Trooper

Suppression

Outer Rim: 12 BBY
"Profundity"
Jess

Ryn's scream sliced through the comm, then faded to static. Jess gripped the edge of the holotable, fear threatening to paralyze him. "There's a ship emerging from hyperspace," someone called.

Jess looked to the viewport as Feylin's fighter dropped out. "Where's Ryn?" She exclaimed. "She was right behind me."

"Elide, Mirk, Feylin, are you all right?" Arwen asked, leaning over the comm.

"We're fine," Mirk replied.

"Dock with the Profundity and let Arwen look you over here," Lieutenant Reese said. their ships began moving towards the cruiser.

"Captain Alera, do you read us?" Admiral Raddus asked. There was no reply.

Jess bit his lip, waiting. Time seemed to drag on. "There's another ship," the officer called again.

Jess staggered back as Ryn's ship appeared before them. Sparks and smoke surrounded it. The engines were in flames. "Bring our tractor beam online and get her on the ship!" Reese shouted.

Jess bolted from the command center. He heard Arwen call after him. Azie let out a shrieking whistle and rolled on behind him. No, no, no. His thoughts were filled with panic. Please, not like my dream. He burst into the hangar as the other three X-wings touched down.

The deck crew was waiting while the tractor beam drew Ryn closer. Feylin leaped out of her ship and crashed to her knees, spying Ryn's ship. Elide and Mirk made their way over to her. Jess skidded to a stop as Ryn's ship touched down inside the hangar.

He could vaguely make out her form inside the cockpit. Already, the team was cutting through the metal. Footsteps sounded behind him. Arwen placed a hand on his shoulder. Two people pulled Ryn out of the ship and lowered her onto a hover. Jess shrugged Arwen away and ran to her.

Bloody burns covered her arms, neck, and lekku. Blood dribbled from her nose and mouth. Jess grabbed her limp hand, keeping up with the hover as they started towards a lift. He couldn't think through the fog of terror that filled his mind.

Arwen joined them and pulled Jess away. "Let us handle it. You'll only get in the way," she said softly.

Jess scrubbed at his face, trying to hold back tears. "Don't let her die," he rasped.

"I'll do my best." Arwen hugged him briefly, then chased after the others.

Feylin and Azie joined him shortly. Tears dripped down Feylin's cheeks. "It's my fault. I should have stayed with her."

Jess didn't reply, but wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Feylin leaned into him, trying to hold back tears. "I've got to go," he said at last. "Azie, take her back to the ship."

Feylin let go and wiped her eyes. Azie let one of his pronged appendages reach towards Fey. She smiled weakly and took it as though it were a hand.

Jess stumbled back towards the command center. People moved out of his way, murmuring as he went past. He ignored their whispers. Admiral Raddus and Lieutenant Reese were talking quietly when he arrived.

"I don't understand. You said they would be gone. Did they find the distress signal and come back?" Reese asked as Jess joined them.

"No, I've got a different theory." He pulled up a hologram of the Star Destroyer. Jess let out a shuddering breath and rubbed his forehead. "I need this Destroyer's call sign."

An officer nodded and leaned over his station. After a few moments, he looked up again. "It's the Oppressor."

    Jess gripped the edges of the holotable and screwed his eyes shut. "I should've known."