Private That Which Remains

[Nyx Andrath]

The Andrath clan was one of remaining hold outs of their kind. They were aware of the dangers, the hunting, the slavers, mere existence damned them to a life of seclusion from the world. Seclusion that was, until they were discovered. Word spread like wildfire when a group of Harpyia were discovered, a race more than once thought purged from the galaxy valued for their innate force talents, and of course the feathers on their back. It was for this reason many clans were tucked away in remote corners of space, never making contact with the outside world and holding their secrets close to chest; unfortunately for this clan however, one of their own had sold them out.

Seeking a large sum of credit one of the outcasts cast from the sanctuary made a deal with a number of bounty hunters, to betray his own; that plan however was short lived, the moment the location revealed the outcast was killed. Though word spread quickly now that a decent population was found; those in the slave trade reserving their ideal claim from the imagined lot, others paying piles of credits for a pristine pair of wings cut from the backs of the dead. Trophies, possessions, land, all was already claimed before the bounty hunters even touched ground on Batuu.

The knowledge made its way through the underweb of the galaxy in record speed; some quiet spoken conversations and shared links through back passages showed auction sites giving a date in the near future. It all spelt doom for the Andrath clan.

Ti Izat | Jalen Kai'el | Corazona von Ascania | Kaprosuchus96

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Batuu, Wilderness
Tags: Ti Izat , Nyx Andrath , Corazona von Ascania , Zoar , Lilise

​

It wasn’t very often that Jalen was out in the Outer Rim. Missions rarely did so, but this instance was a bizarre one. Rumors of strange creatures being sighted on Batuu, which the council believed could potentially be juvenile Sith Spawn. An infestation, they believed, would be catastrophic. It was better to take care of such a threat early, if one existed. So, five padawans and a Jedi Master were sent to investigate. Pretty simple… except for one thing.

“Uh… Master Sinclare is dead.”

They were in a forest clearing when their resident master suddenly collapsed. Jalen, being the healer, swooped in to try and resuscitate the old Rodian, but quickly realized that the old Jedi’s heart had simply stopped. Terror was now rushing through his system. This was bad.

“H-he died of old age I think,” Jalen stammered as he reassessed the Rodian. “His heart just… stopped.”

Well now what did they do? Jalen only really knew Cora here. The general mood of the group was not clearly established yet. Realistically, they should continue the mission, right? Sith Spawn breaking out on Batuu would be a huge problem. But he had no idea if the others were ready to complete such a task without a Master, let alone himself.

“W-well… what do we do?”

 

[Ti Izat]

Plants enriched the earth. Fed the soil, and in turn, they would grow. For Ti, the Jawa from Tatooine, this was beyond fascinating. The sands never let anything like this grow. They were dry, merciless, and unforgiving. The life they took was never given back in return. A drop of water here would pool into a pond or a lake. There, it'd be swallowed and never seen again. Truly fascinating.

Ti lifted his glowing goggles, taking a glance towards Jalen and the prone master. Oh. Wait. Dead. His little eyes blinked slowly before he nodded once. Spoke up in straight Jawaese, as he always did.

"<The sands have claimed him. May he find eternal peace. The land will house him.>" He paused, dipped his head in respect. Master Sinclare had always been kind to him. To them all. As odd and awkward as it was for them all to be here together, the memories of the laughs they had on the trip here and the smiles Master Sinclare did his best to bring still remained fresh.

"<Our task is not done. Together we can finish it. The threat must be found.>"

Lilise | Jalen Kai'el | Nyx Andrath | Corazona von Ascania | Zoar

 

[Lilise]

Master Sinclaire… was dead? The female Sylphe silently drew near, to the other padawans, to the Rhodian Jedi that lay gone on the forest floor. She knelt next to Master Sinclaire, her brow knitting together in sadness, the flowers atop her head wilting gradually, to the point that small petals broke from the flowers to drift and land atop the former Masters chest.

He was gone. They were left behind. Multiple wayward padawans without a Jedi Master.

Lilise turned her gaze to the others, uncertainty obvious across her mossy features. She bit her lip, digging deep within to find her courage, before she finally found her voice. "I.. I could try to reach out.. to the other Masters.." Her voice was soft, like a rustle of leaves. "But... Ti is right.. E..even if I do manage to get word to them.. Who knows how long it might be until... they arrive."

She fidgeted there where she knelt, somewhat wringing her hands. "We... won't be safe if we just stay here.. We'll need to do something.. Whether its hide or try to... continue our mission..."

The Sylphe, as nervous as she was, favored continuing their mission; after all if there truly were Sith Spawn on Batuu, it probably wouldn't be safe to just be sitting ducks.

Jalen Kai'el | Ti Izat | Nyx Andrath | Corazona von Ascania | Zoar

 

[Zoar]

They were doomed.

That was the only thing Zoar could think as he heard his fellow padawan exclaim that their Master escort was dead. Though one couldn't guess it, from the unchanged visage of his towering power armor. The construct simply tilted it's head down at the unfortunate sight, stoic and silent, even as the tiny Miln within the mech began to hyperventilate.

//I-I-I...// Zoar's high-pitched voice came out garbled from the mech's vocabulator, struggling to take control of his own words. //I don't know if we can do this by ourselves... We're dealing with unknown Sithspawn. There could be thousands of them. Or-or-or they could be really big.//

He paused. Took a deep breath as he glanced around to the other padawans, each of them a mystery to him.

//B-but if no one else can get out here in time... Well, Batuu is populated. People might need us.// He was terrified. Of course he was. But being a Jedi came first. It always did.

- Nyx Andrath - Jalen Kai'el - Ti Izat - Lilise - Corazona von Ascania -

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Well, this was awkward.

And sad, too, of course. Knelt next to Jalen, Cora had silently hoped that the young healer could perform a miracle of sorts. Things like that happened in the holos all the time—someone's heart stops, and the frantic struggle to resuscitate them works. Or not. Either way, this was reality.

Everyone here knew the risk of setting out on any mission—the risk of being a Jedi—but none of them had expected the old Rodian to keel over of natural causes.

A trickle of flower petals landed on the Jedi Master's chest, and Cora lifted her gaze to follow their path. Her eyes landed on the delicate form of the young Sylphe. Swallowing her nerves, she nodded slowly. "Reaching out to Coruscant is a good idea. We should notify them of Master Sinclar's death and our situation as soon as possible. Would you be able to do that, Lilise?"

Her eyes swept back to Sinclar's prone form, which looked disturbingly peaceful. What were they to do now without his guidance? She glanced to Jalen and Ti, then to the hulking form of Zoar. They were all startled and unsettled, but some more certain than others.

Cora settled one hand onto Jalen's shoulder and squeezed. The other rested at leg of Zoar's armor.

"Ti is right, we should press on. Master Sinclar would have wanted us to help anyone in need." Craning her neck back, she tried to offer Zoar an encouraging smile, but it just looked awkward.

"But now that we are without him, we need to be careful."

The blonde rose, casting a solemn gaze onto Sinclar's body. It felt wrong to just leave him here.

Jalen Kai'el Ti Izat Zoar Lilise Nyx Andrath

 

[Nyx Andrath]

​

As the padawans continued on their path in the direction they were being guided, the smell of smoke filled the air. It was faint at first, but as they began to continue the air filled with ash and soot falling from the sky; the sun had been setting on their approach, and it only made the scene all the more haunting. Screams echoed in the distance as they looked down into one of Batuus previously lush valleys, now alight with wide spread flames ripping through a small village. Men and woman with blasters made their rounds, some emerging from the blaze in suits made to resist its unbearable heat.

Off near the small intersecting river a few of a race none of the padawans had likely ever seen were sat, chained by the hands and feet tightly; the prisoners were a winged race, their legs large talons comparable to some of the predatory birds of the planet, however in all other ways from that distance, they looked relatively human. A few were being dragged to the ground, having been chained by their feet and attempting to fly away while hunters held chains tight.

A ship was landed on a far hill, some of the captives already being loaded in while others of the group were continuing to burn the homes to the ground. Somehow a more haunting sight, were the hunters that walked with nothing but pairs of wings or feathers in hand, those by the river screaming and pleading at the sight.

A few meters off outside of the brush the teenagers hid in was a man holding a much smaller girl by her chained talons as she desperately was trying to fly off; a blaster pointed up at her back as he shouted threats in Cheuhn from beneath his armored mask - <"Wings will fetch just as much a price; be grateful you were wanted alive! Cooperate or we will find another to replace you!">

Jalen Kai'el | Lilise | Ti Izat | Zoar | Corazona von Ascania

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Batuu, Wilderness
Tags: Ti Izat , Nyx Andrath , Zoar , Lilise , Corazona von Ascania

​

"Something's wrong," Jalen stated suddenly.

He hadn't exactly been paying attention to the conversation that everyone had been having. All he could feel was a distant pain. Howling in the force. It was the echo of death, looming ever so ominously in the distance. A shudder ran down his spine.

"People are dying," he informed the party. "Quickly. We need to move."

Jalen pointed in the general direction of the carnage, where smoke was now billowing out, something his empty eyes were oblivious to. Then he noticed something else. Two distinct auras, one on the ground. Youthful from what he could gather. The other towered above her, arm outstretched. A blaster, no doubt. Jalen froze for a moment. What was he supposed to do? Could they get to them in time?

No. They had to. Jalen was a healer. That meant that he saved lives. That's why he was here. With no more hesitation, with a solemn look on his face, the boy picked up Master Sinclare's lightsaber.

"Someone is in danger, not far," Jalen told them. "A-A few meters. I... We have to do something."

He took a moment to feel the grooves in Master Sinclare's lightsaber. He hadn't held a real one before. It seemed so polished. The old Rodian clearly handled it with great care, as he did with most other things. Jalen would hate to have to be the one to deliver the news of his passing. His family would be devastated.

Then, without a moment more to think, Jalen turned in the direction of the person in danger, ready to spring into action upon the word of assurance from the rest of the present padawans.

 

[Ti Izat]

"<The tall one is right. Batuu is filled with all kinds. We must protect them.>"

Ti gave Zoar a simple, understanding nod. His nerves were obvious, as they should be. Without Master Sinclare, what could they do? Most of them didn't have a lightsaber, Ti included. In fact, it was Zoar and Cora who had their own. Perhaps he should've insisted on taking a lightsaber for himself while the Master was still alive. .. No. No. Sinclare's words still rang in his head.

A Jedi does not need a blade to be a shield. Always trust in yourself and your friends, and you will overcome any trial.

He turned his gaze to the peaceful master. Only, the master was there no longer. His clothing flattened as the body faded. "<We need not worry. Master is one with the Force. A final lesson.>"

Ti gave Cora a knowing nod before turning his gaze ahead. They could do this, if they stuck together.

Then Jalen noticed something he hadn't. Fear. Pain. The smell of smoke. The Jawa reached up to pull his goggles over his eyes. They made it easier for him to see in such bright light, like in the day. Or in a fire. "<The foolish rush in. We are many together. A plan must be made.>

Nyx Andrath | Jalen Kai'el | Zoar | Lilise | Corazona von Ascania

 

[Lilise]

"A plan...?" Lilise's brow knit together, the flowers atop her head seeming to wilt even more in the heat and battle that lay before them. She could only focus on one thing at a time, so all of Lilise's focus went to telepathically sending word, to one of the other Masters back on Coruscant, telling of their unfortunate situation on Batuu; saying the flames hit her like stun blast felt like an understatement.

She took an unsteady step back, raising her hands to try and block the heat from her face, her emerald eyes bouncing from one companion to another; she may have been used to the humidity of a jungle planet but the heat of fire was far different."I.. I can try and d..distract them..." She'd been working slowly on being able to control her use of pheromones; if there was ever a practical use for it, it was now.
"I..its not perfect, and it may not work... b..but we won't be able to help if her attacker is focused.."

Lilise was trembling, though whether it was from fear of the fire or nerves was unclear.

Zoar | Corazona von Ascania | Jalen Kai'el | Nyx Andrath | Ti Izat

 

[Zoar]

The mech continued to stare down at Cora as she rested a hand on his armor. The physical gesture didn't make him feel all that better (he couldn't feel her reassuring touch under the durasteel plates), but her confident words did soothe him, if only a little. As did Ti's affirmations.

But there was a disturbance, one that Zoar was slower to pick up on than Jalen. As it was pointed out, the mech grew incredibly still, realizing that there was danger up ahead. He saw through complicated photoreceptors the carnage that laid before them, the slaughter of innocent people.

It was never Zoar's first instinct to run towards danger. But it was always his second.

But as Zoar produced his lightsaber's hilt, prepared to ignite it and charge, cooler heads prevailed. The mech began running through a pre-battle diagnostic, and Zoar similarly began looking at the scene objectively. //We can't draw too much attention. If these guys realize there are Jedi here, they might try to bail, taking whatever people they have already.// The power armor's head swiveled to Lilise. //Distraction is a good idea. Let's hit this guy fast and quiet, then we figure out how to save the rest.//

As much as Zoar wanted to dive into combat, his suit was slow, and very noticeable. But he started examining their ship on the hill. If they could deal with it, somehow...

- Corazona von Ascania - Nyx Andrath - Jalen Kai'el - Ti Izat - Lilise -

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora's nose wrinkled as a speck of ash landed on her face.

Still shaken from the sudden loss of their Master, the Padawans had crept closer to the carnage, looking on in horror as homes burned and civilians were ensnared by masked hunters. Cora felt her throat tighten at the spectacle, pulse bounding faster with each desperate wail that rose into the air like smoke from the smoldering huts.

Jalen had sensed it before many of them, and she came to clasp a hand over the blind boy's shoulder again. It was to steady him as much as herself.

"Are those…the sithspawn?" She'd never seen people with wings before, and the tone of her voice was doubtful. Perhaps the reports had been wrong. Very wrong.

"Lilise…are you sure?" Cora asked gently, frowning with concern at how the girl was trembling. She couldn't blame her, given the desperate situation laid out before them.

Cora was scared too. She'd spent too much time frozen when the going got tough. The blonde followed Zoar's mechanical gaze to the ship perched on the hill, and nodded back to Ti. Having two mechanically inclined Padawans here would hopefully work out in their favor.

Reaching into her bag, she retrieved a small cylindrical device and pressed it into the green Padawan's hands. A flashbang. "Use this if you need to. We'll be right behind you, I promise. Jalen, do you think that you can make it to the girl?"

Three remaining flashbangs were distributed to the other Padawans, and Cora crept forward. Her fingers wrapped around a rock, arm reeling back before she lobbed it at the man who had a blaster pressed to the poor creature's back.

Anger burned her chest like bile at the sight.

Jalen Kai'el Zoar Ti Izat Lilise Nyx Andrath

 

[Nyx Andrath]

The fires raged on and buildings collapsed in on themselves; sparks launched into the air with each cave in and the hunters only added more to the blaze; flamethrowers torched the grasses of the area which spread through trees, flowers, and only was further carried off to nearby land by the wind. A top the hill the ship was being loaded with the chosen Harpy, their wings bound tight by restraints to hold them closed, their hands and feet linked together by stun cuffs which at the press of a remote would nearly leave the people incapacitated.

One hunter was supervising the loading, a blaster rifle in hand as his eyes surveyed the captives and the surrounding fields; his back turned to the group of teens. Another with a carbine, much shorter than the rest but with four arms was in charge of loading, one arm holding the blaster out towards those she moved, guiding their merchandise onto the ship and securing them to a rail just inside the loading dock up the short ramp.

Towards the village there seemed to be about five making their way around, heavily armored in fire resistant power armor, two with flamethrowers and the other three with blaster rifles. As they made their rounds through the standing houses they dragged out hiding children, tossing them towards the group that was under close watch; mothers hushed the children, holding them close and petting their heads in an attempt to soothe the frantic younglings.

In this moment the one wrangling Nyx was hit by the rock thrown by Corazona, instinctively he dripped the trigger of his blaster but the shot went wide into the dirt as he began turning "Ah Fark!" Eyes turned to view the gathering in the bushes; As his attention was turned the young Harpy took flight, her legs and hands still bound but her wings free, the chain gripping her feet dangled, still grasped by the hunter however Nyx used this to her advantage.

The chain came swinging around, wrapping around the neck of the man as she began flying upward and around, in an attempt to stop her the blaster was dropped from her captors hand to grab the chain once more to prevent the choking. She wasn't able to lift him off the ground, but the man didn't know that, in the moment, there was an opening for the teenagers to move.

Corazona von Ascania | Lilise | Ti Izat | Zoar | Jalen Kai'el

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Batuu, Wilderness
Tags: Corazona von Ascania , Ti Izat , Nyx Andrath , Lilise , Zoar

​

Jalen, do you think that you can make it to the girl?"

"I can," Jalen stated, though not confidently.

His nerves kicked in. He could feel it against his face. The flames. Fire. It had taken his home. Everything he had ever known and love, stripped away by what was now before him. Just past the vail of his vacant eyes. Taunting him.

Jalen had to face it. It was taking her family too.

The padawan's mind swelled, the air pressure around him changing. His telekinetic prowess was kicking in again, as it had back in the Tangle. Cora would recognize it, at least. With force-enhanced speed, Jalen leapt across the clearing, igniting Master Sinclare's golden lightsaber. With one clean, efficient stroke, he had cleaved clean through the the right arm of the hunter that was attempting to drag the winged girl out of the sky, cutting through the chain as well. As it unraveled from it's hold around the man's neck, he was thrown backwards, hitting his head on a stone and passing out. Then, with an intensity in his empty eyes, Jalen faced the incoming hunters.

"Leave," Jalen spoke plainly, his voice echoing.

As he did so, the flames seemed to swell, creeping up to the ankles of the remaining hunters. As he stood his ground against them, he frantically searched the burning town with his mind for signs of life. Anything.

There was nothing.

Jalen turned to the winged girl, tears streaming down his face now.

"I'm sorry..." he apologized. "I'm... I'm so sorry."

They were gone. Just like his. Consumed by fire.

 

[Ti Izat]

Ti gave Lilise a thumbs up. Gave them all a thumbs up. He had faith in their abilities. Master Sinclair did. With that in mind the Jawa scurried off to do what Jawa's did best. Quiet as a mouse he weaved around the outskirts, hidden mostly from view just from how small he was. Capable of hiding within the shadows of the flames. All the way to the slaver ship. There he pulled out the small wrench he carried always. The only item he'd ever gotten from his clan before he was taken to the Jedi.

And got to work. Piece by piece dismantling the important sections of the ship to keep it grounded. There would be no slaves taken off world today.

Lilise | Jalen Kai'el | Corazona von Ascania | Zoar | Nyx Andrath

 

[Lilise]

Well, it seemed as if their plans to help hadn't completely fallen apart yet. Still trembling, Lilise took a deep breath; people needed help. Their help. She had to do something. Without much thought, which honestly wasn't like her, the Sylphe ran forward, towards the group of children and women that had been huddled together by the thugs in fire resistant armor.

She watched as Jalen's actions seemed to feed the flames, some even starting to grow and lick at the ankles of the hunters. With a deep breath the Sylphe turned her attention, looking to one of the women in the group and reaching out with her telepathy, praying to the sun above that these people understood her words.

<When my comrades and I make an opening for you all, run.> An oddly confident phrase from someone shaking like a leaf.

"Hey!" Lilise yelled aloud as she invaded the hunters circle, doing her best to stand between the Harpy's and the hunters. She said she'd be a distraction; now it was time.

The flowers amongst the fronds of her hair bloomed wide as she strode somewhat closer to one of the hunters, and she attempted to make use of all her practice; to emit a pheromone that would cause confusion, distract them, and make it easier for her comrades to assist. Now she had to only hope it would work.

Jalen Kai'el | Zoar | Nyx Andrath | Corazona von Ascania | Ti Izat

 

[Zoar]

"Are those…the sithspawn?"

//No way,// Zoar shot back. //They're people.//

The Miln had half a mind to hop out of his suit, join Ti on Team Sabotage. But, as he watched the Jawa scamper into the shadows, he found that he couldn't will himself to do it. Couldn't break free from his metal shell.

He'd be of more use in his suit, anyways. That was how he justified it to himself.

It might have even been the truth, as the team of Padawans tore into action, each a blur of movement and urgency. For his own part, Zoar charged the poachers' ship, his magenta greatsaber roaring with power. Though he didn't rely on it now.

He'd never be able to reach the human and Codru-Ji in time to protect their prisoners. So he got creative.

Mechu-deru was a very new skill for the Miln. He'd only grasped the basics so far, how to read the inner workings of a machine, sense it's perfections and flaws through the Force. But he knew he had to do more, now. So he did, letting the gears of the Force turn around him, extending one massive manipulator towards the Codru-Ji.

And with the smallest nudge, her carbine safety flicked on, locking.

The arm continued to extend, a wrist laser popping up from the appendage to plug stun bolts at the other raider. It would have to be enough.

- Corazona von Ascania - Nyx Andrath - Jalen Kai'el - Ti Izat - Lilise -

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Jalen's leap into action had been unexpected. Burning air thrummed around them, ushering a shift in the Force.

Cora kept pace behind Lilise, using whatever brush or structure that was not currently aflame as cover. Her throat tightened at the sight of terrified children being held by their equally terrified mothers, and for a moment she envisioned the panicked faces of her siblings overlain onto the Harpy younglings.

She shook her head, forcing herself to focus. Ti and Zoar were taking care of the ship, dismantling its components and intercepting the prisoners being lead aboard. Jalen, nervous and gentle as he was, had severed the hunter's arm with one clean swipe of Master Sinclar's blade. Something was different yet familiar about the blind boy's presence—even the timber of his voice vibrated with an intensity she hadn't imagined he was capable of.

He was not the only brave one here today—Lilise put herself protectively between the cowering Harpies and the hunters, dispersing pheromones meant to unbalance their attackers.

Taking a deep breath, Cora urged herself forward. She tossed the flashbang ahead of her, hoping that the noise and sound for further disorient the hunters as her lightsaber cleaved through the barrel of a rifle, kicking one of the distracted gunnmen into another who approached.

Nyx Andrath Lilise Jalen Kai'el Ti Izat Zoar

 

[Nyx Andrath]

The apprentices went to work, each separating to focus on their specialties, Jalen severed the arm of Nyx's attacker, and as she did the girl flew off at incredible speed towards those still in the village. The hunter screamed bloody murder, literally; blood poured from the stump left from the lightsaber, the cauterization cracking in many places, in his panic the man fainted, or maybe it was blood loss, who could tell.

Nyx charged down towards one of the hunters with a flamethrower, managing to wrap her still attached chain around his arm and jank, knocking him off balance and causing him to drop the weapon, it discharging momentarily and coating a new space in fire.

Ti began pulling apart the ship piece by piece with his expert Jawa knowledge, as he did he would note the sheer amount of makeshift engineering done to even get the thing to fly, various things welded into places they didn't belong, including wrenches used as axles and prybars as support, it was a death trap without his sabotage. None the wiser to the tinkering he would be left to toy with the guts of the ship, discovering more and more safety violations that would make an inspectors head spin.

The words Lilise spoke into the mind of one of the Harpy weren't unnoticed, but how much the woman understood was unclear. As she invaded the well guarded circle, one of the hunters raised a blaster to her, another with a flamethrower noticing her and starting to make his approach. "Hey! Who the bloody fark are you!" He'd yell, only for the flower pheromones' to begin to warp the mind of the man with a blaster. Slowly a look of confusion began to take over his features, his eyes clouding over somewhat as he lowered the weapon and stared off, almost through Lilise; However, the one with the flamethrower was closing in.

Zoar charged forward saber in hand, as he did so the Codru-Ji raised her blaster towards the metallic shells head, ready to fire as the audible click was heard, pulling the trigger the weapon was jammed. With a grunt of frustration she tossed it aside, pulling a large sword from her side and readying to meet the walking wall. The other raider was indeed met with the bolt, dropping like a bag of rocks and convulsing as the stun took hold, he was dealt with, but only for the moment.

As Corazona entered the fray, the flashbang was enough to disorient the hunter and the harpies alike, a bird like screech emanating from most of the children who covered their ears or eyes with clawed hands. Her lightsaber did indeed cleave a rifle in half, and she knocked him off balance towards another, but it was difficult to see if she managed to direct his fall properly. In the chaos some of the Harpy began to scatter, some taking flight while others injured attempted to sneak away, and others, weren't so fortunate.

The flames continued to spread rapidly, more screeching being heard as a Harpy with burning wings flew above, showering the area with feathers alight and others charred and disintegrating.

Ti Izat | Lilise | Corazona von Ascania | Zoar | Jalen Kai'el

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Batuu, Wilderness
Tags: Nyx Andrath , Zoar , Ti Izat , Lilise , Corazona von Ascania

​

No. There were still others alive. He could feel them now. There was still time to save lives. Jalen's attention turned to the ship, leaving the other hunters to his fellow padawans. They were dismantling the vessel, preparing to stop it from taking off, but Jalen feared that it wouldn't be fast enough should the hunters try to flee. There was really only one option: The wings.

Jalen stowed Master Sinclare's blade, honing his focus on the ship's closest wing. He didn't even register the flashbang going off. There was only him and the vessel. He took a moment to reflect on what had brought him to this moment. The kindly old Rodian who trusted them, the older brother who had taken him in, the criminals who had stripped away his simple life. It was all culminating right now, in this moment.

"One foot forward, one foot back."

A voice echoed in his mind, causing Jalen to freeze for a moment.

"Master Sinclare?" he muttered in confusion.

No response came. Jalen hesitated for a moment, but then shuffled his feet. One foot forward, one foot back. Then, he held out his arms, clenching the air and seizing hold of the vessel's wing will all of his might. Without a moment more to spare, he began to pull. The boy let out a howl of stress, his shout echoing out around him in the force. Then, as the wing began to stress, wires snapping and bolts twisting out of position, it snapped. The wing was reduced to scrap, dragged down with force to the empty ground below it, whipping up a cloud of dust.

"I... I did it," Jalen wheezed.

He smiled. Then he didn't. His eyes rolled back and his legs went numb. With a thud, Jalen was now sleeping peacefully on the ground, out of reach of the flames.