Beneath a blanket of stars, a planet with far more water than land comes into view. Ahch-To's dual suns are just starting to peek out, but the night has yet to fully recede. A lone ship groans towards the holy nature reserve; its jagged design unsavory, it's engine smoke clouds the sun as it approaches the tranquil planet. The Night Buzzard advances with sinister intent.

A few hours before dawn on Temple Island amidst Ach-To's vast sea. The horizon is flecked with the promise of sunlight. Thudding footsteps echo around the interior of the first Jedi Temple, signalling the arrival of Kylo Ren. He approaches the pool of the prime Jedi - where his former master became one with the Force - and stares out into the horizon, his hands held behind his back in quiet, composed contemplation. He is wearing a grandiose tunic and cape, leather gloves, belt and boots, lightsaber by his side. He turns and strides back down the steps, his tunic is dirty, his hair long and unkempt, his scar angry red, and his stare sharp.

A group of six masked men, the Knights of Ren, kneel either side as he exits the holy hall. He gives the structure one last look, then it begins to crumble under his telekinetic command of the Force. The ancient rocks fall into the sea, disturbing the locals - the Caretakers - as their fishing boats are buffeted. They're fleeing an invasion; three teams of Flametroopers march across the stone beaches and through the ancient village, sporting new scarlet coloured battle-armour.

One of Ren's men looks up at him, face covered by a long and crude metal mask.

"What is your command, Master?" asks Ap'lek, his voice distorted.

Kylo Ren's face remains unchanged as he looks out onto the island.

"Burn it down"

The Knights of Ren go to work, stalking across the island in their armoured uniforms and speaking in dark tongues. Their bladed weapons cut through fleeing villagers, their flames and explosives set the ancient structures of the first Jedi settlement ablaze. They laugh and jeer as they destroy, clearly enjoying their work. They're in tune with the Dark-Side, imposing its unrefined power to aid their destruction of the island and abuse of the terrified locals.

The door to Luke's hut is blasted off its hinges by Kuruk, his custom blaster-rifle in hand. He searches through the rubble of the Jedi Master's room, throwing aside paper and clothing until he unwraps a circular silver item; a compass. He holds the coveted item close as he steps out into the chaos of the siege.

"Finally."

Now moving through the ancient village in lines of three, the Flametroopers lower their D-93 Incinerator rifles and begin to coat the island in blankets of fire. Kylo Ren walks amongst his men's work, flanked by flames. He feels a righteous satisfaction bubble inside his stomach, watching his master's home burn to the ground. He will purge the galaxy of any mention of that spiteful old fool, and that will start here.

On the stone shore, the small alien villagers scrabble together what little they have into fishing boats to flee. So advances one of the Knights, a cruel vibroscythe in hand, ringed by Flametroopers.

"Open fire!" commands Vicrul, with scarcely repressed glee.

The Flametroopers obey and the screams of burning caretakers are hard to stomach. Some make a stand, giving their lives to protect the boats as a dozen escape.

Kylo Ren approaches a tall, wooden structure as it appears from the smoke - the Jedi Library. Whispers in the Force heard on the wind previously are strangely absent. The wood has been split and burned, prior to their arrival. Though Ren's expression doesn't change, the betrayal of his master and the burning of his training temple play out in his head, summoning molten anger that boils his very blood.

Conducting the surrounding flames with his hand and a rending of the Force, Kylo Ren ignites the wooden library. Vindication crosses his face, but also hesitation - he senses something… He turns to look beside him. A girl, with her hair in buns and draped in a cloak, stands next to him. She too looks at the library, in awe. It's her. Ren draws a sharp breath, shocked by this sudden appearance, but the apparition disappears, merely an echo of the past. But the damage is done. Ren's carefully maintained composure has been disrupted, and with that comes consequence.

Behind Ren, one of his knights pauses, sensing this hesitance too. Ushar lowers his large warclub and turns a helmeted head slowly, locking his gaze with his master. Ren immediately purges any thoughts of the girl from his mind. Strengthening his resolve in the face of suspicion, Ren gathers up a handful of ash, looking out at the cremation of the sacred island, and talks to his absent master;

"Now do you understand? The Jedi are dead, from their bones rises; the Final Order."

He sweeps past Ushar, who falls in step behind as Ren observes the brutal work of his soldiers. The ancient structures are but rubble and flame, as Knight and Flametrooper alike move across the scorched earth.

"Do we have it?" Ren asks his masked lieutenant.

Ushar nods, his helmet warping his voice deeper as he replies:

"Yes, Master."

Ren's expression remains unchanged.

"Pull them out," he commands Ushar. "Let's finish this."

A moment passes before Ushar nods.

As the caretaker survivors escape out of reach at sea, a lone Flametroopers pauses on the beach. TN-2729 stares into the carnage of the small burned bodies at her feet. The flames dance across her blank helmet, the screams of the dead somehow still audible. She turns away with great effort and fatigue. As she follows her squadmates, she is watched from afar by Kylo Ren. Strong in the Force, Ren senses her displeasure, her disgust. He should single her out, punish her for weakness. His hesitation before has cost him dearly; he sensed the awakening of FN-2187, and his indecision allowed the traitor to escape, to later injure him. He should punish her for the crimes they are both guilty of. TN-2729 marches past him, but Kylo Ren says nothing.

He doesn't know why.

Once his forces are inside; Ren enters the lone ship and passes squads of Flametroopers towards the cockpit. General Engell, a sharp looking woman in her late 40s, addresses her Supreme Leader as the ship begins to rise through smoke and ash.

"Cannons ready, Supreme Leader."

Kylo Ren's gaze remains locked with that of the island below him, allowing a small nod to give General Engell his approval.

As the villagers watch, the large jagged ship – the Night Buzzard – hovers high above the smoking isle, like a bird of prey. It rains down a barrage of laser cannon fire, decimating the island as it's surface crumbles, falling into the sea. The waves become aggressive as the Night Buzzard speeds away, into the stars and the retreating night.

The sea subsides, and the caretakers comfort their crying children. The sea swallows the flaming mess that was once Temple Island, lost forever beneath the waves. But the worst is over. The survivors look to the now rising sun, reflected in their eyes. It glints off of a small pendant a child holds in a circlet of meditation beads – a silver medallion of the Jedi. Hope.