*THIS STORY HAS SPOILERS FOR THE LAST JEDI. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
1
Takodana, 34ABY
I sat on a mossy rock, turning a stone in my hands as I looked over the lake. Maz's castle towered in the distance, its spire piercing up into the sky. I sighed and twisted my wrist, letting the stone loose. It bounced across the water before thudding down hard and sinking into the blue. I heard a loud screaming chirp above me. I turned my head up, noticing multiple ships materialising in the sky above. Pibble, my porg companion, came swooping down and landed next to me with a thump. He ruffled his feathers up before screaming again. 'I know buddy, I can see. What are all these ships doing here?' I furrowed my brow as they appeared to head towards the castle. Pibble cocked his head, blinking his large bulging eyes at me. My fingers grazed the dented metal of my lightsaber that hung on my side. Without hesitation, laser shots rained down and the ships began to descend on the only place I'd been able to call home for years. 'Crap. Come on Pibble.' He jumped into a pouch in my backpack, his little head poking out. 'Stay hidden, I don't want you to get hurt!' I exclaimed, poking him down and closing the pocket up. I heard a muffled cry of agreement before I took off running.
Vaulting logs and dodging trees, I sprinted through the forest. As I got closer to Maz's castle, I heard gun shots, shouting and screaming. I skidded to a halt and ducked down beneath a boulder. Catching my breath I peered out and saw storm troopers patrolling the area, guns cocked and ready. Swallowing, I sunk down and waited for them to pass. My head began to spin as I leant back and rested it on the cool stone. I could feel my lungs fighting to function in my chest. They felt heavy but also empty, struggling to expand and contract as I breathed. After what seemed like hours but in reality was a few seconds, I plucked up the courage to step out and continue moving. As I got to my feet, Pibble suddenly started to squeal from inside my bag. 'Pibble shush!' I murmured, running in a low stance across the forest floor. I heard the pop of the pocket top open and his head emerged, screaming again. 'Over there!' I looked over my shoulder and saw a group of troopers come charging towards me. 'Great, thanks a bunch.' I grumbled, yanking my blaster from my belt and taking multiple shots. Once I'd taken out some of them I began to sprint away, but could feel them hot on my tail. Plasma landed around me, sizzling through the ground. Heart racing, I rounded corner after corner, trying to shake them off. I glanced over my shoulder, seeing nobody behind me. 'I think we lost them bud!' I exclaimed, still running. Suddenly, my foot stumbled over a tree root and I felt myself slam into the ground, skidding and falling off the edge of a small dip into a trench. As my skull collided with the floor, darkness consumed me.
My vision fuzzed in and I groaned. Splaying my hands out in front of me, I jerked at the texture of cool metal against my skin. 'Pibble?' I mumbled quizzically, pushing myself up into a sitting position. He lay on the floor, wings splayed out. 'Pibble!' I cried, scooting over to him and pulling him up into my hands. He slowly blinked his eyes open, quietly mewing at me. 'Hey little guy, don't worry, just rest.' I placed him in an inner pocket of my jacket and took in my surroundings for the first time. The room I was in was completely black, a blue transparent screen blocked the only exit which looked out onto other rooms similar to my own. I got up and moved over to the screen, stretching a finger out toward it. Upon contact a strong electrical pulse ran through me and I flinched, drawing my hand back to my chest. 'Shit. We've been captured.' I whispered, staring out into the other cells with prisoners shut in. 'Don't worry Pibble, I'll find a way to get us out of-' 'I don't think that'll be happening.' My gaze was met with that of a tall figure in a silver trooper suit. A black cape draped over her shoulders and a blaster rifle rested neatly in her hands. 'Why am I in here? Let me go, I haven't done anything.' I yelled, moving so close to the electric screen I could feel sparks crackle near my cheeks. 'You're with the Resistance dear; that makes you our enemy. Now, stop your hollering before I shoot a hole through your gut.' I leaned back a little and swallowed hard, panic rising in my stomach. 'I'm not with the Resistance, I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.' The trooper laughed. 'You expect me to believe that? If you're not with the rebels, then why did you kill some of our finest men?' I gritted my teeth. 'Because they were trying to kill me.' The barrel of the rifle shot up, pointing straight at my head. 'Are you trying to be smart kid? Because I will blow your brains out if I have to.' Before I could retort, a dark figure moved into the room. 'Captain Phasma, lower your weapon and get back to your post.' The voice was distorted and fractured, sounding almost fake. Phasma lowered her rifle and moved away, leaving a lasting impression of fear imprinted inside me. I let out a breath, clenching my fists and shaking slightly. 'I never thought you would be one to join the Resistance Tessala.' I staggered back, confused. 'How do you know my name?' Swallowing, I ran a hand through my brunette hair as my brain struggled to comprehend what was happening. The dark figure moved into the light, outlining the entire black attire he was wearing and the black mask that covered his face. 'I know you.' The deep, robotic voice growled. Turning on his heel he went over to a sealed box on the wall. I couldn't make out what he was doing but abruptly, all the other cells went dark. 'They cannot see or hear what I'm about to show you.' I shuffled backwards again as my heart thundered in my chest. The figure stepped closer to the electric screen before reaching up and removing his mask. A rush of air left the metal as he emerged, dropping his helmet to the floor. 'B-Ben?' I gasped, stuttering over my words. His eyes bore into me and I began to feel sick. 'I thought I killed you.' He narrowed his eyes at me. 'I escaped the school.' My entire being quivered, petrified by the man who stood in front of me. He continued to stare at me and I felt my mind being compressed and stretched. 'Ben please, don't.' Tears stung my eyes as my throat tightened. 'I am not Ben anymore.' Stretching his arm out he focussed hard and I began to levitate off the ground. Clawing for breath I let out a weak scream of pain, the tears bursting out of my eyes. 'I am Kylo Ren!' He yelled, flinging me against the wall. I crumpled on the ground, coughing hard and gasping for air. I lay there with blood dripping from my nose. It splattered onto the black, metallic floor. 'Fight back.' Kylo commanded and I shook my head. 'I left that life behind after the school.' I retorted weakly, causing him to grimace, pulling my lightsaber out from under his cloak. 'Then why do you still have this?' Shrugging weakly, I pulled myself up and rested against the wall. 'I just do. Turn it on, it doesn't even work properly.' Wheezing, I wiped the blood from my nose and cradled my chest. Kylo pressed the button and my lightsaber flickered a faint green light, occasionally flashing off and then back on again. 'It's a pile of junk.' I murmured as I slumped backwards, feeling my vision blur a little. I could sense him looking at me as I closed my eyes and fell into unconsciousness again.
Startling myself awake, I found myself in the same place. Pibble had climbed out of my pocket and was staring out past the electric screen silently. I shook my head and wiped the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand. Seeing I was awake, Pibble ran over to me and squealed happily. I gave a weak smile, stroking his head reassuringly. As I did, I noticed the blood stains on the floor and a shudder flooded down my spine. I had never imagined that I would once again face him. I envisioned his face in my mind, staring me down and threatening to kill me. Regret filled me and I pummelled my face into my hands. 'I should've stopped him.' I whispered to myself as the memories of what had happened all those years ago materialised in my head.