Shadow Desires

Chapter 12

The next morning, I went to the mess hall for breakfast. I grabbed a tray of food and sat down at an empty table, hoping for a moment of quiet. I had barely taken a bite when Elrik, one of the TIE fighter pilots, joined me. He set his tray down across from me, giving me a nod in greeting.

"Morning," he said before diving straight into the conversation. "The power system needs to be upgraded in the TIE Fighters."

I just nodded, still waking up, but I couldn't help thinking about the implications. More power consumption meant more strain on our already stretched resources. I glanced at Elrik, who seemed deep in thought, his brow furrowed as he took a bite of his food.

"Maybe we could optimize the energy output," I countered, trying to engage. "Reroute some of the auxiliary power during combat to handle the extra load. Or even integrate a hybrid power solution—combine System A's efficiency with the advanced features of System B. It might not be perfect, but it could work."

Elrik paused, considering my words. He nodded slowly, a thoughtful look crossing his face.

"That... might actually work. We could also look at reducing the power drain on non-essential systems when the TIE is in combat mode. I'll run some simulations later."

I gave him a small smile. "Let me know if you need an extra set of eyes."

He grinned, the tension from before lifting slightly.

"Appreciate it. We need all the help we can get if we want to stay ahead of the Resistance."

I nodded, but my mind drifted again to the previous day—the unexpected encounter and Kylo Ren's fury.

"Did you see the Jedi?" Elrik asked suddenly, breaking my train of thought.

I paused for a moment, my fork halfway to my mouth, before nodding.

"I saw him. He was powerful. We need to be careful, hoping there will be no attack anytime soon," I said, taking a bite of my salad.

Elrik leaned in slightly, his voice lowered. "They say Jedi can read minds, you know. And that they can sense your emotions—fear, anger, all of it. I wonder how anyone can stand a chance against that."

I swallowed, the memory of the Jedi's green lightsaber flashing in my mind.

"That's why we have to stay focused. If we let fear take over, we're already at a disadvantage. Kylo Ren is powerful too, but... it's different. The Jedi—he fought like he was defending something. Ren fights like he's trying to prove something."

Elrik nodded, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Maybe that's the difference. One fights for a cause, the other for power. But still, if that Jedi comes back, we need to be ready. I don't think the First Order can afford another failure."

I nodded in agreement. "You're right. We need to make sure those TIE Fighters are ready, no matter what it takes. If the Jedi returns, we'll be ready for him."