The memory shifts once again, and we find ourselves in the middle of a bustling makeshift town inside an enormous hangar. The noise is overwhelming—traders shouting, droids whirring, and machinery clanking all around us. It''s unlike anything I''ve ever seen before. This place feels alive but dangerous, a world far removed from the forests and mountains of home. My senses are on edge.
I spot Ryu running through the crowd, his expression full of worry. That familiar IG droid, the one Lyra reprogrammed, follows him closely. My heart tightens at the sight of them. Something''s wrong. Nikko clutches my hand tightly, her ears twitching as she glances around nervously.
"What''s happening?" Nikko whispers.
"I don''t know," I answer softly, trying to keep my own fear in check. But something feels terribly wrong, and we follow Ryu and the droid, weaving through the chaotic streets of this strange town.
As we reach the Crucible, the ship''s landing ramp is still down, but the eerie silence inside sends a chill through me. Ryu slows, his eyes scanning the surroundings with an intensity that makes my heart race. Why is it so quiet? Where is everyone?
Then, suddenly, a figure lunges from the shadows, swinging a bladed staff aimed directly at Ryu''s head. I gasp in shock, barely able to process how quickly it happens. Ryu ducks just in time, the blade missing him by inches. My breath catches as, in one smooth motion, he counters, knocking the attacker to the ground. The figure falls unconscious, and I gasp when I notice its face is a mass of tentacles, its expression frozen in shock.
A slow, mocking clap fills the air, and I flinch at the sound, my gaze snapping to the source. My heart races faster. A group of a dozen bandits stand in the cargo bay, their weapons trained on Ryu. Among them are squid-faced creatures and leathery-skinned beings with sunken eyes. Their faces are cruel, twisted with menace.
At the front of the group, Lyra and a humanoid creature kneel on the ground, their hands bound.
The figure bound next to Lyra looks even more peculiar now that I can see him clearly. His small, squat frame is covered in a patched-up, well-worn suit with multiple limbs extending from his torso. Four arms—each slightly disproportionate—are strapped down, though they twitch slightly, as if he''s instinctively trying to escape his restraints. His entire body is covered in dark fur with the exception of his face, which is adorned with a pair of large, expressive eyes that flicker nervously between the captors and Lyra. He has a strange snout-like mouth, and on his head, a pair of goggles rest, giving him the appearance of someone who works in dangerous environments. This creature feels utterly alien to me, and yet, the fear on his face is all too recognizable. I can''t help but wonder who or what he is.
The sight of Lyra in danger sends a wave of panic through me. She tries to stay calm, but I can see the fear in her eyes. Nikko presses closer to me, trembling.
"Why is Lyra tied up?" Nikko asks, her voice shaking.
"I don''t know," I whisper, trying to calm her as we watch.
The slow clap comes from a man in the center, dressed in strange, eccentric clothing, his face split into a sinister grin. I don''t recognize him, but his presence makes my skin crawl.
"Impressive," the man says with a sneer. "I expected nothing less from you, August."
Ryu straightens, his eyes narrowing. "Mr. Auris, why are you here?" he asks, his voice cold as his hand hovers near his blaster.
Auris stops clapping, his grin vanishing as he snaps his fingers. "If you make another move, your lovely mechanic and your friend will meet a gruesome end." His voice drips with malice, and one of the bandits presses a blaster closer to Lyra''s head.
Nikko''s grip tightens around my arm, and my own fear surges. I can''t look away from Lyra, bound and helpless, with her life hanging by a thread.
IG-22, standing beside Ryu, raises its blasters, ready to fire. But Ryu holds up a hand. "Stand down, IG-22," he orders, his voice steady.
The droid hesitates, its glowing eyes flicking toward Ryu before it lowers its weapons. My heart races even faster. Ryu is trying to calm the situation, but the tension is unbearable.
Auris smirks, clearly enjoying the power he holds. "Wise decision," he taunts.
"Why are you doing this?" Ryu demands, his voice sharp but controlled.
Auris takes a step closer, his eyes locked on Ryu. "Because I know your secret."
I freeze, my breath catching. What secret? Could it be about... his past? I glance at Llamiryl, but she remains composed, watching silently, though her eyes flicker with a slight unease.
"What secret?" Ryu asks, though there''s a tension in his voice now.
Auris''s grin falters, his tone growing more irritated. "You know what secret." He steps even closer, his gaze like a predator stalking prey. "I''ve been watching you for some time now, August. I''ve always wondered about your quick reflexes, your instincts. And now? That little scuffle confirmed it. You''re not just a smuggler, are you?" He lets out a cold laugh. "You''re a Jedi in hiding."
I gasp at his words, though Nikko looks more confused than surprised. She tugs at my sleeve and whispers, "I thought Papa was an Acolyte of the Force, not a Jedi?"
Llamiryl nods slightly, her brow furrowed. "He is. But they don''t know that. They think he''s a Jedi."
Nikko''s ears twitch as she watches intently, still puzzled. I feel the weight of the revelation sink in. This man, Auris, is clearly dangerous, and he''s using what he thinks he knows to trap Ryu.
Lyra and the man kneeling beside her exchange shocked glances. They''re clearly just as confused as we are. My pulse races. This is bad.
Ryu clenches his fists, his jaw tight. "You''ve got it wrong," he says, though I can hear the tension in his voice. "I''m no Jedi."
Auris laughs again, but there''s no humor in it. "Oh, I think not. Your secrets are about to cost you dearly, my friend."
The room feels thick with tension, like a storm about to break. The bandits shift uneasily, their weapons ready. IG-22 stands at Ryu''s side, motionless but alert. I can see Ryu weighing his options, trying to find a way out of this without endangering Lyra or her companion.
"What do you want?" Ryu finally asks, his voice calm but with an edge of steel.
Auris grins, savoring the moment. "Simple. The Empire has placed a heavy bounty on Jedi, and the price on your head?" He whistles mockingly. "It''s sky-high. So, you surrender, and I let your friends go."
"And if I refuse?" Ryu''s voice is cold, but I sense the danger in his question.
Auris''s eyes gleam dangerously. "Then I''ll make you submit, one way or another. Painful ways."
Llamiryl''s expression hardens beside me, and I can see the tension building in Ryu. He''s in a terrible position, but I know he''s not one to give in easily. How is he going to get out of this?
The tension is suffocating as Ryu stands there, weighing his options. The client, Mr. Auris, is clearly enjoying himself, taunting him with the threat of the Empire and the potential death of Lyra and Willo. My heart pounds in my chest, and I grip Nikko''s hand tightly, unable to tear my eyes from the scene.
"What guarantee do I have that you''ll keep your word?" Ryu finally asks, his voice calm despite the storm brewing in the air.
Auris chuckles darkly. "Ah, the smuggler shows his true colors. Always looking out for number one, eh? But I assure you, I always honor my deals. You surrender to me, and your friends walk away unharmed."
I glance at Lyra, who''s still kneeling beside the creature. Her eyes dart between Ryu and Auris, fear and confusion written across her face. I don''t blame her. Everything is unraveling, and the danger is very real.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
As the silence stretches, I see Ryu''s hand subtly shift, his fingers reaching for something hidden beneath his coat. There''s a flicker of movement, too quick for anyone but me to notice, and I realize he''s preparing to act.
Mr. Auris''s voice cuts through the tension like a blade. "You claim to be a Jedi, yet here you are, willing to let your friends die to save your own skin. Is that the way of the Jedi? To abandon those in need?"
My breath catches. It feels wrong, the way Auris is twisting things. Ryu isn''t like that—I know he isn''t. But I can see the weight of Auris''s words settling on Ryu. He''s being forced into a corner, and I feel helpless.
Nikko whispers beside me, "He wouldn''t abandon anyone, right?"
"No," I say softly. "He wouldn''t."
Suddenly, the room is plunged into darkness. I gasp, startled by the sudden shift, and Nikko lets out a small cry, her grip tightening on my arm. Blaster fire erupts in the chaos, flashes of light illuminating the chamber briefly as I hear panicked shouts and blaster bolts ricocheting off the walls.
As the room plunges into darkness, the sudden blaster fire lights up the chamber, and my heart leaps into my throat. The red bolts flash past where Ryu had been standing only moments before, but he''s gone. Completely vanished. I gasp, unable to process what just happened. How could he disappear like that? Beside me, Nikko grips my arm tightly, her wide eyes reflecting the sudden bursts of light as more blaster fire tears through the air.
"Where did he go?" Llamiryl murmurs, even her calm exterior breaking slightly as the bandits yell in confusion.
I don''t have time to answer as my pulse races, and I feel my breath catch in my throat. The room has descended into chaos, but the absence of Ryu in the midst of it all leaves me even more unsettled. My mind reels, trying to piece together what''s happening.
"They''re gone!" one of the bandits shouts, panic clear in his voice.
"Quiet!" Auris barks, trying to regain control. But before he can finish, a brilliant yellow light erupts in the darkness—a lightsaber, humming through the air with deadly precision.
I gasp as the blade cuts through one of the bandits with a flash, and I hear the sound of bodies falling to the floor. My heart races as I watch the yellow lightsaber ignite and extinguish in rapid succession, each time another attacker falls.
Lyra frantically scans the room, but the darkness and confusion make it impossible for her to see what''s happening. I can''t help but feel a swell of awe and fear. Ryu is moving faster than I''ve ever seen, striking down foe after foe. I''ve seen him fight before, but this... this is something else. It''s almost as if he''s become what he was meant to be all along—an Acolyte of the Force.
Amid the chaos, I hear a heavy thud as IG-22 slams one of the attackers into the ground. The droid moves with terrifying precision, adding to the confusion of the bandits as they struggle to find their enemies in the dark.
The lights suddenly flicker back on, and the scene before me takes my breath away. Ryu stands amidst the fallen bandits, his yellow lightsaber casting a soft glow around him. His chest rises and falls with each breath, his expression calm and determined, though there''s an edge to him now—a dangerous edge.
Auris lies on the ground, clutching his leg where the lightsaber struck him. His face is twisted in pain and fury. My stomach churns at the sight of it, and Nikko hides her face against my arm, unwilling to look.
"August..." Lyra''s voice trembles, filled with disbelief. She''s staring at him with wide eyes, clearly struggling to process what just happened. The man she thought she knew as a smuggler has just been revealed to be something far more formidable—and far more dangerous.
"Are you alright?" Ryu asks, his voice steady but laced with concern as he looks at her.
Lyra nods slowly, her shock evident. IG-22 steps forward, scanning the room for any remaining threats, but the fight is over.
Ryu''s attention turns to Auris, who''s writhing on the floor. His expression hardens, and I feel a chill run through me as he approaches the man. "Now," he says coldly, "let''s finish this."
Auris''s face pales as Ryu steps closer. His eyes widen in fear as he notices something flicker in Ryu''s gaze—a brief glow of orange before his eyes return to their usual gray.
"What are you?" Auris gasps, his voice weak. "Jedi don''t act like that."
Ryu doesn''t answer. Instead, he extinguishes his lightsaber and extends an open palm toward Auris. I watch in stunned silence as Auris is lifted into the air by an unseen force. His body convulses in pain as he''s dragged closer to Ryu.
"I can handle getting hit, shot at, stabbed, tortured..." Ryu''s voice is ice cold, each word sending shivers down my spine. "But your biggest mistake was hurting Lyra."
Auris struggles, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "It''s against the Jedi ways... to take a life without mercy," he croaks, his voice barely audible.
Ryu''s eyes narrow, and his response is chilling. "I''m not a Jedi."
With a final, agonized gasp, Auris''s life fades away, his body going limp in the air before Ryu releases him, letting him crumple to the floor, lifeless. The sight makes my heart race, my hands trembling as I try to process what I''ve just witnessed.
Nikko''s eyes are wide, her ears twitching as she watches in silence, unsure of what to make of it. I glance at Llamiryl, who looks calm but is clearly processing the gravity of the situation.
Ryu turns and approaches the creature, cutting his bindings with a swift flick of a blade. IG-22 does the same for Lyra, but she remains frozen on the floor, too stunned to move.
"Are you okay?" Ryu asks the creature, his voice softer now, filled with concern.
The creature nods, rubbing his wrists. "Yeah, I''m okay... but what just happened? What are you, if not a Jedi?"
"It''s complicated," Ryu replies quietly, glancing at Lyra. "We need to leave. Now."
The creature shakes his head. "No, I''ve got connections with the Baron. I''ll be fine. I promise I''ll keep your identity secret."
Ryu nods, his expression grateful. "Thank you, Willo." He taps his communicator. "AP-4, are you there?"
The pilot droid''s voice crackles to life. "I am, Captain. Are you and Miss Lyra safe?"
"We''re fine," Ryu replies, glancing at the aftermath around him. "What''s the situation at the bridge?"
"We have just finished removing the override. We are ready for departure, Captain."
Ryu breathes a sigh of relief. "Good. Prepare for takeoff. I''ll send you the coordinates."
As the bandits'' bodies are cleared off the ship, Ryu waves a final goodbye to Willo before turning back to Lyra, who is still kneeling on the floor, silent and unmoving.
He kneels beside her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Lyra... we need to go."
She looks up at him, her eyes filled with confusion, fear, and disbelief. "August... what just happened? What are you?"
Ryu''s expression softens, his voice gentle. "I''m still me. But there''s a lot you don''t know. We''ll talk later. Right now, we need to get out of here."
Slowly, Lyra nods, allowing Ryu to help her to her feet. IG-22 stands ready, scanning the area as they move toward the cockpit. As we follow them, my heart is heavy. I''ve seen Ryu fight before, but this... this was different.
?????
The memory shifts abruptly, and we find ourselves on the bridge of the Crucible. It''s quiet—eerily so—compared to the chaos that had just transpired in the cargo bay. The swirling blues and whites of hyperspace stretch out endlessly before us, casting a soft glow across the ship''s interior. It should feel calming, yet the air is thick with tension. I can feel it. Something is wrong.
Ryu stands by the controls, staring ahead, his expression unreadable. I notice his posture—tense, rigid. He''s troubled, but his emotions are buried deep beneath that calm surface of his. I glance at Lyra, standing beside him. Her eyes are fixed on the vibrant tunnel of blues and whites beyond the viewport, but it''s clear she isn''t looking at them, not really. She''s lost in thought, her body slightly trembling. She''s barely holding herself together.
Nikko tilts her head in confusion. "Why does Lyra look so sad?" she whispers, her little voice soft and full of worry.
I have no answers for her, but my heart aches seeing Lyra like this. The energetic, bubbly mechanic who would do anything for Ryu is now silent, her frame trembling slightly, like she''s barely holding on.
Suddenly, the stillness is shattered. Lyra turns on Ryu, her face twisted in anguish, her body shaking with emotion. "What just happened?" she shouts, her voice breaking, the words barely forming as tears streak down her cheeks. Before anyone can react, she begins pounding on Ryu''s chest, her fists hitting his armor as though trying to break through both the metal and his silence. "What are you? Why did you hide it from me? Why did you never tell me?!"
Nikko gasps, her ears twitching in alarm, and I feel my own heart skip. I''ve never seen Lyra like this—so raw, so vulnerable. She keeps hitting August, though he doesn''t move. He just stands there, letting her vent all her hurt and confusion.
Llamiryl leans toward Nikko, explaining in a whisper, "Lyra is upset because she feels betrayed. She trusted Ryu, and he kept something important from her. She just needs to get her feelings out."
I glance at Ryu; the sight of Lyra''s tears is clearly taking its toll on him. His expression is one of deep regret, but he still says nothing as she continues to cry, the sound of her labored breathing filling the space around us.
Finally, Lyra stops, her fists lowering to her sides. She''s exhausted, shaking with the weight of her emotions. For a moment, the only sound is the hum of the engines and her uneven breaths. August hesitates, his hand hovering near her shoulder, but then he drops it, clearly unsure of how to comfort her.
"Lyra..." he begins, his voice thick with emotion. "I... I''m sorry. I should have told you. I wanted to, but I was afraid."
"Afraid of what?" she snaps, her voice sharp with anger. "Afraid I wouldn''t understand? That I wouldn''t accept you? I thought you trusted me, August. I thought we—" She cuts off, unable to finish her thought as another tear slides down her face.
"I do trust you," August says quickly, his voice pleading. "More than anyone. It''s just... complicated. I''ve been hiding this for so long, Lyra. I''ve had to. If the Empire knew..." He trails off, but the meaning behind his words is clear. He''s been hiding to survive, and it''s cost him everything—even his honesty with the one person he trusts most.
Lyra shakes her head, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "I don''t care how complicated it is! You should have told me, August. We''ve been through so much together, and you... you kept this from me?"
Her words sting, even though they''re not directed at me. I can feel the weight of her pain, the betrayal in her voice. And I can see the guilt in Ryu''s eyes. He knows he hurt her, but he''s struggling to find the right words, the right way to make it right.
"You''re right," he admits, his voice soft and filled with regret. "I was wrong to keep it from you. Let me make it up to you." He pauses, glancing at her tear-streaked face. "Let''s go to the galley. I''ll tell you everything."
For a long moment, Lyra just stares at him, her face a mixture of anger and sadness. Finally, she exhales a shaky breath, her shoulders sagging in defeat. "Alright," she says quietly, her voice hoarse. "But this better be good, August."
Ryu manages a small, strained smile. "I promise."
I watch as they start to walk out of the bridge, feeling a heaviness settle in my chest. Nikko is still quiet, her ears drooping as she looks between them. Even Llamiryl seems more subdued than usual.