Star Wars: The Dark Side Unleashed

Chapter 3

The closer I got to Mustafar, the more I could sense Ren's fear. And anger. What am I, that Snoke sends you out to hunt for me like a dog? blasted through my mind.

I smirked. "Like a dog, Kylo Ren?" I said out loud. "Dogs don't betray their masters. I am coming after you because you are a traitor to the First Order, a traitor to the Force." My lips curved into a small smile as I brushed my hand over the handle of my lightsaber. "My only regret is you didn't try to hide from me..."

As my TIE fighter approached Mustafar, I took in the dark beauty of the planet. Here was where Vader had fully turned to the Dark Side. The power flowing through the planet, as a result, was astounding, and Kylo Ren couldn't have picked a worse spot to fight me. For him, that is. Granted, as a First Order Sith, he could channel the Dark Side of the Force and gain its energy, but not as well as I could.

I was the dark side of Anakin Skywalker, reincarnated. I was the power of Darth Revan made human. I was the craftiness of Darth Vectivus. I was the pure force of Darth Bane, Darth Plageuis, Darth Sidious, all of them. Through them the Dark Side had flowed strongly, and now it was me.

Kylo Ren did not have a chance against me. Though maybe it would be fun to let him try, let him attempt to persuade me not to kill him.

I brushed aside Supreme Leader Snoke's voice saying, "Don't kill him if you don't have to. He is powerful."

Powerful. I was the Dark Side in a living, human form. Nothing could be more powerful than I was. And that is why I would destroy Snoke when I could. Pathetic being could only face me if I was completely restrained or in carbon freeze.

I would destroy Kylo Ren. No matter if he turned back to the Dark Side or not. He deserved to be punished. Severely.

As my TIE fighter slowly glided into the planet's atmosphere, I inhaled deeply, taking in the rage that had been released here so long ago. "In my view the Jedi are evil!" echoed through my head.

"Well, then, you are lost!" another voice cried.

"I hate you!" Rage pulsed through my head, pure rage and anger and hatred. I closed my eyes, letting Darth Vader's contempt and strength fill me.

"I hate you...I hate you...I hate you..."

I opened my eyes: the fighter had neatly landed near an old, lava-spattered base. The ruins of the base contained devastated ships, fighters and cargo freights and a droid transport. Despite the appearance of being abandoned, a shield surrounded the base, preventing the lava of the volcanic planet from destroying it any further. Further down, Kylo Ren's fighter sat.

I stood up.

He was there, waiting at the end of the landing platform, lightsaber ignited.

I stepped out of the TIE fighter, and I felt the fear surrounding us--him--tighten. Slowly, I put one boot in front of the other, gracefully, dramatically.

"Via Dolorosa," his voice said, echoing in a robotic way from his mask.

"Kylo Ren," I acknowledged quietly.

"Why are you here?"

Both of us know why. I tightened my grip on my lightsaber.

Ren was wary, as well he should be. He had accompanied me on several of my missions, and he knew how dangerous I was. Especially when I was quiet and calm. That was when all hell broke loose, and he knew it.

He also knew that I didn't like leaving survivors. No matter what Snoke said, Ren would have to kill me in order to stay alive.

His black robe rustled in the hot gusts of air. Sweat was heading on my forehead from the heat of the lava around us, and Ren seemed slightly uncomfortable. A burst of lava popped and sizzled on the shield, unable to touch us. Delicately I flipped my lightsaber up into the air and caught it.

A black blade sliced through the air, the air shimmering around it. Ren adapted a more defensive pose in response.

"I've been sent to destroy you," I said. "You have been deemed a traitor to the First Order."

Ren smirked at me. "And you? What are you?" he shot at me. "I've seen your thoughts; I know you would rebel and destroy everyone in the First Order, given the chance. That's why Snoke has me watch you."

"I would destroy the whole galaxy, given the chance." I whipped my lightsaber around a couple of times, enjoying the feel of it back in my hand. "Right now, I'm Snoke's. And I have been sent to destroy you."

Ren's eyes darkened. "I won't go down without a fight," he growled.

"That's what I'm hoping for," I replied carelessly. Without warning, I leaped at him, swinging my lightsaber viciously.

Ren had been expecting something like this, and he parried me immediately. He knew my fighting style, he knew my aggressiveness, he knew I was a dangerous opponent indeed.

But he had made a serious mistake in coming here. The only thing that would have been worse for him would have been if he had gone to Korriban, the ancient planet of the Sith. The Dark Side filled me and gave me so much power.

The fight was over within seconds. I used the Force to disarm him and knock him to his feet. "I would have hoped you would give me a greater fight," I said, pouting jokingly.

Ren struggled in my grasp.

"I want to see your face as I kill you." I had never seen his face, for he had always worn that mask. For me, seeing a person's fear as they died in my grasp was exhilarating. And since it was Kylo Ren, my enemy, my rival, I would definitely enjoy it.

I slowly lifted his mask.

And stopped dead. In shock.