A Seam Within the Galaxy • Kylo Ren

Ch.19

I awake from the short-lived evening nap I had taken, the alarm on my holopad alerting me it was time to get ready for what lay ahead on our mission. I stretch, relaxing back into the cushions below as my eyes scale the ceiling, the holopad casting a dim glow. I sit up and rub my eyes, flicking the pad off while adjusting to the darkness of the room, ashamed of how much time I got to spend in space. I reach my hand out and wiggle my fingers, slowly turning the dial of the light switch on. I finally rise from my bed and undress, sloppily leaving my clothing behind me on the floor.

I enter the bathroom, turning on the light and the shower simultaneously with the flick of my hand, becoming well versed in the smaller elements the force had to offer me. I stand naked before the mirror, maneuvering my body around while inspecting the backs of my arms and the backs of my legs, free of any burns that had accumulated from the fire yesterday, thanks to Commander Ren.

I shiver at the idea of becoming strong enough within the force to heal someone like he had for me, wondering how much exertion it would take, how long of a buffer it would put on me to recover from. Commander Ren was, obviously, much stronger, therefore it didn't take as much out of him to do so. I wondered if I could ever will myself to accomplish this, in the moment, if it ever came down to it.

I turn and head to the shower, stepping into the hot water and shutting the door behind me. I grab a cloth and soap, roaming around my body and working it up into a lather. I remember the time crunch I have, needing to be in the main conference room in just about an hour. I absentmindedly rub my body down with the soapy cloth, letting my mind wander to the possibilities the day could bring. Today was Tatooine, simply because the small scout group had found what it seemed to be a small rebel base, possibly pointing us in the direction of the Resistance's main hideout.

In a few days time smaller divisions would visit Arkanis, then Christophsis, neither planets I had ever been to. It was important for the Commander, one of the generals, or myself to be in attendance of the excursion to said planets, calling for a busy time until the two assailants were found.

My thoughts roamed toward yesterday, when Commander Ren had saved myself and the rest of the people within the cargo pod on the docking bay, quite possibly the most heroic act of selflessness I had ever witnessed. In a time I thought I was to surely die, he came through and saved the day. There was a lot of talk concerning him, always painting him in a negative light. The better I had grown to know him, to train alongside of him as I learned the ways of the force, I couldn't believe the man those people had met was the same man he wanted to teach me. The man that saved my life countless times.

I didn't care too much about what started the fire, if it was man-made or if it really happened to start from faulty wiring— I couldn't believe I had escaped death once more, with the help of him.

Surely someday I would succumb to my fate, and the Commander wouldn't be around to help me. All of these times I had escaped from the clutches of death, almost able to reach out and see what life on the other side is like, to be taken back to reality for my life to continue on. Deep down I worried my ultimate fate would be much worse than anything I had ever experienced, that there would be atonement for what I had skipped out on.

I lean against the wall, distracted as I lazily run the cloth over my chest and up my shoulder, mid-thought.

These next few weeks would surely be a lot, mentally and physically, for all of us. I only hoped we could find the assailants and bring justice for Phasma, as all of this had come as such a surprise. I wouldn't have ever expected her to fall in the line of duty, and now we had to end the lives of those who did this to her.