A Seam Within the Galaxy • Kylo Ren

Ch.16

"That's it April, just like that!" I yell, encouraging the young girl as she fights against another student. About eighteen, she had shown some real promise as of lately, excelling past many other students of her age. She fought a boy not too shy of turning the same age, Trent, who was swift on his feet and knew how to handle a staff. They duked it out, after I had trained with them one on one for a while, to show me what they both had learned while putting it to the test. Trent was swift, but needed to speed things up a bit, while April sometimes moved all too quickly, missing opportunities if she paced herself. I knew pairing them up would prove to be successful, both of them surely could learn a thing or two from the other.

The two knew what they needed to do, and with time, they were improving. "Good pace Trent, don't let her escape your sight." April flashed me an exhilerated glare before she dodged out of the way of the staff that belonged to Trent. It had been two days since I had last seen the Commander, after the incident with the Supreme Leader. It was an odd concept, training with students without Kaz looming from afar. I tried my best to accept the fact that she was gone, and the Kaz I once knew was long gone. I didn't feel as shaken up as I had initially, but it was still upsetting to know I had lost one of my oldest friends. I also felt somewhat relieved, guilt eating away at my insides as I happily trained my students, knowing there was no longer a threat to my title.

Commander Ren had told me there was business for him to attend to, following the death of the spy we had been looking for. Normally, it would have been in my hands to fill the spot Kaz once held, but the Commander relieved me from it. He felt that it would be too difficult of a process for me to fill a position that once was my friend's. He was right, although I would have attempted to carry on if he hadn't insisted.

I provided him with a list of students that were ready to be appointed to an Officer position, having already fought in battle numerous times. I knew he would pick the best one, as I had droned on and on about each student of mine for quite some time, listing their strengths and weaknesses, and who I personally thought had mentally, and physically met the bill. Although everything he needed lied in the files I sent him, he listened to everything I had to say with no protest. I appreciated it.

In lieu of choosing an Officer yesterday, we decided my first training session with him could be reserved for today, right after my class with April and Trent was finished. I had no idea what was in store for me, or what would be useful to learn first. I was eager, but also timid to begin. I trusted he would help me learn the ways of the force, I knew he was well versed with harnessing the power he had and knew how to use it to his advantage. I only feared how I would come to harness it, if I actually had it in me to keep it within my own control. I could see that he believed in me, and that he was much more knowledgeable of the force than I, so I believed in him.

I took notice that we were at the end of the class, as BB-9 had mentioned from down below. I thanked him, calling out to the students. "Great work guys, I've seen some serious progress today. Make me proud and keep practicing, okay?" Both students' staffs come to a stop, bodies turned toward me and nod in agreement. They make their way to the utility wall, returning their staffs to their spots and grabbing their things, discussing fighting strategies amongst themselves. I smiled to myself as I gathered my things, content with what I had done today, proud of where I was when comparing what I faced all those weeks ago. The students exit and BB-9 reminds me of my "date" with Commander Ren. I giggle absentmindedly at the droid's joke, one of few that rarely stemmed from him. He warned me to be careful, bringing up the other day, and how the Commander had beaten me to a pulp.

I reminded my tiny mechanical friend that it was behind us; we had been on bad terms then, and had improved upon them since. He still made me promise him I would be on the lookout, not letting myself become too comfortable around him. The droid made it clear that Commander Ren was a turbulent man who would not hesitate to kill me, so long as he felt his life was threatened. I remembered the sight of the control room and all the havoc that was wrecked, before I was taken by the General and executioners. I tell my dear friend that I will keep this in mind, although I never would intend to do such a thing to the Commander. Mid conversation, an officer I had yet to ever meet entered the training room, to my surprise, with a baby cradled in her arms. She seems a bit tired, but relief overcame her once our eyes met. "Oh, Major Arkin, I was told you'd be in here. I thought I might have missed you."