Star Wars Short Stories

Choose - Finn

They will kill you if you don't kill them first.

Your first responsibility is to the First Order, always.

Slight turbulence caused me to stumble every so often in the dark transporter, and I could hear the armor of my comrades shifting and quietly clacking together whenever we hit a bump. No one spoke, that was the rules.

Keep your focus on the task at hand.

Memories of training simulations and Phasma's orders raced through my head as I tried to focus.

"FN-2187, your actions in training are highly commendable, we are pleased with your results. However, why do you continue to rescue your comrade from danger?"

"Well, in the moment... I felt it was the right thing to do Captain."

"He is a weak link and a distraction. You put the mission at risk every time you put FN- 1374 first."

"I... understand. It won't happen again."

"Adequate."

The cabin light flickered before settling into a constant fluorescent glow, and the ship suddenly jarred us, letting us know we'd landed on Jakku. The ramp lowered and the troops in front of me ran into the fray, a few were struck by blasts from the villagers before they had a chance to react. Once I stepped onto the shifting surface of the sandy planet, the villagers were already giving up, this fight was over before it started. Only a few still fired blasters into the oncoming troopers. My throat tightened as I aimed at one of those with a blaster, but he was shot down by another trooper and let out a cry of pain as he fell back onto the sand.

Thankfully, it appeared I wouldn't have to actually kill anyone on my first mission, so I ran over to help round up the villagers who had surrendered. I headed toward FN-1374 who was lingering on the outskirts of the battle when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a blue flash and stumbled back as it hit him in the abdomen.

No.

My chest tightened as the shot was quickly retaliated with a burst of red light. All of the screams and blaster fire faded out around me as my ears filled with a high pitch ringing. I ran toward my friend and set my blaster next to him, grabbing at his helmet to try and remove it. Before I could, he stopped me by holding out a bloodied hand. Thudding filled my ears with the ringing as my heart pounded in my chest. He reached towards me with the same hand which suspended briefly before falling lifelessly, smearing down the side of my helmet.

I couldn't breathe. My head felt dizzy as I stood and backed away from FN-1374 and the ringing faded to the point where I couldn't hear anything. All I could see was blood, and it terrified me.

"A decision, you must now make. Belong to the dark side... you do not."

"Stay there." I was thrown back into the present at the troopers order and the strange voice faded from my thoughts, confusing me further. The villagers were all in one spot now and the shooting had ceased. A ship landed behind me and I immediately knew from the figure that stepped out that it was Kylo Ren. I kept my blaster lowered, knowing that the villagers were no longer a threat. They had no weapons, they just looked scarred.

Our leader questioned an old man brought out from one of the huts and my vision blurred with red when he cut the man down. I felt my stomach drop as he stopped a shot in mid-air from a fighter that was soon brought to his knees in front of Kylo and questioned. My head continued pounding as I replayed the voice that told me to make a choice, something I'd never been offered before, or even realized I had. Stormtroopers don't make decisions, they follow orders.

Before I knew what was happening, the man, a resistance fighter, was being led toward the ship and everyone around me raised their blasters. Another order rang in the back of my head. They're going to murder them in cold blood. I cringed under my helmet as I raised my blaster to follow orders. My only responsibility.

I held my breath. My only responsibility, and I couldn't bring myself to do it. Bile rose in my throat as I lowered my blaster and the screams of unarmed villagers rang out. And then there was nothing.

Flames rose from the buildings as they were doused with fire and I turned to watch Kylo Ren, power radiating off of him as he strode back to the ship. This isn't right.

In that moment, I made my decision. I'm leaving.

Kylo halted and turned only his head, staring directly at me. I felt frozen in place under his gaze despite the heat that seeped through my armor from the village that would soon be nothing but ash. He finally took his attention off of me and headed back to the ships and I could breathe again.

I've got to get out.