Dark and Light

Chapter 17

The interior of the Resistance base was sloppy with wires running over the ground or hanging off the ceiling while the technology used to display was spread out with some parts of it seemingly mixed with medical supplies. Predator knew the First Order hadn't given the rebels much time to set up their new base but this was portraying it as if the rebels had been at this location barely a few weeks. Of course, First Order spies were paid well, especially with their success. The Resistance 'traitor' had probably sent a signal the first chance he got for the precious credits; a meager earning to what she was given though.

As she went through the rag-tag excuse for a base she started planting bombs on unstable pillars carved from the earth around the half dug out halls and rooms. With the weight of the ground above everything under here would be crushed, which would include her too of course if she wasn't careful with the detonator on her belt.

"Predator, the rebel fleet has started a new form of attack." A Storm Trooper marched over from where some had started spreading out to eradicate any Resistance defense inside. "They are aiming at their own base."

So, they were willing to sacrifice all their current information to take out some soldiers? They were really desperate. Predator hadn't thought Poe would be that reckless. "Continue with the mission. The TIEs will keep them occupied until we are ready to destroy the base... are the leaders still inside?"

"We have them surrounded."

"Good. Give them a chance to be taken alive but if they cause trouble or refuse, General Hux has given permission to kill them." She walked off to continue planting her bombs, though it didn't take much longer with the small area.

The dirt above her trembled as a ship crashed into a weakening spot above her. Predator shuddered slightly, worried it might not hold long enough for her to get out. Part of her hoped it was Poe that had crashed. He might've been a friend once but after everything the war brought he had become just another enemy to be dealt with... not to mention dying in battle would probably be more to his liking than rotting in a cell. They might be enemies now but she still didn't want Poe to completely suffer if his fate was to die anyway.

"The bombs are in place, General." Predator reported in as she motioned for the Storm Troopers to exit.

"Excellent. Phasma already reported in that we have one of the leaders who surrendered. Some Storm Troopers have already escorted the Resistance general out so you are clear to destroy their base at your leisure."

Oh, she would. Once she was out of the blast radius this mound of earth would bury everything in and around it. Sure, they would lose some troops but they were easy to replace and a casualty Phasma had been willing to make with their numbers. The Resistance would lose everything and nearly everyone left.

Blaster shots hit the ground beside her and Predator scowled, turning to see Finn and her father's Wookie coming from a side entrance- in reality it was just a hole of collapsing dirt from where a ship had crashed into it but a way of entry none the less. The Storm Troopers started firing back immediately and she took the opportunity to duck around a corner and take out her own blaster. So close to getting out... she was not about to be shot and trapped in here.

"We got them now, Chewie!" Finn's voice rang out and there were several thumps on the ground as the Storm Troopers fell.

Predator glared at them from under her helmet and fired her own weapon, missing as another shudder went through the walls and ceiling but managing to wound the ex-Storm Trooper with her second shot. More of the white armored soldiers arrived, most likely backup called in by the fallen Storm Troopers.

"Close in on them in a circle. Don't give them a way out!" Predator stalked forward from the safety of the corner she'd been hiding behind as the group blasted the rebels.

Once one round was breaking a second wave would start shooting. It was all the two rebels could do to duck, though they were getting good at their pattern of ducking and retaliating. A blast nearly skimmed her neck but Predator shifted just in time to avoid it before the ground caved in above them. Several Storm Troopers died immediately as they were crushed while others ran for it along with Finn and Chewie. She followed after their lead; they would die eventually even if it wouldn't be today. Several more ships crashed down and Predator coughed as the dust rose up around her, slipping through the filter in her helmet.

A rock slammed down in front of her, killing another Storm Trooper, and bringing up more dust to cloud her vision. Predator was near the exit though, she had been when the two had tried killing her and she had been running for it. In fact, it was visible to her, hazy and nearly camouflaged but still in reach. A groaning noise came from above her before turning into a metallic screech as the ship above crashed down through the hole it had created. Her world became filled with darkness.

"...Predator, Predator, report!" A voice was calling to her. "Predator, status, now!"

She blinked and wiped the mud off her visor before coughing and looking at her surroundings. The ship was beside her, keeping dirt from burying her completely with its wing but... something wasn't right. She couldn't be that lucky right? Why couldn't she feel anything?

"Status!" The now annoyed voice came again.

Predator answered finally. "General Hux, I'm... I'm trapped. I'm still in the base but it isn't completely buried yet like we planned."

"Are you alright? Get out." Was sentiment breaking through his façade of cool composure?

She tried moving only to look down with sick realization that her lower body was not just buried by the earth but must've been broken when the ship fell. "...I-I can't."

"The Storm Troopers can't reach you from the outside, you'll have to find a way to at least partially dig or climb out before they can help."

"N-no... that's... I can't move." Predator could feel panic rising up in her chest, causing her breath to become quick and shallow as the shock flooded over her. "My... my spine. I-I can't move my legs..."

"...Maybe Ren could try using the Force...?" His suggestion lacked conviction and Predator could tell he was grinding the gears in his mind, desperate to pull out any form of real solution.

"Foxy... it's fine. Ren wouldn't do that. Not to save me. Not when the plan would still be completed without saving my life." She could tell her breaths were starting to rattle and wheeze from the past smoke damage and the dust irritating it. "Especially not when the ship down here could blow us both up if he were to move it away to reach me. T-think about what Supreme Leader Snoke would do... if t-that ha-ppened."

The coughing fit she'd anticipated hit and she didn't register Hux's response. Not that it mattered. The First Order had destroyed the person she had once been and now she was completely loyal to them. They had ruined her and given her a way to find whom she was meant to be... which meant there was one last act she could still do to finish the war... the war she had never wanted to be a part of in the first place.

"General, g-good luck... w-with be-coming emperor..." Predator pulled out the detonator from her belt as more earth continued to slowly crumbled down from above. "I know... y-you can do it... My Cunning Fox."

There was a long silence on the other end before he spoke again. "The First Order will not let your sacrifice be wasted. We've won and will not be challenged again with the actions you're taking to destroy their information on our weaknesses and plans... Goodbye... Zheth Crogh... Precious Predator."

She smirked briefly at the last line. So out of place to the rest of Hux's formal words. There wasn't time to waste though. The conversation had been dragging on. Any survivors could scavenge information if they got out of the area. Predator didn't hesitate to press the detonator. It was always going to end like this in one form or another... she had accepted that long ago.  

This isn't over yet! Be on the lookout for the epilogue!

Until then, I hope you have enjoyed the story so far and may the force always be with you!