Entirely Different

Chapter Six : Continued Training

The next morning, you left your quarters at 07:45. Between being unable to sleep and being anxious to see the Commander again, you knew that you had left your room entirely too early. Only a few other officers were in the halls of Sector C at this hour, your father being one of them. You passed him quickly in the hall, a small nod of the head being the only indication you might have been acquainted. The training hall was deserted, as per usual.

When you had arrived at the room, you were only half surprised to find it occupied. Just like the day before the Commander left for the Finalizer, seven masked men occupied the room. The Knights of Ren, all lined up facing the back wall, their master walking behind them. You entered the room quietly and sat against the wall, close to the corner, hopeful that you might be able blend into your surroundings and watch without being detected.

This must have been why he pushed back your training, to train with his knights. You watched Kylo Ren survey the men, stalking the perimeter of their line, his stride long and decisive. He resembled a dangerous carnivore with his sights on a meal. The knights were stone, immobile, awaiting his instruction. Each of them brandished a signature weapon, you realized. Most had spears or blade-like weapons fixed to their backs, but none were so deadly as the master they served.

"One." Kylo called out, bringing forth a knight from the left end of the line.

He circled the Commander for a few moments, taking careful steps at a safe distance, before striking all at once. Though he had moved before you could register the movement, Kylo had anticipated it first. His body turned lithely to the side, avoiding the attack. The knight stumbled forward, no contact to steady his decline.

"Two." Kylo called, a second knight breaking from the formation.

He joined the spar, both knights now circling Kylo like sharks. The first knight lunged forth again, narrowly missing the Commander's shoulder. The second knight drew his weapon, a bizarre axe-like object, and swung directly into the circle. Kylo extended a hand, the weapon stopping just short of meeting it, an invisible wall dividing the two. You could almost see The Force around him. Faintly blue, you imagined, working its way in and out of the holes in his guard.

"Three." He called again.

A third knight joined the circle, seemingly less enthused than the rest. He almost dragged his feet toward the fight, unwilling to face the Commander. You sympathized with him. You wouldn't want to face him either. Kylo attacked for the first time, sensing the knight's weakness. The Force grabbed the third knight, catching him wildly off guard and threw him to the floor, its blue aura swirling around him before returning to Kylo. Your imagination must have been vivid. The first knight stood in front of him, prone on the floor, while the second knight lunged forth again, weapon swinging for Kylo's legs.

But he jumped, evading the attack once again. Heavy boots landing with a solid thud as he spun on the second knight, snatching the weapon from his grasp, and tossing it to the other side of the room. It skidded far too close to you, and you drew your feet towards your chest, curling to a ball in the corner. You prayed you wouldn't be seen, but a familiar tug appeared at the back of your neck and you lifted your head to see the Commander facing you, the other knights had not yet followed suit. Shit. Shit Shit.. You shrank, knowing he had seen you. Kylo turned his back on you, shoulders squared against his knights.

One helped the other from the ground as the second knight glanced in search of his weapon. A prickly feeling washed over you as he found you, body going stiff as he spotted you curled in the corner. Kylo's head turned toward the knight, a blue tint from your imagination formed a wall in front of you.

"Fall in line." He commanded.

The knight did so, turning his back on you. Kylo reached back, The Force picked the weapon from the ground and it whizzed toward the knight who brandished it. The knight plucked it from the air and, with a small glance toward you, returned to line. You saw Kylo's shoulder's rise, his frame broadening, back straightening out of his predatory hunch. He walked up and down the line once. Twice. Hands swayed a little too casually by his sides.