Chapter 23 - Into the night
Rey was finally back in her room. She had finished dinner and was admiring the beauty of the Naboo landscape as the three moons lit up the sky from her balcony. It had been more than five hours since she had last seen or heard from Kylo. It was extremely late in the evening. She sighed and made her way back towards her bed.
She was about to get changed when a jolt of Force lightning coursed through her body, causing her to fall to her knees. She called the lightsaber from her bedside table into her hand, hauling herself to her feet and concentrated on pulling herself to Ben. She could feel resistance, but she concentrated harder.
She heard Kylo scream in her head, "No!"
As she looked up, she realised that her surroundings had transformed into what she could only assume was the planet Taris. Standing on what seemed to be a circular landing pad, she gazed out at a vast expanse of curved, decaying towers enveloping her.
Before she could take in the view properly, her attention was drawn to the two red lightsabers illuminating the area with a faint red glow.
Rey felt a searing pain emanating from her side, and she struggled to ignore it as she realised that it wasn't her own. Her gaze fell upon Kylo's lightsaber as it deactivated and clattered to the ground.
"She's here, isn't she?" a male voice chuckled. "I can sense her."
The man who spoke turned his head towards Rey and raised his hand to pull Rey through the force bond towards him. Rey didn't have time to react because she was distracted by the sight of Kylo. His feet were barely touching the edge of the landing pad, and a crimson lightsaber had been plunged through his side and was sticking out through his back.
"Goodbye, Kylo," the man sneered. Rey could only watch as the man pulled the blade out of him, and Kylo fell backward off the edge, free falling into the darkness.
"No!" Rey bellowed as she activated her lightsaber, pointing it at the man who had been fighting with Kylo. The purple hue now lit up the space in front of her.
She reached out but could no longer feel Kylo's pain or presence. Anger bubbled up inside her.
"What have you done?" Rey growled, feeling the darkness taking hold with each breath she took. The power began coursing through her.
"We haven't been properly introduced," the smirking man said. "I'm Lancel Ren."
"I don't care who you are," Rey snarled. "You're a dead man."
Rey's lightsaber slowly shifted from purple at the base of the blade to red.
Rey could hear a low, gravelly chuckle in her head. "Yes, feel the dark side," it laughed.
She ignored the voice and focused on the man before her. An amber colour with a red outer rim filled her iris, and the crimson hue consumed the rest of her lightsaber.
Lancel Ren took a step back, fear now taking over him. "How did you..?" He began to say before pausing due to Rey's movements.
Rey pushed off her back foot, putting all her pain and anger into her strike.
Lancel managed to block her overhead blow but was already faltering in his steps.
"I hate you!" Rey screamed. They were moving around each other. The clash of lightsabers filled the air with a flurry of movement, each strike accompanied by crackling and humming. The blades collided again and again, creating a mesmerising spectacle of energy and intensity.
A force was building in Rey's chest. She bellowed, and it spread out to her fingertips and blasted out of her outstretched hands toward Lancel.
He screamed as force lightning coursed through his body—Rey's lightsaber struck, slicing through his hand and lightsaber causing the pieces to fall to the floor. Rey stood above him, scowling.
"It's not me you want, it's the Emperor," Lancel cried out.
Just before Rey stepped forward with a blow that sliced straight through him severing him in half. He collapsed forward spitting blood.
"The Emperor should be feared," he whispered. Life was draining from him, and no further words were spoken before he gurgled and drew his last breath. Lancel was now dead.
The echoes of laughter seemed to bounce off the walls of Rey's mind, intensifying her inner turmoil. With a heavy heart, she extinguished her lightsaber and collapsed to her knees, unleashing a primal scream that echoed through the empty space until her voice grew hoarse. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as her entire body trembled with raw emotion, and a profound sense of emptiness consumed her being.
Thirty minutes earlier…
Kylo journeyed through the vast expanse of space in his sleek command shuttle, bound for the distant planet of Taris. Despite the incredible speed of the hyperdrive, the journey took many hours due to the planet's location in the far reaches of the Outer Rim. As he neared the planet, a sense of foreboding washed over him, as if the very air crackled with the presence of all seven of the formidable Knights of Ren gathered on Taris.
It had been quite some time since he had last laid eyes on the knights, each of whom possessed their own unique strengths. Lancel Ren was the most recent addition to their ranks, having joined just before Kylo encountered Rey. He did not know him well.
During his time among the knights, Kylo came to the realisation that Vicrul and Cardo, both of whom had been knights during the Imperial Era long before he embraced the dark side, were among the longest-serving members.
Vicrul, a sinister figure, often referred to himself as a 'reaper of souls,' was unwavering in his belief that each life he took would only serve to bolster his already formidable power on the dark side, a conviction that struck fear and awe in those who crossed his path.
Cardo, on the other hand, was a walking arsenal, his meticulous selection of long-range weaponry as his preferred means of engagement, and his avoidance of close combat whenever possible, piqued the curiosity of those who observed his strategic approach.
Ushar, known for his relentless nature, chose to inflict slow and agonising torment on prisoners, driven by a desire for control.
Trudgen, fixated on amassing a collection of trophies, including a helmet meticulously crafted from the armour of an Imperial Death Trooper, was motivated by a need for recognition.
Kuruk was the Knights' skilled pilot and sniper, his focus enhanced by the dark side.
Ap'lek, on the other hand, was a master of stealth and deception, using these skills to deceive his targets and kill his prey.
Kylo's rise to leadership was marked by a bold challenge to Ren, the previous leader, in a fierce and intense battle. His victory served as a testament to his superior power in the Force, establishing his position among the Knights. None had dared to contest his rightful claim to leadership, until this pivotal moment.
Kylo's sharp eyes had identified a clear landing pad, and with precision, he gently set down his ship. He emerged from the craft and followed his instincts through a nearby building to another landing pad devoid of any vessels. As he approached, the sight of seven knights standing in formation came into view.
"Why are you targeting Rey?" Kylo demanded.
Lancel retorted, "She stands in your way. Your compassion for the girl has weakened you."
Kylo questioned, "Do you all feel that way?"
Each of the other knights nodded silently in agreement.
Kylo ignited his lightsaber, and Lancel chuckled. "You will be destroyed," Lancel laughed.
Kylo responded dismissively, "Not likely."
Lancel's voice boomed, "Get him!"
Lancel took a step back, observing the other six knights as they formed a circle around Kylo. There was a tense silence as Kylo waited for one of them to make a move, but no one budged. With a shrug of his shoulders, Kylo's brief moment of distraction allowed Vicrul to step forward.
With a swift motion, Vicrul brought his Vibro-Scythe down overhead towards Kylo, who quickly raised his lightsaber to deflect the attack. Kuruk unleashed a powerful blast from his blaster rifle, but Kylo skillfully redirected the energy with the Force, sending it hurtling towards Vicrul, who stumbled under the unexpected assault.
In the midst of the chaos, Cardo fired his arm cannon, only to have the searing energy redirected back towards Kuruk. Meanwhile, Ap'lek surged forward, wielding his Mandalorian Executioner Vibro-Ax with deadly intent, but his advance was interrupted as Vicrul who intercepted his elbow by mistake, attempting to strike at Kylo once more.
The distraction caused Ap'lek to lose focus on Kylo, who took a swing at him, slicing his chest open. Kylo launched himself up and over Vicrul, plunging his lightsaber through his back into the centre of his chest and out the other side. He used his body to deflect Cardo's subsequent canon fire. Kylo ripped the lightsaber out, and he crumpled to the floor.
Leaving only Cardo, Ushar, and Trudgen circling Kylo.
Ushar, agile as a cat, took a swing with his war club and made contact with Kylo's lightsaber; Kylo pushed him backward, causing him to stumble into Cardo, who, with lightning speed, blasted another shot, which ripped through Ushar.
Trudgen swiped his Vibrocleaver towards Kylo, who used the force to direct his blow into Cardo's canon, slicing it in half. Cardo grunted in frustration, Kylo pirouetting and sliced through Cardo in one swift motion.
Trudgen took another swing; Kylo shifted his body and stabbed through his head with his lightsaber. Kylo deactivated it, and Trudgen's body fell.
Kylo could hear Lancel's laughter echoing around the dimly lit landing pad. "I didn't need them anyway," Lancel declared with a smirk.
As Kylo turned, he caught sight of Lancel activating his lightsaber. In response, Kylo ignited his own, casting a crimson glow that pierced through the darkness. The low hum of the energy blades filled the air, adding to the tension that crackled between them.
Lancel flicked his wrist, and the bodies of the fallen knights were swept off the landing pad and fell over the edges out of sight.
The two men started to move in a circular pattern around each other slowly, their eyes locked in a tense and focused manner.
Lancel confidently declared, "Once you're out of the way, she'll be next."
Kylo swiftly responded, "You won't get the chance."
Lancel lunged forward, his red lightsaber arcing through the air as he aimed a swift strike at Kylo. However, Kylo effortlessly deflected the attack with a confident and calculated maneuver.
The two men engaged in a fierce lightsaber fight, their blades clashing and echoing through the air. With each blow, they forced their opponent to step forward, to the side, or back, their movements fluid and precise.
They danced around each other until Lancel launched himself up and over Kylo. Without breaking eye contact, Kylo shifted his body to continue deflecting Lancel's strikes.
The two individuals were locked in a standoff, each trying to bring the lightsaber into contact with the other's skin, but neither succeeded. Kylo used his strength to push Lancel back, causing him to fumble.
They both raised their hands. Lancel unexpectedly blasted force lightning out of his fingertips towards Kylo.
Lancel's laughter echoed through the chamber as the crackling force lightning coursed through Kylo. In the midst of battle, he keenly sensed the subtle shift in the Force as a force bond struggled to form between him and Rey, with Kylo fiercely resisting the connection.
Kylo could feel Rey's presence reaching out to him, her energy intertwining with his. Despite his efforts to resist, he struggled to remain upright, clutching onto his blade as he bellowed, "No!"
The distraction enough to allow Lancel to pierce his lightsaber into Kylo. Kylo held his breath and saw Rey appear before him. His lightsaber deactivated and fell out of his grasp falling to the floor.
"She's here, isn't she," Lancel chuckled. "I can sense her."
Lancel turned his head, his eyes locking onto Rey's. Still connected to Kylo through the lightsaber, Lancel extended his hand toward her.
With a surge of power from the Force, he drew Rey through the invisible bond that connected her with Kylo. Kylo witnessed her reaction, seeing her flinch and instinctively reach for her side, as if Kylo's pain was now manifesting within her.
"Goodbye, Kylo," Lancel sneered. Kylo felt the blade pulled out of him, and he fell backward off the edge of the landing pad, free falling into the darkness.
He drew in a deep breath and deliberately blocked his connection to Rey. He couldn't afford to let his own agony become a distraction for her, potentially leading to her downfall.
As he plummeted, his surroundings came into focus—jagged ledges and fractured cabling. In a desperate move, he reached out, seizing a nearby cable.
The searing friction as he clutched it slowed his descent, then he managed to grasp the edge of an adjacent ledge with both hands. Straining against the pain radiating from his side, he hoisted himself up and, despite the excruciating effort, glimpsed the distant landing pad above.
Knowing he lacked the strength to scale the entire distance, he spied an entrance to a nearby building and dashed inside, his hand pressed against his side. Every fiber of his being urged him to return to Rey as quickly as possible.
Kylo swiftly ascended in the elevator to the top of the building, where he discovered Rey crouched over, screaming at the top of her lungs, with Lancel Ren's lifeless body now visible on the floor.
As he dropped his mental barrier, he could feel the overwhelming darkness consuming Rey, leaving her as an empty shell filled with hate and anger, believing that Lancel had killed him. Despite his own injuries, Kylo made his way over to Rey's collapsed form.
"Rey," Kylo groaned.
"Ben?" Rey whispered, her voice filled with uncertainty as she raised her head, her eyes locking onto Kylo's. They were still a piercing yellow, filled with conflicting emotions.
Kylo fell to his knees, his face etched with concern as he gently grasped either side of her face. "It's okay," he reassured her, his voice filled with a mix of relief and worry.
Rey's eyes shifted from their intense, yellow glow back to their natural hazel colour. As she focused, she sensed Kylo's signature and recognised that he was wounded. The instant of how it occurred flashed in her mind.
In a moment of deep concentration, she took a calming breath and gently laid her hand over his injury. With closed eyes, she visualised the damaged skin mending and the muscles repairing themselves, channelling the Force to aid in his healing.
As her eyes fluttered open, a wave of relief engulfed her, and she let out a long exhale. Kylo's smile widened as he closed the distance between them, gently placing a tender kiss on her lips. In that moment, their loving and passionate kiss became the vessel that carried an overwhelming surge of emotions, encompassing a profound sense of release intertwined with overpowering devotion.
They both could breath easier knowing that the other was safe and the threat of the Knights of Ren had passed.
With a gentle yet firm grasp, Kylo helped Rey to her feet. "Let's return home," he said, his voice carrying a mix of weariness and determination.
As Kylo summoned his fallen lightsaber to his hands, Rey mirrored his actions and ignited her own lightsaber. To her dismay, the blade that emerged was no longer the vibrant purple she had known.
"I think I changed the color," Rey said with a tinge of sadness in her voice.
Kylo smirked, a sly grin spreading across his face. "It's alright, now it matches mine," he said.
Rey's lips twitched, forming a hesitant smile. "I can't exactly show this to the Resistance, now can I?" she noted wryly.
Kylo raised an eyebrow. "You still have Luke and Leia's lightsabers, don't you?" he inquired.
"Yeah, they're back in my room on Rori," Rey confirmed.
"You can just use them when you're with them," Kylo suggested.
Rey nodded thoughtfully. "I guess Lady Ren has a new lightsaber of her own now," she mused.
"A red lightsaber is definitely more intimidating," Kylo remarked.
As they strolled back to Kylo's ship, Rey could hear the distinctive whisper of another lightsaber calling to her.
"Not again," Rey groaned softly.
Kylo chuckled. "You might be able to get another crystal to make that double-sided lightsaber after all."
"But didn't I destroy Lancel's lightsaber?" Rey asked, puzzled.
"It must be someone else's," Kylo replied, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
As they turned down a dimly lit corridor in the imposing building, they arrived at a room that housed an assortment of weapons. Shadows danced across the walls, and she could sense the presence of creatures hiding behind various items, watching her every move.
Intrigued, she made her way closer to a box labeled 'Darth Vader.' Meanwhile, Kylo remained vigilant, keeping an eye on the movements in the shadows and sensing for any changes in their intent.
"It says this belonged to Darth Vader," Rey called out, her voice echoing in the room. Kylo swiftly crossed the space to join her at the box. With a sense of anticipation, Rey opened it and carefully retrieved the silver and black lightsaber.
"I thought that was destroyed," Kylo gasped in disbelief.
"I guess not," Rey replied, examining the weapon with fascination.
"It seems only fitting that the second part of your lightsaber comes from a family heirloom," Kylo observed.
Rey couldn't help but let out a snort. "At least both sides will be red," she remarked sarcastically, as she scooped up the lightsaber. "Let's get out of here."
As they made it back aboard Kylo's ship, they departed the planet without any further incident. Kylo engaged the hyperdrive, setting the destination for the airspace above Naboo.
Leaning back in the pilot's chair, Kylo announced, "We've got a few hours to kill."
Rey responded with a playful glint in her eye, "I wonder what we could do?"