WC: 1025

Kylo Ren/Ben POV

We were standing outside at Starkiller base, drawing near to Hosnian Prime in the distance. This is our target to test Starkillers base Death-Star-like power against the rebels. We selected Hosnian Prime because it is significant enough to send a message, but no one actually cares about it if anything goes wrong.

Outside on the surface of the base, General Hux was giving a speech commemorating the moment and stirring the troops to greatness in awe of the Dark Side. I was not out there because, for one, I was not good at words, I was a man of action, and also, I wanted a better view of what this battlestation could do.

"Today is a glorious day," whispered my grandfather to me.

"Yes, it is glorious," I said. "Why are you so pleased, Master?"

"You are about to witness full power, my Apprentice. The true power of the Dark Side! Once you taste it, there will be no stopping you, for your hunger will be insatiable."

A smile crept over my lips. My grandfather is going to show me what it was like to be strong, and powerful. Today, we have a weapon that was far more powerful than the Death Star because it could wipe out a system. The weapon was called Starkiller, and there was really no better name for it.

However, I knew that my mother was horrified by the notion of the machine. She would say that the idea of killing someone if they do not submit to you would be taking away their liberty. With that notion, guilt spread through my soul and gnawed at my very bone.

"Grandfather, forgive me, but what do I do with the guilt that we are killing the innocent?"

"That is your Jedi teaching, my son. There is nothing to forgive, but it must be addressed. There are no innocent people. There are the lazy who do not work for their bread, and the weak who are better off serving the powerful. That is the way of life. Do not feel guilty. Reach into the Dark Side. Feel the power."

I breathed in, and found the council to be wise. In fact, it made sense. It was the very nature of things for the lesser to serve the more advanced. That is why the smart were promoted, and the strong ruled the weak.

I took a deep breath and felt the surge of the Dark Side rush in my blood. I felt the power in my ears, it filled my bones to the point where my whole body was trembling. Yes, this is what it meant to rule. I could not remember the last time I felt this much power.

"Oh really?" came a soft voice.

"Who is that?!" I thought. "Who is there?!"

"My name is Anakin Skywalker. We have spoken before. It's been a long time, Ben."

"Ben is dead!" I thought to him.

"No one is truly dead," he said. "Remember…"

We were running along the forest floor of Endor, Toby and I. Mom, Dad, and Uncle Luke were behind us, walking quietly. Uncle Chewie was running through the forest trying to chase Toby and I down in a game of tag. Finally, Toby and I stumbled across a tree with low enough branches to climb.

"Up here!" I shouted, climbing the tree.

Toby tried to reach the lowest branch but he was still too small. "I can't," he cried.

"Use the Force!" I shouted. "Put all your energy into reaching that top branch."

Toby concentrated and jumped, grabbing onto the low branch, and hoisted himself up. "I did it!" he yelled with delight.

"Hurry," I said. "Uncle Chewie will catch us!"

We laughed as we climbed the tree higher and higher until we got about half way up, thinking we were safe.

Then, Uncle Chewie came and looked around for us. Toby started laughing.

"Quiet," I ordered, "He will hear."

Suddenly, Uncle Chewie looked up and roared in our direction, spotting us.

"You can't get to us," I shouted, "we are too far up."

Uncle Chewie moaned and stalked away, and Toby and I exchanged a high five. But then we heard a roar, and saw Uncle Chewie run and jump six feet up onto the tree and start expertly climbing.

Desperate to get away, Toby and I began frantically trying to climb to the top of the tree, not knowing what Uncle Chewie would do when he caught us. Our squeals of delight, and Chewbacca's chuckles rang out as we continued the rest of the afternoon using the Force to race up the tree. When we reached the top, all of our heads broke through the treetops, and we saw Yavin 4's treeline and horizon.

"Wow," Toby cried.

Uncle Chewie roared at Yavin 4's beauty.

"Really," I said. "Kashyyyk is prettier?"

A confirming roar sounded from my uncle.

"Will you take us there, Uncle Chewie?" I asked.

He roared that he would one day, when it was safe, when the Empire was completely gone.

"Ben, Toby, Chewie," came my mother's clear voice. "Lunch time!"

"Race you down!" I said.

"Go!" yelled Toby, and we began to climb down.

"Sir!" came General Hux. I wondered when he had come inside.

"What?!" I said, snapping myself out of my memories.

"The weapon was a success!"

"That is the preliminary report."

Hux took a step back from my disrespect of his moment. That is where I want Hux, on his knees. He cleared his throat. "Will the troops suffice?"

I surveyed the troops on the ground that Hux had been yelling his speech at. They're nothing but clone troopers meant to be discarded, and considering FN-2187, I don't trust any of them. As long as the rebels are shooting them and not me, they will serve a purpose.

"I suppose," I said, and walked back to my quarters, ignoring the scowl from Hux.

I grinned under my mask. The weapon works and Hux is agitated, which makes it a good day. Now its time to meditate and f I nd my loathsome brother and the troublesome girl.