Shadow of the Saber

Part 3: Storm-Torn Chaos

Sand hissed against the viewport like a thousand angry serpents. Through the growing storm, Mara could barely make out the massive dunes rising ahead—ancient waves frozen in mid-crash, waiting to swallow them whole. The Deep Dune Sea lived up to its name.

"Impressive work with the charges." Lumiya's voice echoed through the ship's comm system. "But predictable. You always did prefer to work with systems rather than people."

A new explosion ripped through the port side—not from the redirected charges, but from something else. Something worse. The deck lurched violently.

"Did you really think those were my only surprises?" Lumiya laughed. "Secondary charges, my dear. On a completely isolated circuit. And unlike the first set, these aren't designed for control. Just destruction."

Through the Force, Mara felt the ship's structural integrity failing. Worse, she felt the fear radiating from the lower decks. Dozens of lives, burning bright with terror.

"Your choice is simple," Lumiya continued. "The passengers are being moved to the observation deck. Exposed. Vulnerable. You can try to save them, or you can try to stop me. But you can't do both."

Watch me, Mara thought. But the situation was deteriorating faster than she could counter. Another explosion sent tremors through the hull. Warning klaxons screamed about multiple breaches.

She reached the observation deck's security station in time to see Ambassador Koth addressing the gathered passengers. His diplomatic uniform was immaculate, his manner perfectly calm as he explained that they were all being held for "suspected New Republic violations."

"Cooperation is advised," he was saying. "We are in contact with local authorities who will escort us to a secure facility." The lie rolled off his tongue with practiced ease.

Mara's fingers flew across the security console. The system was locked down tight, but there were always weaknesses. Always...there. A subprocessor controlling the deck's atmospheric shields. If she could—

Movement caught her eye. A shimmer in the air near the hull. Something detaching, reorienting. A ship, its stealth field failing in the growing storm. Lumiya's escape route.

The console chimed. Local channel, heavily encrypted. Her pulse quickened until she decoded the first words: "Mos Eisley Control to Desert's Grace. You have diverted from your registered flight path. Please respond."

Hope flared. If she could just—

"Terminate that transmission." Lumiya's lightwhip cracked inches from the console, melting circuits. "Now."

Mara dove aside as energy filaments tore through the air where she'd stood. No more hiding. No more playing subtle. Her lightsaber ignited with a snap-hiss, its blue blade casting sharp shadows.

"Finally." Lumiya stalked forward, cybernetic limbs whirring. "The real you."

The observation deck erupted in chaos. Passengers screamed. Koth's voice rose above them: "Contain them! Don't let them—"

His words cut off as Mara gestured. The Force sent him stumbling back into the crowd. But the moment's distraction cost her. Lumiya's lightwhip coiled around her saber blade, trying to tear it free.

"You're good." Lumiya's mask twisted in what might have been a smile. "But you lack conviction. Always torn between what you were and what he wants you to be."

The storm outside intensified. Sand particles breached the failing hull, filling the air with stinging clouds. Through it all, Mara caught glimpses of Koth organizing Lumiya's troops, moving passengers toward the areas of greatest structural damage.