She glanced at Sommer, as if testing her reaction."The loyal pilot. Fierce. Grounded. Perhaps even beloved."
"But even love won't unmake what you are. I didn't build the cradle, Sommer. I didn't carve the prophecy into blood and starlight. I'm here to help you wear the crown."
She stepped forward once more—"Then you'll kneel in chains. Or worse, burn without purpose. And the galaxy? It will still bleed—because you refused your place."
"One more step, and I'll put you on the floor."
"Bold."
"She's not the only one tired of your riddles and veiled threats. If this is my destiny, I'll meet it on my terms. Not Azis'. And not yours."
Then her voice dropped into something darker."I had hoped you would see sense."
"Arcubis."
Their blades clashed — not Alyssa's, but Kael's vibroknife, slicing down between them to block Zori's attack."I didn't come to fight," Zori said. "But if you insist—"
"We hold her here," Alyssa barked.
"You planning to kill a Sith empress with charm, or…?"
They both ducked as Zori unleashed a Force blast, throwing a pair of bar stools into the air like missiles."Depends. Yours workin' tonight?"
Click."Come on, come on…" Arq slammed his hand against it. "Sommer, you better not have changed this without—"
Arq's lips thinned."Forcebreaker Mk I – Experimental Tech. Developed by Lonek Technologies. USE ONLY WHEN NECESSARY."
He opened it. Inside was a sleek metallic cylinder, no longer than his forearm. A warning light blinked faint red. One use. One pulse. 12-hour recharge time."Well, this qualifies."
Arq's breath hitched.SELECT TARGET
– ZORI GALEA
– ARCUBIS KORNELIUS
– HERALD ENSEMBLE
His finger hovered."Stars damn it," Arq whispered. "Which one breaks the board… and which one breaks us?"
"Arq! We need SOMETHING NOW!"
"This better work."
"They think this is a fight," she thought, deflecting a blast with her free hand. "They don't realize they're already in the folds of prophecy."
"Sommer's not ready," she whispered aloud.
Her saber drooped. The energy within her — that always-burning divine fire — snuffed out like a candle caught in rain.
She could still think, still feel—but her connection was gone. She could no longer see them in the Force. No precognition. No inner storm."Arcubis…"
They built a cage.
They turned my breath into silence.
She tried to lift her saber — it felt heavy now, like dragging stone through waterThat infernal Lonek tech.
She turned her head and screamed toward the upper level, fury rising in her throat:
But her voice cracked, shaking."ARQ, YOU SITHSPAWNED WRAITH—!"
For the first time, Zori didn't feel like a queen.What am I without it?
What is a goddess without her breath?
Azis... are you watching me now?
And with that — Sommer raised her concealed blaster and fired directly at Zori's thigh."This club doesn't need a queen. It's already got one."