It was not long before they had arrived at their destination, a small space station deep in the Unknown Regions. Escorted by a unit of Stormtroopers, Rey made her way deep inside the station. All the while she attempted to detect weaknesses in their security that she could use to escape when the time came. Finally, they reached a large metal door. Without anyone saying a word, it opened up, revealing a cavernous, dimly lit room. The Stormtroopers stood their ground as Rey instinctively moved forward. This is it, I'm going to meet Snoke and have my chance to kill him... if I choose to. This is the next step in my conquest of the galaxy.
Rey strode into the room with confidence. The door slid shut behind her and then locked into place. It was then that Rey detected the only other presence in the room. A familiar, detested presence. "Welcome," Kylo Ren said, his voice altered by his trademark helmet.
"I was wondering if you would be here. Where's Snoke?" Rey asked, completely unfazed by Kylo's greeting.
"Some place safe. Do not worry, he is still going to have a word with you... I hear you dealt with the pilot and the traitor. Doing my work for me, I see." Kylo said with a sneer.
"They offended me, just as you do," Rey fired back.
"Enough of this." A sinister voice filled the air as a large holographic projection filled the back half of the room. "Rey, welcome. It is so good to finally see you."
"Snoke. It's good to finally meet you as well. I have to thank you for your hospitality so far. It was good to be treated with such respect," Rey stated sincerely.
"It is nothing Rey, just what you deserve." Snoke's words made a shiver go up her spine. "If I may speak honestly, I know you are here with the intent to kill me. That isn't all, however. I can also tell you are conflicted."
Rey's heart stopped. She knew her plan was somewhat obvious, but she had been guarding her thoughts as best she could. Was Snoke really so powerful that he could detect her deception without her even realizing? He even surmised that she was unsure if she even wanted to carry out the plan. After a few seconds of silence, she decided honesty might be the best route forward. "Yes, that was my plan. I wanted to kill you and then rally an army to destroy both the First Order and the Resistance. But recently I've been thinking…"
"You don't need to finish, my dear." Snoke's tone had a sweetness to it. "I know you are at a trying time. You feel like you are new person and you are trying to find exactly where you fit in the galaxy."
"Yes, exactly," Rey said. Snoke was able to capture what she was feeling so well.
"Well, I have present for you Rey. One that I hope will help you figure out your place in the galaxy."
Rey raised an eyebrow. "A present?"
"Yes. I present to you… Kylo Ren. Do with him what you will." The hologram casually gestured to a confused Kylo.
"What?! Master, what are you talking about?" Rey began to feel tremendous fear radiate off of Kylo.
"You have failed me time and time again, apprentice. I will not suffer another embarrassment due to your incompetence." Snoke turned to Rey. "My dear, decide his fate."
Thoughts ran through Rey's mind at a mile a minute. This was an unexpected turn of events to say the least. It had been so long since she had thought about what she was going to do with Kylo that she almost forgot about her desire to turn him into an ally. "I never expected this Lord Snoke. For you to just give Kylo to me."
Kylo stomped his foot on the ground. "He's not just-"
"Shut up, you will speak when told to." Snoke interrupted, shooting Kylo a deadly glance. The knight shriveled up almost like he was retreating into a shell and Snoke turned back to Rey. "It's not what you expected, but something you fantasized about, was it not?"
"Yes, I used to fantasize about confronting Kylo and then turning him back to the light," Rey said, beginning to blush.
"But you don't any more do you?" Snoke probed gently.
"No, I don't." Rey's heart rate increased quickly as she realized why that was for the first time.
A smile crept across Snoke's face. "And why is that?"
"Because I'm no longer a follower of the light side." Rey was panting and her head felt lighter than air. The words felt so foreign in her mouth that it felt like somebody else was speaking, but deep down she knew she was telling the truth.
"Then what does that make you?" Snoke asked with glee.
"I… I'm a warrior of the dark side" Rey admitted to herself for the first time. Her breathing became even more ragged and her face became completely flush. It had been so obvious for so long, but somehow, she could not bring herself to think it. Now that she had said it out loud, it was like a great weight had lifted off her shoulders.
Snoke looked like he was beaming with pride. "Of course you are, my dear Rey. Embrace it. Be proud of all you have accomplished by turning away from the light."
Rey could feel darkness permeating every facet of her being. It was almost as if admitting the truth to herself had opened the floodgates and let the corruption come pouring into her soul. It felt fantastic. Her face was burning and it felt like her heart was going to explode. "I was so foolish to hide from myself."
Snoke chuckled. "Bask in it. Soak it in."
Between deep breaths Rey managed to respond with a deranged smile. "This is… the real me."
"Indeed. Now what does the real you want to do about Kylo?"
The question brought Rey back down to reality. She knew immediately what her answer would be, but enjoyed the worried look on Kylo's face as she left him in suspense. "I may have fantasized about turning him to the light. But even before then, there was only ever one choice. That night we fought on Starkiller Base, I showed him mercy. I have regretted it ever since. I've had nightmares about it. What I want to do to Kylo... is kill him. It's what I've always wanted to do, whether I could admit it or not."
"Why? Because he killed your friends?"
"For revenge, yes," Rey admitted shamelessly. "But not just that. He is weak, pathetic and unworthy to lead the galaxy. That is my destiny, not his. So, he must die."
A satisfied grin made its way across Snoke's face. "Then do it. Kill him."
Kylo drew his lightsaber and faced Rey, assuming a more confident posture. "You can try, scavenger, but I have healed and might not be so eas-"
Rey raised Kylo into the air with the Force and effortlessly smashed him into the closest wall, breaking his left arm. "Shut up Kylo. You lost to an untrained scavenger last time, do you really think you can defeat me now that I've prepared?"
"Of course! I have trained with masters of the Force, do you really think you have an advantage?" Kylo replied, slowly picking himself off the ground.
"I know I'm advantaged. Now, take off that stupid mask." Rey reached out with her abilities and violently snapped off Kylo's helmet, revealing his scarred face and scratching it even more in the process. "What's the matter? I thought you said you healed since our last fight."
Placing a quivering hand over his bloodied face, Kylo gave Rey a look that promised death. "You bitch! How dare you?!" Rushing her at top speed, he raised his lightsaber into the air preparing to strike.
However, Rey was more than prepared for Kylo's offense. She nonchalantly dodged the attack and then countered it by tripping him, causing him to fall flat on his face. "Very smooth. Is this the best the leader of the Knights of Ren can do?" she ridiculed. The sound of her taunting laughter filled the dank air.
Trying to keep his cool, Kylo quickly rallied and took a defensive stance. "You may have a few new tricks scavenger, but the blood of Darth Vader flows through my veins."
Amused by his delusions of victory, Rey decided play with him a little more before ending the battle. "If his blood runs through your veins, then why am I wielding his lightsaber?" She assumed a defensive stance as well. "Why don't you come at me with your best shot then, heir of Darth Vader?"
Cautiously, Kylo began to approach her, but did not get too far before he found himself dragged three feet in the air by a telekinetic force. With ease, Rey began cutting his oxygen supply, stifling him. "You think you… are so good… don't you?"
"Yes, I am the best. Not only am I far more talented than you, I am pure," Rey answered with pride.
Kylo struggled to escape Rey's grasp in vain. "What… are you… talking about?"
"The pull of the light… I feel it in you. It calls to you, trying to pull you back… and part of you wants to go back." Rey's face was warped in disgust.
"No I don't!"
She shook her head. "There's no need to lie Kylo, I can feel it in you. Just like I used to feel it in myself. But that is gone now. It's such a relief. I've embraced what I am… a being of pure darkness."
Rey's words emboldened her, driving her to tighten her grip on Kylo's throat. His gasps were like music to her. This was more liberating than she had imagined it might be. She realized that for the first time, she felt like she had truly been unshackled. It was as if embracing the dark side of the Force had finally set her free. Then, something strange and even more wonderful occurred to her. It was such a beautiful realization that it almost left her speechless. "This is all thanks to you…" she said softly.
"I did nothing!" Kylo cried.
"Not you, idiot." Rey turned to face Snoke. It seemed like a tear was forming in her eye. "I know who you are now."
"Do you girl?" Snoke said.
"You are the Voice. The one that guided and supported me. The one that fed my ambitions and showed me the path of the dark side. The one that knows me better than I know myself. There's nothing I can say to truly thank you for everything you have done for me, but thank you. For everything… For making me what I am today."
"You have realized the truth, my dear Rey. You are welcome." Snoke acknowledged with a nod. "Now please finish disposing of this creature, it is such a beautiful sight watching you work."
"With pleasure, my love." Overwhelmed with happiness to finally meet the Voice that she adored so much, she was ecstatic to follow its commands. Never did she imagine that the Voice was someone with such power in the universe. This changed everything. Unlimited possibilities started flowing through her mind. But those were for later, she already had such an entertaining task at hand.
"This will not end the way you want!" Kylo threatened desperately.
Rey turned her attention back to the pathetic knight, who had stopped struggling. She could feel that the full gravity of the situation had finally sunk in for him. Taking great delight in her actions, she slammed Kylo into the ground with all her might and then kicked his broken left arm for good measure, causing him to yowl in pain.
Standing above his broken body like this, it was already a dream come true for Rey, but she ached for even more. She wanted his demise to be agonizing; physically and emotionally. She didn't even remember why anymore, nor did she care, she was so consumed with hate and evil. "You were such a disappointment, weren't you? You are just like your father."
"Never!" Incensed, Kylo made a bold attack, swinging his lightsaber blindly behind him where he hoped Rey would be standing. However, the strike missed significantly, leaving him temporarily defenseless. Capitalizing on the opportunity, Rey brought her lightsaber down upon Kylo's right arm quickly and precisely, severing it from the elbow down.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" A scream of pain echoed through the air as a lifeless arm and lightsaber fell to the ground. With horror, Kylo fell back and looked upon the bloodied stump that was his arm. "You… you will pay for this!"
Rey's eyes were ablaze with satisfaction and she displayed a toothy grin. "What in this universe makes you think that is remotely true?"
For once, Kylo did not respond. He just lay there on the ground, seething in anger.
"How does it feel knowing your worst fear has come true?" Rey continued teasing.
"What are you talking about, you filthy scavenger?"
Rey crouched down, pressing her gloating face against Kylo's "You don't remember? It was one of the first things I ever learned about you. You were in my brain, trying to make up for your inability to capture a simple droid. But for some reason you couldn't read my mind. I was a complete amateur, yet I somehow managed to beat you at your own game. That is how pathetic you are. That is how weak you are. I was able to reach into your mind and pull your greatest fear right out. That was the moment I knew I was destined for greatness. I will never forget it too. Your fear, I mean. It was so childish... You were afraid that you will never be as strong as Darth Vader. How utterly pathetic."
Kylo Ren sat there in silence for a moment before suddenly leaping at Rey with all his strength, attempting to bite her like a feral animal. Not remotely concerned by the attack, she sprung back to her feet and kicked him away in one fluid motion. Unarmed, flat on his back, completely exposed and too tired to recover, Kylo could do nothing but yell. "You're wrong scavenger. I'm strong. I will rule the galaxy and do what Darth Vader couldn't."
The hatred simmering in Rey came to a boiling point upon hearing that statement. The mere thought of him assuming her birthright, it insulted her tremendously. She clenched her teeth and pointed her lightsaber right in front of Kylo's beaten down face. "Oh, you weak miserable creature. You are so wrong. It is me that will rule, not you. There's no fighting it. It's the reality to you live in, if only for a few more seconds." Her face looked depraved, taking such pleasure in taunting her defeated opponent. "It's true what you feared… you will never be as strong as Darth Vader… but I will be stronger!"
As Rey raised her lightsaber, preparing for the mortal blow, her pupils began to glow a sickly yellow for the first time. The Force corruption which had consumed her soul was making its permanent mark on her body. That glow would be the last thing Kylo ever saw. Rey plunged the Skywalker lightsaber into his chest and through his heart, savouring every instant of the kill. She was in ecstasy as she watched the life drain from his face and his body go limp.
However, she was not done with Kylo yet. Pulling her lightsaber out of his chest, she severed his neck with ease. She then excitedly reached down and hoisted her dead rival's head into the air. Victory had never felt so good. The blood of her enemy spattered all over her, causing her to grin from ear to ear. With a savage roar, she spiked the head onto the ground with all her strength. It landed with a satisfying thud, cracking the skull and causing one of Kylo's eyes to fall out of its socket.
Rey was completely enraptured by the sight and smell of the gore and blood. Soon the joy became too much for her and she began laughing maniacally. The experience felt nothing short of euphoric.
Snoke leaned forward with a devilish smirk, breaking his silence. "It seemed you enjoyed your gift."
At the sound of Snoke's voice Rey stopped laughing and dropped to one knee, bowing her head in reverence. "Yes, Supreme Leader Snoke. I enjoyed it more than I've enjoyed anything in my life. It was an honour to put an end to him for your entertainment. I owe you so much."
"Very good, my dear Rey. Your respect pleases me."
Rey closed her eyes and tried to hide her glee. "I am glad."
Snoke leaned back into his chair. "Now that you have received my gift, do you understand your path forward?"
"Yes, Supreme Leader," Rey responded without hesitation.
"Then what do you intend to do, my dear Rey?"
"Well, my goals have not changed. I wish to rule the galaxy, molding it to my desires. However, I realize I can't do that alone… But I don't think I need to. I know we share similar goals..." Rey raised her head and stared deeply into Snoke's eyes. "You are so wise and powerful and I still have so much to learn about the Dark Side. I feel like I'm only beginning to scratch the surface of what I am capable of. As I said before, you know me better than I know myself, so I wish to place my fate in your hands. Please, be my teacher, my Lord and my beloved Master. In turn, please let me be your instrument of order throughout the galaxy, so that I may help you rule as your devoted servant," Rey begged, practically in tears.
"Are you certain? There is so much you could do with your near limitless power,"
"I'm more certain than I've ever been in my life. You molded me into what I am and I want you to mold me into something greater still. Please, be my Master."
The dead air of silence filled the room. Snoke stroked his chin, contemplating the situation. Rey awaited his response with bated breath.
"Very well, I will claim you as my personal servant. I will teach you all I know of the Dark Side, so that you might spread the festering darkness within you throughout the galaxy, corrupting those that you don't destroy. You will be my dark emissary. I will send you where I wish to conquer, inspire fear, or cull the weak. But most of all, I will make you my right hand and you will rule this galaxy by my side."
Tears of sheer bliss poured down Rey's face as she heard what Snoke said. It was everything she dreamed of and more. "Yes! Thank you Master! I will never let you down. I thank you eternally for accepting me."
"But I am not finished. You may rule by my side, but you must cast aside your previous self. Rey the Scavenger must die and you must be reborn as the dark being you truly are…"
Rey hesitated. "Master… I am surprised to admit it… but I am relieved to hear that request. Deep down, I hated being Rey. She was meek, frail and so powerless. Even the name Rey has always been an anchor tying me to my past on Jakku. The last and only gift my dreadful parents gave me. Please, Master, what do I need to do?"
Snoke grinned, knowing the moment he had been waiting for was at hand. "You need only accept one more gift from me," he said, motioning towards a droid who was approaching Rey with a dark metal chest.
The chest was dropped in front of the kneeling Rey with a clang and the droid departed as quickly as it came. She carefully leaned forward and opened the obsidian chest with curiosity. A present from her Master should be treasured after all. As she lifted the lid and her gaze finally fell upon the gift inside, her destiny became clear. Her life as Rey was over, she was about to become a part of something so much greater. Inside the chest was a beautiful black helmet. "I understand. I accept your gift, my Master."
Lifting up her gift, Rey took her last breath. As she placed the helmet on her head and shed the last vestiges of her past life, her thoughts were only of serving her beloved Master. Rey as the galaxy knew her, was dead.
Clearly enjoying the sight before him, Snoke took a few seconds to behold the wonder in front of him before addressing it. "My faithful servant and Knight of Ren. Rise and embrace your new life."
The girl who was once Rey stood tall. Covered from head to toe in black leather armor, her face concealed with a terrifying obsidian mask, and soaked with the blood of her enemies, the girl could never be recognized as the abandoned scavenger from Jakku. She was now something else entirely. Something frightening, perverse and vindictive. A true being of darkness.
"From this day forward you will be known as my right hand, Kera Ren, the leader of the Knights of Ren," Snoke announced, as if claiming victory.
"So it will be. I am Kera Ren, leader of the Knights of Ren and servant of Supreme Leader Snoke," Kera Ren said with a bow. Neither body, nor her voice betrayed any emotion. Any remaining spark of Rey had been extinguished, only Kera remained. She raised her head and faced her creator. With love and utter devotion, she asked him for the first time:
"What is thy bidding, my Master?"