Renny

Star Wars: A New Force

Ben Solo

20 | Jedi Knight

Luke Skywalker was wrought with misgivings. The Dark Side energy shrouding Ben was unmistakable and its sheer emotion was like a suicide bomb: the tragic end of something beautiful. He centered his himself, maintaining what was important and was doable. He would have to consult with the Force later. Study its ebbs and seek guidance from its omnipotence. In the mean time, Odette Kenobi, was seeking out his guidance. He saw so much of Master Kenobi in her that it panged him at times, made him think of the time he had spent with his first Master.

Luke put on a front and kind smile. "I know, Odette... I know. I won't let him fall, there is still plenty of light in him." He stepped away, rubbing the beginnings of a headache into submission. Then he paused in his tracks, a warning in the Force seizing his senses. "Odette, keep your distance of Ben tonight. I'm afraid your presence will only agitate the situation. I'll speak with him tonight in your stead."

"In the meantime, help me with the Padawans. I'm sure they are feeling distressed after Ben's attack." He hated using the word: 'Attack' but that's exactly what it had been. An attack, a Force Choke so intent on harming others, that it lashed out and strangled everything.

_{Later that Night}

Ben ran harder than he ever had before, the Force pushing him into a blur of motion. The whispers and Darkness had churned, a tsunami threatening to drown him so completely that fear had grasped him. He took it in, not on purpose but it entered anyway. He felt like he was dying.

So he ran for... rather to help. The only person he loved whom's survival meant more than his own. Odette Kenobi, she had to live. To be hidden before the knights arrived. He came to her door and was suddenly reminded of their beginning. That day of false hope and blooming true-love. The Darkness sung to his heart, soothed his anxiety deadly precision.

Luke's dead but he tried to kill me, Odd. I had no choice...

Darth Vader's breathing told him to 'Leave her be'. The mass of Darkness wanted her for the slaughter. Ben fought with all he had to silence them both, if only for the upcoming moment. A shuttering breath left him, a tear jeweled in his eye, then fell. He knocked on her door twice, "Odd," came his fearful voice.

Star Wars: A New Force

@AHeartlessNobody I think its a cool idea. Poe x (mystery girl from Tatooine). But what if Poe ends up being with Odette, they have a small fling. Kylo finds out, does some Poe killing out of jealousy lol.

So I'm wondering if you want to branch out into our own kind of AU after Ben leaves the temple? maybe Luke continues training Odette or the two goes into hiding? maybe Luke dies? or maybe Odette is forced to take on the mantle of Galactic Hero because of Luke's disillusioned-state.

Star Wars: A New Force

@AHeartlessNobody I don't think we did? do you have someone in mind?

Star Wars: A New Force

@AHeartlessNobody I think I'm down for that. I'm not sure how Kylo would react to that but it would be interesting to find out.

Star Wars: A New Force

@AHeartlessNobody Whichever you believe she would do. And have fun at the movies.

Star Wars: A New Force

@AHeartlessNobody That song was amazing. I totally got the feels listening to it, thinking about our past posts, and Ben and Odetta. Ahh, epic choice of music.

Star Wars: A New Force

Ben Solo

20 | Jedi Knight

In the depths of his mind, where the ebbs of the Force flowed chaotic and distorted, time was a mere construct meant to be ignored. A young Ben turned to see Darth Vader approaching, his gaits echoed by the shallow breathing of his apparatus. His black-clad hand swayed very meticulously through the air, a stark line of red came to life amongst the dusk.

Grandfather, am I ready? is the time now?

A pale wisp of air escaped his mouth vents. Betrayal surged into Ben, a foul emotion that was equal-parts rage and sadness. He accepted them somberly, a mission or inherited vendetta that he had no right to deny. I will not disappoint you, Grandfather. The Dark Side guides me and your lingering will aims my fury. I will strike true against Luke's new order.

Rolling thunder began to sound, dangerous clouds gathered overhead. A booming, guttural, "NO! YOU WILL WAIT!" exploded from within them.

Ben gave the amassing Dark Side energy his full attention, a terrible sweat grasped him. Darth Vader had mysteriously vanished. Had fear swept aside his manifestation? or was it the always stalking presence of this Dark Side entity? Ben managed to gather some form of bravery against it. "Who are you? what do you want?"

The storm recoiled, bolstering its already massive structure then rushed at him, surrounding him, consuming him, finding his deepest of desires. It pressed on his connection to Odette, on his longing for his mother and father. Then it fed the anger and passion, the desire for control, the mastery of manipulation that had recently bloomed.

Once it was satisfied, the storm fell into a dark fog around Ben's feet. It uttered in that guttural, mountainous voice, "You, Heir to Vader. I want youuuu."

_{* * *}

An uncounted number of blessed intakes of breath filled the air. Odetta's voice reached him, gave him the teeniest bit of comfort but it nearly fell on deaf ears. The Light she pushed on him was repelled by a Darkness, both his own and not. It was a dense wall, a turbulent construct that fought back with daggers that shredded her attempt. Still, calm had become present in, Ben Solo's eyes. His body laxed, his lightsaber deactivated.

Luke, who had become tense, dropped his guard and deactivated his own lightsaber. "Ben, what have you done here?"

Ben considered his options, his answers. Odetta deserved more than what his was, more than what he was planning to do. A piece of him, very faint, ached terribly, but it was soon snuffed out by the Dark Side. He slid his arm from her grasp and smiled at Luke Skywalker, galactic hero, and soon-to-be Last Jedi. He forsook his outer robe and attached his lightsaber hilt to the magnetic clasp on his belt. "Nothing, Uncle Luke. I've done nothing ... yet."

He made it to the high-ledge of the arena and dropped down to the temple grounds. "I'm tired," he announced. "I'm heading to bed."

Star Wars: A New Force

@AHeartlessNobody No problem, Heartless. Get some sleep, I'll see ya in the AM.

Star Wars: A New Force

@AHeartlessNobody Got a post out : )

Star Wars: A New Force

Ben Solo

20 | Jedi Knight

The match had started slow and steady, the students testing their master's defense and counterattacks. As expected piercing his reflexes would not come easy and his Force Shield was even harder to discern. There was not even a crack in that perfect sphere of control and durability. Indeed, his uncle had become a legend not by luck but by hard work and natural talent-with a hint of genetics peppered in.

Ben flipped backwards in a wide arcing motion after Odette's much needed save. Thank you.

At the height of his flip he ripped a chunk of earth from the ground and launched towards Luke's side. The Jedi Master seemed to tear it asunder from the inside, for it explode before hitting him, raining rocky pieces on the arena. He looked at Ben and Ben imagined his uncle was displeased with such tactics. He ground his teeth, feeling the facade begin to crumble, he could hear his grandfather's voice in the distance. It whispered to be merciless, to kill the old fool.

"Not here... not now." He rushed back into the fray.

The two of them continued to press the Jedi Master. Once or twice, Ben could have swore Luke had been forced to actively participate, to use a Force Push, Pull, or even Repulse. It was during a slight reprieve when Ben reached his threshold for restraint. A stark line of gray flashed betwixt his mind, separating his use of the Light and Dark Side. It was beginning to gain a ruby hue now. He growled angrily before slamming his hand onto the ground inciting large fissures that seized the arena. No longer some test for sport, the battle had become personal. The heated exchange and the ease of which Luke was winning had fed his anger until it broiled and bubbled, now it was ready to erupt.

Nearly eight months of pent up ire fueled his strength in the Force. A subtle gasping noise had begun to rise, a symphony of suffocation. Ben had not realized the sheer influence he was demonstrating but the padawans had begun to choke. A dozen invisible hands were strangling them all. He stood very slowly, reveling in the dusky embrace of the Dark Side.

Then suddenly he yelled. "Traitorrr!"

His shoulders rose and dropped, he could feel the sweat of sudden exertion begin to dampen his robes. He slid his arms from the outer one, tossing it aside. Next he begun to stalk his Uncle; walking from point-a to point-b with a strangled noise around him. He cocked his lightsaber back and fro to escape himself, the rage. It was consuming him more thoroughly than ever before.