Fragments of the Dark

Chapter Twenty Five

Celene slammed into the ground, the shadows around her swaying.

"Hello, Cara."

The shock-trooper had her blaster drawn and aimed but Celene held up her hands.  "Relax.  I'm just here for a friendly chat."

Cara glared at Celene- or tried to.  Her heavily swollen black eye was bruised and shut.  Her nose also discolored and her lip split.  "What the hell do you want?"

Celene leaned against a tree.  "Since we've called a little truce right now, I've come to recruit you.  The village-" she jerked her head behind her, "hired the Mandalorian and I to protect them from raiders hitting their camp.  Turns out it's a lot more than raiders.  It's an AT-ST."

Cara choked out a laugh.  "An Imperial walker?  No fucking way- on this planet?"

Celene gave a shrug.  "We have no idea why it's here but its attacking the village.  We need more people to fight.  To help us."

Cara narrowed her eyes.  "You don't need any help.  I've seen what you can do."

"Well, that's a last resort.  I'd rather take it down the old fashion way.  What'd you say?  Up for the challenge?  You can have over half the cut."

Cara seemed to be debating.  Then she sighed.  "What the hell.  I have nothing better to do anyways."

Celene pushed off the tree.  "Follow me.  And wait until after we take down the walker to try and kill me again."

Cara swore at her but Celene just chuckled, slipping between the trees.

When they arrived back at the village the villagers had made a decent amount of headway digging a large trench.  "A trap," Celene told Cara as they approached.  "We'll have to get the walker to step into it."

The former shock trooper nodded and they neared the group.  Din turned to face them.  He gave Cara a nod.  "Once this is finished, and the villagers are ready, Celene and I will hit their camp.  Provoke them.  That will bring the fight out of the woods and down here to you, where you'll be ready with the villagers."

Celene pointed to the edge of the clearing, where trees were being stacked.  "We're having them cut down trees and build barricades along those edges.  High enough so that they can't get over and strong enough so that it can't break through."

Cara nodded to the group gathered.  "Who knows how to shoot?"

Din shook his head.  "Only one."

Celene bit her lip.  "Better get started then."

They lugged their weapon cases from the barn, stacking them on the ground where they had the villagers line up in front of makeshift targets.  Celene set hers down, hesitating, her fingers sliding along the small drawer at the bottom.  A drawer she hadn't opened in a very long time, full of memories she didn't want to relive.

She glanced at the line of people, hazardlessly firing weapons at hanging pots and pans as Din coached them.  The shots flew wide, hitting everything but the targets.  Another group was in a line as Cara led them step by step through the basics of a spear attack.  One villager was holding his spear backwards. 

Celene took a breath.  If this went sideways... which it very well could, they would need every advantage they could get.  She slid her finger along the panel, holding her breath as it sprang open.  Dull, black metal reflected the blazing sun.  She gently lifted the cylindrical object from the slot and clipped it to the waistband of her pants.  She pulled her shirt over top, hiding it from view. 

Even though the weapon weight little to nothing, Celene stood feeling heavier.  Once the weapon had felt like a gift.  Now it was a burden.  She looked across the village.  This was different though.  She was doing good.  She using her abilities for good.  To help people, not destroy them.