Kylo checked the monitor in his TIE fighter. On track for Rengurar. He relaxed and thought about the mission he had ahead of him. Kill Snoke. Easy as that. Kylo knew Snoke would greet him with hate, and Kylo was ready for it. Snoke wants to kill me. I can't let him. I must stay the Supreme Leader.

Kylo checked his monitor again. He was minutes away from Rengurar, minutes away from Snoke. His knights were trailing him close behind. Kylo took a deep breath and prepared himself for what was to come. Lightsaber, check. It was all he needed. All of a sudden a large grey shape loomed into view. Rocks. Lots of rocks. Kylo took note of the crater-like holes on the surface, which was entirely made of rocks.

Kylo carefully turned his controller and entered the atmosphere of the planet. I'm here. But where is Snoke?  He scanned the surface for something, anything, but saw nothing. He finally spotted a large grey lump, visible from high above the ground. He cruised over, inspecting it. The large lump turned out to be a fortress, carved out of living rock that appeared to have once been a mound. It was simply carved, with several jagged towers, and roughly built. But what was most astonishing was the giant precious gems that lined the few windows and the main entrance. Yellow sappires and obsidian spheres circled the openings, standing out against the dull grey rock.

Kylo searched for a spot to land. He chose a section of rock that was mostly flat and cruised in. After turning off the ignition, Kylo stepped out of his ship and waited for his Knights to exit their transport. They had landed only seconds after Kylo, and filed over to him. All it took was one look from Kylo and they let him lead them to the entrance of the fortress in silence.

Kylo's boots dully clicked against the rock until he stopped in front of the entrance. "Strange, there's no door." His knights waited as he stood under a tall archway, at least two and a half times his height. The long hallway in front of him was lined with yellow gemstones, light reflecting off of them and illuminating the corridor. A set of stone doors stood at the end, each inlaid with an obsidian symbol.

"Proceed." Kylo instructed, marching forward.

The group walked until they reached the double doors. Kylo heard a wicked laugh come from behind the door and pushed it open before he could change his mind. Before he could go in, a voice that was too familiar greeted him. "Ren, heir of Vader, come in and meet your fate. I see you brought company. Bring them in too." Snoke laughed again.

Kylo went in, striding towards Snoke and stopping in the middle of the room, lightsaber in hand. His Knights stood in a row in front of the double doors, not daring to venture any further.

"Take a minute to grow accustomed to my fortress. Not the same as that old throne room, eh? I was never actually into that throne room though. Wasn't my style." 

Kylo took the invitation and looked around. Tall, engraved pillars with patterns of gemstones lined the massive room, fourteen in all, each with a guard dressed in reddish-gold suits of armor standing in front of them. Snoke sat in the center back of the room on a stone throne inlaid with obsidian. Lastly, Kylo set his eyes on Snoke. He was dressed in a yellow robe.

Kylo took the opportunity to speak first. "How do I know it's really you? Not just some Force projection trick?"

"This is my fortress, this is me in my true form. Young Ren, there are no more lies between us. I must say I was surprised that you never knew I was a simple Force projection trick. I never let you near me. That is why I preferred holograms for communication."

"I see."

"You have more questions, Ren. I can sense you confusion."

Kylo hesitated, but got right down to the point. "You're going to kill me, aren't you?"

Snoke chuckled. "Considering you attempted to kill me yet failed, as you now see, yes. You killed me for that little scavenger girl from the desert. You, the heir of Vader, stooping down so low to choose a scavenger over me!"

Snoke grew angry, but continued speaking. "Of course I will kill you, Kylo. Once you are out of my way, I will take over the First Order once again, and take over the galaxy. No one will ever take the title of Supreme Leader from me again! I will also find that little girl who plays at being a Jedi and kill her!"

Kylo's conscience began to get to him. "So you'll kill me and her both."

"Precisely. Any other questions before your death, Kylo Ren? Why did you come here anyway? You walked into your death," Snoke practically spit out the words.

"I came here to challenge you to a fight to be Supreme Leader. I knew you would find me anyway. Let's have a fight to the death. Whoever survives will be Supreme Leader."

"Fair enough, young Ren. You do know who you are going up against, don't you?"

Kylo though for a second. "No."

"Look into my eyes."

Kylo, confused, submitted to the order.

"What color are they?" Snoke asked.

"Blue."

"Which means-"

"You are not a Sith," Kylo finished. 

"Very good observation. I am not a Sith. I am more powerful than the Sith. I am even more powerful than the Jedi. Would you like to know what I am?"

"Yes."

Snoke stood up and swelled with pride. He waved his hands as he talked. "I was trained in the ancient Jedi order. I learned everything. I wanted more! I searched for a teacher, and I found one. A Sith, but I was wary. I wanted to learn the ways of the Force without becoming a Sith. If I had done that, my being would have been controlled by the dark side and not by rational decisions and my reasoning. I wanted to wield my power without being under complete control of the dark side."

Snoke paused, then continued. "Once I had learned everything on the dark side without succumbing to the Sith, my master found out how I was distancing myself from Sith-like ways. He got angry at me, but I overcame him. I had the knowledge of the light side, and of the dark side. I was neither Jedi nor Sith. I was more powerful, and I killed my master with the yellow lightsaber I had constructed, and ran. I came here and had servants fix up this fortress for me. I brooded for many years about what I would do with my power."

"But why-" Kylo attempted to interrupt. Snoke waved his hand and went on.

"You are going to ask why I used my power to build the First Order and take over the galaxy, aren't you? Let me answer you quickly, and then let us get on with our duel. I studied the ways of the ancient Jedi members, of the Sith, especially of Vader. I was alive during the time of the Empire. I observed Vader's rule, but was still reluctant to make a decision of what to do with myself. It's hard to choose what to do with your power when you are the strongest in the galaxy!"

Snoke laughed, sitting back down into his chair. "I decided to copy the work of Vader after the Empire fell. I wanted to bring the galaxy under one rule. I was no Sith like Vader: I was smarter! I would succeed because I was not confined by the dark side. Then you came along. You, the heir of Vader. I wanted to bring you in on my plan. But no, you tried to kill me! The Supreme Leader!"

Snoke suddenly stopped, seething. Kylo was still standing in the middle of the room, across from Snoke. "Ah, yes," said Snoke. "You may as well know it all since you are about to die. I am very old, very old. I have been around since the days of the Empire, and even before that. I waited to use my power until Vader's fall, and stayed alive using the skills I had acquired. Even the Jedi would envy me."

Snoke finally ended his monologue and curled his narrow fingers into fists. "That is enough for now. Are you ready to die? This information must die with you. Are you prepared, Kylo Ren?"

As if answering Snoke's question, Kylo ignited his lightsaber, illuminating himself in red light.