The cold metallic walls of the ship''s bridge hum with the sound of distant engines, the only sound in the otherwise silent room. I look around, the dim lights casting long shadows across the floor. Ryu is sitting at the pilot''s seat, his armored frame still and rigid. His gloved hands rest on the controls, and L5, the droid, stands motionless behind him, its appendages retracted, as if awaiting further instructions. I can feel the tension in the air, a heaviness that presses down on all of us. Beyond the viewport, the vast planet of Korriban looms, its red surface scarred and lifeless, a planet filled with ancient power and darkness.


    Farther in the distance, I see them. Harrower-class dreadnoughts. A fleet of them, their sharp, angular shapes hovering ominously in orbit, the engines glowing faintly in the darkness of space. The sight of those ships sends a chill through me. I know them. We''ve seen them before. They are symbols of power, destruction, and control, the very essence of the Sith Empire.


    But the ship is stationary, floating silently before the planet, and Ryu... he is quiet. He doesn''t move, doesn''t speak. He''s just staring down at the planet below, his fingers gripping the controls but not guiding the ship.


    "What is going on?" Nikko asks, her voice soft but filled with confusion. She''s standing next to me, her small hand holding onto mine tightly.


    "I don''t know," I whisper, my eyes fixed on Ryu''s still form. Something about the way he sits, the way he''s just... waiting, makes my stomach twist in knots.


    Llamiryl, standing behind us, her gaze sharp and focused, seems to know more than she''s letting on. "He is contemplating," she says, her voice calm yet heavy with meaning.


    "Contemplating what?" I ask, my chest tightening with unease as I glance over at her. There''s something in her expression—something more than just concern.


    Llamiryl''s eyes remain fixed on Ryu, as if she can see deeper into his mind than we ever could. "Whether or not he should fight... or run."


    "Fight who?" I ask, a growing sense of dread blooming in my chest. Before I can get an answer, Ryu jerks the controls. The sudden motion pulls me forward, and the ship lurches violently as it begins to descend toward the planet''s surface.


    The atmosphere grows tense, and I notice the way Ryu is piloting—his movements erratic, almost frantic. The ship shudders, and my heart races as I spot a massive structure looming closer and closer in the distance. Its dark stone walls rise like jagged teeth, ancient and menacing. The temple, I realize. The one belonging to his master. Its spires pierce the sky, casting long shadows across the red desert of Korriban.


    But something''s wrong. Ryu isn''t slowing down. The temple grows larger and larger in the viewport, the sharp lines of its stone walls coming into terrifying clarity. He''s not stopping. He''s not even trying to land.


    "Ryu!" I shout, my voice trembling with fear. But he doesn''t respond. His hands grip the controls tighter, increasing the ship''s speed as it barrels toward the temple.


    I can feel the panic rising in my chest, my breath quickening as the structure rushes toward us. "Talia!" Nikko''s voice trembles as she grabs onto me, and I immediately wrap my arms around her, shielding her with my body. I close my eyes, the terror too much to bear, the inevitable crash moments away.


    With a deafening roar, the ship slams into the stone walls of the temple, the impact sending us hurtling forward. The sound of metal tearing, stone crumbling, and the ship''s hull groaning under the pressure fills the air. The walls shatter like glass, enormous chunks of stone collapsing inward as the ship plows through them. Sparks fly as the edges of the temple scrape against the ship''s exterior, the sheer force of the collision throwing us around violently.


    Everything shakes, the floor buckles beneath my feet, and for a moment, I can''t tell which way is up or down. I hold Nikko tightly against me, feeling her trembling in my arms. I want to protect her from the chaos around us, but all I can do is hold on as the ship tears through the temple, stone and metal grinding together in a symphony of destruction.


    The ship finally screeches to a halt, the sound of it dragging against the crumbling stone reverberating through the air. The sudden stop sends me staggering forward, and I hit the floor hard, gasping for breath as the ship finally settles.


    I open my eyes slowly, my heart still racing, and look around. Dust and debris fill the air, but the ship is still intact, barely. I can hear Nikko sobbing softly against me, and I stroke her hair, whispering soothing words. "It''s okay... it''s okay..."


    But nothing about this feels okay. Nothing about this feels right. I glance toward Ryu, who is still seated at the controls, unmoving, as if none of this phased him. My chest tightens with worry. What is he doing? What is going through his mind?


    Llamiryl''s calm voice cuts through my panic as I shield Nikko, her small frame trembling in my arms. "Remember, Talia, this is just a memory," she says, her tone firm but gentle. "We can''t be harmed."


    I try to steady my breath, loosening my grip on Nikko as I let the reality of the situation sink in. She''s right. This is a memory, but it feels real—too real. The sights, the sounds, the weight of the crash are overwhelming.


    I glance around the ship, its interior damaged but still intact enough to function. The lights flicker sporadically, casting fleeting shadows on the metal walls. The ship''s design is compact, with consoles and panels along the sides, some sparking from the impact. The floor is littered with debris—shards of metal and broken glass from the shattered screens. It''s claustrophobic, the walls closing in with the sounds of distant alarms, the sharp hum of electrical failures hanging in the air.


    I catch sight of the window—shattered and jagged—revealing the interior of the temple beyond. Through the cracks, I see what remains of the once-grand chamber, its towering pillars now fractured from the crash. The walls are carved with intricate patterns, telling stories of old, but their beauty is marred by cracks and fallen stone. A massive hole in the far wall opens up into what seems like an endless darkness beyond, pieces of shattered stone scattered across the floor. One of the great pillars has collapsed entirely, its enormous form lying on its side, crushing part of the temple floor beneath it. What remains of the room still speaks of its grandeur, but now, all that''s left is the ruin we''ve brought upon it.


    Suddenly, L5 makes a whirring sound, lifting itself off the floor with a mechanical motion. Its limbs extend as it adjusts its position, though I have no words to describe what it''s doing or how. I only know that it seems to have a purpose, its movements deliberate, despite the destruction around us.


    Ryu, still seated in the pilot''s chair, stands and turns to the droid, his voice low and commanding. "L5, can this ship still jam signals?"


    The droid responds with a series of beeps, which seem to make sense to Ryu but leave me utterly confused.


    "Then do it," Ryu orders. "Jam every signal coming in or out of this temple."


    The droid beeps again, then rolls back to its original place, extending one of its mechanical limbs and plugging it into a nearby panel. I watch, baffled, as the lights on the console blink to life, the droid seemingly communicating with the ship''s systems. Its appendages move rapidly, manipulating the controls with mechanical precision. It''s a process I can''t comprehend—technology beyond anything I''ve ever seen, something that feels foreign and almost magical to me. But Ryu seems unfazed, completely in control of what''s happening around him.


    He walks toward the landing ramp, and with a press of a button, the ramp lowers with a hiss, the sound echoing through the wrecked chamber. The view beyond the ramp is nothing short of catastrophic.


    ?????


    The grand chamber that we''ve crashed into is massive, with towering walls that once stood in silent strength. Doorways line each side, leading to different parts of the temple, though I can''t tell where they go. The crash has left a gaping hole in the chamber''s ceiling, sunlight streaming through the dust and debris, illuminating the destruction we''ve caused. One of the pillars supporting the room has been knocked over, its broken remains lying scattered across the ground. Pieces of the temple''s stone carvings are strewn about, remnants of a once-beautiful place now reduced to rubble.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    I turn to look back at the ship. It''s a complete wreck. The hull is dented and torn, parts of the exterior caved in from the impact. Wires hang loosely from the ceiling, sparking intermittently, while the once-sleek design of the ship is marred by the crash, its surfaces covered in scorch marks and debris. The ship has gouged a massive hole through the stone walls of the temple, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.


    Suddenly, the sound of doors sliding open fills the chamber, and I whip my head around to see dark figures pouring in from the entrances. Troopers—Sith troopers, I realize, their armor black and red, their visors glowing ominously—come rushing in, blasters raised. Their movements are sharp, efficient, as they position themselves for an attack.


    Without hesitation, Ryu ignites his lightsaber, the yellow blade springing to life with a fierce hiss. The light from the blade casts an eerie glow on his armor, the angular edges of his helmet gleaming in the dimness. With a single, powerful motion, he charges at the troopers, his lightsaber a blur of motion as it cuts through the air.


    I can''t help but watch in awe—and terror—as Ryu moves with a deadly grace, ready to face the onslaught.


    Ryu ignites his yellow lightsaber, the blade hissing to life as the light reflects off the stone walls of the vast chamber. Without hesitation, he charges at the first wave of Sith troopers pouring into the room, their blaster fire erupting in quick succession. His movements are a blur, precise and lethal. I can barely keep up as he slices through them, his strikes so swift that the first few troopers fall before they even realize what''s happened.


    I flinch as the loud, high-pitched sound of blaster bolts fills the air. The Sith troopers in their dark armor aim directly at Ryu, but he deflects the shots with ease. Each movement of his blade sends bolts ricocheting back into the soldiers who fired them, dropping them instantly. The air is thick with the smell of scorched metal and burning flesh, a sharp reminder of the brutality unfolding before me.


    As more troopers storm in, I can feel the pressure building. Despite Ryu''s immense power, the numbers are overwhelming. They keep coming, an endless tide of armored soldiers and spider-like droids scuttling into the chamber. The droids move unnervingly fast, their legs clicking against the stone floor as they fire energy bolts at Ryu. He continues to fight, blocking, parrying, and striking back with precision, but it''s clear the situation is becoming more dire.


    Nikko clutches my hand tightly, her small fingers digging into my palm. Her eyes are wide, a mixture of awe and fear reflecting in them. "Papa''s so strong..." she whispers, but there''s a tremble in her voice. I nod silently, unable to tear my eyes away from the battle. Despite the horror of the scene, a small part of me is grateful that Ryu is unleashing his power on such evil.


    Suddenly, a massive mechanical figure steps into the chamber, towering over the troopers. It''s one of the Temple Guardians—a hulking construct of metal and stone, carrying a massive spear. It charges at Ryu with terrifying speed, the spear aimed directly at his chest. I gasp, my heart pounding in fear.


    Ryu spins on his heel, his hand snapping up, and the guardian halts mid-strike, its spear frozen just inches from Ryu''s chest. The guardian''s massive form hovers, suspended by Ryu''s control over the Force. I can barely breathe, the tension in the air almost unbearable. The sheer power Ryu exudes is both awe-inspiring and terrifying.


    With a crushing motion of his hand, the Temple Guardian crumples in on itself, the sound of metal twisting and breaking echoing through the chamber. The lifeless heap of metal collapses to the floor, and with a flick of his wrist, Ryu hurls the mangled remains into the advancing troopers, scattering them like ragdolls.


    More troopers flood into the chamber, their numbers seemingly endless. Ryu continues to fight, cutting down soldiers with brutal efficiency, but the sheer force of the enemy is overwhelming. I can see the exhaustion beginning to set in, though he doesn''t show it outwardly—his movements are still precise, still deadly, but the relentless onslaught is taking its toll.


    Just when it seems the troopers might overwhelm him, Ryu suddenly deactivates his lightsaber, the yellow blade vanishing with a hiss. For a moment, the troopers hesitate, confused by the sudden shift. Ryu stands still, crouching slightly as if gathering strength, and then leaps into the air. He hovers there, suspended by the Force, and I feel the air around me crackle with energy.


    I hold my breath, my eyes fixed on Ryu as the energy builds around him, the air almost humming with power. The troopers below him raise their blasters, preparing to fire, but they''re too late. With a sudden, explosive motion, Ryu releases a massive Force Repulse—a shockwave of energy that radiates out from him in every direction.


    The troopers closest to him disintegrate instantly, their bodies vaporized in the force of the blast. The remaining soldiers and droids are flung across the chamber, crashing into walls and pillars with bone-shattering force. The entire chamber shakes, dust and debris raining down from the ceiling as the wave of energy reverberates through the space.


    I stumble back, shielding Nikko with my arms as the shockwave passes over us. Llamiryl stands firm, her gaze locked on Ryu, her face unreadable. The sound of destruction echoes through the chamber, but when the dust finally settles, there is silence.


    Ryu lands gracefully, his boots making a soft thud against the stone floor. The chamber is littered with the bodies of Sith troopers, their weapons scattered and destroyed. The remains of droids lay in twisted heaps, their once formidable forms now reduced to scrap. One of the massive pillars supporting the chamber has collapsed, leaving a gaping hole in the structure.


    My heart is racing, my hands trembling. The sheer power Ryu unleashed is overwhelming. I glance at Nikko, her small body trembling slightly, but there''s a look of relief in her eyes. She''s shaken, but I can tell she''s relieved that Ryu''s power is being used to destroy such evil. Still, the magnitude of what we''ve just witnessed weighs heavily on me.


    Ryu''s gaze shifts around the chamber, as if assessing whether more enemies are on the way. But the doors remain closed, no more troopers storm in. The battle is over, at least for now.


    Ryu clips his lightsaber back onto his belt, the yellow blade disappearing with a hiss, leaving the chamber bathed in an eerie silence. He doesn''t hesitate as he strides forward, stepping over the fallen Sith troopers and destroyed droids with calm determination. The bodies litter the ground, twisted in unnatural angles, their armor scorched and blackened. The remnants of the battle cling to the air—the smell of burnt flesh, the hum of energy still crackling faintly from the destroyed droids.


    Ahead of him looms a massive stone door, intricately carved with symbols that seem ancient, almost forgotten to time. The towering door stands at the far end of the chamber, imposing and impenetrable. Its surface is weathered, cracks running through it like veins, but its sheer size suggests that no simple weapon could breach it.


    Ryu comes to a stop in front of the door, his gaze steady, unflinching. The quiet weight of the moment presses down on me, and I feel my heart pounding in my chest. He raises his hand slowly, his fingers splayed open, reaching toward the massive stone structure.


    The air feels charged, heavy with an unseen tension. I can''t help but take in the destruction surrounding us—the lifeless bodies of Sith troopers, the scattered wreckage of droids, and the shattered pillars that once supported this ancient temple. But none of that seems to matter to Ryu. His eyes are locked on the door ahead, and there''s an intensity in his posture that I''ve seen only a few times before.


    "What''s he doing?" Nikko''s small voice quivers as she clutches my arm tightly, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and awe.


    "He''s going to break through," I reply, but my own voice is shaky. I''ve seen Ryu wield the Force before, but this—this is something far more intense. It''s terrifying, and yet... mesmerizing.


    The energy in his hands grows into a swirling ball of brilliant blue light, expanding outward like a miniature storm. The ground trembles beneath us as the Force crackles in the air, vibrating against my skin, almost suffocating in its intensity. Llamiryl watches in silence, her expression unreadable, but there''s no mistaking the flicker of awe in her eyes. Even she seems taken aback.


    Ryu''s eyes narrow, focused entirely on the door. He pushes his hands forward slowly, and the energy moves with him, growing larger and more powerful. The swirling blue ball pulses, sending ripples through the space around it, bending reality itself under its weight. The ground beneath my feet vibrates harder, the sound of the energy buzzing in my ears.


    And then, with a deep breath, Ryu thrusts his hands forward, releasing the energy in a single, explosive motion. The blue light shoots out, slamming into the stone door with an ear-splitting crash. The ground shakes violently, and I instinctively hold Nikko closer to me as the temple seems to shudder from the impact.


    There''s a brilliant flash of light, blinding me for a moment. I hear the sound of stone cracking, breaking apart. Debris explodes outward, chunks of rock hurtling in all directions, but the blue energy disintegrates them as they fly, leaving nothing but dust in its wake. The once-impenetrable door is gone, reduced to rubble.


    When the light fades, I blink, my vision adjusting. The door is shattered. The massive stone wall that once stood in Ryu''s path is nothing more than a crumbled heap of stone and dust. I feel the charge of the Force lingering in the air, tingling against my skin like a static current that refuses to fade.


    "That... that was incredible," I whisper, my heart pounding. I''ve never seen anything like this.


    Nikko is still gripping my arm tightly, her eyes wide. "Papa did that?" she whispers in awe.


    Llamiryl nods, her gaze fixed on the destruction.


    Ryu doesn''t say a word. He simply lowers his hands and strides forward, stepping over the rubble and into the passageway beyond. I take a deep breath, my legs shaky beneath me as I follow. The air is still thick with the aftermath of his power, and even though I know this is just a memory, the weight of what I''ve just witnessed lingers heavily in my mind.


    We step into the vast chamber, and immediately, I recognize it. This is the place where I had seen Ryu before, kneeling before his master, broken, submitting to the will of a man who had shaped him into a weapon. The room is enormous, grand in a dark, oppressive way. The walls are lined with banners, each one tattered and worn, claimed from worlds and tribes that Ryu had helped to conquer. They hang like silent specters of the past, their presence heavy with the weight of destruction. There''s something chilling about seeing them now, knowing that each one represents lives lost, civilizations crushed under the iron grip of Ryu''s master.