A Seam Within the Galaxy • Kylo Ren

Ch.14

I watch from afar as my student enters the training room, later than usual. Had he been his usual kind of late, I might have had an easier time tolerating it. He scurries up to me, already beginning to apologize for his tardiness. "I'm sorry Major Arkin, I overslept again."

I raise my eyebrows and flatten my lips into a line. "Punctuality is an important part of being a trooper, and especially when progressing to Officer, Darro. I cannot tolerate this again, I hope you see why." I watch him nod hastily, setting his bag down and changing out of his shoes, something he should have done beforehand, something that he would have had time to do if he could have made it on time. I pinch the bridge of my nose as I walk away, BB-9 grabs his bag and moves it off to the side of the room. My eyes peer off, meeting the space on the far side of the room where the Commander and I once laid, while he took care of me as I bled out.

I had been on edge for the last two days, since the interaction with him in the hallway near the banquet. I was surprised I hadn't heard from him, after having smashed his helmet into several different parts. The newfound strength of mine motivated me to do better, be better. I wanted to focus all my energy during times like this, where I was training a student. I didn't wish to worry myself anymore about the Commander, or what stood between us. I felt that I had taken it too far after fleeing the banquet, we both did. It was a scary thought, remembering how easily we both let our anger out, mingling together as one. It was an even scarier thought when thinking back on how much we had enjoyed it, basking in each other's rage.

My irritated mood had stemmed from the interaction with him, as well as the fact that I wasn't ever going to let the Commander get in the way—in any kind of aspect within my life. I wasn't planning on pushing, or prodding further. I felt it was best to actually listen to General Hux's advice, going back to my ways before I had ever met Commander Ren. Although I was still angry, knowing I had something inside of me that needed to be worked on, to use it to the full extent correctly. It was too much for me, I had decided. Nothing I had ever asked for, just something that reared its head at possibly the worst time to do so. Keeping away from the Commander, and not devoting any bandwidth toward thinking of him was the best thing I could do for my career, to prove to those around me that I didn't need Kaz breathing down my neck during my training sessions.

I wondered about possible ways to get rid of these abilities, maybe finding someone who could possibly cleanse me of what was taking over, so I could get back to normal. Then I could find a way to get Kaz off of my back, prove to the higher officials that I was capable of working on my own. Going back to normal would also ensure that I wouldn't be within the Commander's mind as well; I knew this is what he wanted, deep down. I am sure of it.

I could no longer see what good any of these abilities could bring. This was for the best.

"What is there to learn today, Major?" Darro stands in front of me, blocking my view, pulling me back to reality. I gave him a sigh. "You aren't already aware?" I ask, earning a puzzled look from him.

"Deception." I narrow my eyes at the boy. "I think you could benefit from it." I flick my head in the direction of the wall, lined tall with an expansive list of weaponry. He does as he's directed, picking out two metal staffs.

Darro is young minded, although he is nearly 17. He is almost at the age, a year away, from the time where young students are analyzed, to see if they are adequate enough for battle. Some students, even younger than him, that have shown exceptional fighting skills and techniques could be drafted if they seemed ready enough. Clearly, Darro wasn't one of those students. He wasn't one of my favorites, but I still cared for the boy. He needed extra help and a watchful eye to make sure he was paying attention to his studies.