Star Wars: Fall of an Empire - Part I

VII - Kylo Ren

Kylo Ren's command shuttle jumped out of hyper speed over Mustafar. Its wings slowly opened as it entered the atmosphere of the red planet.

He had no TIE fighters on his side and took no stormtroopers on the shuttle to support him. As he approached the landing location of the sinister castle he felt that was a mistake. Though Mustafarians were long dead, he sensed the presence of other living beings here.

Separatists, he thought as he got off the shuttle and saw them in the entrance of the castle. His cape was blowing behind him by the wind as he walked towards them.

He took his lightsaber from his belt and ignited it in one swift motion. They rushed towards him, but nothing had prepared them for his anger. He blocked their blaster shots and parried their blades. He only attacked them when he was sure his lightsaber would cut true. And each of his strikes was deadly. He manoeuvred with precision. Never taking two steps when one would suffice.

They threw smoke to hide themselves, but even under its veil he could always tell where they were. When they came to him in numbers he was force pushing them away so he could fight them one by one. There was nothing they could do.

When he killed the last one of them he withdrew his blade. He didn't put his lightsaber back on his hilt though as he looked around him to make sure there was no one else left. He didn't lower his guard since he still felt a familiar presence somewhere in the area which made him uneasy. As he turned he saw one of his Knights walking calmly towards him.

"Of course, it was you who was leading them," Ren said.

"You are the one that has driven me to this," Trudgen said as he faced his former master. "Taking off your mask and abandoning your oaths."

"I have seen that you were going to betray me, Trudgen," Ren said recollecting one of his visions.

"And yet you came," Trudgen said.

Ren nodded. "I will let it play out as I have foreseen."

Trudgen took a step back as Ren walked towards him with a deadly intent.

Ren stopped and looked at him with pity. "Afraid?"

"Fear keeps one safe. And despite how much you try to hide it, I can feel the fear and anger inside you."

Ren ignited his lightsaber and walked towards him. Calm and measured this time.

Trudgen held the hilt of his Vibrocleaver with both hands and prepared himself. "Only in darkness the light," he whispered.

As Ren lunged Trudgen blocked with composure. They exchanged blows, but Ren never raised his lightsaber, knowing this would leave him vulnerable. That didn't mean he stayed defensive though as he always was the one to attack. This way he never gave Trudgen an opportunity to counter. With repeated quick stabs Ren forced him to stay on the defensive.

As they settled into this rhythm, Ren suddenly took a step back and changed his stance to form II that he never have used before with him. He held his lightsaber to his right side pointing down. Trudgen was caught off guard, but seeing an opening launched an attack to Ren's left side that was unprotected, disregarding that Ren invited him to do that.

Ren force pushed at his Vibrocleaver and twisted around himself passing by Trudgen in the process. Before he had time to react Ren had already brought his lightsaber around and with a fluid movement cut him down.

As Trudgen's body fell to the ground, Ren was sorrowful. This kind of sadness came over him every time he took a life. He was able to shield himself from it for years, but not anymore. He looked away from the bodies around him and tried to focus on what he came here to do.