It was obvious this place used to be desolate, barren, for grass was growing between dark boulders—the greenery was gradually covering the black, rocky ground. Based on fissures and craggy landscape, Kylo guessed it was volcanic. Seeing the towering—yet dormant—volcano ahead proved his guess right.

So, Mustafar? But he hadn't heard of the volcanic planet turning quiet and green. Maybe, Lola Sayu, then?

As he was following that mysterious broadcast, a black hole appeared out of nowhere and began sucking in his ship; he flew straight in, not fighting it—knowing it would take him somewhere else. But now... Where in the Galaxy had he ended up?

Kylo tapped a screen to pull up his ship's map to see where he was. No matter how much he tapped it, the holographic screen kept shaking, blurring in and out of focus. The Whisper's guidance system didn't know either.

He heaved as he switched it off and turned on his comm link.

"Supreme Leader to base. My ship's tracking is faulty. Requesting location," he said.

Silence answered him.

He repeated his request, and received the same outcome.

Cursing the black hole for probably damaging his ship's computers, Kylo switched it off and on, then tried again.

Still nothing.

As he flew closer to the volcano, numerous ruins passed underneath him. Severely dilapidated stone structures; most reinforced with metal, but deteriorating. All abandoned. There wasn't a sign of life anywhere, other than the vegetation.

The volcano was so large, it took a few moments to get out of view as Kylo flew by it, hoping to find some kind of life on the other side. Specifically, life forms that could inform him on where he was before he ran out of fuel.

Not too far ahead was an opening in the mountain walls encaging this place, and to his right, a massive crumbled ruin. He angled his ship to fly to it, and followed an empty canal running from the volcano to this structure. Observing it, Kylo figured it used to be a river of lava—perhaps it fueled some machinery in the ruined structure in a pile of sharp metal.

With nothing to see there, he turned back toward the break in the mountain range. Getting closer to the exit, Kylo leaned forward.

An enormous abyss sat right where the break was and just as wide. The ground leading up to it was thriving, unlike the ground on his side which was making a comeback. Holes were evidence that something had been built into the walls—perhaps a gate or huge door—but it had fallen into the cavernous void.

But there was also evidence of life: whoever or whatever lived here had built a wooden bridge linking one edge to the other. Ropes, wood, and stone made it rudimentary, but it appeared sturdy.

Smoke rising from a burning campfire near a small stone house, penned-in pigs, wandering chickens, a little garden of crops, and horses in a stable lifted Kylo's hopes for intelligent life as well.

He landed the Whisper far enough away to hopefully not frighten these obviously basic-living people. And, if luck was on his side, they wouldn't immediately identify him as Kylo Ren, the Supreme Leader of the First Order, yet, and he could talk with them.

If not, or if his appearance sent them running—being in all black and the scar on his face—he could still get them to tell him what he needed to know through the Force.

Kylo headed down the boarding ramp, and as soon as one foot hit the ground, stopped.

Malicious, twisted things had been done here; those deeds have corrupted this place. The ground actually seemed saturated with evil. Ashamed, the dark earth was trying to cover its past with green. But for that to happen, it would take a long time for the land's memory to be wiped clean.

Beyond the feel of the land, there was relaxation. A hard-earned peace, like the earth had finally released the breath it had been holding for so long.

And even beyond that, there was trepidation. Something was coming.

And Kylo felt like it involved him.

What kind of place was this?

Movement in the corner of his eye drew his attention to the little house. Three men with neck-length dark hair and various facial hair cautiously approached. They wore dark leather jerkins adorned with indentations of a tree with multiple stars, leggings, and boots, but chainmail glittered underneath the layers. Each had a sheathed sword on their hip and two bore a bow and full quiver on their back.

Through the Force, he felt the puzzlement, concern, and fear weighing down their souls. None of them exuded any power in the Force. He gave a slight nudge at their minds, but they didn't react. He couldn't look into their minds.

Odd.

"Whom do you serve, stranger?" one asked.

Kylo blinked. "Pardon?"

All three men quickly became defensive: the two with bows whipped them out and drew back the strings with arrows ready, and metal rang as the speaker unsheathed his sword.

"I ask once more, only: Whom do you serve? Sauron? You dress as the Black Númenóreans once did."

He closed his eyes and slowly breathed out. Remain calm. "I don't have a clue on what you're talking about. I serve no one but myself, and I only want to know one thing: Where am I?"

The men glanced at each other, confused even more.

"Mordor. How do you not know?"

His answer left Kylo dumbfounded. He had never heard of a place called Mordor. Never read anything mentioning a place close to that spelling. He ransacked his brain for Mordor, Sauron, or Black Númenóreans.

"Who are you, or have you forgotten your name as well?" the first man asked.

A nerve twitched—he was trying to focus. Kylo was already irritated and frustrated. "If you wish to keep living, stop talking."

"You cannot threaten us."

Bows twanged.

Kylo's hand shot up and the sharp arrows froze in midair, not two feet from their points of origin. The men cried out in fear, yelling 'sorcery', 'unable to move', and 'Sauron'.

He looked at the men, bored. Holding the arrows and men in place took less effort than a blaster bolt.

"Seriously? You expect an arrow to harm a Sith Lord?"

He turned the arrows around, and released his hold on everything. The missiles pierced their shooters' throats, and they crumbled without a sound. The speaker stumbled forward, now free of the Force Freeze, and began to run, but Kylo grabbed him and yanked the man to him. He stopped before him on his knees, sword frozen in his hand, and eyes wide. His mouth trembled with fear, but Kylo had his vocal chords shut for the moment.

"Now, I'm asking the questions. Where the hell... in this Galaxy... am I?"