The roar of the engines faded as we broke through the atmosphere, leaving only the faint hum of the ship's systems and the deafening silence of space. I took my place in the gun turret, my hands gripping the controls as I scanned the blackness for signs of pursuit. It didn’t take long—far in the distance, glinting like tiny stars, three TIE Fighters approached, closing the distance with frightening speed. They’d been in orbit around Jedha, likely alerted by the alarms when we made our escape.
The moment they entered range, the TIEs opened fire, bright green lasers streaking through the void. I gritted my teeth, responding with a barrage from our turret. High-powered bolts lit up the darkness, cutting across the star-speckled sky, but the shots scattered wildly. The turret's targeting system was rudimentary, and my inexperience showed.
As clumsy as TIE Fighters are in open space, one of them easily dodged my shots, weaving through the fire with unnatural precision. Its pilot was skilled, expertly timing their movements to avoid each shot just as it left our cannon’s barrel. One second, the fighter was locked in my sights, and the next, it twisted away, slipping just beyond the bolts.
The other two TIEs weren’t so lucky. One took a glancing hit to its wing, its flight pattern turning erratic. The second spiraled away after its control system was damaged. I watched as the less damaged fighter latched onto its companion, dragging it out of the combat zone and retreating into the distance.
But the skilled pilot pressed on, maintaining a steady stream of precise shots that slammed against our shields. If not for Teya’s Force sensitivity, allowing her to sense each incoming shot and maneuver us away just in time, we’d have been space dust already.
“Teya and I can both fly a ship, but neither of us is an expert,” I muttered to myself, feeling the ship’s frame shudder under another hit. The same went for using a gun turret. It was my first time operating one in a real dogfight, and our survival depended on my ability to adapt quickly. An idea sparked in my mind—a risky one, but it might be our only shot.
I focused on the turret, feeling the hum of the energy building inside it with each shot. If I could adjust the timing between the flash of the barrel and the release of the bolt, I might be able to throw off the TIE pilot’s rhythm. Channeling the Force, I reached out to the energy as it left the barrel, pulling on it for just a fraction of a second. It drained me, but I watched with satisfaction as the bolt lagged, then accelerated, veering slightly off its expected path.
The next burst of shots caught the TIE Fighter off guard, forcing it into a frantic series of evasive maneuvers. I could tell that my trick had thrown the pilot off—he kept his distance at first, weaving unpredictably. But then, suddenly, he switched tactics, closing the gap between us with a determined speed.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Teya, brace yourself! This sleemo’s coming in close!” I shouted, gripping the turret controls as the TIE Fighter swooped toward us.
“Noted,” she replied, sending us into a tight spin. The ship rolled as we banked, stars spinning wildly outside the viewport.
I fought to steady my aim, struggling to keep the TIE in my sights as it twisted and rolled around us. My muscles tensed as I reached deep into the Force, focusing every ounce of concentration on the next shot. The energy bolt formed in the chamber, and for a moment, it felt as though time itself had slowed to a crawl.
I could sense everything around me with a heightened clarity—Teya’s heartbeat, the TIE’s relentless movements, the subtle vibrations of our ship’s hull. The bolt thrummed with energy, poised on the edge of release. And in that suspended moment, I felt the TIE Fighter as if it was cradled in my hand, its trajectory locked into my mind alongside the path of the shot. With a final breath, I pulled the trigger, guiding the bolt toward its target.
Darkness swept over me before I could see the impact. My body felt impossibly heavy, and my mind slipped into unconsciousness...
When my awareness returned, I found myself in a strange place—an endless white expanse stretching in all directions. I blinked, disoriented, realizing that I was dreaming or caught somewhere between consciousness and oblivion.
“Hello, young one,” a calm, nonhuman voice resonated through the empty space.
I spun around, searching for the source. “Who’s there?”
Before me stood a hazy figure, humanoid but not quite human. Its elongated cranium and narrow features reminded me of a Bith or something similar. The figure’s presence felt ancient, as though it had been waiting for this moment for countless ages.
“That is currently irrelevant, my young successor,” the figure intoned, its voice like a melody in my mind. “The technique you just used is more than it appears. All things are connected through the Force, and you have touched upon that connection, using it to align your weapon’s aim. This is more impressive than you realize. For what you lack in raw power, you make up for with ingenuity.”
I stared at the figure, trying to make sense of its words. “What are you suggesting?”
The Bith shook its head slowly. “Nothing specific. Fate will guide your path, and my time here is short. But remember this, young one—keep your friend close and your enemy closer. An enemy today may become an ally tomorrow. You walk a path of your own making but stay close to the edges of those that others have carved. It is there you will find your way.”
Before I could ask anything more, the white expanse dissolved around me, the vision fading like mist in the morning sun.
My eyes opened suddenly, and I gasped for breath, my senses overwhelmed by the harsh lights above me. I blinked, trying to focus, and realized I was lying on a stretcher in the ship’s sick bay. My arm throbbed, a deep ache radiating from where the Kyber shard was lodged.
That's right... I passed out and must be dreaming now.
