Star Wars: Edge of Hope

Chapter Fifteen: The Voice Of The Darkside

The First Order's ship floats in orbit above the massive glowing ember of Mustafar. The red sea of molten rock curling around it's semi-stable core, the roar of red clouds swirl high raining down slivers of black ash covering the ground in a powdery blanket of grey. Kylo Ren maneuvers his ship through the hazy atmosphere, cutting through the clouds he nears the surface of the planet. Kylo Ren turns his head from side to side, as if he's trying to dislodge something from his mind. He can feel it again. That nagging twisting of fingers rummaging around his mind looking for something. Something to choke off his strength, to make him vulnerable to this uninvited voice always chattering his ears. The crimson halo hovering over the flowing river of lava drew your eyes to the black molten rock edifice towering over the landscape. The Force swept over Kylo Ren the closer he came to the dark tower. It's silence broken like the severed cords of harp, once beautiful in time, now sinister in it's resonance. There was something different about this place from any of the relics of the Empire. This place was alive...it had a molten heart that spewed jaggedd fountains of its lifes blood into the inky sky. It also had eyes...and it could see everything...it could see him...

Voice of the Darkside: He's here...He's come...Ren...Kylo...Heir to Lord Vader...He's here...He's come...

Darth Vader: Join me...And together we will rule the galaxy...It is your Destiny...

Voice of the Darkside: Strong...the Force...Strength...Anger...Pain...Such pain...Fears his nature...Such pain..pain..PAIN!

As Kylo steps out into the acrid stench of the planets surface. His boots sink an inch deep into the burnt churned over soil. It compacts beneath his footfalls as he cautiously begins to walk through the charred wasteland. And again he feels the wash of energy fall over him like a weighted net. The soul of this planet still lived and breathed, it was the ever present swell of all your deepest fears, violent rage, and your darkest secrets brought to bear against your will. And no matter how you fought against it, sooner or later, everyone succumbed to its temptation. It's seductive power could beguile anyone to sacrifice all they possessed, all they loved...even their own soul to its rapturous control.

Voice of the Darkside: I can feel your anger growing...Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design.

Darth Vader: Your feelings betray you...

Darth Maul: Fear. Fear attracts the fearful...the strong...the weak...the innocent...the corrupt. Fear. Fear is my ally.

Kylo Ren felt his heart being squeezed with each step he takes, like following in the footsteps of another, as if he were not visiting this place for the first time. But returning from a long absence and Mustafar was welcoming him back with open arms. Ren could feel his metal being tested as he pulled his lightsaber from his belt and motioned for the Knights to fan out in a line parallel to his position. Together they staked cautiously forward across the desolation which lay at the doorstep of many a persons inescapable fate. Each bracing step forward Ren had to push harder and harder against the Force struggling to hold him at bay. He could feel the talons ripping at him from the inside out. But he was no stranger to pain, and after a time, anyone can become immuned to such trivial sensations, as pain.

Darth Sidious: I can feel your anger, it gives you focus...makes you stronger...

Supreme Leader Snoke: You were unbalanced, bested by a girl that had never held a lightsaber. You failed! Skywalker LIVES! The seed of the Jedi Order lives. As long as it does...Hope lives in the Galaxy. I thought you would be the one...to snuff it out...alas you are no VADER...

Ren's grip tightens down on the hilt of his saber. The Darkside whispers to Kylo Ren, daring him to purge himself of his weaknesses...his compassion...his trust...his Hope. Testing his metal...testing his will...A familiar sound comes to him on the wind.