Suddenly, the sound of heavy blaster fire fills the air, sending the Purge Troopers flying. Ryu glances up, momentarily confused, and I follow his gaze.
It''s the Crucible.
The ship swoops in above us, its ramp lowering as Apollo stands at the edge, waving Ryu over. There''s no hesitation. Ryu leaps onto a stack of nearby crates and then onto the ramp, Apollo grabbing his arm and hauling him aboard.
"Let''s go!" Ryu yells, already sprinting towards the bridge with Apollo right behind him.
Nikko is on edge beside me, her eyes wide, tail twitching nervously as we watch Ryu charge through the corridors of the Crucible. Even Llamiryl is leaning forward, her usually calm expression tight with concern.
In the bridge, we see the droids: AP-4, C1-B4, DP-7, and IG-22, all awaiting them. Apollo turns to Ryu, its voice full of concern. "What happened to Lyra?"
"They took her," Ryu replies, his voice tight with fury. "She''s on that Star Destroyer. We have to rescue her."
I feel my heart sink at his words. They have Lyra. Nikko grips my hand, and I can sense her fear, her quiet worry. Even Llamiryl looks tense, her lips pressed together as she watches.
IG-22 interjects, its voice cold and mechanical. "That would be an impossible task. The Crucible won''t survive an open firefight against a ship that size. Boarding is equally impossible."
I can see the frustration in Ryu''s eyes. The words of that Inquisitor—Majel—are still lingering in the air, mocking him. Your sentimentality makes you weak, predictable.
Suddenly, Ryu slams his fist into the wall, leaving a deep dent behind. I jump at the sudden outburst, my heart pounding. Nikko lets out a small gasp, her ears twitching nervously, but neither of us is surprised. We''ve seen this before. Ryu is furious—desperate to save Lyra, just as he fought for us. I understand now. He''ll do whatever it takes to protect those he cares for.
"We have to do something!" Ryu exclaims, his voice sharp with frustration.
Apollo''s sensors flicker, scanning the room. Then, in one swift motion, it reaches into a corner and pulls out a small, struggling probe droid.
Ryu''s expression turns cold. "Crush it, Apollo."
But Apollo holds up a hand, extending a hacking appendage. "If I may interject. This droid''s code is Imperial and encrypted. If I can hack it and extract its data, I can upload it into the ship''s systems."
Ryu looks skeptical. "What good would that do?"
"We can temporarily confuse that ship''s systems by disguising the Crucible as a friendly vessel. It will allow us to fly close to the Star Destroyer without being fired upon."
Ryu''s eyes narrow as a flicker of hope lights within him. "Do it, Apollo."
The bridge falls into tense silence as Apollo goes to work, its hacking appendage interfacing with the probe droid. Every second feels like an eternity. My fingers are clenched, the tension mounting in me. Nikko''s small body is rigid beside me, her tail still, her eyes wide. Even Llamiryl is watching closely, her brow furrowed with concentration.
Apollo crushes the probe droid in its grip after extracting the data, sparks flying from its broken form. I feel a surge of relief when Apollo inserts the data into the Crucible''s systems and announces, "It is done. We are now undetected."
Without hesitation, Ryu jumps into the pilot seat and pushes the Crucible to maximum speed. As they near the massive Star Destroyer, no fire comes from the ship. I exhale slowly, feeling the tension ease—just a little.
They approach a smaller hangar, and Ryu makes a rough landing. The ship''s hull groans in protest as it touches down, but they''re inside. My breath catches in my throat as the confused Imperial officers and Purge Troopers open fire.
"Take control of the turrets, B4!" Ryu shouts.
C1-B4 beeps and immediately takes control of the ship''s turrets. Within moments, the hangar is cleared, the bodies of stormtroopers and Purge Troopers lying motionless on the floor, smoke rising from their scorched armor.
Ryu wastes no time. "Can you trace Lyra''s whereabouts?"
Apollo scans the systems, its sensors flickering. "I need to hack into the ship''s systems to do so."
Ryu nods firmly. "Come with me. The rest of you, secure the area." He turns to DP-7. "You''re coming too. Your hacking capabilities are more refined than Apollo''s."
Apollo bristles, clearly offended. "I am quite proficient in hacking."
Ryu places a hand on Apollo''s shoulder. "But I need your fighting capabilities more. Let''s move."
Nikko exhales beside me, her small hands clenching into fists as we watch Ryu, Apollo, and DP-7 move swiftly through the hangar. They make their way to a nearby terminal, where DP-7 interfaces with the system, projecting a hologram of the ship''s interior.
Apollo points to a location deep within the ship. "A female prisoner has been brought to the 12th Brother''s quarters, located here."
The map highlights a red path, marking the quickest route. I feel my heart lurch. Lyra''s alive. Nikko lets out a small sigh of relief, though her tail remains stiff with worry. Llamiryl watches, her expression serious.
Ryu studies the map, then orders DP-7 to deactivate the gravity wells while he and Apollo rescue Lyra. The droid zips away, leaving Ryu and Apollo to sprint through the corridors. My pulse races as they fight their way through stormtroopers and droids, Ryu''s lightsaber cutting down enemies with deadly precision.
The fear I once felt when watching him fight is gone now. I understand. Ryu fights to protect the ones he cares about. He''s doing whatever it takes to save Lyra.
They reach the heavy doors of the 12th Brother''s quarters, and with a single gesture, Ryu tears the door from its hinges with the Force. Inside, the room is cold, utilitarian.
And there''s Lyra.
I feel a surge of relief seeing her alive, standing in the center of the room, though her eyes are wide with fear. But behind her, the 12th Brother looms, his mask cracked, revealing part of his green-skinned face.
"Commendable, Ryu," the 12th Brother sneers. "But it''s all over."
My heart pounds in my chest as Purge Troopers file into the room, weapons trained on Ryu and Apollo. I feel Nikko press against me, her breath shallow. Llamiryl''s gaze narrows. The tension in the room is unbearable.
"Let her go," Ryu demands, his voice calm but unyielding.
The 12th Brother chuckles darkly, igniting his lightsaber. "You''ve fallen into my trap, Jedi."
I hold my breath as I see it—the moment that changes everything. The 12th Brother steps forward, his lightsaber humming as he thrusts the blade into Lyra''s back. The red light pierces through her chest, her eyes widening in shock.
"No!" I scream, my voice echoing in my mind as we watch helplessly. Nikko lets out a choked sob, her eyes wide with horror. Even Llamiryl''s composure cracks, her face pale with shock.
Lyra collapses to the ground, lifeless.
The room begins to shake, the walls groaning under the pressure of Ryu''s fury. I feel my heart racing, my mind barely able to process what just happened. Lyra—Lyra is dead. The weight of that realization crushes me, and I can barely breathe.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
The 12th Brother laughs, triumphant. "Yes! I can feel your power!"
But his gloating is cut short as Ryu''s power surges. He lifts the 12th Brother and the Purge Troopers into the air, choking them with the Force. Ryu''s eyes glow with a menacing orange hue, his face twisted with rage. I feel the raw power emanating from him, and for a moment, I fear what he might do next.
But then, Ryu looks at Lyra—and I see it.
Her chest rises.
Barely, but she''s alive.
I let out a shaky breath, feeling a surge of relief. Nikko''s hands relax a little, her wide eyes filling with hope. Llamiryl exhales softly, her tension easing. She''s still alive.
Ryu''s voice fills the room as he begins to chant, calming himself, letting go of his anger.
Ryu''s voice fills the room as he begins to chant, his tone steady and calm, cutting through the tension like a beam of light in the darkness.
"There is no Light without Darkness, nor Darkness without Light.
I walk in the space between to keep the Balance, and the Balance brings me closer to Understanding.
There is Passion tempered with Reason.
There is Fear tamed with Wisdom.
There is no Peace without Conflict.
There is no Victory without Sacrifice.
Through Knowledge, I gain Understanding.
Through Understanding, I gain Wisdom.
Through Wisdom, I gain Serenity.
Through Serenity, I gain Strength.
Through Strength, I gain Peace.
There is no Peace without a Passion to create.
There is no Passion without Peace to guide.
Knowledge stagnates without the Strength to act.
Power blinds without Serenity to see.
There is Freedom in Life.
There is Purpose in Death.
The Force is all things, and I am the Force."
His words reverberate through the room, a strange calm settling over the chaos as he speaks. I can feel it, the shift in the air. His voice isn''t just meant for Majel—it''s meant for all of us. It washes over me like a tide, lifting the fear, the confusion. It brings clarity.
His words echo in my mind, and as I listen, I feel... enlightened. It''s as if his wisdom reaches me, too, a moment of clarity amidst the chaos. Nikko is wide-eyed, her ears perking up as she listens intently, understanding washing over her as well.
Nikko''s ears twitch as she listens intently, her eyes wide as she takes in every word. Llamiryl, too, seems affected, her usual stern expression softening ever so slightly. There''s a quiet understanding settling between us, like a light breaking through the darkest storm.
Majel''s sneer falters, his eyes widening as he realizes what Ryu is doing. "No..." he whispers, but it''s too late.
Ryu has found his center.
Ryu steadies his voice, locking eyes with Majel. "You made a glaring mistake, Majel. I am no Jedi. I never was, and I have no interest in becoming an Inquisitor or a Sith. I am an Acolyte, capable of channeling both the light and dark sides of the Force." He pauses, his voice firm and unwavering. "She doesn''t hold me back. She makes me stronger."
I watch, holding my breath, my heart racing. I''ve seen Ryu fight before, but this... this is different. There''s a calmness to him now, a balance in his words. I feel the same tension coming from Nikko, who''s leaning in, her eyes wide and her tail twitching anxiously. Even Llamiryl, usually so composed, watches intently, her gaze unblinking.
With deliberate focus, Ryu gathers the Force, his energy radiating through the room. The Inquisitor and his Purge Troopers hang suspended in the air, helpless. A powerful shockwave bursts from Ryu, expanding outward like a rippling wave. As it touches the Purge Troopers, they disintegrate into dust before my eyes. Majel slams into the wall with violent force, his helmet shattering and revealing his true face—a man with green skin, traditional tattoos, and eyes now brimming with pain and hatred.
"Apollo, check on Lyra," Ryu commands, his voice tight with concern.
Apollo moves swiftly, scanning Lyra''s unconscious form. "She''s alive but requires immediate medical attention," the droid reports.
A surge of relief rushes through me. She''s alive. I feel Nikko relax slightly beside me, though her small hands still clutch at my arm. I hope—no, I pray—that Lyra will survive. I glance at Llamiryl, and even her gaze softens, the tension in the room palpable.
Ryu turns back to Majel. "I don''t know what drove you to betray your kin so easily, but it''s my duty to bring balance to the Force."
The 12th Brother gasps for breath, his voice weak but defiant. "Jedi... don''t take lives so easily."
Ryu''s expression hardens, his eyes cold. "I''m not a Jedi. I am an Acolyte of the Force." He ignites his lightsaber and brings it down in a swift, final strike, ending the Inquisitor''s life.
For a moment, the room falls into silence, the only sound the faint hum of the ship''s systems. I''m frozen, unable to move, my thoughts whirling. I know Ryu had no other choice but seeing it—the finality of it—it makes my heart pound all the same.
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"Let''s go," Ryu says to Apollo, his voice hoarse. Together, they carry Lyra back to the Crucible, alarms blaring in the distance as the Imperials scramble to stop them.
Stormtroopers rush forward, blasters raised. Ryu charges, his lightsaber spinning as he deflects their shots, cutting through their ranks with deadly precision. The smell of scorched armor fills the air. Apollo fires at a security droid, hitting it square in the sensor before Ryu slices it in two.
I watch in awe, my heart hammering in my chest, but this time, I''m not afraid of Ryu''s fighting. He''s fighting to save Lyra, to protect the ones he cares about. I understand that now. He''ll do whatever it takes.
They face more resistance, but Ryu and Apollo push through, cutting down stormtroopers, droids, and officers with deadly efficiency. Every step they take brings them closer to the hangar, and every heartbeat that passes makes me more anxious. I feel Nikko trembling beside me, her tail still, her eyes glued to the fight. She''s hoping, like I am, that Lyra will survive.
Finally, they reach the hangar. The Crucible sits under heavy fire, its hull groaning as it takes hit after hit from stormtroopers. Ryu deflects the blaster bolts while Apollo takes out stragglers, and together, they board the ship.
Ryu races to the bridge, jumping into the pilot seat just as the Star Destroyer''s heavy blaster fire slams into the Crucible, shaking it violently. The ship rattles, warning lights flashing as Ryu grips the controls.
"We''re taking heavy fire!" Ryu shouts. "B4, man the turrets! AP-4, get those shields up now!"
I lean forward, my heart pounding. Nikko is on the edge of her seat, her wide eyes darting between the controls and the view outside. I feel the fear building inside me as more shots hit the ship. Llamiryl''s jaw is clenched, her usual calm cracking.
B4 beeps affirmatively, swiveling the turrets and firing on the incoming blasts. The ship groans under the pressure as the Star Destroyer''s cannons continue to hammer them.
"Shields down to 42%," AP-4 reports, though its voice remains calm.
Ryu grits his teeth, maneuvering the ship through the barrage. More shots come, each one rattling the Crucible closer to critical damage. The Star Destroyer is relentless, green bolts of energy lighting up the void around them.
I clutch Nikko''s hand tightly, my pulse racing. Every shot, every shudder of the ship feels like it''s dragging us closer to disaster. I can hear Nikko whispering softly, her hands gripping her arms. "Lyra''s gonna make it. She''s gonna be okay..."
But I don''t know if she''s trying to convince me—or herself.
More blasts shake the Crucible, and I feel the ship lurch as Ryu pulls hard to evade the fire. But it''s not enough. A final blast slams into the ship, nearly sending Ryu from his seat.
"We''ve sustained more damage!" Ryu shouts, struggling with the controls.
I''m barely breathing at this point, my heart racing so fast it feels like it might burst.
Just as they''re about to escape the Star Destroyer''s range, dozens of TIE Interceptors launch, closing in fast. They swarm around the Crucible like hornets, their green blaster fire hammering the ship from all sides.
"They''re everywhere!" Ryu yells, pulling the ship into evasive maneuvers. "B4, keep firing! AP-4, reroute all power to the shields!"
The Crucible weaves through space, dodging the incoming fire by the narrowest margins. Every explosion shakes the ship violently, alarms blaring as the situation worsens.
I grip my seat, unable to look away, fear twisting my stomach. Nikko holds her breath, her small hands shaking as she clings to me.
"Shields down to 14%," AP-4 reports.
"We''re not gonna last much longer!" Ryu grits his teeth, pulling the ship into another wild roll. "Come on, hyperspace drive—just a little longer."
At that moment, the Crucible''s hyperspace drive comes online. "Punch it, AP-4!" Ryu orders.
Just as the Crucible prepares to jump into hyperspace, another shot from a TIE Interceptor slams into the hull, causing the ship to shudder violently. I grip my seat tighter, my heart nearly stopping as the entire ship lurches.
"Hyperdrive has been hit," AP-4 warns.
But then, an eerie electrical pulse surges through the Crucible''s systems. The hyperspace tunnel forms around us, but instead of the usual blue, the tunnel glows an ominous yellow. My breath catches in my throat. I''ve never seen anything like this.
Ryu''s eyes widen in confusion, but there''s no time to dwell on it. His focus is on Lyra. "AP-4, how''s the ship holding up?" he asks, his voice tight.
"The ship is functional. I can manage from here," AP-4 responds, though the strain in its voice is unmistakable.
For the briefest moment, I let out a shaky breath. We''re safe—for now. But then my thoughts turn to Lyra. I hope—please let her survive.
Ryu doesn''t waste a second. He rushes to the medical bay. Nikko and I follow, our hearts racing as we watch him disappear down the corridor. I feel the tension in the air. We''re all hoping for the same thing—that Lyra will make it through this.
Inside the medical bay, Apollo is cradling Lyra''s body, its sensors dim with sorrow. I can feel the dread rising in my chest, and I know Nikko feels it too. She grips my arm, her wide eyes never leaving Lyra.
"Why isn''t she in the bacta tank?" Ryu demands, his voice trembling with fear.
Apollo''s photoreceptors dim further. "I''m sorry, Ryu. She... she has died."
The words hit like a physical blow. I gasp, my heart clenching in my chest. Nikko lets out a soft cry, her hands flying to her mouth, her eyes brimming with tears. Even Llamiryl, who has held her composure for so long, looks utterly shaken, her face pale with shock.
Lyra is dead.
The memory shakes violently, the entire scene blurring and twisting around us. I feel the ground shift beneath me, like the fabric of reality is breaking apart. I clutch Nikko tightly, trying to steady myself, but nothing feels right. Nothing feels real anymore.
Ryu collapses to his knees beside Lyra, his face a mask of grief. His shoulders shake as tears fall freely down his cheeks, his voice barely a whisper. "It''s all my fault," he says, the words broken by his sobs. "I''m so sorry, Lyra... I''m so sorry..."
My heart breaks watching him like this. Nikko is crying softly beside me, her small body trembling with sorrow. Even Llamiryl''s eyes glisten with unshed tears, though she remains silent, her gaze locked on the scene before us.