Saved by the Dark

Pt. 49

Without question, a ship along with a unit of one hundred troops were boarded on a shuttle. Aalya and Phasma boarded after all were on. The Generals were trying to make excuses, but it has been long enough!

There was word that Kylo went to Canto Bright to calm some tension there and to open a bigger First Order trading routes to them. The problem is, the Resistance resides there too sometimes. They may have captured him or did something. Aalya hoped not! It was a long trip, so the hyperdrive was triggered and they went into hyperspace.

Even in hyperspace, the trip was long. Aalya paced constantly and was antsy. She still couldn't get through to Kylo through the force. Aalya plopped down in one of the captains seats. Her eye's got misty as she placed her elbows on the control board and hid her face in her hands. Tears then started to flow with tiny sobs. Clearly, Aalya was frustrated AND upset.

A few hours later, the ship came out of hyperspace. It then started its decent to the planet. Aalya tried one last time through tears to try and reach Kylo. Nothing. She slammed back in her chair wiping her tear soaked eye's.

She stood up as they entered the atmosphere and went to Phasma to ready her troops. The plan was to land in the same field and brush Kylo had.

Before land, Kylo's black shuttle could clearly be seen. Their ship landed and the bottom door slowly opened. Stormtroopers slowly walked out with their blaster's armed and ready. A few more followed behind them and met them where they had stopped. There was nothing, just a field, trees, and a breeze.

Everyone had left the shuttle, but the Stormtroopers surrounded them in case of an ambush. They slowly walked towards the abandoned shuttle. When they reached the back opening, it was clear this was a raid. The captain and some servants were slaughtered on the loading ramp. Phasma ordered troops to survey the rest of the outside as they would inside.

Aalya was the first one to enter. There was blood and corpses everywhere, but no Kylo. She had some relief there. As she walked on, she seen a chair with a blaster hole through it and lightsaber burns on the wall and floor. As she looked to her left, there was something on the ground. It was in pieces as she walked closer. She got on her knees and picked up a piece, then slowly turned to address them. ''Someone has him,'' she said holding a piece of Kylo's broken mask.

Luckily, some of the control panel still worked. One of the troopers tapped into it and a skipping and bleak hologram showed up and where the destination was. The location was written down, now they just had to find it.

With the destination in hand, they decided to go into the nearest town. They found out that there are indeed some gangs in the area along with some pirates. This was NOT going to be easy!

The walk into town was erie. A pile of buildings seem abandoned along with the streets. Since the road through the town was a dirt one, Aalya was hoping to see some footprints or something. There were only a few vendors on all of the streets, perhaps they seen something.

Phasma ordered the Stormtroopers to search the area while a few others did the questioning. A few hours passed and they had gotten no where. Aaliyah tried to reach Kylo again through the force, but failed again. She started to break down again and sat in the middle. Some of the search party were ''uncomfortable'' with these emotional outbursts and so some shied away.

Aalya finally stood up again and continued to search. She knew she had to stop thinking all these negative thoughts. As most continued to scan the street, Aalya's search led her down an alley full of junk. She  walked all the way down and found nothing. Her force sense picked up that she was being followed. As the perpetrator was two steps away, she flung around with an ignited lightsaber.

It was just some middle aged man cowering at her feet. ''Please, don't strike!'' he begged. Aalya sensed he was no threat, so she withdrew her blade and helped the man stand up. ''You don't happen to have ten credits on ya?'' he asked. Aalya searched her pocket's and found some. Not like she was going to use them anytime soon. As she handed them over, the man asked if she was First Order. Aalya nodded. The man said that he had some information that might be useful.

He explained to her that a huge gang have taken over and run the town. Everyone and everything is bankrupt or near bankruptcy because of this gang's greed. ''A few days ago, I saw them dragging a person in dark attire into their headquarters,'' he finished. Aalya quickly placed her hands on his shoulders. ''Tell me, show me where this is and those ten credits will turn into ten thousand!'' Aalya exclaimed.

The man was obviously stunned and agreed to it. They both emerged from the alley way and walked up to Phasma. ''Call in all of the troops, we have a good tip,'' Aalya said. Phasma nodded and did so over the radio within her helmet. Since the town wasn't big, it didn't take long for them to regroup. ''We have a lead,'' Aalya announced. She then continued,'' This man is going to lead us co to the Supreme Leader that was captured by the local gang, so be prepared for hostilities.'' Phasma then chimed in. ''Set your blasters from stun to kill,'' she ordered.

After, Aalya asked the man to ''lead the way.'' He did so as he nervously walked through the Stormtroopers and down the road. They all started to follow. Aalya hoped to the gods that this was a real lead and not a trick.

The man suddenly stopped as they reached a corner. Aalya went up to see what the matter was. ''At the end, down the street, is their headquarters. They will fire at anyone with a weapon,'' he explained. Aalya peered around the corner to have a look. He was not lying, the ground and rooftop had a good amount of armed gang members.