STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

FINN'S WAY

SERVOS embedded within a sculpted back trailed a metal spine. Wires dug into the muscles of Finn's arms and shoulders, forming bulging veins that snaked underneath dark skin.

The former Ren exhaled harshly.
Before him, a green saber shimmered, bisecting stars beyond triangle shaped viewports.

Finn, despite his imprisonment, was rather comfortable.

The Kasshern, while an Alliance vessel, still bore residual Imperial design. Finn was surprised by how quickly he grew accustomed to the vessel's various paths and chambers.

Director Sella gave him almost free mobility. He simply had to be in his quarters by a certain time, constantly under guard by two officers.

She had even given him his lightsaber.

Finn closed his eyes.

Bandaged fingers tightened across an ebony hilt.

Jacen was before him.
The ground, wet with snow, numbed his feet as the Ren charged.
Kylo's fiery blade churned against Finn's own weapon. Sparks flew into brown eyes while Kylo's voice boomed.

"TRAITOR!" Jacen screamed.
Darkness consumed Kylo's face. Finn twirled away, desperately throwing his weight into his shoulder as he slashed Kylo's saber.

The Ren gracefully moved with the attack, sliding his weapon just above Finn's own as their weapon's screeching roars filled the forest.

Kylo pounced, side stepping to Finn's right. The Ren Lord stood several inches taller, and his broad shoulders shadowed Finn as a crusader's sword howled from above.

  "I TRUSTED YOU! I PROTECTED YOU!" Kylo bellowed, black hair whipping about ears.

Finn gasped.

He opened his eyes as he controlled his breathing.

Finn's saber weaved through the air as he began his practiced routine. The muscles in his body protested slightly as he increased speed, dancing on the balls of his feet as sweat dripped down a furrowed brow.

The pangs of Snoke's curse had left him.

But that was because he no longer could feel the call of the Force.
As he moved he felt almost blinded.
The only thing keeping Finn from cutting himself was learned repetition- in battle with an actual Force user, he would no doubt be killed.

You deserve to be.

Jacen's sneering voice echoed within Finn's thoughts. Guilt ate away at him, churning his thoughts into a vile miasmic cloud.

Five years ago the Ren found Finn. He was raised fighting in the war fields of Concordia. Finn descended from a Mandalorian clan that was exiled to the violent moon decades before the Clone Wars.

Kylo and his Ren came looking for what Finn now knew as a star map, an ancient tool used by the first Force users. The map was what eventually led the First Order to Rhen Var.

The Ren massacred Finn's clan-The exiled warriors guarded the device since the days of the Old Republic. Kylo sensed the Force in Finn, saving him from death.
The boy, fifteen years old at the time, followed Jacen out of fear.

They gave him a new name.
Fintos Caedus Ren.

Jacen had even given him a lightsaber- the very one he held in his hands now.

This belonged to someone special to me. Now I want you to have it. In a lot of ways, they live on in you.

Finn remembered the smile Jacen had worn then, a face so rarely seen on the dreary older youth.