Predator and Prey

Chapter 16

The halls swarmed with clumps of Storm Troopers as they searched, which Zheth found highly amusing considering their groupings would easily allow a smart prisoner to dodge them... but they wouldn't stop her. She didn't have a search pattern, she just followed her gut or logical guesses, which was why she was currently slipping through the less used halls and through the shadows as she made her way to the hall that would split into two paths, one would go to the landing bay while the other would lead to a back exit. Both choice would be a good place to escape... but which one would the scavenger choose?

She paused and stared between the two pathways before turning away from the landing bay, it would be over run with Storm Troopers by now, the scavenger girl wouldn't be stupid enough to go that way unless she was asking for a death wish. Either way, the girl would be dead soon. Zheth paused as she heard a scuffling sound, so faint it was barely noticeable, and started running silently towards it. Her blaster was in hand as she slowed to a stop and started stalking through the shadows once more, the sound was getting louder but when she glanced out where it was coming from she found it empty. Zheth crept closer to the edge of the space where a deep shaft would allow one to fall who knew where, probably the planet's core. Still, she saw nothing.

She backed away and saw flashes of movements as people moved around in places above her. Zheth pressed her communicator. "Phasma, Phasma, come in. We have more than just the scavenger on the loose."

There was only static... that couldn't be good. Zheth retreated a bit into the shadows as she moved towards the bridge, if she walked out on it she'd be wide open to take blaster fire, but she needed to get across. She stood as still as a statue as she searched once more for movement, there was a chance she could shoot them from where she was if she could spot them. White caught her eye however and she turned her head to see the Storm Troopers had arrived and started searching the different levels before jumping slightly as Kylo Ren spun her around.

"They're here, keep looking." He ordered before continuing his own search.

She started moving again, staying on her level and making her way closer to the bridge until she saw a red flash of light. Zheth stopped and walked deeper into the crevice it had come from... her eyes widened under her helmet as she saw the bomb. How many were already planted? They were remote detonated by the design of them and if there were enough already spread throughout the building, well, it could bring the place down in a matter of seconds!

"Kylo!" Zheth hissed his name urgently, hoping he was close enough to hear her, but upon walking back out along the pathway found him on the bridge with her father.

She started rushing towards them; she couldn't let Kylo Ren kill her father, not until she had her answers! Zheth saw the tall man take his helmet off and reply to something Han had said but didn't slow her step, especially not when he then proceeded to take out his lightsaber. Her gaze caught Finn and the scavenger girl staring down at the scene along with the Storm Troopers, as though they were waiting for an order to move, why weren't they helping her father?

Zheth stepped out onto the bridge, not liking the fact there weren't any sides on it, and stopped near the center a few steps from Kylo. "Lord Ren, they have bombs planted, we need to leave."

His dark gaze turned to face her; almost as if he was faintly surprised she was there. "I will not leave yet... Not until I finish this!"

At that moment he activated his lightsaber. Zheth dropped her blaster and rammed into him, causing the blade to deviate from its course, though Han still gave a shout of agony. A heavy kick made her fall back and Zheth shuddered as Kylo Ren got back up and rounded on her, his murderous crimson lightsaber crackling in his hand. She inched towards her blaster, a bad feeling rising in the pit of her heart as fear tried to overwhelm her mind... She couldn't have a panic attack now, especially over this giant pit!