Chapter 23

Saya felt as if she couldn't breathe for an eternity. She couldn't open her eyes or mouth due to the rocks around her. She felt herself fall further and further until she almost passed out. But several moments later, she felt the rocks give way and she fell through and landed on hard dirt.

As soon as she was free and on the ground, she fought to catch her breath as everyone else fell through the ceiling or rocks and also began panting and coughing. Bayard quickly went to Saya and began licking her cheek. She smiled and patted his head while she got up.

Everyone stood, looking around. They were in a large underground tunnel system.

Poe looked around at everyone.

"We all good?"

Everyone nodded and Finn dusted himself off.

"Let's never do that again" He said.

Rey turned to look over at Poe.

"What were you trying to say before we went under the rocks?"

Poe turned red and Saya looked away.

"Nothing. Let's just go!"

He quickly brought out his flashlight while Saya and Rey ignited their lightsabers for some light in the dark tunnels. They walked together until they finally saw light up ahead. They rushed into large opening that seemed to be a large room. A small bed, a desk, and books were scattered all over the place.

"Someone was living here. Apparently a long time ago" Poe said, wiping dust off the table.

"Maybe this was where the Sith supporter lived?" Rey suggested.

"It's possible. But either way, whoever was here is long gone."

Saya looked down another tunnel and slowly made her way down it. Ahead, she could see light.

"Saya, where are you going?" Poe asked.

Something is down here. I can feel it.

She slowly walked down the tunnel with the others following her.

"Mistress Saya, what are you looking for?" C3-PO asked.

She didn't respond. After several minutes of walking, Saya was startled by what she saw on the ground. The bones of a long dead person laid on the ground. It looked as if it was trying to crawl away from the group.

"Oh goodness! This creature must have been gone for a very long time!" C3-PO exclaimed.

The group walked closer and Saya felt a chill go down her spine. She looked towards the head of the skeleton and saw something large in his hand. She knelt down and carefully removed the object out of its grip.

She held up a large black jagged dagger.

Saya turned to the group and held it up while they looked on in amazement. It felt cold and heavy in her hands.

This knife has power. I can feel it.

C3-PO walked forward and looked closely at the knife.

"Oh, there are words carved onto it. It the language of the Sith."

Everyone snapped their heads over to C3-PO.

"This has to be the key Lando was telling us about! The dead guy has to be the Sith sympathizer! 3PO, can you read it?" Poe asked with excitement.

"Certainly I can! I have hundreds of different languages in my programming."

Saya held the blade to C3-PO and he studied it for a moment, then stood tall and looked to the group.

There was an awkward silence.

"Well? What does it say?" Finn finally asked, not hiding his frustration.

"I'm sorry but my programming forbids me from speaking such language."

Everyone stared dumbfounded at C3-PO.

"Seriously!? The one time we need you to talk and you can't!?" Poe said, exasperated.

"I apologize but my program forbids me from translating anything in the Sith language."

So maybe we can find someone who knows the language? Or can fix his programming to translate it?

Everyone was silent until Poe looked up to everyone.

"I know someone who might be able to do it. They're on the planet Kajimi."

"Ok, so we need to go there immediately!" Rey said.

Everyone was in equal understanding. Saya placed the knife in her belt loop and they all continued following the light at the end of the long tunnel. They felt instant relief when the saw an exit.

Saya winced as she crawled out of the small opening and into the bright sun. Everyone quickly filed out while Chewie had to help C3-PO get out of the tunnel. Bayard was digging, trying to make the opening bigger for the droid to be dragged out of.

They all looked around and were nervous to see multiple black ships flying across the sky.

"The First Order probably has the Falcon. We need to find another ship and fast."

They all quickly looked around.

"There!" Finn said, pointing ahead.

They all looked to see an old ship on the other side of the canyon they exited.

"It's possible we can use it! We will save the Falcon later. But right now, we have to get out of here!"

They all quickly made a mad dash across the sand. Chewie had to carry C3-PO.

"Please do be careful!" He exclaimed as Chewie hauled him over his shoulder.

They finally reached the ship and Saya felt a sudden chill go down her spine. She stopped and Rey stopped and turned with Saya, both looking into the distance.

"Someone is coming. Someone very powerful. Can you feel it?"

Yes.

"You think it's Kylo Ren?"

Saya took a few steps forward, trying to concentrate while Bayard began to growl.

No… I know what his presence feels like. This is someone else.

Saya closed her eyes and concentrated. She knew this power. She felt it before. She was just too untrained at the time to realize it.

Her eyes popped open and her blood ran cold.

Torin. It's my brother Torin. He's coming.

Rey looked over to Saya and both girl withdrew their lightsabers again, instantly igniting them.

"How did he find us!?"

I don't know. And I doubt he will tell me how he did. Rey, this is my fight. Help them get the ship ready. I swear, I will run to you guys when it's ready to fly.

Rey took a breath but nodded in understanding.

"I'll come help you as soon as the ship is ready! Hold him off until then!"

Rey ran off and Saya looked down to Bayard. She held out the back knife and Bayard gripped it in his mouth.

I can handle him. Take this to Chewie to hold onto and protect them until were ready to leave. More soldiers will be coming soon!

Bayard reluctantly left with the knife and Saya walked right into the middle of the canyon. She held her lightsaber close as she could finally see a small ship speeding towards her.

Saya closed her eyes and breathed deeply. After a few moments, she felt the trembling of the earth and the roar of the ships engine.

Her eyes opened and Saya charged right at the ship. The Force told her what to do. At the last moment, Saya jumped into the air and was soaring over his ship. She swore she could see the look of astonishment and hatred in his eyes.

With a single swipe of her blade, Saya removed a portion of the wing of his ship and Torin was sent crashing into the sand.

She landed and turned towards the damaged ship. He wasn't dead. She knew it. There was still a battle to fight. She began to walk towards the wreckage when another chill went down her spine. Another great force of power was here. She was concentrating too hard on Torin to notice it.

Saya whipped around and saw Kylo Ren standing at the edge of the canyon. He was in the distance but she knew it was him.

Her heart raced and she began to panic. She couldn't take on Torin and Kylo by herself.

Rey! I need help!

Saya quickly turned and had to move quickly to dodge the swing of Torin's lightsaber. She was quick to swing back and the fight began. Torin was angry and between the swings of Saya's silver blade and his green one, she could see his handsome face contorted in rage.

She jumped back and the two faced off for the first time in a long time.

"Saya, you're coming with me!" He snarled.

Saya looked down to his hands and smirked. The hand she removed was replaced with a robotic one.

I guess we can't regrow limbs

He screamed in rage and lunged at her again. Saya easily dodged him and tried to get some distance between him and her to gain some control. But he wouldn't allow it.

"SAYA!"

Saya risked a glance to the side and saw Rey charging over with her lightsaber.

Not him! Kylo Ren is here!

Rey stopped and turned to see Kylo Ren slowly approaching them. He was still quite a distance away but he would be upon them soon enough.

Saya couldn't see what Rey was doing when Torin swung his blade down and Saya caught it in her cross guard.

His face was red and angry.

"Saya, you're coming with me!"

She glared back at him with the same anger.

You've said that before! And my answer is the same! I'm not going with you anywhere! You're not taking me back to the Healers Order just so you can rape me, you disgusting bastard!

Saya swiped her leg out and Torin fell into the sand.

"Yes. Use your anger"

Saya quickly looked up to see Kylo slowly walking towards her, his eyes locked onto her. He was speaking into her mind.

"Use your anger. It's the only way to win."

He distracted her long enough for Torin to rise back onto his feet and swing back at Saya.

"We aren't going to the temple. We have somewhere else to be!"

Saya wasn't interested in listening. She didn't care what his intensions were. She charged back at him, desperate to finish this battle.

"SAYA! REY!"

Saya was able to blast Torin back far enough to look over to the ship. Finn was outside, pointing into the sky.

"THEY HAVE CHEWIE AND BAYARD!"

Saya turned to see where they were pointing. Two large transport ships were being lifted up into the sky. Her heart was racing when Torin charged at her again.

"Saya, use your anger! KILL HIM!"

Her frustration and anger was taking over. She had enough. She couldn't even stop fighting him long enough to stop the ship from taking Chewie and Bayard.

The ground began to shake and every cell in her body was ignited in anger.

STOP! GET AWAY FROM ME! LEAVE ME ALONE! LET ME HELP THEM!

She felt the words echo around them. She hated Torin. Truly hated him.

"He's your brother! He's supposed to protect you! Not try and use you!"

With a blast, Torin was sent flying back several feet and Saya took another risk. She turned to see Rey standing near the ship holding her hand out. She was attempting to bring one of the ships back down to the ground. Saya then glanced over to Kylo to see his own hand outstretched, trying to keep it flying into the air.

Before she could try to help Rey, she heard a yell from behind her. Saya was just able to dodge his swing.

Again, her anger caused the earth to begin to shake. She had enough. Enough of Torin. Enough of fighting.

And enough of the entire galaxy…

Saya screamed and let anger take over. She finally saw a look of fear in Torin's eyes and she charged at him. She wanted him dead. She was now swinging to kill.

Torin was desperately trying to dodge her now.

"Saya stop! I'm your brother!"

His words angered her even more.

You're not my brother! Brothers are supposed to protect their family! YOU ARE NOTHING TO ME!

The ground was shaking and she felt more power well up inside her. But the power couldn't contain itself.

"SAYA, STOP!"

Saya turned and Rey was shaking. She knew she was sharing her power with Rey. But it was too much. A sudden blast of lightning soared out of Rey's outstretched hand blasted the transport ship in the sky.

Saya's eyes went wide and her heart stopped. The transport ship had been destroyed.

Rey fell to her knees in despair.

"CHEWIE!"

Saya's blood ran cold. Bayard was on the ship as well. Her guardian was gone. Chewie was gone.

And it was all her fault.

She turned to look at Torin who was staring at Saya in complete horror. She then turned to look at Kylo who was still standing in the distance.

He wasn't staring at her in horror. He was looking at her with much pride in his eyes.

"SAYA! REY! WE NEED TO GO, NOW!"

Finn snapped her back to reality and she finally noticed the ship was ready to take off. Saya turned to Torin and didn't hesitate. With the last bit of anger she had, she flipped her hand and he was sent soaring back several feet into the sand.

She didn't even bother looking to Kylo. She couldn't bear to meet his eyes at the moment. He wouldn't make it to the ship fast enough to stop her. She turned and ran into the ship with Rey. Both women had tears in their eyes.

Saya felt the ship lift into the sky and she and Rey took seats on the floor of the ship, silently crying.

Chewie was dead. Bayard was dead.

And it was all Saya's fault.