Till there are no stars left in the sky

Part 5

He could not possibly have meant the command he gave the four white armor clad stormtroopers, "Kill her." The words jarred her as she watched him leave, as if he was indifferent as to what would be her fate. The door slid shut with a final click as the locks engaged. Aurora remained crouched on the floor, her hands trembled as they gripped the weapon, knuckles white. She didn't want to fight, but how would she convince them? She looked between the four of them frantically. "I don't want to-" The closest of the four that had now encircled her on all side snicker, he was the tallest, and had a thicker build then the other three.

"You scum" he spat. With that he charged her. Before she could react he was on top of her, and her lack of action was met with a unbridled kick to her side. A sickening snap followed by a blinding pain rolled through her, white specks invaded her vision as her rib broke. She recoiled, folding in on her to protect her broken body. Pain, agony, and hate seethed in her. She screamed as the same trooper brought his leg down full force on her ankle. The trooper laughed, "Stupid, weak girl. To think Kylo Ren warned us not to underestimate you. Will you not even try to fight?" Another kick, this time to the back of her thigh. Sharp, tingling pain raced down to her toes. She gasped and immediately felt the stab of her rib in her lungs. Her hands balled into fists as she gave in to the pain that ripped through her, pushing her to the brink of unconsciousness. Her breaths were shallow and sharp. She clutched the weapon and thumbed the switch. The staff hummed to life with a constant surge of electricity that enveloped the blunt end of her weapon. The world slowed as she rolled to her side to see her attacker, preparing to inflict another devastating blow to her ribs. Before he was able to meet his target, she spun to her knees and thrust the bladed end with all her might into the soft black target between his chest plate and helmet. There was little resistance as the blade sliced through and material and flesh, embedding itself with a sickening thud as it came in contact with his spine. The trooper staggered as blood soaked through and began the pour freely down the front of the once pure white armor. Tears and shock sprang to Aurora's face as a slick trail of blood cascaded down the staff, painting death on her now trembling fingers. She didn't have time to think as the three other troopers now commenced assault on her at once. She yanked the blade from the lifeless form in front of her. The body slumped to the floor with a loud thud. Flanked on all sides, Aurora caught a glimpse of movement to her right and gave into fear, swinging the weapon wildly about. The rash action managed to hit one of her attackers with the charged end of the weapon. Energy erupted from the terminus, and sent him soaring across the room. His body, electrocuted, fell convulsing to the floor and then went still. The two other troopers took aim with their blasters deciding close combat would risk suicide. As the first weapon fired, Aurora closed her eyes, about to recoil, when somehow she felt where the plasma bolt would land. She instinctively swung her staff around to block the shot. To her amazement, the bolt reflected off the electromagnetic field that encompassed the blunt end of her weapon. There was no time to revel in her accomplishment as three more plasma bolts were hurled her way. She yielded to her instincts as she hit them away with incredible speed. She discovered the angle of the staff determined the direction of the reflected bolt.

She went on the offensive, focusing her attention on disarming one at a time. She was tiring though, and her body was failing her. The metallic taste of blood rising in her throat confirmed her suspicion of having a punctured lung. She was drowning as blood filled her lungs. Her chest refused to draw in sufficient breaths, and she felt panic overcome her. She stumbled as her vision clouded. Her eyes closed, and she readjusted the angle of the staff to deflect the nearest blaster shot. The gurgled gasp told her the shot had found its mark. Blazing heat seared through her calf as her last attacker brought her to her knees. He walked up and kicked her weapon away. Teary eyes burning, she took a piercing breath and stared at her executioner. She readied herself for the shot that would end her life, but it never came. Before darkness overtook her she watched the blurry image of the stormtrooper's head whip violently to the side. An audible crack permeated the silence as her would-be attacker's neck broke. The imperial fell dead to the floor.

Kylo Ren stood outside of the room. He cleared his mind of all except what was in the sealed prison behind him. He stood straight, legs slightly apart with gloved hands clasped behind his back. This was his meditative stance. In his mind,he was able to sense the scene behind the door as it unfolded; this was her test. She would dirty her hands with blood she did not wish to shed, or she would perish. He could sense her pain and fear as she endured the first blow. The anger and disgust...the hatred as she ended the first trooper's life. Now shock coursed through her thoughts. It was the first life she had ever taken. She fought the urge to give in and die without any more bloodshed on her hands and willed herself to move through the agonizing pain that plagued every breath. He sensed less remorse as the second life was silenced. She unknowingly heeded his advice and gave into instinct. A slight grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. He felt her draw on the force to send the ending shot back at the third assailant but also to fight unconsciousness from taking her. Pain jolted him as she was struck by the blast, he knew she was slipping. It was then Kylo Ren had questioned the method of his first lesson to her. His senses told him her strength would fail her, and it angered him. He promised himself he would not interfere. She would either be strong enough or she would not. He scowled, his temper rising. She need only kill one more! Stupid, weak girl! He was a fool to overestimate her ability. Thoughts of drowning were now in the forefront of her mind, she was choking on her own blood. Her consciousness was fading fast. He ignited his lightsaber and struck the door control panel several times in a fit of rage, leaving a melted heap of metal his wake. He would not interfere, interfering would be weak. He was not weak, he didn't care if this foolish girl would die. After his violent rampage he stood ridged, face toward the door. His breath came in heavy gasps through clenched teeth, hands visibly trembling at his side. His resolve to let her die wavered as the victor kicked the staff from Aurora's reach. He could sense the smug triumph of the last standing trooper as he lifted his blaster to reap his reward. His reward came swift as Kylo Ren raised his hand towards the door and, with a small twist of his wrist, snapped the man's neck.

The door opened with a small gesture, and Kylo Ren walked rigidly into the room. His eyes found her limp body exactly where he knew it would be. Her heart fluttered as her pulse weakened. He gently stooped down to pick her up, and eased his arms under her, one at her shoulders and one at her waist. Upon trying to lift her she recoiled and moaned in agony as her ribs shifted at his movement. She fought unconsciousness but was to weak. He responded to her pain instinctively by moving his arm lower to the crook of her knees to take any pressure off her broken bones. The motion caused her head to slump to the side and rest against his chest. He stood carrying her fragile form to the infirmary. Under his mask he kept his eyes forward, they were bloodshot and burned at the corners. He cursed himself for saving her. She was weak, and as such she had no value to him. He cursed himself for the pang her warm body against him brought: the unwanted pull towards the light. Brief memories of a mother's embrace and of a father's jesting shove emerged from deep in his mind. He buried those memories when he let darkness consume him with promise of never having to feel that pull again. He murdered his father. He was promised unbridled power by the supreme leader for fulfilling such an undertaking, a promise he still waited for. He walked into the infirmary to be greeted by a team of surgical droids. He set her down on the medical bed and strode from the room not looking back. Coldness seeped into his chest with the absence of a warm body, he resolved in his mind with each heavy step that he would not let her weaken him. He would kill her if she ever made him hesitate again.