PART ONE - FIRST MEETINGS

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL
STARKILLER BASE
UNKNOWN REGIONS

Day 28, Month 1, Year 34

Constantly moving, Starkiller Base was not an easy find. The icy spherical planet was constructed soon after the Empire's Defeat at Endor and served as the First Order's stronghold for approximately thirty years. It was here where Stormtrooper Cadets were sent to train in the ways of battle. It was here where a rumored superweapon of incomparable destructive capacity was being developed. It was also here where I managed to arrange an audience with what many considered the "Iron Fist" of the First Order Triumvirate: General Hux.

You're called Scratch. Hm. An indecent name. I will address you properly, JA-40916. So this biography – is this your idea? No? Your superior's then? With all due respect, I don't think even Kylo Ren will be pleased when he hears about this.

I don't know you how you managed to get through Gibbs, though I've heard rumors that the man is accepting bribes. I guess it is about time to appoint a new head of the propaganda department. So what is it you were going to ask me? My opinions of Kylo Ren? What qualities of his I admire the most?

How you met would be a good start.

Hm. Let's see. If I recall correctly, that was around eight or seven years ago, shortly after the Great Victory over the New Jedi Order. The Supreme Leader has informed me that the Dark Enforcer– the very one responsible for exterminating the sapling Jedi Order – will be over for a visit. I made preparations, of course, most of which involved matters related to accommodations. I've ascertained that the base is, at all times, in top-notch condition. We were more than ready for a quality inspection.

Ren arrived with his knights. They wore hooded black clothes and crude metal armor. None of them showed their faces. This did not unnerve me, of course. I believe I gave them a proper welcome. I met them at the landing area and prepared to show them around the base. This is, after all, my father's legacy. I assume you're familiar with Brendol Hux?

Yes. He was the founder of the Commandant's Cadets at Arkanis. You said Starkiller Base is his legacy?

Those very cadets my father trained have now become the leaders and pillars of this very institution. These walls, these structures, this technology you see before you are all the products of his genius and unwavering dedication to training a superior generation of soldiers, engineers, and scientists.

My father saw what no one else did. He realized that the greatest individuals needed to be trained rigorously from birth. It is this exact theory put into practice that is now propelling the First Order forward.

From birth? Is it true then? That the Order abducted infants from their families?

To train them! To provide them with an opportunity to maximize their skills and talents to serve the Order. It was done to give them a life worth living.

Let's go back to Ren. What did he think of your father's legacy?

He didn't. That is – he never even bothered to spare a glance at the majesty and magnificence around him. Ren and his knights went straight to the Archives to gather information. I learned later on that they were tracking down a certain Jedi. I believe it was his former master.

At that time, we were planning on having test-runs on a prototype of the superweapon. I needed all my technicians to be present at their stations. Ren, however ...

(He pauses.) He ordered at least a dozen of my best men to help him scour the Archives.

I take it you didn't get to have your test-run that day.

I didn't get to have my test-run that week. We were also supposed to travel to a nearby White Dwarf to harvest its remaining energy. Ren, meanwhile, having believed he had a lead on this Jedi of his, took my chief technicians, most of my engineers, and a score of stormtroopers to a wild goose chase at the other end of the galaxy.

You don't agree with his priorities?

Look. Kylo Ren is searching for one person who's apparently been in hiding for so long he could even be dead by now. I am building the very weapon that will help the Order regain territories, property, and power lost to the Republic. Ren is using valuable resources for a concern that could wait. I am bent on making timely crucial steps towards securing the entire galaxy for the Order.

But you're afraid to confront him about this.

I have never believed all beings were created equal. Some are born more fortunate than others. Ren was born with a strong connection to the Force, an advantage I was born without. It would be suicidal to do as you suggest, given his capabilities and the fact that he has a brazen, unpredictable nature.

(He pauses.) You're recording this?

I am.

I'll have the guards confiscate all your electronic devices and you will pretend we've never had this conversation. You will not desist if you know what's good for you. I'm certain you can concoct a tale filled with high praises and pleasantries to satisfy your superior.

(He stands up.) You may leave, JA-40916. I have more pressing matters to attend to.

FROM THE ACCOUNTS OF ROXIN AVARIS
FORMER STUDENT,
JEDI PRAXEUM, YAVIN-4

Are we recording? Oh. Okay.

The first time I met Kylo Ren. (Clears throat).

The first time I met Ben, I was ten years old and struggling to Force-levitate a small rock. It was during the first half of the school year at the Praxeum and just a couple of weeks before our practical exams. So that meant all the older initiates were outside training. I remember the rows of floating rocks in the Temple Courtyard. I remember seeing the rocks drop almost simultaneously to the ground when we saw Master Luke approach with the new kid. Luke called us all over to one corner and said, "I'd like to introduce you all to our new initiate, Ben Solo."

Ben Solo was tall, lanky, kinda pale. He was at least three years older than most of us. He had a large nose and round monkey-like ears that stuck out at both sides of his head. He looked a little awkward. A little shy. Kept his gaze to the ground and only gave us the occasional glance.

We thought no more of him until later that afternoon when he Force-lifted a giant boulder and Force-smashed it into smithereens. Everyone rushed to his side jumping and whooping with excitement. Who can blame us? We've never seen anything like it.

By the end of the day, Ben was a star. He managed to finish the speederbike obstacle course in one minute flat. Best time recorded before that was five minutes and forty six. I remembered because it was held by Articus Miyen, one of the best initiates in our level. He was a handsome kid. Blonde with green eyes. I had a huge crush on him, and so did most of the other girls.

Anyway, where were we? Right. Ben Solo. We weren't the only ones left with our jaws hanging. Turned out the teachers were equally impressed. Master Welin who taught sharpshooting went bonkers when he realized Ben was using the Force to direct the bullets. Welin wasn't Force-sensitive so it took three days for him to notice. The students? Well, let's just say we had a lot of fun.

How did Ben react to all of this? He looked pretty uncomfortable whenever he was in the spotlight, but he had that gleam in his eyes. I think he liked it. He liked being highly thought of.

I wish I could say things went great for the rest of the year, but I couldn't. Sometime before the summer holidays, Luke decided to take us to Naboo. I think he meant it as a treat, the exams being over and all. Naboo was breath-taking. Rolling greenhills, intricate architecture – it reminded me a little of home.

So anyway, there we were having lunch inside this fancy café when Ollie decided to be a pain in the neck. He opened my bag, grabbed my diary, and made a run for it. That diary's where I wrote all those poems about Articus, who happened to be sitting at a table not far from us. It's a really silly thing, looking back, but at that time, I was more concerned with Articus finding out about my feelings for him. So I jumped and chased after Ollie. That was when I ran smack dab into the belly of this giant Bothan. You know, the hairy, bipedal goat-like creatures from Bothawui. They're a decent race. Did things for the Rebels back in the war. This particular fellow, however, didn't look very pleasant at all. He turned around, twitched his ears, flared his nostrils, and knocked me over.

I was afraid he was going to kick me in the ribs or something, so I doubled over and tried to use Force-Persuade. I think I succeeded because I didn't get hit. Just then, I heard it - a bloodcurdling howl. I looked up. Realized it was coming from the Bothan. He was grasping his head. Blood was dripping from his nose.

I scrambled up and tried to run back to our table. I was scared, you know. I thought I managed to screw up Force-Persuade and did something else entirely.

I heard more screams. Saw more blood. Then someone yelled, "Ben! Stop it! You're hurting him!"

It was Articus. He was shaking Ben's shoulder. Ben, though…

He was glaring at the Bothan with such intensity. Such anger.

(Pause)

The Bothan survived.

But things were no longer the same after that.