Chapter 21 - Battle for Takodana - Fourth Part (1/2)

Rey continued advancing and had succesfully evaded the stormtroopers but she had this horrible premonition and sense of danger, as if she was being hunted by a predator so powerful that could not be defeated.

- ”Such silence”- she said after a while and noticed that not only did she not see any person or animal in the area, but she also did not listen any sound at all which was really weirtd in the middle of a forest and more when she knew there was a battle going on.

She started to panic when apart from the sound she also noticed that the forest that before looked so green and beautiful, not had turned dark and somber. It was as if the colors had gone and she was just in the middle of a maze. She felt like a lost child and once she felt a terrible danger lurking behind her. Her senses started to catch sounds, smells and things that should not be there.

- ”Luke Skywalker...”- a voice resounded in her surroundings. Rey felt that the voice was ethereal and out of this world- ”where is he?”

- ”Who...?”- she said when she heard steps but even though she knew somehow that it was only one person, she could hear whoever it was coming from multiple directions- ”leave me alone!”

- ”Answer to me!”- said the voice again and this time Rey felt a cold shiver in her back since she had felt the voice as if someone was whispering to her ear.

- ”No!”- she said decisely and immediately she knew where the voice was coming from and raised her pistol aiming at the place.

The shots flew at her target but almost immediately a reddish brilliance appeared out of nowhere with a buzzing sound and the shock of Rey it intercepted and even reflected her shots. Rey was absolutely stunned and she did not believe that to be possible. Almost immediately, a tall and slender figure outfitted in a black attire and armor appeared and in his hand he wielded the device that was creating the red laser that had just fended her shots. The device had the form of a cross and apart from the big laser that was created from the upper tube, it also presented two small beams of light from the sides in the form of a laser sword.

- ”Impressive...”- said the man who used a metallic helmet which made his voice sound robotic and very unnatural. For a moment Rey felt as if a demon was talking to her- - ”So you're the girl I've heard so much about... you do have some skill to be able to break from the illusion...”

Rey's instincts creamed her to run but for a moment she could not even move or breathe. She felt as if she were in front of an invincible giant that belonged to another level. One thing she knew was that there was no way she could defeat this man and her only chance was to escape.

- ”Move...!”- Rey shouted to herself and she shot again while running and taking cover but the man once again blocked, deflected and even sometimes just evaded her attacks while walking slowly and confidently to her. Rey was extremely terrified since no matter how much she ran, the man seemed to cover more space just by walking. Rey tried to run in different directions but after many tries, somehow the man started to appear in front of her blocking her path. Rey started to wonder if there were many of them. Rey also had this horrible tingling sensation in her head and she somehow knew that the man in front of her was doing something which was the reason of him not having killed her yet.

- ”I see...”- said finally the man who sounded a little fun- ”so many problems caused by a mere scavenger...”

Rey had the horrible idea that the man had been peeking on her memories and she just shot again after permitting the man to get close to her but the man delflected her shots once again with an inhuman speed and then raised his arm in her direction. Immediately Rey felt her right arm lowering against her will and her body being immobilized. Her expression turned to one of terror since no matter what she tried, her body just did not obey her will. She saw in distress how the man advanced closer to her and Rey finally could see the man with more detail. Her desperation only grew depper when she realized that she had seen this person before. That mask and armor and even the lightsaber in his hands. It was the same man that had appear in her vision under Maz Castle.

- ”I see... your name is Rey...”- said the man and Rey confirmed that he was reading her mind- ”you have seen the droid but more importantly... you have seen the map... ”

The tingling sensation increased to a more violent and painful drilling and Rey wanted to scream but she could not even do that under the immobilizing power she was feeling.

- ”Sir!”- said a stormtrooper bringing a holo device- ”we have received new data.”

The soldier activated the device but Rey could not turn her head to see it. She could feel the change in the man's attitude.

- ”I see”- said he after some seconds and then he passed his hand in front of her and she felt very sleepy- ”pull the division out... we have what we need!”

Rey's body did not fall into the ground but she started to float in midair. Kylo Ren started to walk without any sign of hurry while the inconscious Rey followed him floating behind. After some steps however, Kylo Ren stopped and turned around looking at the distance.

- ”Mnn?”- the normally cold and aloof figure clenched his fists and his aura changed to one of wrath- ”well played! I'll return the favor in the future.”

After saying this, he continued walking with Rey and he just dissapeared in the forest.

(...)

Finn was unable to react for some moments after he had heard what the Knight of Ren had said. Was this a joke or a way to distract him? He did know that these scary people did not have sense of humor and that he probably did not need to use deceit with him since he was overwhelmingly superior to have the need to do so.

- ”What are you talking about?”- asked Finn more for the gaining time but he had to admit that the words of his opponent had piqued his interest- ”I never was part of the Knights of Ren.”

- ”Weren't you part of the FN corps?”- asked the knight of Ren smiling to him with an arrogant attitude- ”you were even one of the most outstanding members of it, am I wrong?”

- ”So what?”- asked Finn keeping his defensive stance.

- ”Do you think that the training you received in that corps was normal?”- asked the knight and Finn found himself a little confused.

The training that they had received was certainly different. They all knew that the FN corps was a very special unit under Captain Phasma where only the best of the best were accepted. They trained longer and harder than the rest since more and better results were expected from them. They had the typical physical and theorical curriculum that any stormtrooper would have but Finn had to accept that there were many strange tests and activities that he never understood.

”Control your breathing and adapt to the rythmn of your opponent”- Finn remembered being tutored by his instructors while facing a cadet with a practice sword.

There was the intense focus in melee combat with weapons like staves and swords that were totally impractical in this era. It was also regular to fight against other cadets while using helmets that did not permit one to see or hear at all. Finn had always thought it was a crazy and stupid waste of time but he had to admit that if he was still alive after the exchange with the knight of Ren it was due to that training.

- ”Focus... it all depends on the mental image”- he remembered another instructor while doing a ridiculous mental test.

This crazy activity consisted in putting a kind of mechanical crown that was supposedly a device to amplify the mental powers of people. They were supposed to make objects move without touching them or try to read the mind of other person who was looking at a figure and guess what he was watching. He had only managed to guess some of the images by luck. Finn furrowed his eyebrows while remembering those activities that made no sense and then he looked at the Knight of Ren.

- ”I suppose you're starting to understand”- said the black person who seemed to be enjoying the reaction of Finn- ” the FN Corps is a special unit where we gather special candidates that have a high possibility of becoming Knights of Ren

- ”I didn't know”- said Finn honestly- ”nobody told me about it”

- ”You didn't need to”- said the knight of Ren- ”after all, if you failed and die before you could show your potential then it would have been for nothing.”

- ”So that's it?”- asked Finn with a very dissapointed tone- ”anyone would do as long as they are in the top charts? It is kind of boring to tell you the truth.”

- ”If that were the case you wouldn't be chosen since you were children, don't you think?”- said the knight of Ren with a teasing voice- ”all the cadets in the FN corps are different... but I can't tell you more here... if you want to know the full story then you must come with me.”

Finn lowered his defense and turned off the light saber. He seemed to be thinking about his proposal. He seemed to be interested and curious and definitely wanted to know more so he started to approach the knight of Ren.

- ”If I return, will they just ignore what I did until now?”- Finn asked with a worried expression- ”will I be punished?”

- ”As a knight of Ren you will have inmunity for past crimes”- said the knight of Ren who seemed to be very pleased since Finn was accepting his offer and advanced some steps to him- ”if you prefer, you will be given a new identity so nobody will know who you are.”

- ”I see...”- said Finn who seemed to have taken a decision- ”in that case...”

Finn ignited the lightsaber and swang it at his opponent with all his strenght. The knight of Ren smirked and evaded the attack as if he had known it was coming which took Finn by surprise.

- ”That was the most stupid thing you could have done, FN-2187”- said Black Three- ”but I admire your courage. Since you won't be coming willingly, I'll have to cut your legs.”

- ”You need a lot of training...”- said Black Three who touched Finn's shoulder and immediately cut his leg making him kneel- ”you must learn how to use your anger in an effective way.”

- ”My name... is Finn”- said he and tried to attack with just his fists but he felt a terrible pressure in his neck which stopped him on his tracks.

Finn took his hands to his neck trying to liberate himself but he was surprised to feel no hands. He clearly felt the terrible choke that was impeding his breathe and he also felt horror when he felt being pullled up into the air. He opened his eyes in disbelief and then he saw the knight of Ren having his hand pointing at him at the distance. What was this? what kind of magic was this?

- ”I understand... Finn”- said Black Three increasing the pressure in Finn's throat- ”we'll talk later... so for now... go to sleep.”

Finn felt his conciousness scoming down and he knew that there was nothing he could do and soon his body relaxed and everything went black. However. before going black he clearly heard the sound of a blaster and then he felt hitting the floor.

(...)

Maz continued to command her forces the best she could but the situation was not good. The casualties kept rising and the destruction of her defense system seemed to be unstoppable.

- ”Teams Blue and Violet destroyed!”- informed one of Maz staff- ”survivors ask for help!”