him to see her and this, since their departure of Crait.

Hux. This little runt would be the real problem on his way. Even if he did convince Ly'ra to help him, the young General's presence would stop his plans. That man has always been fascinated for the pilot and as soon as she would step out of Kylo's room, he would be there. No. He had to get rid of him so she could be free to go around without looking over her shoulder all the time. A small smile appeared on the Supreme Leader's face when an idea popped in his mind. A new assignation. The Outpost of Batuu was the perfect place. Some strong heads like Vi Moradi were still trying to confront the First Order's authority, so the presence of a General would be an undeniable help and a very important asset. That was it. The General Hux would be assigned to Batuu.

"Poe...?"

The young man looked down, frowning. Ly'ra seemed to have a nightmare, probably an attempt from Silri who was still trying to convert her into a Nightsister. Kylo stood up and walked towards the window of his room. He would do nothing. Not now anyway. This fight was Ly'ra's. And they would soon all their part to play in this war.

The final battle was near, he could feel it. Everything would be soon over. They would have to be ready.