When PZ had told him she was going to Lullem he had felt his heart skip a beat. That.. brought back old memories. How did she know of that planet and why was she going there?
His vision, a day prior, came to the surface, a clear image of her green lightsaber springing to life.
She was going to build a lightsaber.
Kylo told his pilot to head to this planet, eager to set foot and yet a sense of dread filled his being. He remembered the bloodbath, the grueling scene and her form standing almost.. proudly.
Within a few hours they were landing on Lullem and he waited until the door opened to see what had happened.
At the sight that met his eyes.. even his blood ran cold.
Just like in his vision. Just like what he saw.
Stormtrooper bodies were scattered, unmoving and very much deceased. Pockets of red water, which he knew was actually blood, lined parts of the ground not cracked. He could see her ship, neatly tucked between two hills and so he made his way to it.. uneasy settling into his body.
xxx
Elaina woke to the sound of a powerful roar filling the air. She shook her head to clear her vision through her mask, slowly rising with a hand against her ship's side for support. She removed her black saber, slipping it into the seat of her ship, she didn't want to use it if she didn't have to.
She turned toward the sound, spotting the shuttle that Kylo flew. She tensed, hands clenching into fists as she moved to stand atop the hill between them.
xxx
She was there, staring down at him, her high point on the hill neither an advantage of disadvantage. He felt that they were locking gazes as he stopped just before the base. She descended, her hand slowly reaching for the object on her left hip, clutching what looked to be a metal hilt. A lightsaber.
"I seem to recall that you go by the name Atle Elkem.. or would you prefer that I call you Elaina?"
"So." Came the deep voice of the mercenary. "You've learned the truth. And yet you foolishly sent your men to capture me, thinking an easy victory. Because.. what, I'm a girl?" She lifted a hand to grandly gesture to the field of motionless troopers. "Are you still eager for me to join you?" She folded her arms against her chest, making sure the hilt was visible.
"If you will not join us.. then you shall fall to us!" Kylo jumped toward her, saber out and swishing on as he brought the blade down.
Hers flew to her hand, activating in time to block the otherwise deadly blow. She shoved and he landed before darting to her, their blades connecting in a blinding blur.
"Urgh!" She was on the defensive, blocking, parrying, deflecting and dodging all his aggressive attacks while he took the offense, using her apparent tiredness against her. He hacked, slashed, swiped, jabbed and tore at her defense.
At one point they finally took just a small break, jumping away after a sparking clash to breathe. She was panting, having some difficulty getting air to her heaving lungs. She swiftly took off her helmet, tossing it toward her ship.
"I am not a prey to be beaten by the likes of you, knight!" She snarled, catching him offguard as she raised her right hand toward her ship. Suddenly something shiny flew from it to her hand and he noticed the black metal object she now clutched.
As she activated it he took an uneasy step back, the shimmering black beam causing such a pause of silence in the air. She smirked at him.
"Cat got your tongue, Ren?"
"You.. made a darksaber.. but, how?" His confusion was heavy and he felt it ripple through his body like a wave. His crystals had shown red, yet.. this woman had made black crystals, far stronger than his own.
She paused, not clearly understanding. Black crystals weren't evil... right? She knew so little about lightsabers.
"Dark saber is a reference to a weapon used by a Sith. In this case you've created dark crystals to produce a black beam. How?"
"I.. don't know." She answered truthfully.
He reached up to remove his helmet, letting it drop beside him. He deactivated his saber, clipping it to his belt as he held out a hand.
"Join me, Elaina, I can be your teacher, I can show you how to use the force, I can show you how to be stronger than you can imagine." He pleaded with her, willing her to see reason.
"I don't want to be like you!" She snarled, rushing forth to slash. He jumped back, taking out his own. The fight sparked up again, this time the opposite. She pressed for an advantage, using her sudden adrenaline rush as fuel to take the pull. She swept forward, forcing him to retreat and stay on the defense. Two blades against one.
But he was stronger. He knocked the black blade from her hand, punching her chest. The wind rushed from her lungs.
He saw an opening and so he took it, slashing a deep cash on her right hip. Exhaustion seemed to take hold of her as she dropped to a knee, her green lightsaber deactivating. He placed his mere inches from her neck, close enough to feel the heat singe her hair.
"You cannot win!" He said breathlessly, taking deep gulps of air to cool his aching lungs.
She panted, unable to find her voice.
"My master can show you everything, I could!" He begged of her.
She hissed, feeling a cracked rib protest from the action. "I.. will not.. be seduced by you. Master Luke and Rosy taught me about the force! How good and evil are supposed to be balanced!" She coughed. "The Sith are evil, maniacs that murder, kill, steal, lie. I was taught better!"
His eyes widened. Master Luke.
It was.. her.. that girl. The girl from the days spent training under his uncle, days spent learning the ways of the Jedi, of peace.. Days when he had felt conflicted. Before he defected. Before he left, betraying them as they saw it.
She was the little girl with those penetrating grey-blue eyes, the short black hair, the snarky attitude.