A Life Without Meaning

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℙ𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕣 (𝕀𝕀𝕀)

As it turns out, Ellia couldn't find it in herself to sit still for that long. After waiting around for what felt like hours, but in reality was only about half of one, she just had to know what was going on below. Double-checking that the safe room door was closed, she then quietly padded up towards the cockpit, propping herself up just outside the door, where she could hear muffled snippets of chatter over the comms.

"Approaching the control room. Make a left at the next juncture." the droid instructed those on the ship.

For a while, everything was going fine. So fine it was almost boring to hear about.

But just as quickly as that thought crossed her mind, the blaring sound of alarms got her attention. She stood up a bit straighter, pressing her ears to the side of the cockpit doors.

"It seems your presence has been detected." the droid reported, "Redirecting security alert away from your position."

There were a few grunts and grumbles in response, before an angry shout originated from the other end of the comms.

"Zee, open the door!"

"But I'm detecting an organic signature-"

"Yeah. Okay. Alright, just open the door!"

From what Ellia could gather, things were no longer going according to the original plan. She waited around for a little while longer, as the comms grew eerily quiet. But that didn't last long either, another flurry of alarms sounded shortly thereafter, this time on the Razorcrests end.

"Zero to Mayfeld. Zero to Mayfeld." the droid called out, sounding a bit pressed.

"What?!"

"I detected a New Republic distress signal homing in on your location. You have approximately twenty minutes."

Ellia's eyes widened in worry. Anxiously, she stayed pressed to the cockpit door, listening for any sign that the crew below them was still alive.

In another bout of silence, she could hear the droid messing around the cabin. At one point, she heard a familiar voice begin to speak over what sounded like a shaky audio recording.

"I received your transmission. Upon your return, deliver the quarry directly to the client-"

It took her a moment, but she recognized the voice as Greef Karga, back on Nevarro. It must have been an old message pulled from the Mandalorians guild days.

"Interesting" she heard the droid muse in response.

The comm system crackled again, and a frantic voice called out to the droid.

"Zero. We got Qin!"

"I found some information on the Mandalorian from the Bounty Hunter's Guild-"

"Yeah, yeah, do whatever. Just get us off this ship!"

Ellia's eyes furrowed in suspicion.

"You have 10 minutes remaining." the droid reported. Almost immediately, there came another beeping from the console. Forcing an immediate radio back, "Zero to Mayfeld. Zero to Mayfeld."

"Yeah?"

"You have a potential problem." the droid responded, "He has escaped."

From the other end of the comms, Ellia could hear a clear scream in frustration,

"I told you we should have ended him!" the voice of the twi'lek exclaimed.

Ellia's breath caught in her throat.