Chapter 3

Sabine led Leia and Zeb to the landing platform. There stood a Corellian Engineering Corporation VCX series freighter with a small auxiliary fighter attached seamlessly in the top. Its exterior was beaten up and could use detailing with carbon stains and impact dents scattered overall.

"Not much to look at," Leia said.

"Don't judge," Zeb replied. "That's the Ghost. It fought for the rebels before the battle of Yavin."

Leia raised her eyebrows.

Just then, the high scream of TIE fighters were heard overhead. They were flying in the low cloud cover and could not be seen.

"I don't like that sound," Zeb yelled, gripping his rifle and shouldering it to defend; even though he knew it would be utterly useless against TIEs. "We need to get on board."

Then the sound of blaster fire ricocheted from behind them in the platform entry.

"I don't like the sound of that either." He yelled again.

They all ran to the ship, Zeb firing at the platform door as the five knights exited, Kylo Ren not with them. Just as before, the blaster fire rebounded from the deadly blades.

Jax fired up his jetpack and flew over them, as a raptor seeking its prey. He fired down on an angle, a lightsaber in one hand and a blaster in the other. The brute charged, a beast of a man, his feet pounding the ground as he charged the open door of the Ghost.

Sabine was in first followed by the others. "Close the door and get us out of here now, Cap!"

"I'm on it." A man's voice echoed from the front of the ship. "Get on the guns! We're going to be fighting our way out."

The bay door closed and a loud blow hit the closed door, shaking the ship walls and the hearts of those inside. Again and again, the brute slammed his electro-knuckles against the door. The door warped inward with each hit; but the Ghost, its engines roaring, lifted off out of his reach.

"Stay here and buckle up, General," Sabine said to Leia. "This may be a rough ride."

Leia sat down and strapped in. Sabine and Zeb, with swift and mindless routine, left Leia to man the guns.

The Ghost rose into the clouds, climbing higher and higher to exit the atmosphere. Upon exiting the clouds, there to meet them were five patrolling TIE fighters in the sector. It wasn't long before they changed vectors to intersect with the Ghost.

"What are you waiting for?" shouted the pilot. "Start firing!"

Sabine and Zeb opened up on the closest TIEs. Sabine took one out right away. She wiped the dark hair from her forehead after the strike. The four others were in pursuit and were faster than their freighter. The TIE fighters bombarded the Ghost with laser blasts, landing a few hits to the shields. The Ghost continued to climb, veering left and right to avoid fire. Zeb hit one more TIE as they were getting closer, the TIEs carcass falling into the soft blanket of clouds. However, they took two more hits which jolted the ship hard to the starboard.

"We just need to get out of the atmosphere to hit light speed." the pilot yelled. "Just keep them from hitting us again."

"Easier said than done," Zeb shouted back.

The pilot seeing them right on his heels, barrel rolled to the port then made a sharp starboard turn to come at two of them from the side. Sabine fired as the near TIE went down in flames. The other turned hard to its port to race head on at the Ghost, firing madly. The Ghost corkscrewed through the blasts as both Zeb and Sabine fired straight ahead. The TIE exploded into pieces.

Veering up the Ghost sped toward the vacuum of space, one TIE fighter still in pursuit. Laser blasts flew past barely missing.

"We can't take another hit!" Zeb yelled out.

"I know. We're almost there," the pilot returned.

The sky darkened. A blast hit the dorsal ball turret. Sabine cursed, "There goes our only rear-firing gun!"

"Almost there." The pilot sounded calm and unconcerned about the peril. The sky turned black and stars appeared. "Got it. Hold on!"

There before them floating slightly to the right was the star destroyer. They only caught a brief glimpse of it before disappearing into hyperspace.

….

The knights returned to Kylo Ren who was with Prime Minister Lukaro in a council room. The prime minister was flanked by two clone guards, one on each side, the tension rested thick in the room.

"She escaped on the freighter," said the man with the hooded helmet.

Though you could not see his face behind his mask, it was evident that Kylo Ren was raging, his shoulders lifted and stiff.

"At least Gabo dented their bay door pretty good," the man said, clearly not afraid of Kylo Ren.

With great effort, Kylo Ren spoke calmly. "That is all, Tanut. All of you, return to the shuttle."

As they withdrew, he turned his face toward Lukaro, his fists clenched. The guards placed their hands on their sidearms.

"You're failure is inexcusable, Prime Minister."

Lukaro responded timidly, "We did not know that General Organa would have help already stationed here. It is an unfortunate oversight." His black eyes blinked.

"Your security detail is dismal and has cost your system greatly," Kylo Ren stated matter-of-factly.

"I assure you, our security is the greatest in this sector. It was not. . ."

He suddenly found he could not speak and grasped his throat. Kylo Ren held his hand out, his fingers clenched.

The clone guards raised their blasters and aimed them at Kylo Ren.

"Let him go," one demanded.

Kylo Ren let Lukaro go. He gasped and relaxed his arms, but Kylo Ren, apoplectic with indignation, was now holding up both arms toward the clones. They stood motionless aiming their weapons at him.

"This is not a council where we discuss who is to blame, Lukaro."

The clones spasmed as they arduously turned their blasters on Lukaro, unable to break free of Kylo Ren's control. Lukaro drew back in fear.

"It is unfortunate that you have such faith in your security. You would do best to fix that."

The clones struggled, fighting against Kylo Ren's will.

"You can expect to receive no remuneration for your failure."

With that Kylo Ren released the clones. He turned to leave, commenting as he left, "The First Order is looking forward to your future commitment. Don't fail us again."

….

Finn closed his eyes waiting for the inevitable.

A laser blast sounded- too loud for a blaster. The ground shook as an explosion erupted behind Phasma. An A-Wing flashed by, its engines wailing, having fired on the platform. Finn dove for cover and grabbed a blaster. Another laser blast hit the platform. Phasma looked up to see the sky full of A-Wings and the Resistance corvette.

"I've got one good shot left if I max the charge," Lura called to Phasma. She quickly changed the settings on her rifle and took aim, tracking one A-Wing, waiting for a shot. Another blast hit in front of her, not phasing her in the least. The yellow flames rose high in front of her then parted and the smoke evaporated.

Finn took his chance, focused his aim on Phasma. The dark smoke of the burning platform blew in between them; he pulled the trigger. The blast swept through the black smoke, disappearing then hitting her on her side after it flashed out the other end of the smoke, but it was not a kill shot. She staggered and then returned fire, retreating to the door.

An A-Wing took a deep turn, the cockpit angling toward the landing platform. Lura fired, piercing the shielded blast window and killing the pilot. The A-Wing spun downward and disappeared into the sea. Lura shouldered her rifle and pulled out her saber, just in time to deflect Finn's blasts. She turned and ran for through the entry door.

Finn collapsed on the floor, exhausted and wet with sweat and rain. He dropped his head into his hands. He didn't remember anything that happened after that: the corvette landing, Resistance soldiers retrieving him, Poe in his A-Wing taking out six TIEs and providing their escape. He just stared straight ahead, focusing on nothing.

….

Sabine came down from the ball turret to the passenger cabin of the Ghost. Leia unbuckled and stretched, sore from the rough battle maneuvering.

"That was some fancy flying your pilot accomplished," she said.

Sabine smiled. "He's been doing it a long time." She looked up to the cockpit. "Hey, Cap! You should have seen the guy chasing us, you'd be interested in his suit!"

Zeb could be heard laughing through the corridors. "Lucky he didn't, or none of us would have gotten out of there!"

Leia was perplexed by the inside jokes but wanted to pry further.

"Who was that man?" she asked.

"I don't know exactly for sure. But he is one of Kylo Ren's inner circle. I doubt he's Mandalorian. Probably bought the armor and Z-6 jetpack from some scavenger for a pretty price."

"I used to know a bounty hunter that had the same armor," Leia said.

"Yeah, you mean Boba Fett. We all know your history."

Leia looked surprised.

"No, that was no Boba Fett back there," Sabine said.

The pilot climbed down from the cockpit, wiping his brow with a rag.

"We've got him here," Sabine stated.

Leia spun around and was face to face with the pilot. A dark man, aging, but still in good health. He tossed the rag on her seat.

"Surprised to see me, General? You look like you've seen a ghost," Boba joked. Sabine rolled her eyes. Zeb chuckled down the hall.

Leia maintained her calm, though she knew her precarious situation. "So, you set a trap and caught your prey."

Boba Fett ignored her comment. "We need to talk, General Organa."