The Knave's Crusade

Detrition: 29

Pascal ducked and rolled under the low hanging branches, her aim hit her targets after shot after shot. The TIE Fighters' reflector shields weakened after each blow, but the pilots never stopped hunting her down. Something felt off to Pascal and she couldn't name it. Not that it mattered.

Reaching above her head, Pascal pulled herself up to be perched in a tree, and held her blaster with both hands. As three ships flew in closer to her, she pulled the trigger to release her last energy bolt. It took out the closest ship, sending it down into the other two as the twin ion engines set ablaze. In the distance three white figures ejected themselves while the other two ships came as back up.

Pascal's feet made almost no sound when she jumped from the tree. She raced through the forest without making a noise and darted in a crisscross shape. As she appeared from the foliage, above the ships would take quick turns, and eventually nicked each other. The remaining pilots had to evacuate from their ships.

As she darted towards a river, distant voices caught up to her and soon their footsteps followed. Fast currents rushed in front of Pascal as she slid to stop.

A voice directed, "The target is up ahead."

Spinning on her heel, Pascal faced five stormtroopers with their blasters drawn. Taking a step forward Pascal put her hands up, assessing each of the stormtroopers. Each of them she knew, each of them were her stormtroopers.

"What are you going to do? Shoot me?" taunted Pascal, her voice sharp like glass.

Alta demanded, "Why would you do this? Why would you leave us?"

Pascal spat out as tears stung her eyes, "I did it for my comrades that I thought I lost. My sisters and brothers."

"Aren't we your brothers and sisters?" snarled Yarla as she stepped forward.

"You-you are. I've tried everything in my power to stay with you, but my past has caught up to me," explained Pascal, her shoulders slumped forward.

"You committed treason against the Empire, Pascal." declared Vass with clear conviction, "You've made your choice."

Pascal defended herself, "There is nothing I could've done. I've been escaping this day for far too long."

"You've lost us now," plainly stated Raeth as if it was a fact, not an insult.

Krekor raised his blaster, his finger ready to pull the trigger. "Give us the order, Captain."

Putting her hands up, Pascal placed a foot towards the river and then another step. Each of the stormtroopers aimed their blaster at her, but none could shoot. Something snapped in Pascal as she felt the cold water press against her boots, like she lost everything again. Then, Alta pulled her trigger.

A clear shot hit Pascal's eye, sending her into the depths of the river. Water sloshed around her body, rocks smacked her limbs, coldness wrapped its grip around her. Struggling to keep her head above the water, Pascal lamely swung her arms and legs and gasped for air. The sound of the forest was drowned out by the rushing water, the smell of algae overwhelmed Pascal.

The current dragged Pascal under and further down the bend as water filled her lungs. Causing her lungs to feel heavy, a burning sensation laced her chest. She scrambled to grab onto anything, slick branches slipped through her fingers. It wasn't until a pair of hands pulled her up when she could breathe. Air stung her lungs with each desperate inhale while water sputtered from Pascal's mouth. Reaching for her face, crimson blood coated Pascal's hand as it dripped onto the mud.

Looking up, Pascal saw Kulan staring at her in confusion contorted with rage. Pascal took a swing at Kulan, but Kulan easily stopped her. Rolling on the cool ground, Pascal leapt to her feet and stumbled forward. After a few steps Pascal caught her footing facing away from Kulan and ran.

Dirt slipped underfoot leaving footprints behind Pascal while branches slammed into her raised arms. Leaves fluttered into the air when she rushed by, rocks were tossed into the air, twigs were snapped with her steps.

Sprinting into a cluster of bushes, Pascal heard labored breaths and slowed down. She slid too far forward into a small clearing surrounded by trees. Someone stood in Pascal's path as she tried to stop herself and hit them. They fell into a pile of limbs, both hitting the ground with full force.

Pascal held down the sentient being with her body and saw Tels under her hands. Purple bruises lined Tels' face and tendrils, dirt and blood were smeared across her. Pascal's shoulders slumped forward with relief, however a low growl vibrated across the lea. Looking up, Pascal met a rancor's beady eyes, Pascal's blood ran ice cold. Pascal shoved Tels behind her and stood in front of it.

Raising her chin high, Pascal was ready to launch herself at it.

However, a parade of red shots rained down towards the rancor sending it fleeing into the forest. Dirt was catapulted into the air, loud bangs followed each fire. A three winged ship hovered above them with the energy canons directed past them. Light glinted off of the gray metal siding of the opening hatch. Pascal pulled Tels over her shoulder and jumped onto the ship.

Tels and Pascal collapsed onto the floor and listened to footsteps approaching them. Coldness seeped through their clothes causing Tels to shiver violently as she clutched her right arm. It was jutting in all the wrong directions, a curve formed her forearm. Pascal's eyes glossed over lacerations that were sprinkled across Tels' chest, arms, and legs.

Reaching for Tels, Pascal wrapped her arms around Tels and held onto her tightly. Pascal's muscles ached with each movement and cradled Tels against her chest. A tear slid down Pascal's face as she smoothed Tels' tendrils.

Pascal caressed Tels' cheek. "I was afraid that I was going to lose you, Tels."

"Don't worry, you won't anytime soon," whispered Tels as she held onto Pascal's hand.

Tels' grip loosened when she fell unconscious and Pascal kissed Tels' forehead. Pascal looked up to see Hunter, Omega, Wrecker, and Frank surrounding them. Pascal offered Tels to them and watched her be taken to the medical bay. As they left Omega offered Pascal her hand and led Pascal after them.

---

Kulan sat hunched over the steering wheel as Garel faded away, his mind raced, skirting over the conflict within him. Tels slicing herself, the brightness of her blood was seared into his mind. The roar of the rancor still haunted him as it took after her.

Next to Kulan, Alta sat up straight and wore a cold expression without saying a word. Alta found it impossible to regret her decision to shoot first, she was loyal only to the Empire. Still the pain painted across Bankole's face haunted her. It hurt too much to remember Agent Bankole, she was now gone.

On the other side of Kulan, Krekor cleaned his blaster while he rocked his seat and his hands trembled. Krekor's heart thumped quickly as he remembered Bankole's face when she saw them. She looked like a wounded animal.

Yarla and Raeth were seated behind them on the Guardian and wore grime expressions. Yarla shook with anger each time the ship moved abruptly and violently muttered to herself. Raeth pulled at Yarla's sleeved to remind Yarla that she wasn't alone yet he felt that way.

Vass stared at her hands and couldn't move. Her white armor stood out starkly against the black floor, mud smeared her arms. A lump formed in Vass' chest making her feel empty. Vass couldn't find a voice to guide her team.

Gripping the steering wheel tighter tears flowed down Kulan's face. There was no one to comfort him, to offer him a safe place. Kulan's heart beat out of his chest as he tapped his hand against his leg.

The Guardian flew away as the stormtroopers sat in silence.