Star Wars - The Inner Battle

Chapter 3 - The Newcomer

Passers-by froze into place, staring speechless and with visible terror at the group making its way through the crowd. At first, they only noticed the armed people in black and white armours, shoving those who stood in their way. But then, something else caught their attention. The tall, menacing figure of the domineering hooded man with his fists clenched as he followed and led the others at the same time. Although they were holding their breaths, the bystanders were grateful that the man did not turn his head to look at them. They were wallflowers, and they were curiously satisfied with that.

The group reached the border of Ord Mantell City and crossed it without turning back. Teebasha, marching two feet behind Kylo, tried to distract herself by gazing around her. Since they had left the bar, not a word had been spoken. The only sounds to be heard were the synchronised footsteps of the Stormtroopers and Kylo's heavy ones. The city seemed to have stopped in its tracks — the usual background noise caused by passing speeders was deafened, hardly perceptible, as though they had ceased to function at once at the sight of First Order troops.

Teebasha lifted her chin up to stare at the overcast sky for a few seconds. With the lack of distraction and stimulation, she began to question her own choice. What was she doing there? What would the Guild do about her sudden desertion? Would they send someone to track her and slit her throat for a handful of credits? Was the acquisition of knowledge about her own powers truly worth joining the scum of the galaxy, the very same that perpetuated the poisoning of her home world?

When Kylo's Command shuttle appeared in the desert landscape, with its wings folded up above its head, Teebasha felt like running away. Aware of what she was getting herself into, the sight of the ship that symbolised this unexpected turning point in her life made her feel nauseous. Pain seized her stomach, as though her internal organs were writhing.

Whilst the ship's ramp lowered with a deafening hiss, Teebasha cleared her throat to catch Kylo's attention. He turned to her, planting his feet in the ground, waiting for her to speak.

"Shouldn't we wait for Captain Phasma?" she uttered in a trembling voice she struggled to control.

"She has her own shuttle. The other Stormtroopers are leaving with her," he answered in his low and neutral voice. "Why are you suddenly worried about Phasma?"

"I don't know, I was thinking she would stay by your side at all times."

"Now you understand she's not," Kylo snapped. "Board the ship."

Teebasha sighed and climbed the platform, entering the infamous Command shuttle. Everything inside it was disturbing and murky. Plunged into continual darkness, the sole sources of light were the red and white neon lights embedded in the walls. As only background noise, a hum filled the ship, low and steady. Two mute droids rolled past them, tools ready for their inspection of the exhaust pipe network, while stern officers marched through the corridors, preparing for takeoff. As the coldness of the air wrapped around her, she rubbed her arms with the palms of her hands.

"Varn," Kylo called her, "follow me."

The young woman nodded and followed him, forcing herself to take larger steps so she would not get lost in the corridors, longer than she had expected considering the size of the ship. After two minutes of walking in the deepest of silence, Kylo's clanking steps stopped at a door. He lifted his hand and waved it, opening it.

"This is where you're staying during this flight," he said. "I'll pick you up myself when we land."

"Well, thank you," Teebasha scoffed, hearing him walking away. She frowned and turned to him. "Kylo Ren?"

"What is it?!" he replied, visibly upset, without looking at her.

"I have a question. What happened to the customers of the bar on Ord Mantell? Did you harm them?"