Kylo Ren looked at the drop of blood on his glove. His nose bled, dripping slowly. Rey had pushed him hard, causing his nose bleed. She almost made him loose his balance. She was stronger everyday yet in the same time weaker. She lacked discipline and understanding. He invaded her mind with such ease because of the fear that was crippling her, scattering her thoughts and strength. A fear that grew stronger since he last interrogated her.
"Fear is a terrible instrument, isn't it Grandfather? Wielded by a knowledgeable opponent it could bring about the end of wars in its self". Kylo turned away from the window and looked at Darth Vader's melted helmet placed on its pedestal.
Kylo Ren was awfully familiar with battles lost before they started, all thanks to fear. With a disgusted face, he waved away the thoughts of distant fears and battles he fought and lost. He could not allow himself to cower, he was the Master of the Knights of Ren now, and he had his eyes set on a new recruit. The girl. The girl Supreme Leader Snoke accused him of having compassion for. The girl the Supreme Leader wanted to use as a reminder. Kylo Ren did not need reminders. He knew what was at stake and he knew not to betray the Supreme Leader. The girl was just a valuable asset. And he could recruit anyone he wanted. He could take anything he wanted.
"XR!" The R2 unit appeared from the next room, beeping. "Pull out the map of the Parellia system, and any information we have related to the Jedi Temple on that planet. Also, look into the signals sent out from Selax or its moon that match the Resistance frequencies in the last 10-15 minutes, and send me a report. Ready my ship. Off the logs. Activate the cloaking device and the signal scrambler. Notify the knights. Tell The Monk to come after me when everything is set for departure." The droid whirled and left the Knight's chambers
Left alone, the knight stated thinking about his conversation with Rey. So, she was with Skywalker, Artoo and Chewbacaa on the Millennium Falcon. "Han Solo" Kylo Ren whispered his father's name softly. Hearing Rey mentioning him pained him more than he liked to admit, even to himself, and remembering it again now only made his headache worse. Any sign of contempt left his face and sadness transformed slowly in anger. Kylo Ren went on a fit of rage. He used his lightsaber to demolish half the room, making scrap out of computer consoles and furniture.
The Monk found him leaning against the wall looking at a datapad and drinking Arkanese liquor. The room was demolished, lightsaber marks all over. Some were still red and gave a faint glow. Darkness descended, the sun hiding behind the hills in the south.
"Master" the knight kneeled and removed his helmet. He was a Noghri with brown skin.
"I take it the preparations are done?"
"Yes, Master."
"Good."
Monk looked at the drink in Kylo Ren's hand. It was never a good sign, seeing Kylo Ren drinking. He rarely did, so the sight made Monk nervous. It meant they were about to embark on a mission that went dangerously close to be called defection by the First Order.
Kylo Ren finished the last of his drink, closed the screen of the datapad, removed the disk from it and placed the datapad on a table. He took his helmet. He did all this without glancing at the kneeled knight. The Master of the Knights of proceeded towards the door.
"Where is the ship?"
"It is out of town, behind the hill. We'll have to take speeders to get there faster." The Monk rose to his feet and closely followed Ren.
"I want in and out before Hux leaves this system. We have a few days to do so since the people of this planet still try to fight us. The Finalizer will not move to the next system before their resistance is crushed"
"Of course, Master."
They left the complex and stated walking south to the hills. They passed dead and burning pyres and numerous patrolling Stormtroopers. Neither one represented a problem for the two knights. The buildings were charred and demolished. At the outskirts of the small settlement the two cloaked figures entered a small wooded aria that covered the hill. Two speeders were parked there, and they took them to cover the distance from the town to the ship. Beyond the hill they saw the Gozanti-class cruiser nestled between the hill they were on and the next one. They dismounted their speeders next to the ship and entered it. The other four knights were there, waiting for The Monk and The Master.
"So, we shall depart" Kylo Ren passed his men and seated himself in the pilot's seat. The knights took their seats, Monk in the co-pilot's while Kylo Ren started the ship's engines. The Gozanti-class cruiser gently took off the ground. Kylo Ren pointed the ship to the south and hailed The Finalizer, requesting General Hux.
"What is it Ren?" General Hux was annoyed by the call and seeing him pilot a cruiser did not make things any better. "You're in a ship"
"Good sense of observation, Hux. I am leaving the camp to pursue a lead. I received reports about a small secret Resistance base on the moon of Selax."
"I did not see these reports Ren, what are you taking about?"
"If the information is correct you will receive a full report"
"I want it now. Give me all the Intel you have and I will send Stormtroopers with you"
"No. I'll handle this with my knights. You take care of the selaxese rebellion."
"Careful, Ren, I am not your subordinate"
"Neither are you my superior Hux. I am letting you know out of curtesy"
"Does the Supreme Leader know about this?"
Hux touched a nerve. Of course the Supreme Leader did not know. This was just one of the things the Supreme Leader did not know.
"I will personally tell the Supreme Leader after I have returned victorious. I will not waste the Supreme Leader's time with unverified information. That is all Hux". Kylo Ren struggled to maintain his usual low voice and not let the general perceive his nervousness.
"You are to return in 3 rotations."
"I can't make any promises, Hux."
"Join The Finalizer when you are done. We need to proceed to the next system. Do not make me wait after you."
"We can't have that, Hux. Of course I'll come back" Ren's voice was sarcastic.
The conversation was over and Kylo Ren was already half way to the moon of Selax. The cruiser passed The Finalizer and the two escort class ships that formed a blockade over the planet. Kylo Ren placed the ship on the orbit of the moon and waited to be out of sight from the Finalizer.
Ren took the ship on the surface and landed just outside what appeared to be a village. The base was there, underground. All he needed was the superior Intel officer so he could make his plan work. Kylo Ren had to be careful to use his left hand to command the Force, always the left, never the right. He curled the fingers of his left hand and took the lightsaber in his right. The other knights readied their weapons. Although all had lightsabers, they rarely used them because they didn't have the right opponents anymore. The attack began, the 6 knights making little effort to kill the defenders of the small base. There were only 12 soldiers, the rest of the personnel consisting of intelligence officers. Kylo Ren found his victim, an elder Twi'lek. Ren caught him and started using the Force to interrogate the officer. The Twi'lek cowered and screamed in pain. A minute or two later he was dead at Ren's feet. The Master turned away and called the regroup of his men.
"I have obtained vital information. The commanding officer of this base gave up the last known location of Luke Skywalker. He has left his exile."
The Knights were startled and started talking among them. The information was unsettling.
"Quiet" The Master commanded. "We shall depart for the Parellia System, immediately."
"Should we call General…?" The Rogue started but Ren interrupted him abruptly:
"Bring the Finalizer and let the entire Galaxy know we found him? Why don't we send a card to the Resistance? No, no. We shall leave under the radar and find him quietly before anyone can warn him."
Kylo Ren stormed through them back to the ship. The rest followed in silence. Kylo took his pilot seat, engaging the engines.
"XR. Engage the cloaking device and the sensory scrambler."
The astromech droid complied and the ship effectively disappeared. Kylo Ren then proceded to introduce the Parellia system coordinates in the navicomputer. The ship darted toward outer space and left the moon's atmosphere. They flew forwards distancing themselves from Selax and its moon. Two Venator-class Star Destroyers were orbiting the system completing the blockade. Kylo Ren steered the ship to pass the two battlecruisers after which he engaged the hyperdrive. Once in hyperspace, he turned to speak to his men.
"Brothers. We are heading for the Parellia system. There, along with Luke Skywalker we might find a future recruit."
"Who is it about?" Armory said in a low voice. He had several grenades strapped on leather belts that crossed on his chest and other numerous explosives and blasters on him.
"The recruit is a Force-sensitive scavenger. She is extremely strong and she has been corrupted by Luke Skywalker"
"That complicates things"
"It is not something we cannot handle. We are six, he is only one"
"Two, you are forgetting this padawan of his you want to steal"
Kylo Ren turned fast toward the knight that spoke. Sniper was slumped in his seat, the embodiment of insolence.
"She will not be harmed. She is my..."
"Personal interest, Master?"
Next thing he knew, The Sniper dangled in the air, being Force chocked by Ren. He tried to break free using the Force, but he was no match for his master's powers, even diminished as they were.
"I will not tolerate your insolence, Sniper. She is my new recruit, whether she will be the eight Knight of Ren or your replacement is your decision. Know that I will spare you this time, just because your talents are needed for this organization and the First Order. Understood?"
Kylo Ren released the knight by lowering his left hand. The Sniper fell down and stayed there awhile panting, thirsty for air.
"Yes...yes...I am sorry Master...I apologies for my insolence. Forgive me! Please, forgive me!"
Kylo Ren continued with the briefing: "There is also the problem with the Kasinja war clan. According to the intelligence officer they have occupied the Jedi Temple Skywalker and the girl will visit. To eliminate this problem, we shall kill them all."
"With all due respect Master, I think the immediate problem we should address is Skywalker" The Rogue spoke. He had a high pitched voice that sometimes could be annoying.
"No. I know him. I know his Jedi Code. He will try to convince the Kasinja to allow him free passage. They will refuse, he'll try a Jedi Mind trick but that won't work because they are too many. The warriors will attack and eventually capture him by threatening his companions. We'll make our move then."
"You know him best Master. We shall do as you command." Rogue said, slowly bowing his head.
Kylo Ren turned back in his seat, and leaned back watching the stars. The other knights started checking their weapons, all while The Sniper was still rubbing his neck and breathing heavily.