Chapter 3 - Escape

Edric and Lyra moved away from the group of singing women, their melody fading into a soft hum as they walked back to the main chamber. The scent of damp earth mixed with the sharp tang of sweat filled the Padawan's nostrils. The camp lights cast dancing shadows on the tall walls, flickering like restless spirits.

He paused to mentally take inventory of the refugees. The sight before him was a tapestry of human suffering and resilience. The lights revealed hollow cheeks, sunken eyes, and trembling hands clutching each other for comfort. Many were women and young children. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of their tear-streaked faces, the clean trails cutting through the dirt on their cheeks. He let the sorrow wash over him, like waves crashing against a fragile shore. Denying his feelings was pointless, but he had a job to do. He couldn't afford to indulge in his emotions or try to comfort them individually. The best he could do was ensure their safety, so they could one day reclaim their lost innocence. Despite his own childhood, spent as a Jedi Padawan amidst war, he still knew he was one of the fortunate ones in the galaxy. The Jedi Temple provided them with shelter, food, and even trained them to use the Force. In Edric's case, though, understanding the Force was still very much a work in progress.

He couldn't ignore the fact that the Order's decisions had contributed to these people losing their homes. The war, too, played its part, but the two seemed intertwined in more ways than one. The thought took root in him, creeping like ivy through the cracks of an old ruin, persistent and insidious.

As the boy scanned the room from left to right, his tally faltered when his eyes landed on a clone trooper. It's him, he thought. Flashes of the battle surged in his mind—the same soldier saving him from a B2's wrist rockets. The clone's armor bore scorch marks on the right side, and a grimace etched deep lines across his face. Edric realized he didn't even know the trooper's designation, let alone his name, if he had one.

The clone leaned against the rocky wall, villagers tending to his wounds with gentle hands. The young Padawan could hear a muffled groan as they tried to disinfect his wound.

He knelt beside the trooper. "How are you doing? Can you hold on a bit longer?"

The soldier looked up with a frown on his face, but it softened slightly when he saw the boy. "I've had better days, Sir. But I'll manage once the painkillers kick in."

Edric nodded. "You saved my life back there. Thank you," he said quietly. "I'm Edric, by the way."

"I know who you are, Sir. I'm CT-1128," he replied, then with a faint smile, added, "but you can call me Lokk."

The Jedi offered his hand, and Lokk shook it firmly.

"Nice to meet you, Lokk," the boy said, "How serious are your injuries? We need to evacuate these people, and I could use some help," he explained. Lokk glanced at his wound and shrugged.

"Don't worry about me, it's just a graze. I'll be fine. I told you I've got your back, just give the word," Lokk said with a wink. The Padawan noticed the trooper's gaze trailing off for a split second. The Force whispered of the grief nesting deep within Lokk's soul. I probably just reminded him of all his fallen brothers, he thought.

Edric patted the clone's shoulder and stood up. He surveyed their surroundings and began weighing their options. They could retrace their steps and try to lead the people out into the nearby clearing. Maybe I could also look for Master Asher, he pondered, but dismissed the idea immediately. No. He had to focus on the refugees; that's what his mentor would want him to do.

Although they were well-hidden, there was no guarantee the droids wouldn't find the cavern or weren't already searching the forest for their tracks. The area before the cave's entrance was too small to allow LAATs to land, especially more than one. He noticed several passages around the main chamber. Maybe there were other exits besides the one they came through? He turned to Lyra, who was introducing herself to Lokk.

"Do you know where those other passages lead?" Edric asked, gesturing towards them with a nod of his chin.

Lyra quickly darted her eyes around and shrugged. "Some of them, yes."

"Do any of them lead to another exit?"

"A couple, but some are dead-ends. My dad has a rough map; give me a second."

She hurried off without another word to find Renan.

The young Padawan saw from the corner of his eye that Lokk was struggling to his feet. He lent a hand to help him up, as the trooper winced in pain.

"Got a plan, sir?" Lokk inquired.

"It's still a work in progress. How many gunships do you think we'd need to get everyone out?" Edric replied. He had lost his earlier count halfway through, but the clone probably had a better estimate.

"I'd say two or three, but we might want to get some reinforcements, just in case some clankers decide to bother us."

Edric had to admit that Lokk raised a good point. Droids might still be reconning the area which could cause trouble for them when they managed to get outside. The last thing he wanted was to lose more people in this fight. While an LAAT could carry around thirty people, with some troops on board already, they would need more transports.

Focusing on a purpose cleared the fog from his mind. This was his element - working on a problem and trying to find a solution, preferably with the least risk to civilians, while avoiding past mistakes. Except that was how he learned, from his failures, as his teacher liked to often point out. Yet again, the thought of Master Asher kept intruding like an unwelcome guest, breaking his train of thought. With a deep inhale he let go of the image of him. He realized he couldn't rush blindly into action; a plan was essential, even if some details remained hazy.

Lyra and Renan appeared behind them. They brought a small holoprojector and placed it on the supply box next to the others. Renan stepped forward and inserted a data spike, activating the projector which displayed the intricate network of chambers.

"This is what we've mapped so far," he said, pointing to a spot on the map. "There is an exit here to a dried-up gorge that I think could work. It's narrow, but defensible. If we move quickly, we can get there before sundown."

Edric and Lokk exchanged a glance. The clone nodded, a silent affirmation that the plan seemed feasible. The Padawan scratched his chin, feeling the soft hairs of his growing beard as he considered the details.

"I'll have to contact Commander Zel on our star destroyer," he finally said.

Lyra's brow furrowed, her eyes reflecting the flickering blue light of the projector. "Will they come for us?" she asked, crossing her arms.

Edric met her gaze, seeing untold stories in her piercing emerald eyes. The weight of his promise settled on his shoulders like a heavy cloak. "They will. I'll make sure of it."

"Do you have any weapons?" Lokk asked Renan.

"A few rifles and some bows and arrows," the older man replied. Edric noticed the bags under Renan's eyes, highlighted by the projector's dim glow.

Lokk continued, "I can help secure the perime– "

"–no, I'll handle that. I don't want to put anyone else in danger. Lokk, I need you to coordinate the evacuation. Give the weapons to the men, but have them stay close to the other refugees. Hopefully, they won't need them," Edric explained. He caught Lokk and Renan exchanging a look, but they didn't protest. He suspected they thought it foolish of him, but he couldn't ask these people to sacrifice themselves. It was his duty to put himself on the line.

"Let's get the others ready to move. Only the essentials—food, water, and anything that can be carried easily. We need to move fast and light," he said. "I'll contact our destroyer."

"Wait, you might need this," Renan said, holding up a hand before rummaging through a nearby supply box. After some searching, he pulled out a device with antennas on it. "It's a signal booster. The mountain might cause interference," he handed it to the Jedi, who slung it over his right shoulder and bowed his head as thanks.

"May the Force be with us," he said setting off towards the entrance.

The muffled chatter of refugees faded, replaced by the subtle sounds of the natural shelter: the drip of water from stalactites, the scuff of his boots on the rocky floor, and the occasional skittering of tiny creatures in the shadows.

His mind drifted to his master yet again. He would have given anything to have him by his side, even with his sometimes overly critical analysis. The plan felt like a fragile glass sculpture, delicate and easily shattered. Could he really pull this off? The lives of so many rested on his shoulders, pressing down like an unseen hand, and he wasn't sure if he could bear the weight.

He reached the entrance and knelt down, taking out the signal booster Renan had given him. He set it up, adjusting the antennas and tuning the frequency. He raised his head as the distant sounds of battle became discernible again, the faint rumble of explosions and the hum of blaster fire. The forest beyond was alive and he could swear he heard the mechanical clatter and whir of droids moving through the underbrush not too far. His pulse quickened, but he steeled himself. There was no time to waste.

Static crackled in his comlink as he tried to establish a connection.

"Commander Zel, this is Padawan Edric Kane. Do you read me?" His voice was steady, though his insides churned like a storm-tossed sea. Every moment out here held the risk of being discovered.

The static continued, and then a garbled response came through. "Come on," Edric muttered to the machine and adjusted the signal booster, fine-tuning it until the interference lessened.

"... read you... Kane... situation?"

Edric took a deep breath. "Commander Zel, we have a group of refugees that need immediate evacuation. We require four to five LAATs with reinforcements to extract them."

Zel's response was clearer now, though his tone was strained. "Padawan Kane, the Republic is retreating. We are pulling our forces back. I have orders to focus on the retreat."

Edric's stomach dropped, but out of nowhere he felt a flame licking his ribs. He couldn't let these people be left behind. He clenched his fists.

"Commander Zel, this is not a request. It is an order. We need those LAATs to evacuate these people immediately. Their lives depend on it, and I will not abandon them." His voice was clear and unwavering, surprising even himself with its authority.

There was a slight pause, then Zel responded, his tone reluctant but accepting. "Understood, Padawan Kane. We will dispatch the LAATs to your location. Signal us when you are in position."

Edric exhaled, a sense of relief washing over him like a cool breeze, but he knew the real challenge loomed ahead. He explained the plan briefly through the comm: they would move the refugees to the dried-up gorge Renan had shown them, and once there, he would send a signal for extraction. Doubt still lingered like a shadow, but determination burned brighter, illuminating the path ahead.

Just as he turned off the devices, he heard a crack near the treeline. Instinctively, his hand moved to the hilt of his lightsaber. Edric scanned the trees, their leaves dancing in the wind. He reached out with the Force, hoping it was just an animal stepping on a branch and not a droid spotting him, but he sensed nothing amiss. After a final look, he packed his things and turned back to the sanctuary.

When he reached the main chamber again, the group was already mostly packed and ready to go. The sound of their voices was louder, with a constant echo lingering within the walls. The Force relayed their mix of fear and hope to the boy, who couldn't help but wonder if he was leading them into the jaws of danger instead of safety. Mothers held their children close, whispering reassurances that everything would be alright. Around them, the men of the village stood, protecting the women and young ones like a shield. Some carried rifles, others makeshift spears, a few bows and arrows.

He found Lyra first, gathering her own backpack for the hike – and a life away from home.

"Are they coming?" she asked with a whisper when the Jedi got close enough to hear. He nodded. Without warning, Lyra leapt forward and embraced him in a tight hug. Edric's cheeks burned, and he quickly looked away, hoping Lyra wouldn't notice the sudden redness spreading across his face. For a moment, he stood frozen, uncertain of how to respond. The sudden warmth of her embrace contrasted sharply with the cool air of the cave, and the unexpected intimacy left him stunned.

He hesitated, then slowly wrapped his arms around her, returning the hug with a gentle squeeze. The seconds stretched out. When Lyra finally pulled away, her own cheeks were tinged with a rosy hue. As a Jedi Padawan, Edric knew not to form attachments, though in practice the concept often seemed as distant as a star in the vastness of space. His embrace was meant to provide empathy, a moment of shared humanity amidst the chaos. But the lingering warmth and the way his heart reacted gnawed at the edges of his learned detachment.

"We should get going," he broke the silence that went on one awkward second too long. Lyra cleared her throat and agreed.

"Lokk and dad are in front," she said, leading Edric around the large group. He moved among them, offering quiet words of encouragement and support. Those reassurances, he realized, might have been as much for himself as for them. As they reached Lokk and Renan, the four of them gathered in a circle to discuss the next steps.

"The droids are nearby, we don't have much time. Is everyone ready?" the boy asked.

Renan answered first. "As ready as we could be. I don't think any of us expected we would have to leave our home," he added and wiped a tear away.

Lokk was back in full gear, his helmet obscuring his face and rifle in hand. He nodded at the boy, and Edric could swear the trooper winked at him from beneath the visor.

The young Padawan stepped forward, igniting his yellow lightsaber at the tunnel's threshold and raising it to illuminate their way. That's what a Jedi should be, he thought, a guiding light in the complete darkness. He held out a hand and reached out with the Force, probing for any lurking dangers in the black veil. But the Force was silent, as if refusing to lift the curtain of mystery.

He turned his head back to the others and gestured to move out. The path was winding and narrow, the walls of the tunnel pressing in on them. Not long after they set off, they encountered a tight squeeze where only one person at a time could proceed, the rough stone brushing against their shoulders as they edged forward.

Edric led the way, his lightsaber casting a soft, yellow glow that lit up the jagged walls and uneven floor. It created fleeting shapes that seemed to move with a life of their own. Lyra and Renan followed behind with their glowrods, each guiding smaller groups and whispering words of encouragement to keep spirits high.

The silence was broken only by the sound of their footsteps bouncing off the rocky walls. Each step seemed to amplify the tension, with the rhythmic tapping blending with the occasional drip of water seeping through the stone. Sometimes, a child's voice would pierce the quiet, asking their mother if they were there yet.

As they traversed deeper, the darkness grew thicker, the faint light from Edric's lightsaber barely enough to pierce it. The path twisted and turned, revealing hidden alcoves and sudden drops, the ground underfoot uneven and treacherous. Edric could almost feel the weight of the mountain above them.

Finally, the tunnel began to widen, and a faint light appeared in the distance. They descended from the sanctuary's embrace into a world shaped by the relentless hand of time. The cool, damp air of the cave was left behind, replaced by a dry, parched atmosphere that whispered of ancient tales. Light filtered down, casting long, dancing shadows as they stepped from the enclosed darkness into the gorge's expanse.

The gorge stood silent - Edric could almost hear his own heartbeat. Steep rock walls towered on either side, their rugged faces scarred and weathered, hinting at the geological turmoil that had shaped them. The ground was a bed of coarse gravel and small stones, bleached by the sun and devoid of moisture, which suggested that water had not flowed here for many seasons. Sparse patches of resilient vegetation clung tenaciously to the cracks and crevices in the rock, their green offering a stark contrast to the surrounding arid landscape.

A narrow trickle of water, barely a stream, meandered through the center of the gorge, its presence a faint reminder of the once-mighty river that had carved this path. Small pools, remnants of recent rains, reflected the sky and the looming cliffs above, creating pockets of life amidst the desolation. The air was still and dry, filled with the faint scent of dust and sun-baked earth. Edric darted his eyes, searching for anything that could hint at a trap. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The tranquility was almost too perfect, too deceiving.

The rumble of the approaching LAATs broke the eerie stillness. The suspense in the air melted away like ice under a warm sun. Edric moved ahead, positioning himself so that he could see both the other side of the gorge and the group.

The first LAAT descended and landed not far between him and the civilians, kicking up dust and debris. The side doors opened, and five clone troopers waved the refugees over, urging them to board quickly. The boy watched as the first group began to climb aboard, their steps heavy and unsteady with exhaustion. A refugee stumbled, catching herself on the side of the ship. There were dark shadows beneath their eyes, yet they sparkled with palpable relief.

Just as the first LAAT was filled and started to take off, a familiar chill ran up Edric's spine. The Force alerted him seconds before mechanical whirls and steps reached his ears. But there was something else – a distinctive sound of rolling metal. Droidekas, he realized. He spun his lightsaber in his hand, turned his back on the evacuees, and rooted himself in a defensive stance. He knew that whatever happened, he had to do everything in his power to gain enough time for the rest of the refugees to get off-world. A voice in his head whispered he would fail, but he called upon the Force to be his guide and mute anything else. Though his bond with the Force was imperfect, it gave him enough resolve to bring him back to the present. "One step at a time, Edric," he could hear his master's words echo from earlier.

Droids emerged at the far end of the gorge, their blasters sparked to life. Edric raised his comlink, barking orders to the hovering LAATs. "We need cover fire now!"

Blaster bolts streaked across the sky, forcing him to spin his lightsaber in a wide arc to deflect the incoming shots. The air sizzled with each deflection, the intense heat singeing the ground at his feet. He let his movements flow effortlessly, like a stream following its natural course.

Droidekas rolled ahead of the B2s and activated their shields, forming a defensive line ahead of the rest. Their weapons blazed to life, and Edric adjusted his grip, increasing his speed to deflect the bolts and prevent them from reaching the escaping group behind. Still, he noticed a number of shots getting behind him, but at that same moment, Lokk appeared beside him taking cover behind a boulder. He had a blaster in one hand, and a grenade in another. "Looks like we're in it again, sir!" Lokk shouted over the din and threw the explosive in front of the droidekas. "Told you I've got your back!"

Edric managed a strained smile between deflections. "Right, but I'm not sure I can repay all this debt. Let's just get through this in one piece."

The explosion sent up a dust cloud that decreased the visibility. Edric could sense where the lasers were coming from and kept deflecting them. Fortunately for them, the blast took out some of the droidekas.

The LAATs circled above, their cannons blazing as they laid down suppressing fire. The droids' advance slowed, but they kept coming. The next gunship descended, and Edric urged the refugees to hurry aboard. He and Lokk held their ground, pushing back the droid forces with every ounce of strength they had.

Edric's muscles ached, every movement feeling heavier and more laborious than the last. The relentless assault took its toll, but he gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the hilt of his weapon. As the last group of refugees boarded, a fresh wave of droidekas rolled into view, their shields shimmering as they opened fire. Edric realized they could not stand their ground against this many. He drew a deep breath, summoning the Force, and for a brief moment, the battle stood still.

He felt the energy surge through him, a torrent of power waiting to be unleashed. Taking his lightsaber into one hand, he thrust his other hand forward. The Force exploded out of him like a tidal wave, a visible shockwave that rippled through the air. The droidekas hurtled backward, smashing into the line of B2 droids behind them, their shields flickering and sparking upon impact. The metallic clatter of colliding machines and the eruption of sparks filled the air, as the droids tumbled like felled trees under the immense force. Edric's eyes widened, his mouth dropping open as a surge of astonishment lit up his face, marveling at his own power.

A final gunship swooped in low, its guns blazing to provide cover for the two remaining evacuees.

"Time to go," Lokk yelled and Edric nodded in agreement. They broke their formation to reach the transport. As they dashed for the safety of the LAAT, a blaster bolt grazed Edric's left arm. He winced, biting back a cry as the pain radiated down to his fingertips like thousands of needles. Despite the flaming sensation, he pressed on, using his right hand to deflect the remaining shots. They leapt aboard, Edric landing on his stomach, but finally in relative safety. The gunship immediately ascended out of the gorge, the droids shrinking to mere specks of dust.

Edric lay on the floor of the gunship for a few seconds, every muscle in his body screaming with exhaustion, his lungs burning with the need for oxygen. The pain in his arm only heightened his weariness, spreading like a blaze through his already fatigued limbs. When he finally pulled himself up he leaned against the wall of the LAAT. He looked around, checking with the clones to make sure everyone had made it out. "Any casualties?" he asked, his voice strained. A medic appeared beside him to tend to his graze.

"Negative, sir," one of the troopers responded. "Everyone made it."

Hearing that, Edric felt his muscles relax, and he allowed himself to shut his eyes for a beat. Thank the Force, he thought.

As they soared towards the Venator-class star destroyer in orbit, Edric's fleeting smile faded, replaced by a sharp, aching void in his chest as he remembered his mentor. I couldn't save you, master, he told Master Asher in his mind, and felt a lump in his throat and tears welling. He knew there was no point in trying, the whole area was overrun by the enemies. Still, he searched for any sign of his teacher with the Force, but the only thing he could feel was a fading connection – so fragile, it was like trying to grasp a wisp of smoke. Their bond was weaker, leaving a hollow emptiness in its wake.

As their LAAT landed in the hangar of their destroyer, Edric thanked Lokk and the other troopers for their help. "We made a difference today, and that's your merit," he said before disembarking. His mind already tried to piece together the events of the day for his eventual report to the Council, but it felt like he was trying to pick up shattered fragments of a hologram, the images slipping through his grasp as fatigue blurred his thoughts. He barely noticed an officer catching up to him.

"Padawan Kane, I'm glad you're back. I have news. We've recovered Master Asher. He's in the medbay," he said.

Edric stopped in his tracks, looked at the lieutenant, and without a word ran off.