Ambush

The night's stillness was shattered by the piercing wail of the general alert. The Endar Spire was under enemy fire.

The shrill sound of the alarm jolted us from our sleep, its urgent cry echoing through the ship's corridors. As I snapped awake, disorientation quickly gave way to a surge of adrenaline. My eyes darted around the dimly lit room, immediately noticing that the windows had been obscured. The shielding device had automatically engaged, a sobering reminder of the danger we now faced.

In our shared quarters, where I bunked with Hannah, Garrick, and a handful of other comrades, panic spread like wildfire. My companions, their training kicking in, immediately cottoned on to the gravity of the situation and bolted from the dormitory towards the equipment storage.

Being new to these procedures, I fumbled, taking too long to get my bearings. As I finally stumbled towards my locker, Garrick's voice cut through the chaos, sharp with urgency:

"Come on, move it! It's a general alert!"

I swallowed a retort, focusing instead on picking up the pace. Every second counted now. With shaky hands, I put on my armor, its weight both comforting and confining. I grabbed the basic sword assigned to me, all too aware of its limits. My lack of training with ranged weapons meant I was stuck with close combat, whatever we faced ahead.

As I attached the sheath to my belt, a distorted voice blared through the quarters, probably echoing throughout the entire ship:

"General alert. Combat personnel mobilization. General alert. Combat personnel mobilization."

The robotic repetition gave me goosebumps, driving home how real our situation was.

Heart racing, I hurried to join my comrades who were already set to leave. Through the crowd and flashing emergency lights, I spotted Lieutenant Trask Ulgo in the distance, his voice carrying over the noise as he shouted instructions:

"Listen up," Trask Ulgo called out. "Here's what's happening: the Sith have attacked the Endar Spire. They're after Commander Shan. Lieutenant Onasi's team is already escorting our commander to the escape pods in the west wing. They should be close by now. Your job is to take down any Sith you encounter on your way to the pods. We must protect Bastila Shan at all costs. Understood?"

"Yes, Lieutenant!" we all responded in unison.

"Then let's move out!" Ulgo concluded, determination in his voice. He took the lead, guiding our small unit toward our objective.

As the airlock of our quarters opened with a hiss, we entered a vast corridor already filled with the sounds of battle. The moment the door slid aside, blaster fire erupted from all directions. We dove for cover, waiting for a break in the shooting before jumping into action.

I quickly spotted five Sith soldiers who had just taken down two of my friends from another section. Ulgo and the others took cover, preparing to return fire. As for me? I felt completely useless with my simple sword and lack of experience. A little further down, I saw Hannah urgently waving me over. I didn't hesitate - I rushed to join her, keeping low.

"Here, Corem," Hannah said, pressing her spare blaster pistol into my hands. "Forget the rules. The Sith are here, and I'm not letting you face them with just a sword because of some stupid regulations. If we survive this and anyone asks, tell them I forced you to take it."

I took the weapon, feeling both grateful and nervous. The blaster felt strange in my hand, but it was much more comforting than my sword had been.

"Thanks, Hannah," I managed to say, my voice barely audible over the chaos around us. "I owe you one."

The Sith attacked again, and a storm of laser fire lit up the corridor, heading straight for us.

Hannah leaned out, firing back and hitting one of the Sith in the shoulder. My comrades followed her lead, taking down two more soldiers. As the enemy prepared for another assault, I crouched down, aiming at a Sith who had the Lieutenant in his sights. I switched the blaster to its highest power setting and fired a single, powerful shot.

The laser beam was so powerful it created a cloud of smoke, briefly blocking our view. As it cleared, I saw I'd hit my target. The Sith trooper lay motionless on the floor, his helmet still smoking.

Hannah gave me an impressed smile and a quick nudge. "I knew you had it in you."

I returned her smile with a grim nod, still shocked by the sight of the man I'd just killed. I switched the blaster back to normal mode and watched as my comrades quickly took down the remaining two Sith soldiers, who seemed shaken by their companion's violent end.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the corridor. We were all breathless, the rush from the fight slowly fading.

We gathered to continue towards our goal, with the Lieutenant in the lead. Despite our relief at surviving the deadly encounter, we all knew how serious our situation was. The Sith were still on board, a constant danger around every turn. We had to stay alert, ready for another fight at any moment.

As I got back in line, Ulgo came over to me. He put a hand on my shoulder, his voice rough but genuine. "Good job, soldier."

Ulgo led us towards the nearest escape pods. We moved carefully, on high alert. Every noise, every shadow made us jumpy, ready to act. We were a close team now, prepared for whatever dangers we might face.

For about ten minutes, we fought small groups of Sith troopers. We beat them all, but some of us were hurt. Then, in another corridor, we were caught in a bad crossfire. Garrick, Hannah, and another friend were fighting four Sith on one side. On our side, Trask, a very young Cadet, and I faced three more.

As we moved in, a huge explosion shook the corridor. In a second, part of the metal wall crashed down, splitting our group in two. No time to worry about that now. I used the dust from the collapse to rush the Sith, who seemed confused. This time, I pulled out my lightsaber, surprising them. In a quick series of movements, I defeated each opponent with the glowing blade.

Once I was sure it was safe, I turned back to Trask. He was kneeling by the fallen debris, his blaster still hot. I walked closer and my heart dropped. The young Cadet was lying in a pool of blood, his lower body crushed under heavy metal plates. A small, round burn mark on his forehead told me what had happened. Trask looked at me, his eyes full of sadness and disbelief: he had ended the boy's suffering.

Without a word, the Lieutenant stood and moved away from our fallen comrade. I felt overwhelmed by emotions, my mind spinning. The harsh reality of war had hit us in the cruelest way possible. The chaos of battle, the sound of gunfire, it all mixed in my head. I felt completely helpless, just watching this destructive madness.

In the middle of these swirling emotions, a small spark of determination came to life inside me. The Lieutenant's strong voice cut through my confusion, telling me to pull myself together. His words reminded me that we had a job to finish. We couldn't let our feelings take over; the mission wasn't over yet.

Through the chaos, voices called out from the other side of the collapse:

"Lieutenant! Are you okay over there?" Garrick's voice, filled with fear, carried through the debris.

"We're here. What's your situation?" Ulgo responded, all business-like.

"We've taken care of the Sith. We're trying to clear this mess now."

"Negative!" Ulgo shouted. "No time for that. You'll have to find another route. Head for the east wing escape pods, it's your best chance."

A heavy silence fell, and I felt uneasy about this decision some might see as cold-hearted. But in the heat of battle, it was the only logical choice. We couldn't waste time. Bastila Shan was the priority, not Hannah, Garrick, or any other regular soldier.

"Understood, Lieutenant. We're moving out," Hannah's voice came through, calm and professional as always. I knew she'd lead the group, even without being told. A wave of fear washed over me. I was terrified, to be honest. Scared for Garrick. Terrified for Hannah. I thought of her husband and daughters, who might soon receive the news no family ever wants to hear.

"Let's go, Cadet!" the Lieutenant's voice snapped me back to reality. Shaking off my daze, I fell in line behind him.

We were almost at the escape pods. By some stroke of luck, we hadn't encountered any more Sith groups, just a few stragglers who seemed eager to avoid a fight. Still, we couldn't let them go. We had to take down about six more soldiers along the way. We were close now. We just had to hold on. The pods were just a corridor and a few rooms away.

As we ran through a small infirmary, we came to a sudden stop. Blocking our path stood a man in menacing metal armor. He was tall and thin, with a face as pale as a ghost, made even more striking by his bald head. His dark eyes were set deep in their sockets, giving him an eerie look.

At first, he didn't seem to notice us. As we got closer, he seemed more interested in something - or someone - on the floor. Then, he looked up at us. His fingers ran along his black goatee, and a satisfied smile spread across his face.

"Gentlemen," he greeted, his voice falsely warm. "That's one down." He pointed at what had caught his attention earlier - the lifeless body of one of the Commander's Jedi escorts. "Where are the others?" he demanded, moving towards us. With his right hand, he opened a pouch on his armor strap and pulled out a cylindrical object. "Where's Bastila Shan?" His impatience was clear as he got closer.

Without hesitation, I saw my Lieutenant step in front of me. He grabbed my lightsaber and took a fighting stance against our opponent. The man had the nerve to laugh at that.

"Take the right airlock!" Trask Ulgo shouted at me. "It's a longer route, but you should get there quickly. I'll lock the door once you're out. Find your Commander, soldier! Go!"

The shock of the moment and my superior's words hit me hard, but there was no time to hesitate. I'd been given an order, and that was it. Without wasting a second, I ran out of the infirmary, leaving Ulgo to face that strange man. As the door closed behind me, I heard an unfamiliar yet unmistakable sound: the distinctive hum of a lightsaber. So that's what he'd pulled from his belt. Trask didn't have a chance. And me? I had to move fast, or the Sith would get me too.

I raced through the maze of rooms, running as fast as I could. I was so exhausted that when I finally burst through the last door to the escape pods, I collapsed from sheer exhaustion. A hand on my shoulder brought me back to my senses. Instinctively, I grabbed at whoever it was, ready for a fight. But when I looked up, I saw the surprised face of Lieutenant Onasi. Carefully, he crouched down to my level.

"Easy, Galhor, take it easy," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos around us. "I've been waiting for more of you to make it to the pods. Are you alone, Galhor?"

I gasped for air, trying to catch my breath enough to speak. The reality of my situation - being the only one to make it this far - hit me hard.

I looked at Onasi, unable to form words, my eyes unfocused. All I could manage was a slight nod in response to his question.

Onasi studied my face for a moment, assessing my condition. He let out a resigned sigh before standing up. The weight of our situation - the loss of our comrades, the imminent danger we still faced - seemed to settle on his shoulders.

"We can't stay here any longer," Onasi said, his voice cutting through my daze. "Come on, Aspirant. There are still a few pods left; we need to leave the ship for good."

Onasi extended a helping hand, which I grabbed without hesitation. Breathing heavily, I followed him into one of the remaining pods. We quickly strapped ourselves in, our hurried movements reflecting the urgency of our situation.

With practiced skill, Carth disengaged the safety protocols. Almost immediately, our capsule was ejected from its bay, the force pushing us back into our seats. As we sped away from the ship, I caught a final, heartbreaking glimpse of the Endar Spire. The once-proud vessel was slowly breaking apart against the backdrop of space.

A mixture of hope and fear surged through me as I thought of our comrades. Had they made it to the east wing pods? Part of me knew I might never find out, and the weight of that uncertainty settled heavily in my chest.

Another minute passed before increasingly violent shakes jolted me back to our dire situation. We were plunging through Taris' atmosphere. Across from me, I saw Carth gripping his safety harness tightly, his knuckles white. I did the same, holding onto my restraints as our pod shook and creaked under the strain.

The heat inside the capsule rose steadily as we fell through the planet's atmosphere. Sweat formed on my forehead, a mix of fear and the intense heat of our descent. As the pod filled with the sound of groaning metal and rushing air, I couldn't help but wonder: even if we survived this landing, what challenges awaited us on Taris?

But suddenly, everything went black, silent, nonexistent. The roar of the atmosphere, the shaking of the pod, Carth's tense face - all disappeared in an instant. After all those dangers, to die like this seemed cruelly ironic.

The last thought that crossed my mind was one of bitter amusement. We had survived the Sith attack, escaped the disintegrating Endar Spire, only to be wiped out in the final moments of our descent. The universe, it seemed, had a cruel sense of humor.

Pain seared through my head, intense as a blaster on full power. My eyes felt gritty, as if they'd been scrubbed with sand. This agony was overwhelming... but then a thought struck me. If I could feel pain, didn't that mean I was alive? Had I somehow survived?

"Hey."

A voice cut through the haze. Someone was speaking.

Could it be Onasi?

"Galhor, open your eyes."

I knew I needed to respond, but I had no idea how long I'd been unconscious. With great effort, I forced my eyelids open and attempted to sit up. Instantly, I felt Carth's arm supporting me, steadying me as if I might shatter at any moment.

Everything was a blur, the world around me nothing more than indistinct shapes and shadows. I couldn't tell exactly where Carth and I were, but I sensed we were indoors. Gradually, my surroundings began to take shape - walls, a ceiling, windows with dark coverings - all slowly emerging as if from a dense fog.

As my vision cleared, I could make out furniture - a table, chairs, some benches, and a few beds. My mind, however, remained clouded. For a disorienting moment, I wondered if I was back on the Endar Spire, and if the horrific events I remembered were just a vivid nightmare.

"Here," Carth said softly, concern evident in his voice. He offered me a glass of water, his other hand still bracing my back. I stared at him, my thoughts still muddled, before accepting the glass with shaky hands.

"Drink it slowly," he cautioned. I obeyed, taking small, careful sips.

"You had me worried, Galhor," Carth admitted, relief clear in his tone. "For a while, I thought you might not wake up."

I struggled to make sense of his words. I could hear them, but stringing them together into something meaningful seemed an impossible task. Ignoring his statement, I managed to rasp out a single question:

"Where are we?"

"Taris," Carth answered, his voice solemn. "We crashed in the Lower City. You blacked out as we entered the atmosphere – the ride was rough. You hit your head pretty hard, which knocked you unconscious."

I struggled to focus on Carth, trying to clear the mental haze that lingered.

"Do you recall what happened?" the Lieutenant asked, his tone suddenly more intense. I gave him a puzzled look, wordlessly asking for more details. "I've got some information about you. I think this isn't your first head injury. And I understand there have been some... aftereffects."

I lowered my eyes to my hands, taking a moment to collect my thoughts. Memories of the accident, the lengthy recovery, the amnesia – they all surfaced, but they were distorted, like watching a malfunctioning hologram. The vagueness of these memories made the current situation feel even more unreal and difficult to comprehend.

I couldn't grieve for a part of my memory – and by extension, a part of my life – that I couldn't even fully remember. All I had were disjointed fragments of that existence, pieces of a puzzle that wouldn't fit together. It defied logic, yet it was undeniably my reality.

I looked back at Carth, aware that I needed to respond, to try to make sense of this situation not just for my sake, but for his too. Our survival could depend on it.

"I'm no worse off than before, Lieutenant, I assure you," I finally said, my tone defensive. Carth seemed to pick up on my attitude.

"I'm just asking how you're feeling, Corem," my superior replied, his voice gentle and surprisingly warm.

"I'm still a bit rattled, but I think I'll be fine, Lieutenant," I answered, my tone noticeably more friendly. Onasi's face softened into a kind smile, clearly relieved by my response.

"Where exactly are we?" I pressed on.

"We're in an abandoned apartment," Carth elaborated. "After our pod crashed in the Lower City, I had to move fast. That area's overrun by gangs who see the Republic escape pods as easy pickings. They're looting and grabbing survivors left and right. And that's not even considering the Sith quarantine set up during the Endar Spire attack. They've been lying in wait, ready to snatch up anyone from the pods."

A shadow of worry crossed Carth's face. I sensed his unspoken concern about Bastila Shan. But he quickly composed himself and went on:

"I managed to get us to the Upper City. We drew some looks, being out in the evening, but most people probably thought I was just helping a drunk friend home. At worst, we gave some locals a good chuckle."

We shared a brief smile at that, a moment of lightness in our grim situation.

"I scouted around the Upper City," Carth continued. "Found this tower - it's not falling apart, but it's seen better days. While looking around, I came across this apartment with the door ajar. I didn't overthink it, just brought us in. Figured if anyone came back, they'd just tell us to leave. But it's been four days now, and we're the only ones who've been here."

"I was out for four days?" I asked, disbelief evident in my voice.

"Yes," Carth confirmed simply.

I exhaled heavily. "Thank you, Lieutenant. I owe you my life."

"No need for thanks. It's what I do. I don't leave people behind," Carth stated resolutely.

His words triggered a wave of remorse in me, bringing to mind Trask Ulgo's sacrifice and the loss of our other comrades. Logically, I knew I wasn't to blame, but I couldn't shake a feeling of responsibility. I interpreted Carth's words as an unintended criticism, though I knew he had no idea what had happened on the cruiser.

"So what's next?" I asked tiredly, feeling the full weight of our predicament.

"Now that you're awake and seem to be on your feet, I'm going to look for information about the other escape pods," Carth said, his tone all business. "Let's be realistic. If Bastila's alive, the gangs must have her."

"Or the Sith," I suggested darkly.

"No," Carth said with conviction. "If they had her, they'd be off Taris already. Our best bet is the gangs. Or something else. But the Sith definitely don't have her. Not yet, anyway."

Carth stepped away, reaching for his distinctive orange jacket and quickly pulling it on. Instinctively, I rose from the cot where I'd been lying for four days, intending to follow. But as I fumbled with my boots, Carth gave a low whistle. I looked up, confused.

"You're staying here," he said, his tone leaving no room for debate. "You're conscious, but you're not fit to be out there yet. There's some food in the kitchenette lockers. Build up your strength – you'll need it later."

The Lieutenant finished with a kind smile, which I mirrored. Then he was gone, off to hunt for leads on our Commander. I did as told and stayed put. A search of the lockers turned up some dry biscuits, fruit, and dried meat. I grabbed a bit of each and settled on a bench to eat, savoring the quiet for a while before turning my mind to our situation.

Carth came back about two hours later. He entered, shrugged off his jacket, and tossed it carelessly over a chair at my table. With a weary sigh, he sat down.

"Find anything?" I asked, my voice eager despite my lingering exhaustion.

Carth stared at the table for a moment before answering matter-of-factly:

"I hate to spring this on you so soon, but you've got an invitation to a party tonight."

I raised my eyebrows, frowning deeply. I glanced around the room, hoping for some clue to make sense of Carth's words. Finding none, I waited for him to continue.

"The gangs got to the escape pods first," he explained. "They've taken everything of value and all the survivors they could find."

"Is Bastila among the captured?" I asked, striving to keep my voice steady.

Carth's jaw tightened, his expression growing grim before he answered.

"I can't be certain," he began, thoughtfully stroking his chin. "But there's chatter about a major swoop race in the Lower City, organized by the Black Vulkars gang. It's being billed as the season's main event, and they've abruptly rescheduled it to right after the pods crashed. That timing seems... off to me."

"What are you suggesting?" I pressed, leaning closer.

"They're dangling an unusually valuable prize this time. Initially, I considered it might be Bastila, but I didn't want to leap to conclusions. Then I caught wind of a 'high-ranking Republic officer.' Bastila left the Endar Spire in full uniform, complete with command insignia. I suspect they've got her and are using her as the grand prize for this race."

I nodded, considering the theory. It was a long shot, but it was our only lead.

"What a disaster," I mumbled, mostly to myself. Refocusing, I met Carth's gaze directly. "Now, about this party you mentioned...?"

A hint of a smile played on Carth's lips. "We need access to the Lower City. To verify my theory. If I'm correct, we need to be there on race day, before the Sith get wise. We need to interact with the racers, the staff, and crucially, get a look at the prize. But entry to the Lower City isn't easy. While I was out, I encountered a Sith officer named Sarna, who was quite intoxicated. She extended a party invitation. It could be our opportunity to acquire some passes."

"Wait a minute," I cut in, gesturing towards Carth. "So the invitation is actually for you?"

"Yes, but I can't attend," Carth explained, his eyes locked on mine. "Sarna was thoroughly inebriated. She won't recall my face. I'm not well-known, but in an apartment full of Sith, someone might recognize me."

"But how will your new acquaintance react when I show up instead of you? We hardly resemble each other."

"Just play it cool!" he said with a grin. I could tell he found the situation amusing. "Tell her you're that charming guy she met at the cantina in the Upper City and that she invited you to the party. Given how drunk she was, there's a good chance she'll buy it if you're smooth enough."

I gave my superior a mock annoyed look. Carth held my gaze for a moment, looking confused. Then his expression softened, and he let out an awkward laugh.

"I didn't mean to suggest you lack charm, Corem," he said, trying to hold back his laughter. I joined in, enjoying the moment of levity in our otherwise grim situation.

"And if it makes you feel better, she invited a bunch of strangers tonight," Carth added, reaching into his pocket to pull out a tiny data card, which he handed to me.

"The golden ticket," he said. "It has the party coordinates, which you can access from the apartment's terminal. When you get there, just hand the card to one of the organizers, and they should let you in without any fuss. I'll stop teasing: it's actually a high-society party with Sith bigwigs and corrupt Republic officials. With the crowd there, you might not even run into Sarna."

"You could have led with that," I replied with a relieved smile, taking the card. "Time to charm all these crooks, then."