Luna stared out at the space beyond her TIE's window.
The Nexu's Nest was gone, her friends safe. Now all that remained in doubt was her fate, a question that the First Order seemed to be in no rush to answer - which made sense. Her TIE drifted through space, tumbling gently, missing an entire solar panel, lacking enough power for her engines, and not even the possibility of escaping through hyperspace. She thought briefly of just putting on her helmet, opening the hatch and flying off somewhere. She doubted she would make it to the relative safety of what was left of the outpost - or if she did, have enough oxygen left in her pack to make the journey and be alive at the end of it. But there was something appealing about the thought of frustrating the First Order one last time. Let them just try to find her, floating in the vast emptiness of space. Let her die on her own terms. But as much as it appealed to her, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She didn't want to die. She wanted to live, to see her friends again, see her family. Sadness welled up inside. She didn't have a photo- or holograph of anyone on her; because she was wearing a standard issue First Order flightsuit, rather than her usual one, she had none of her keepsakes. The thought brought it home to her just how alone she truly was.
Her TIE shook from an impact, and she dived back into her chair to look at her technical and sensor readouts. Something - or rather, someone - had hit her other solar panel. Her fighter shook with another hit, then another, and she saw an enemy TIE making its approach, taking potshots at her. Another hit, and the remaining connecting strut let out a loud metalllic groan. Another hit destroyed the strut completely, sending the panel flying and the ball of the TIE whirling away. From out of her window, she saw the TIE fly by her. She swore. The bastard was using her as target practice. Not bothering to take her captive, not even extending her the courtesy of a quick death. She was no longer a person in the eyes of her enemy. She was a toy to be played with. Her anger flared to life, and she instinctively grabbed her yoke and depressed the trigger, but nothing happened. She almost yelled in frustration, almost kicked at the window, at the controls, almost beat the bulkheads, but she didn't. her anger was gone in a moment and left her feeling hollow. Outside, she saw the TIE make a long, lazy arc, turning towards her. Luna tried to look away, to not even give them the dignity of an audience, to calm her mind and to meet the moment as a Jedi would - but she couldn't look away, couldn't still her mind. All she could think of was her friends and how much they would hurt, how much this would hurt her, and as the TIE made its way closer and closer even her thoughts left her grip and her mind reached for anything to grasp on to, one last memory to comfort her, but nothing came.
Please, she silently pleaded. Don't do this. I don't want to go. Tears fell down her cheeks. The TIE lined up for its last shot. It was so close, now, they wouldn't miss. It would be quick at least. She closed her eyes, unable to take it any longer. Red light lit up the cockpit, flared in front of her eyes, she could see it even through her closed eyelids, then a blinding white light and a moment later her TIE rocked from an explosion. But she was still there. She was still alive. After a second, she dared to open her eyes. What was left of her TIE was untouched, but outside, where there was a TIE intent on her death was fire and debris, expanding into nothingness. She could hardly believe it. Her last wish had been answered. She was alive. she crawled out of her seat and leant against the window, trying to make sense of what had happened. Above her loomed a cargo ship, its dark grey hull making it appear like a silhouette, a shadow in space, but then she started to piece together the outline, and realised she was looking at an old Incom AT-31 Starwing, a chevron shaped attack transport, its cargo compartment nestled between two oversized engines, with its s-foil wings extending beyond to give it its distinctive design.
For a moment, she dared to hope, but then a harsh female voice spoke over the comm, and she knew that this wasn't a rescue. 'By the authority of the Knights of Ren,' she voice said, 'I claim this prisoner. Anyone who interferes will suffer a similar fate,' as the ship oriented itself above her hatch, she checked her holster, making sure that she was armed. She would not make this easy for them. As the ship lowered itself and opened its underside hatch and she could just make out the interior beyond the bright blue forcefield. Her mind made a quick calculation and she snorted as she realised that the ball of her TIE wouldn't fit through the hatch. She was just about to key on her comm to make a mocking message before the hatch to her TIE groaned, slowly crumpled in on itself as if a giant hand had grabbed ahold of it and tore it off, exposing the cockpit to the vacuum of space. Air roared around her as it was pulled out, and Luna was almost dragged out with it, but she grabbed hold of the back of her seat. And then all the air was gone, there was nothing pulling at her. There was just the emptiness of space - and the emptiness in her lungs. Panic built up inside her, her mind trying desperately to think of a way out, but nothing would come. She felt herself grow weak, felt a fuzziness in her head, her eyelids grow heavy, and she let go of the seat and floated up, up towards the attack transport. On the edge of consciousness, she felt her body tingle as it passed through the forcefield, and her body reacted automatically, breathing deep and hard, filling her body with oxygen and in a moment she was fully conscious again but still panicked as her mind caught up with her situation. She had a moment of realisation as she noticed she was floating in mid air before she dropped down hard on the metal floor beside the forcefield, the hatch slamming shut, cutting off the view of the stars and the TIE ball below.
Luna lay there, gasping for her, until a voice, the same harsh female voice from the comm, spoke to her. It said: 'so you're Luna Tane. Welcome to my ship.'
Luna looked up. On a small catwalk above the cargo bay stood a woman with a stern looking face under long red hair. Luna had never met her before but she knew at once who she was. She was looking at an older, harsher version of Cora.
It was Mara Jade.
Luna jumped to her feet, her blaster pistol already in her hand and aimed at Jade. She fired.
Jade didn't move. She didn't need to - the blaster bolt hung in the air between the two women. The older woman sighed and reached out a hand. At once, Luna felt a pressure on her throat, like someone was strangling her. She clawed at the invisible hand, but nothing could stop it. She felt herself being dragged along the floor by her neck and she struck out with her legs, kicking and silently screaming, trying to grasp at anything she could, but it was no use. The hand pulled her along, and then up in the air until she was eye to eye with the woman who had tried to assassinate her idol. She had she same eyes as Cora, and she hated herself for ever having found them to be warm, loving, beautiful. They were the eyes of a murderer.
'I'm only going to say this once,' Jade growled. Luna heard the humming of the frozen blaster bolt grow louder, felt the back of her head grow warmer, and she realised that she was directly between Jade and the suspended blaster bolt, and that the former was bringing the latter dangerously close to her head. Sweat pricked at Luna's skin and stars blossomed and exploded in her vision, as, for the second time in five minutes she was facing the prospect of aphyxiation. Dully, she heard something clatter against the hull. Jade reached forward and plucked the blaster out of Luna's hand. 'Try to shoot me again,' said Jade, matter of factly, 'and I don't care what my boss says, I will kill you without blinking an eye.'
'Put her down,' said a voice below both of them.
Jade lowered her hand and Luna fell the ten feet to the metal floor, landing hard on her butt. Coughing and trying to breathe at the same time, she tried to stand but her legs couldn't manage it and she fell back against a crate. Though the pressure was gone from her throat, she still held her neck protectively. Slowly, she became aware of someone standing over her, but it took a moment to calm herself and focus her eyes, but when she did, she began hurting all over again.
'Hi,' said Cora.
