Star Wars: Destiny's Choice

Chapter 6

"Omega!" Hunter's voice reverberated through the chaos, cutting through the smoke-filled air.

"I'm over here," Omega's voice strained, choked with coughs, yet determined.

Hunter hurried over, his steps a mix of urgency and concern, to find Beka shielding Omega amidst the turmoil. The sight of his team in jeopardy sparked a surge of protective instinct within him.

"Everyone, there, now!" Orders echoed from all directions.

"Well, well, the Bad Batch," remarked Boba Fett, his presence looming behind several trooper recruiters. The Bad Batch stood poised for combat, while citizens were forced to their knees as hostages. Beka's crew, held at gunpoint on another side, faced imminent danger.

Beka's hearts sank as she watched the once-beautiful island of Pabu succumb to smoke, destruction, and flames. Before she could react, a trooper seized Omega.

"No!" Omega's protest pierced the tense air.

Beka attempted to intervene, but a blaster pressed against her face halted her. "Don't even try," the trooper warned. Helpless, she watched as the troopers tightened their grip on Omega, threatening her safety to ensure compliance from the Bad Batch, now subdued and cuffed.

"Now then," Boba Fett's voice cut through the tense atmosphere like a blade. "I've heard we have a Jedi here." Hunter and the Bad Batch lifted their heads, their gazes fixed on Boba. Anticipation crackled in Hunter's eyes, mirrored by the intensity of his team. Every eye in the vicinity, even those of the recruiters, homed in on Boba, awaiting his next move with bated breath.

Finis crept towards Beka, his movements stealthy within the chaos. "He hasn't seen you. Get to the ship and escape while you still can. I'll create a distraction," he whispered urgently, his voice barely audible over the turmoil.

"I won't leave you or anyone behind," Beka whispered firmly, her determination unwavering.

"Please, Beka," Finis pleaded once more, his voice tinged with urgency.

With a hesitant nod, Beka quietly backed away, slipping into the shadows unnoticed. Rather than heading straight to the ship, she surveyed her surroundings, her eyes scanning for a potential advantage. Spotting a metal pole in the wreckage, she retrieved it with purpose and made her way back, taking cover behind a nearby building. "Need to do this right," she thought, steeling herself for the impending confrontation.

As Finis cautiously approached the bounty hunter, his footsteps barely audible against the backdrop of chaos, he spoke in confident tones. "Good sir, you are a bounty hunter, are you not? I can offer you double what your contact is promising for this false rumor of a Jedi, if you agree to spare these innocent citizens," Finis proposed, his voice laced with desperation.

In response, Boba Fett's demeanor remained stoic. "Your credits mean nothing to me," he retorted coldly, his gaze unwavering. "But let's make you a prime example of why you shouldn't play knight." With a swift and decisive motion, Boba unleashed a single blast from his blaster, and Finis crumpled to the ground, his body collapsing to the ground.

Beka's breath caught in her throat, her hearts pounding with fear and disbelief. Tears welled up in her eyes as she emerged from her concealed position. With trembling hands, she removed her mask, revealing her identity to the menacing figure before her. "I'm over here, Boba!" she called out, her voice echoing through the tumultuous scene. "I am Rebekath Hardt, Jedi Master. You will release the locals; they have done nothing to provoke you or the empire, but you seem to harbor a personal vendetta against me," Beka declared, her voice steady despite the turmoil raging within her.

Hunter stood frozen in disbelief, his eyes widening with shock. For months, he had believed Beka was gone, presumed dead—the person he had once loved, now standing before him in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.