Erstwhile

Beacon

Strike.

Jump.

Run.

Hide.

Over and over these commands routed their way through my body. I had to fight the Sith Lord, but I also had to find Ezra. Hurry. There wasn't any time to waste, yet as the duel intensified, I found my eyes more focused on the light saber in my hand than my surroundings.

Block, counter, stab--I knew I wouldn't be able to hold out forever. Even my fuzzy mind could see that. I was already at a disadvantage not only because of my injured wrist, but also because of my sluggish movements. 

"Give up," my Master growled, "Give up on Ezra. Give up on this petty rebellion of yours." Batting aside my parry, he held his weapon to my throat. "Submit."

Releasing a furious cry, I raised my hands and screwed my eyes shut. Darkness met me, but as I extended my awareness, I felt the Force flowing around me. It was in anything, but even as I grabbed a hold of it, I felt a life nearby as it grew gradually weaker. It's light was so faint, and my heart ached as I recognized its glow. Further still I extended my scope, and soon I vaguely picked up another familiar person, but from where I knew him I could not remember. His nearness and his emotions startled me, but I was also encouraged.

Help was coming.

Snapping open my eyes, I pushed the Force I'd gathered against the Sith Lord, yet for some reason, I was the one who flew backwards. A scream of pain escaped me as my body collided with ground, and I struggled to my feet only to collapse again. With panic on the rise, I frantically searched my surroundings, looking for that dark shadow, and when I did, my spirit finally broke.

I could not win.

I was going to die here.

Alone.

"Fine, you can go alone," Ezra's voice echoed, clearing a path through my terror, "But I'm coming with you."

A smile touched my lips, and I felt tears prick my eyelids as the sweet memory pushed the fog of my mind away. Even when I'd discouraged him from coming with me, Ezra had stowed away on the Phantom. Tucking himself in that storage closet, there had been no way for him to have known the trap we'd fall into and the deadly situation we'd face.

I could still sense Ezra's flickering life force, and I wept when I wondered who would meet whom first. Would it be me, having fallen at the hand of the Sith Lord? Or would Ezra succumb first, falling prey to some unknown calamity? I could sense his pain. Every moment, it grew stronger and glossed over Ezra's eyes like a mask.

"If only I could've been with him..." I murmured, eyeing my Master as he stood before me.

"Been with who?"

"Ezra."

"You're still hung up on the young Padawan, then?"

A chuckle broke past the tears clogging my throat. "You know, he wasn't even mine, and yet he protected me to the best of his abilities."

"You did the same for me, Snips."

His words startled me, and I looked up at him. "Seems like forever ago."

"It does," he agreed, "But this is where our crazy adventure ends. I'm so sorry." He readied his saber.

"I am too," I whispered, "I never should've left." Gasping, I saw the face of Anakin, not the shadowed killer. His kind face took my breath away, and my heart broke when I saw the tears gleaming on his cheeks.

"I missed you so much, Snips," he choked, raising his blade. "I still do." Interrupting us, both our eyes were drawn to the sky, for breaking through the green mist was what appeared to be a fantastic light show, but it wasn't meant to be. What could've been fireworks were explosions, and as we watched, a metal mass began to tumble through the sky, heading straight for us.

Biting back a scream, I clawed at the ground, trying to stand, and Anakin rushed to my side. "You must go," he said, helping, "Run."

"But what about you?"

Anakin smirked and rolled his eyes. "Surely you've figured out now that I'm not real? Just a fixation of your imagination, a hallucination?" His words stilled me, but I slowly nodded. "Good, now go, get away from here."

Although my body told me to run, lest I be crushed by the falling piece of metal, my heart refused to leave. "I'll never see you like this again, will I?"

Anakin dropped my gaze. "No, you won't." He forced one last smile. "I'm sorry that what I've said here means nothing."

"No," I said raising my chin, "They meant something to me."

"Always so defiant," he chuckled before his face grew serious once again. "Find Ezra and get off this planet."

"I will," I promised and began to stumble away.

"I'll see you around, Snips."

Looking back, I spotted him and forced myself to speak. "See you around, Sky-Guy."

***

When the slab of metal finally hit, I was hundreds of feet away, but I still saw the smoke as it billowed. Fixing my gaze forward, I blinked the tears away and noticed that other debris had found its way down into this planet's atmosphere. Specifically, to the huge Star Destroyer in the distance.

Being lit up by a ruthless blaze, the ship was like a beacon.

Hey!

Once again, we meet at the end of a chapter, and I sincerely hope you enjoyed it. Please comment and tell me what you thought! Also, if you liked it, please vote! What do you think will happen next?

These next few chapters are going to get a bit confusing to write, and along with school, the next chapter might not be out for a bit. I've also found that I've got to be in a Star Wars mood. I will truly try though. You guys are awesome and your comments make me smile, and at times, laugh my head off.

The song at the beginning is called Battle Cry by Imagine Dragons. I thought it was cool she kinda fit the chapter.

May the Force be with you all,

Julie :D