Power

19.

I lay him down on his bed back at home, ripping open his shirt to reveal a nasty blaster wound. I quickly grap a clean towel and douse it with a wound cleaner.

"Now stay still, this is going to hurt." I tell him and press the cloth to his wound. He clenches his teeth and squeezes his eyes shut. "You're going to have to rest for a little while, he got you very good with that blaster." I begin to wrap the wound in bandages, he watches me carefully.

"I'm sorry." He says, I furrow my brows in confusion.

"For what?" He shakes his head.

"I wanted to protect you back there, and I failed." I tilt my head at him.

"Do not apologize, Galen." I continue to wrap the wound and finally place the last bandage. I take another wet cloth and dab his forehead, attempting to cool him off from his struggle against the wound cleaner.

"I've never seen this side of you." I look down at him.

"I was once an evil person, consumed by the darkness I did not truly understand. With Vader by my side, I only dove further and further deeper. When he ordered me to, I killed without question. When he made me into what I am today, it is like the veil was finally pulled back. Like I finally saw through the Emperor and his lies." I meet Galen's eyes. "I never wanted to be evil. The darkness is all I have ever known, but being here has shown me that I don't need to use this gift I was given to bring horror to the galaxy." I look down at him and smile. "I don't believe we're bad people, Galen. The darkness is all we have ever known, but it is up to us to use it for what it right."

"I'm glad you came here." He closes his eyes as I place the rag on his forehead. "I believe we both needed one another."

"I'm going to make us something to eat, get some rest."

...

I sit with an open book in hand, watching as Galen's chest rises and falls as he sleeps. It's been a week since his blaster shot, and his wound has made great progress healing. He can walk and move now, but is not fighting as he once did.

The sound of a ship flying overhead comes from outside, I toss down my book and immediately pick up my sabers. Galen's eyes snap open, he quickly tries to stand up and clenches his teeth as he does so.

"Stay here." I tell him. He holds his side and pushes himself to his feet with a struggle.

"I won't let you go out there alone." He says. Knowing there is no changing his mind, I walk outside. I watch as a resistance X-Wing moves to land in front of the house, I ignite my sabers as it does so.

"Lyra Adhara?" The man says, climbing from the cockpit. He puts his hands up to show he holds no weapons. "We come here in peace, and to ask for your help."

"The Resistance did not seem like it needed help when I left." I say. A girl climbs from the cockpit behind him.

"We were sent by Poe Dameron to ask for your assistance before we head to find a code breaker." The girl says. "The Resistance needs you, Lyra. They're in grave danger from the First Order, it won't be long before they kill us all." I stand unmoving, red blades glowing in my hands.

"I cannot, not with the First Order so close by. I will not be caught by them again." Memories of the torture inflicted on me pass through my mind.

"So you would rather turn your back on them?" The man says. "I told Poe this was a waste of time. Come on Rose, we need to move." The girl, Rose, looks back at me as the man climbs back into the ship.

"You're our only hope, Lyra. Please, save us all." She says, backing up to the X-Wing. She climbs into the ship and takes off, flying back into the stars. Galen stands behind me, he places a hand on my shoulder as I holster my sabers. I walk back inside without a word, sitting down at the table inside. Galen lowers himself onto the bed, watching me in silence as a million thoughts go through my mind.

"I can feel your conflict." He finally says, I look over at him.

"I want to help them, I truly do." I tell him.

"What did the First Order do to you, Lyra?" I struggle to meet his eyes and let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Three decades after Maro and I escaped the Empire, we were living in hiding on Coruscant. The First Order found us, I forced Maro to leave and the First Order caught me. There was this force wielder there, not a Sith but a dark side user. Kylo Ren, his name was, grandson of the great Lord Vader. They had captured me when I was at my weakest, I had not practiced within the dark side for decades, I had dedicated myself to desperately trying to regain control of the light side. They tortured me over and over for so long, they took my sight in my left eye, and they forced me to train Ren in the ways of the Sith." A tear falls from my eye as I stare at Galen. "I cannot go through that again." He leans forward and wipes the tear from my eye.

"I will never force you to go. But Lyra, I have never in my lifetime seen power like yours. They caught you when you were weak, never once had you tapped into your true power. Now, the First Order should be afraid of you." He studies my eyes carefully. "You know I will be right beside you whether you decide to go or not." I take his hand in my own, he looks at it with surprise.

"I know you will."