Purge (Star Wars)

The Mantis

He's not a fool, at least. The Purge Trooper had to admit to herself as she and the Jedi proceeded cautiously through the last maintenance tunnel leading out of the base and into the open air. When she had made her offer to the Jedi a part of her had not expected him to accept, so she was both surprised and suspicious when he did and wondered how long could someone so trusting possibly survive against the Empire. However, as they made their way out of the mines her doubt was assuaged, for at no point did he let her get behind him or out of his view and he stayed beyond the range of her staff during combat. That earned him some of her respect, but she did not yet know what to expect from a Jedi. An Inquisitor might feign cooperation for a while, mostly for their own entertainment, only to attack unexpectedly.

How different are the Jedi from Inquisitors? She wondered as they cut down another platoon of stormtroopers.

Now, they approach the last maintenance crawlway leading out of the base and she enters in her codes to release the locking mechanism on the hatch. The hatch pops open, revealing a path only wide enough to admit one person at a time. The Jedi motions for her to lead but still has the lightsaber in his grasp, deactivated but ready. If I lead, there is nothing to stop him from attacking me from behind. She thinks, considering the risk. The Inquisitors drip with malice and deceit, it radiates from them in waves, but at no point has she felt that coming from the Jedi; only a sense of caution and curiosity. I suppose if I am ever to earn his trust I will have to offer some myself. She turns back to the tunnel and latches her staff to the fastener on her back alongside her DC-15LE then crawls inside, Besides, what's the worst that could happen? I could die and would that be so bad?

The tunnel is only about ten meters long but the passage seems to stretch on for ages. Beads of condensation slid down to slick, mossy walls or dripped from the low ceiling and added themselves to the thin stream of water running beneath her feet. She readies herself and waits for the strike, for the burning of the blade to plunge into her when the Jedi inevitably decides she has outlived her usefulness. Her codes helped him get out of the mines but wouldn't it be foolish of him to actually bring her back to his ship? Would it not be wise for him to use her access codes then discard her?

After what feels like an eternity waiting, she finally reaches the end of the tunnel and steps out into the open air. The Jedi steps out behind her and points up the valley, "My ship is that way. It's not far."

PT-152 removes her helmet and stares at him, bewildered.

"What's wrong?" he asks, surprised by the bewildered look on her face.

"I thought you would kill me by now."

"Kill you? Why would I do that?"

"Why wouldn't you?" She asks. "You're out of the mine. I'm a risk and you would bring me to your home?"

"That was the deal wasn't it?" he gestures matter-of-factly with his hands.

"An Inquisitor would kill me."

"I'm not an Inquisitor."

"Clearly," she responds, looking him over suspiciously.

Cal smiles and tilts his head in the direction of the ship, "Come on."

She puts her helmet back on and the Jedi and the Purge Trooper rush across the valley. Covered in morning dew, the grass appears more vivid than normal, almost glowing. Their boots knock the water off the grass as they run, leaving a subtle trail in their wake. The morning light brightens the valley as they turn into a nearby rocky ravine where the light of the day cannot yet reach. At the far end and out of view of the Imperial guard towers awaits the Jedi's ship, shaped like the head of a spear but with a fin as tall as the ship is long reaching up into the sky. The silver paneling still shimmers despite the wear of time and the dim light of the gorge. Remnants of old blue and yellow paint still cling to the sides of the ship and up the fin.