Conflict And Balance [Star Wars AU]

Chapter 9

Drops of sweat trickled on their skin as they frantically wandered around, avoiding stormtroopers and jawas for the sake of the droids. Their facial muscles contracted into frowns of fear and uncertainty. They were outnumbered, overpowered and at a huge disadvantage. The suns' heat and the coarse sand only added to their problems.

They were the only ones left; two out of fifty and they must get the droids out of the planet, that was their number one priority. They paled as more and more troopers were stationed in the city. When a trooper was approaching them, the younger rebel ducked to a corner, the stormtrooper passing by her.

The veteran rebel immediately went to her. The youngster had been very weak and anxious, that she occasionally fainted once or twice; he had no time to deal with it again. The youth collapsed there, out of breath and her body shook convulsively.

The pressure of the galaxy depending on her squeezed her every remaining sanity. If they lost, terrible consequences would happen, and a huge responsibility would be kept upon them. They were at a great loss and the risk they put themselves in increased with each minute passing by, and she couldn't take it anymore.

"I can't d...do this anymore, Manik. I want to leave. I want to believe that this is some nightmare I can wake up from," she said, running her hand through her greying hair and clenching it. The droids walked/rolled towards them, the astromech beeping words of impatience.

The veteran ignored them and sat down next to her, consoling her. She was tensed, he knew that. She had been trembling and weak ever since Scarrif. He would not blame her. It was the teenager's first experience in war.

"This is hopeless," she cried, covering her face as she sobbed, "I don't even know if we will get out of here alive. I...I want to see my family happy... and free from this plague that is Empire...I...I...I know it all de...depends on...us but I don't want to end up like Rogue One. Manik, I want to have a purpose...I don't wanna die like this."

Her warm brown eyes were red and moist and her voice was growing hoarse. It pained him to see the child in such a vulnerable state. It reminded him of his daughter back home, with a similar expression when he left her which morphed into one of hate. He shurgged the feeling away, wanting to remain optimistic but also realistic.

The veteran patted her back and said, "You do have a purpose. Listen, kid, we are a part of the Rebellion, fighting for the right cause. We must fight against the evil Empire to restore the Republic, but each of us must sacrifice ourselves. I know what you must be feeling now, hopeless, fearful but there is always hope if we can get past this feeling of dread. I have always faced overwhelming odds, but I get past it by this thought. If we have the determination, we can get past this one too."

He held out his hand, calling her to stand up. She stared at his hand and looked back at him. Her expression was emotionless, the girl had already given up. "How? How is there hope?" She snapped.

"Well, for one..." He pointed at a building to the left of the street, species of all kinds of creatures entered it and she saw a great deal of speeders parked nearby.

"What's in the cantina?" She asked him in a soft husky voice, caused by the crying.

"That is the Mos Eisley Cantina, a hive of scum and villainy. Many great star pilots are found here," he explained, "Watch the droids, whilst I go and find someone. How many credits do you have?"

"Not much, but maybe enough," she said and handed him a bag of all her money. She was willing to give away all she had to get out of this dust ball. Her lips curved slightly, hearing the hopes that a spacepilot might perhaps take them but her gut was still uneasy.