Disclaimer: Star Wars is owned by Lucasfilm/Disney

Author's Notes:

DanGuy96 - Happy New Year, everyone! I hope I didn't keep you all waiting too long, because I'm ready to continue this story, and get straight into the real meat of it. In this chapter, we'll be getting some familiar scenes and familiar faces from the movie this fic is based on, but things are gonna play out slightly differently here, and we'll be introducing a brand new OC of mine, who was created to serve a certain role for this story. I know some people frown on OCs in rewrites, with myself included in that group, but I had a reason for their creation, and my co-writer, Dttf, and I hope to make their inclusion feel as natural as possible. Anyway, let's get on with the show!

Chapter 1- The Last Safe Haven

It was dusk in the village of Tuanul. Cooking fires carried the aroma of roasted meat, fresh rice, baked bread and various spices across the outcropping of tents. Water was rationed out for dinner as families gathered together to laugh and eat. On the border of the sand-blasted expanse that was Jundland Wastes, tight-knit communities were essential. They paid little mind to the small astromech that sat between the village and the T-75 X-wing that was sitting on the outskirts of their home. The village, like many in the surrounding wastes, made their living through moisture farming. Unlike the surrounding villages, however, they were never accosted by Tusken Raiders nor did they pay tithes to the local crime lords. The farmers were all armed and trained as fighters in the Resistance. Some of the village elders had even served as soldiers in the Rebel Alliance.

On Tatooine, they continued the fight against the First Order and their Confederate benefactors. In that regard, they owed it all to one man in particular. In his tent, at the far end of the village, Lor San Tekka was the unofficial leader of the settlement. Now, he was sitting with a guest from the Galactic Republic. With a gentle groan, San Tekka kneeled near a footlocker. He had accepted that he was old, but he'd never liked it. While he rummaged through the old contents of his locker, Commander Poe Dameron ate his dinner. Quietly, he chewed on a strip of smoked meat as he waited for San Tekka. He took a moment to let his eyes wander. Trophies and battle gear were scattered around the tent. Over the entrance, he'd noticed a well-serviced A280 blaster rifle. 'Is there ever gonna come a time when we can find time to relax and enjoy the peace we've made?'

With a satisfied grunt, the village elder pulled out a small datastick and made his way to his cooking fire. He spared a look at the pilot seated across from him. The man had kind eyes and a jacket with the Republic emblem adorned on its shoulder. His handsome face was, however, stuffed with bread and meat. Poe Dameron was the first person to make the old spymaster smile for a long time. Washing his meal down with water, Poe set his eyes on San Tekka's weathered face. "It was really stupid of you to go and get that on your own, you know that?", Poe asked. "You have an entire village of volunteers. Young, able, and ready to fight". San Tekka looked at the datastick for a moment before placing it inside a pouch. "Age hasn't slowed me down yet," San Tekka explained. "And when Princess Leia asks for your help, you don't use half measures." Poe looked outside at the villagers. They were armed as they sat around, laughing and eating stew. They were driven, but San Tekka was correct. They, like most Resistance cells, were woefully unskilled.

"I spent the last of my money and called in every favor I was owed to get this information, commander. And, it was all worth it," San Tekka explained. Poe eyed the small pouch skeptically. With a scowl on his face, he took the pouch and held it in his hand. "The senator wouldn't have sent me on a wild bantha chase. What's so important about this?" Poe inquired, holding the pouch up. San Tekka shuffled on his seat and leaned forward, his eyes suddenly troubled. "The information details the connection between the Confederation and the First Order. More too. New ship designs and operational reports. And a superstructure that they call 'Starkiller Base'." Poe sat closer, listening intently. The First Order didn't name things unless they were important. Most of the reports from the Resistance were about troop movements or visits from Confederate officials. Superstructures were rare. Then again, the First Order was rising in terms of prominence in UGC territory. "Alright then. Do you have any idea what this… 'Starkiller Base' is, exactly?" Poe asked, intrigued. San Tekka looked haunted. "On that stick is the footage of a test shot and projected firing data. A detailed report from a First Order scientist as well. We're looking at a weapon that will undo all that we fought for against the Empire. A weapon that will upset... no... shatter the balance." San Tekka said, fear creeping into his voice. The old man's eyes looked downright manic despite his serious exterior.

Poe set his hand on San Tekka's shoulder, looking at him with worry. The old man calmed down, slowing his breathing so he could speak properly. Regaining his former calm, he continued. "The First Order is more than an upstart radical group, Mister Dameron. The time that they were has long since passed. They are actively gearing the Confederation for open war. Many of the mercenaries I hired were lost to attain this information. Killed by the Knights of Ren." Poe froze for a second, the weight of his mission becoming readily apparent. The Knights of Ren were almost a myth in the New Republic. For the Resistance, however, they were an ever present fear that threatened each and every cell. Without warning, the Dark Jedi would come to lay waste to bases that were thought to be safe. More often than not, there were never survivors.

"Now you realize how important this is, commander. You understand why this information must reach Princess Leia and Chancellor Kartemur," San Tekka stated, staring intently at the commander. With a shaky breath, Poe did his best to appear confident. Eyeing the data chip for a moment, he pocketed the small device, snug in its pouch. "If what you're saying is true, then it's a good thing you and your boys managed to track this down. The senator's been after something like this for a long time," he said quietly. San Tekka smiled wistfully. "Oh commander," he chuckled. "To me, she'll always be royalty".

The distant sound of laughter caught Poe's attention. He looked out at the farmers, cheering at an old and humorous story. Despite everything, they found time to enjoy each other's company. Poe stared at them for a moment. "They won't just ransack the village," he said quietly. "They'll burn it down and everybody in it." San Tekka moved quietly to Poe's side. "My fighters know the risk, commander. They won't surrender and they won't go down without a fight," he declared. San Tekka stated it as an objective truth. As easily as saying that the grass of Naboo was green or that its sky was blue.

A clamor at the far end of the village caught their attention. Beeping frantically, BB-8 was rolling through the crowds, knocking over farming equipment. Poe held up his hands in an effort to have his astromech droid calm down. "Slow down, buddy! You're talking too fast," he said like a parent admonishing their child. With a sharp chirp, the droid began beeping again. Poe listened intently before groaning in frustration. "A Star Destroyer just took up orbit! And it's the 'Finalizer', too! We gotta go now! Karabast!" As he scrambled for his pack, Lor San Tekka peered outside. Farmers were scrambling to take up arms or to hide their children.

"It's too late, commander. It's time for you to leave," San Tekka said as he looked at his old rifle. Poe stopped abruptly. "Hold on a minute. I'm not leaving without you!" San Tekka jabbed a finger into Poe's chest, where the chip rested. "Nothing matters but the fight, commander!" he growled. "If you get caught, then all of this was for nothing!" Slowly, his expression faded into sadness. "The Republic is the only thing that can counter the First Order," he said. "Without them and the Jedi, the galaxy faces another age of darkness. That isn't an option." Poe stood up and, hefting his rifle, took off towards his X-wing, leaving San Tekka behind. "Farewell," the old man murmured. "May the Force be with you."

Poe stopped for only a moment to look at the sky. Against the stars, a dark shape moved across the sky. The unmistakable shape of a Star Destroyer. The angular ship blotted out the moon as it took a position over the settlement. Smaller specks were moving down through the air, speeding towards the village. Poe turned on his heel and dashed towards his ship. Ahead of him, BB-8 was already in his alcove, bringing the fighter's systems online. The canopy lights switched to life as Poe scrambled into the cockpit. The whole village was awake as First Order troop carriers soared over the rooftops, shining floodlights onto the Resistance members below.

Lor San Tekka walked and observed the ad-hoc battlements that had been erected. Furniture, vehicles, and crates had been pulled together to form cover for the Resistance fighters. Beyond the last homesteads near the dunes, the troop transports came to rest. Dust and sand buffeted the farmers, blinding anyone without protection as the ships angled to release their occupants. Then, the doors dropped. A tide of stormtroopers rushed out, firing at anything that wasn't one of their own. In response, the Resistance troopers returned with their own barrage. San Tekka stepped back behind a crate and watched as his home became a battlefield. In his hands, he gripped his old rifle. This was not his first firefight.

It was, however, the first combat that FN-2187 had ever experienced. Cobalt bolts of blaster fire raked the sand near his feet. As he ducked near a moisture vaporator, a thermal detonator exploded only a few meters away, sending him sprawling against the ground. In his daze, he could see the red and blue firestorm that was destroying the small village. Suddenly, he felt himself being lifted by his backplate. Standing again, he could see that another stormtrooper had hauled him up. "You alright?", he hollered over the noise of the battle. FN-2187 nodded quickly as he hefted his blaster. Slapping FN-2187's shoulder pad, the other trooper took off towards the fight. Terrified, the younger trooper dashed after his comrade, dodging the occasional spray of laser fire. Suddenly, a heavy bolt exploded near the ground, sending the pair end over end. FN-2187 slowly crawled over to his fellow stormtrooper and pulled him behind cover. The wounded man touched his shattered chestplate before looking back at FN-2187. Slowly, he touched the younger trooper's faceplate, smearing it with a thin trail of blood. With a wet cough, his arm went limp. FN-2187 staggered to his feet, unheeding of the danger. In his confusion, he looked around as the village burned.

Across the dunes, Poe Dameron observed the spectacle with muted interest. A stormtrooper with empathy was a first for the commander. He turned the belly turret away from the survivor, deciding to engage the rest of the stormtrooper company. BB-8 chirped several times as the thrusters hummed to life. Poe smiled, despite himself. If he hurried, he could escape before the Finalizer could catch him with its tractor beam. Still, he peered out towards the village square. He didn't know how he would tell Leia that he'd recovered the information at the cost of the villagers' lives. With a grimace, he began to lift off. San Tekka was right. Failure wasn't an option. The X-wing's engines whined as they lifted the craft faster than they were designed to. A shrill cry from BB-8 grabbed Poe's attention. A second later, an alarm started to blare, filling the cockpit with a cacophony of noise. Poe peered out of his cockpit just as a missile collided with his port engines. The X-wing fell several meters, back into the sand below.

As fire spread among the wreckage, BB-8 launched himself free of his alcove and rolled around towards the cockpit. Poe kicked the canopy loose, rolling out and limping towards his droid companion. As Poe collapsed to his knees, BB-8 beeped in worry. "Don't worry about me, buddy. They've thrown worse my way," the pilot reassured his droid. Together, they looked at the ruined X-wing, unsure as to their next course of action. The firefight in the village was dying down as stormtroopers began raiding the homesteads.

Doorways were illuminated by blaster fire and tents were lit ablaze, their occupants running for their lives. Sighing deeply, Poe turned and knelt in front of BB-8. Wordlessly, he removed the data chip from its pouch and slid it into BB-8's data port. "Alright, buddy. We're in trouble," Poe said matter-of-factly. "Now, you gotta listen or this whole thing really was for nothing," BB-8 chirped anxiously. Poe never talked this way unless things were truly bad or unless he was ready to do something stupid. "You're gonna head east, out towards Mos Eisley. The stormtroopers won't follow you into the Jundland Wastes," he said slowly. BB-8 began to squawk loudly and in a panic. "Dammit! Listen to me!" Poe snapped. "You heard San Tekka! You know what'll happen if we fail now! Now... I'll hold 'em off and you'll head east." BB-8 slid back slowly. After a moment, he rolled off over the sands, into the darkness of the desert night. He stopped only once to look back at his friend.

FN-2187 led a Resistance fighter towards the town square, his blaster jammed in the other man's back. There, about two dozen survivors had been corralled. The wounded stood in front of the old, who in turn, stood in front of the young. FN-2187's grip on his blaster loosened at the sight. Looking at his fellow stormtroopers, he could see that they were all resolute and unfaltering. Uneasily, he shouldered his weapon. Sand was kicked up once again as a shuttle hovered overhead. The sleek vessel landed amid the troop carriers as its TIE escort broke off. Lor San Tekka could see it from his place in the crowd, despite his followers' attempt to keep him safe. There was movement behind its red viewport as their new guests gave commands to the pilots. Its engines died down as its hydraulics began to whirr, fire illuminating its dark hull. The doors opened, sending steam across the sands, the red lights illuminating the ground below. Four stormtroopers filed out, forming a perimeter for their commanders to disembark. The two figures stepped out into the ruined village.

In stark contrast with the white-armored stormtroopers, the figures were clad in black, menace dripping from them as they approached the crowd. The first wore robes that were fitted around armor. Her figure and horned helmet left her as tall as the troopers she commanded. Through the cycloptic slit that was glowing red on the front of her helmet, she observed the wretched state of the village. Her name was Zayla Ren. Behind her was her "brother" Knight. Kylo Ren was a tall and intimidating figure. Instead of armor, he wore layers of dark robes. In fact, the only armor he wore was the almost featureless helmet that sat beneath his hood. Together, the pair of Dark Jedi made their way to the ruined square. Aside from the noise of crackling fires, the village was deathly silent.

From the company of stormtroopers emerged a tall figure. Captain Phasma was professional, every movement she made being measured and deliberate. She shouldered her blaster so that she could hit any target in a moment's notice. Beneath her grim helmet, her eyes kept scanning her surroundings, searching for targets that only she could see. The arrival of the Knights let her ease up, but only a little.

With a crisp salute, she greeted the pair, her chrome armor reflecting the surrounding fires. Kylo Ren bowed his head in greeting, while Zayla shouldered past to look over the survivors. "Well executed, Captain." Kylo began. "Efficient and with minimal casualties. I'll be sure it's mentioned in my report." Phasma nodded curtly, gesturing for Kylo to follow her. "We've finished clearing the huts, sir. Lor San Tekka's has been located." The stormtroopers cleared a path for Kylo Ren and their captain. The home was trashed, cabinets broken and with detritus littering the floor. The Dark Jedi knelt near the fire, quiet for almost a minute. He looked at old gear that was once standard in the Rebel Alliance. Ammo crates that were refurbished into tables. A cot that a veteran would find more comfortable than a cushioned bed. With a finger, he flipped over a tin plate, eyeing its contents that were littering the floor. "Two meals. He had a guest," he muttered. "Is the old man with the villagers?" Phasma nodded and pointed outside, singling out Lor San Tekka.

Outside, Zayla Ren stalked back and forth. For the villagers, she seemed to be looking at any one of them thanks to her mask. The only one who didn't share the thought was San Tekka. Occasionally, he would glance at the wreckage of the X-wing that was smouldering on the outskirts. Once or twice, he could've sworn he'd seen a figure moving towards the village. 'Commander Dameron… Don't do anything foolish.' Banishing the thought, he looked back at the stormtroopers that had raided the huts. They now had their blasters leveled at the survivors with more repositioning their E-web. One trooper had his rifle pointed directly at San Tekka, his armor caked in grit and a smear of blood dried against his faceplate. He was breathing heavily and his blaster swayed. The trooper stood still only when the remaining Knight of Ren sauntered too close.

Zayla stopped to observe a dead Resistance fighter. With scorn, she turned the corpse's face with the toe of her boot. With a muted snort of derision, she turned and faced the villagers. "A familiar sight, Knight of Ren?" San Tekka asked as he scowled. Everyone, Resistance and First Order, turned to look at the old man. Paying no heed to FN-2187, he stepped forward to address the Dark Jedi. With the grace of a nexu, Zayla closed the distance and kicked the back of the old man's leg. Several cries sounded from the defeated crowd as he dropped with a grunt. On his knees, San Tekka looked up at Zayla impassively. "Well, it's a sight I never get tired of," she chuckled. "I was wondering when you were going to show your face." Leaning down, the slit across her helmet blinded San Tekka's eyes with its crimson light. "You've been an annoyance to us, San Tekka," Zayla hissed. "We've been searching for you for months. And now, we've found you living in a shack in the middle of nowhere."

Quietly, Kylo Ren and Phasma approached Zayla from behind, content to watch the interrogation. San Tekka's eyes shifted to the quiet Knight of Ren. "To have you, of all people, show up now," he said. "The Force truly works in mysterious ways." With a fluid and sharp motion, Zayla slapped the back of the old man's head. "We know that you're responsible for a security breach within UGC territory," she said. "Territory that was generously provided to the First Order." Ignoring Zayla Ren, San Tekka leaned to the side to look at Kylo. "To send the two of you, in particular, Snoke must be giving you a test," he muttered. Zayla leaned down to wrench San Tekka's face back towards hers. "Pay attention. The only thing being tested is my patience," she growled. At that, San Tekka finally looked back at Zayla. "The Dark Side hasn't made you nearly as powerful as you think you are, girl. Not if you're resorting to threatening the innocent." Zayla stood back up, looking at the huddled survivors. "If they thought it was a good idea to harbor you, then 'innocent' is the last thing they are."

San Tekka was about to reply when the tall and dark form of Kylo Ren moved towards his side. "We're wasting time. You know what we've come for." Lor San Tekka didn't look up at the Dark Jedi. "I know where you come from. Before you called yourself 'Kylo Ren'." San Tekka finally stood up. If he was afraid of Kylo Ren's imposing figure, he didn't show it. "She was born in darkness," he said, gesturing to Zayla. "You were not." Kylo Ren gestured with his hand and a platoon of stormtroopers formed a firing line. Almost in unison, they shouldered their arms again.

"The lives of these villagers are at stake," Kylo said calmly. "As it stands, they will be processed into a labor camp. I suggest you heed my associate's advice and focus." Kylo Ren moved close to the old man's face. "You say that I was not 'born in darkness'. I'll show you darkness," he said quietly. At that, San Tekka looked back at Kylo Ren. "You must understand how dangerous the First Order is!", he pleaded. "Or Starkiller Base! Or Snoke!" At the mention of his master's name Kylo Ren jutted a finger in the old man's face. "Master Snoke is wise," he said menacingly.

Zayla Ren approached the villagers, pulling her cape away from her armor. "The information that this traitor has stolen is valuable to Supreme Leader Snoke!", she declared with her arms outstretched. "Its recovery will be met with riches and the gratitude of the First Order!" Not a single villager moved. All Zayla Ren got for her trouble was a dozen glares. "Hm. Well, there's more than one way to skin a loth-cat," she murmured. "It's okay. We have all the time we need."

Across the dunes, still feeling the heat of his destroyed fighter, Poe Dameron watched the scene through the scope of a blaster rifle. He'd heard rumors about the Knights of Ren and their abilities. He was well out of earshot, and in the shadows as well. But, he still feared that one of the Dark Jedi would suddenly walk over and put a lightsaber through his chest. Though he was a dozen yards away, he moved as slowly as he could. Every time the sand under him made any noise, he winced quietly. He stopped and focussed on the scene in front of him. Poe could just make out what they were saying.

Kylo Ren shook his head, taking a step back from Lor San Tekka. "He's stalling," he declared. "He doesn't have the information." With a snap of her fingers, Zayla ordered the firing line to close in on the survivors. "Last chance, old man!" she said sadistically. Lor San Tekka merely closed his eyes and bowed his head. He heard the crunch of sand and gravel as Zayla stepped closer. "Are you content to have an entire village's worth of blood on your hands?" she asked softly. "Are you?" the old man retorted. Zayla stood straighter, hands on her hips. "You're in no position to posture," she said. "Still, your fighting spirit is admirable." Her visor settled on a young girl in the crowd, clutching to her mother. "It won't help them, though. We can continue this discussion on the Finalizer." She turned back to face San Tekka. "I look forward to interrogating you personally. I'd like to see just how long you hold out." San Tekka did not react. He had the placid determination of a Jedi.

Kylo Ren leaned forward, studying the old man's face. "You wouldn't have given it to any of the villagers. And, you wouldn't have hidden it anywhere that we couldn't find it later." Kylo Ren's helmet turned towards the edge of the village. To the wreckage of the X-wing. "Go," he commanded, simply, to a pair of stormtroopers. Poe half-buried himself, desperate not to be seen. The troopers ran by, missing him by a few meters, moving towards the wreck. Kylo Ren stood close, at San Tekka's shoulder as the old man stood. "We'll uncover the truth," he began. "It's only a matter of how much you're willing to lose." San Tekka looked back at him with pity. "Each and every person here is willing to give their lives to see the last vestiges of the Sith be destroyed," he said proudly. "We've lost enough to the First Order and their Confederate masters!"

San Tekka took a step towards Kylo Ren. The tall Knight inched back, almost imperceptibly. Even Zayla was taken aback, her helmet shifting from one man to the other. "How much have you lost, boy?" San Tekka asked, quietly. "You've run away from who you are and for what? You serve a man who promised you power? Has he given it to you? Can you trust a liar, boy? You disrespect everyone who loved you. And everyone who still loves you!" His head whipped to the side to level his tirade at Zayla. "And you, girl. Don't think that you're exempt from all of this. You saw the darkness firsthand. You had a chance to rise from it. Instead you betrayed everyone who believed in you. For a lie."

Both Knights of Ren looked at one another for a moment, but they did not speak. The rage in San Tekka's eyes died down and was replaced by sadness. "You may try to seek out the power of the Dark Side, but you cannot deny the truth that is your family," he said, quietly, to Kylo Ren. Before he could say anything, San Tekka turned towards Zayla. "And you," he added, "cannot deny your true name or your true master." Zayla folded her arms. "The 'truth' is irrelevant," She said glibly. "Unless it can save you, or this village, it doesn't sound like much." San Tekka looked tired. "The truth will save you, child." The figure of Kylo Ren loomed over him. "We don't need saving, Lor San Tekka. We've let our pasts die." San Tekka looked up at the Knight of Ren. "If you continue this path of anger, then far more than the past will die."

Zayla, having heard enough, advanced on the old man. As she reached out to assault him, Kylo Ren shoved her away by the chestplate. With a wave of his hand, he rendered Lor San Tekka unconscious. "Our orders were to uncover the information. We need him alive." Kylo Ren pulled the old man up and flung him over one of his shoulders. "He could still prove useful," he said with finality. Zayla stepped back, folding her arms. "You're no fun," she scoffed. Across the dunes, Poe saw his contact drop like a bag of rocks. Leia would give him hell if she knew what he was about to do. Lining up a shot, he focused on the slit on Zayla's mask. Squeezing the trigger, a laser skimmed over the sand. Zayla's hand was on her lightsaber hilt by the time the bolt froze in midair. Kylo Ren's free hand was outstretched, holding the deadly laser bolt in place. It crackled, giving the surrounding area a blue glow.

Poe whirled around, ready to take out the pair of stormtroopers and flee for his life. He missed his chance and the mission was a complete failure. Suddenly, his body went rigid. Enormous pressure enveloped every inch of his body. The stormtroopers reached him, securing him with a swift punch to the gut. Dazed, the pilot was dragged before the two Knights of Ren. The troopers dropped him in the sand as he tried to get his bearings. Zayla Ren stood over the pilot, malice present in her featureless mask. As she did so, Kylo Ren handed off San Tekka to a pair of troopers. Poe saw them drag him onto one of their shuttles. "Well, now we know where the old man hid the information," Zayla chuckled. "Thank you for expediting our search." Before Poe could say anything, the stormtroopers began to frisk him.

When their search turned up nothing, Zayla growled in frustration. "Go and search his fighter again," she commanded with restrained anger. It was Kylo Ren's turn to interrogate the commander as he leaned down, the still suspended blaster bolt giving his mask an eerie blue glow. Poe looked over the dark figure, unimpressed. "So... Who talks first?", he inquired, mockingly. "Me? Do, uh, do you want me to talk first... or... uh." Kylo Ren leaned even closer. After a moment, he stood and straightened his robes. "Poe Dameron", he began. "A flight commander with the Republic Navy. Black Squadron. A person of interest, wanted in the United Galactic Confederation for questioning about aiding known Resistance groups. And, a known associate of... Leia Organa." At the name of the famous princess and senator, everyone's heads turned towards Poe. "Was that off the top of your head? Nice work, pal," the pilot said, dryly.

"The fighter is empty and there's no sign of an astromech," Zayla summarized as she stalked back towards the pair of men. "Well, I'm just that good, hun. I'm not the best pilot in the galaxy for nothing", Poe said over his shoulder, shooting a toothy grin at his captor.

Zayla walked around to face Poe, ducking the frozen laser bolt. "I don't think you understand how bad your situation is, commander. I look forward to showing you." As Poe was hauled to his feet and dragged towards a transport, Kylo Ren looked out at the crowd of survivors for the last time. They were all looking at him with eyes that were angry or tired. 'There is nothing I can do,' the Knight thought, 'They chose this path, as I have chosen mine.' With a sigh, he turned and boarded his own shuttle. The blaster bolt finally zipped out over the horizon. Zayla walked past the firing line of stormtroopers, to Phasma. "Wipe them out, Captain," she said, turning to face the crowd. "No survivors. Make it look like a Tusken attack." Phasma nodded and took up a position near her men. The stormtroopers' blasters whirred as they were loaded.

FN-2187 raised his weapon, trying not to look at any particular faces in the crowd. Anything not to remember any features later on. Reconditioning would wipe away any seditious thoughts like guilt, but his doubt still remained.

"Fire!", Phasma commanded as the survivors began to yell. By the time the smoke cleared, the square was littered with bodies, the masonry pockmarked with carbon scoring. FN-2187 panicked for a handful of seconds, hoping that no other troopers would notice that he hadn't fired his weapon. His arms slumped to his side as he beheld the sight before him. With a shuddering breath, he quickly rejoined his platoon as they boarded their landing craft. The orange glow of the burning settlement could be seen for miles. On a dune, far away, BB-8 watched the ships take off to board the Star Destroyer in orbit. With a depressed warble, he turned and continued into the Jundland Wastes, desperate to reach Mos Eisley.

A/Ns:

DanGuy96 - And that's our first official chapter of the story. Now, the first major change we made is that, instead of Jakku, Tuanul and the first few parts of the story take place on Tatooine. Now, I know some people may object to this, and see it more as making this story even more of a retread of A New Hope, which was a big criticism levied at TFA, but we ultimately decided on changing it to Tatooine because we thought it'd be appropriate to have Tatooine be in each opening story of each trilogy. Don't worry, the final battle against the Galactic Empire before it was reformed into the UGC and First Order still took place over Jakku (though, like in Legends, it took a few years for the Empire to fuly fall apart), and we'll eventually see Jakku itself, but like with many things in this story, it'll be changed to be a bit different than just being another desert planet.

Another addition that's more obvious is what we've done to the Knights of Ren, and their leaders. Like I said before, they're all Dark Jedi who wield custom lightsabers, as well as other kinds of Red Kyber-powered weapons, but you'll see that for yourself later. As for specifics, we're introduced to the "Master of the Knights of Ren" himself; Kylo Ren. But our Kylo here, though still dangerous, as we'll soon see, is a bit different. Namely, not only doesn't he kill Lor San Tekka (oh, btw, San Tekka is still a member of the Church of the Force, but we'll explore that bit of his character some other time), but he doesn't give the order to kill the villagers. The honor for the latter act goes to his compatriot and second-in-command; Zayla Ren (in this universe, the title of "Ren" isn't exclusive to the Knights of Ren's leader, and all the Knights possess the title of "Ren", being led by the "High Ren", who is currently Kylo Ren). Think of Zayla as being in an a role similar to Azula from Avatar: The Last Airbender or even Shego from Kim Possible. Someone who'll not only give us another Force-user on the side of the bad guys, as well as another female villain besides Phasma, but also someone who'll act as something of a foil and even rival for Kylo, and isn't afraid to talk back to him.

The idea for Zayla came not only from wanting to give Kylo a female teammate/rival who is close to his level of authority when it comes to being a Force User for him to bounce off, but it also comes from the idea of doing the inverse to Kylo Ren what was done to Darth Vader. You see, back during Star Wars' very early development, back when one of its working titles was "The Star Wars", Darth Vader wasn't the infamous Sith Lord we know today, but rather an Imperial general who had no connection to the Force or the protagonists, who worked alongside Prince Valorum, who was a "Knight of Sith" who worked alongside Vader. These characters would later be merged into the Vader we know today. So, I decided to do the opposite, and make Kylo Ren into two characters; our take on Kylo, and can still be ruthless and cold, but is a bit more willing to keep a foe alive if they can still provide a bit of use to them (I also wanted something to contrast Vader, because in A New Hope we saw Vader was willing to kill when they were no longer of use, like with Captain Antilles), and Zayla, who is more sadistic and more willing to show emotion than Kylo is. It was also done to give both of them story arcs which contrast and compliment each other, but I dare spoil anything else.

I know it may seem like this story may end up having a few too many characters later on, especially for what is supposed to feel like a movie (though, I personally view this as being similar to either three connected mini-series, or something similar to a sequel series to the Thrawn trilogy, or even something like the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings movies or the Justice League Snyder Cut), but don't worry, I plan to use each of the main characters to their full potential, including those whose potential wasn't fully realized in the movies. Speaking of which, join us next time as we see FN-2187's doubts start to build up, Poe is interrogated by the duo of Dark Jedi, and we're introduced to a certain ginger-haired general of the First Order.

See you soon, and please make sure to follow and favorite for future updates, leave a review if you can, and stay safe out there.