ADVISORY: The following chapter contains sensitive material relating to: Trauma, suicide, violence, torture, anxiety, and grief. Remember to practice self care before, during, and after reading.

ACT II - ELSA

Chapter: 127 Hope's Shadow

- ACCESSING IMPERIAL NETWORK -

IHC: Imperial High Command to Frigate Imperium.

Orik: This is Admiral Orik of the Imperium. We read you, Imperial High Command.

IHC: Scanners indicate that an unmarked transport is passing through your sector. It has cleared two checkpoints without proper authorization and is increasing speed. Do not let it reach the nearest hyperspace lane to jump.

Orik: Affirmative. Moving to intercept.

There was a time when the galaxy was promised an end to all wars. A time when even those on opposing sides humored the notion. When Chancellor Palpatine's promise of peace was enough to spark hope in even the most loyal of soldiers. It helped keep the tired and hungry going. Longing for a day when they'd be able to rebuild their lives and never have to see a refugee transport again. Years had past since the Clone Wars and those ships were still fleeing across the stars. Many refugee vessels were aimless, carrying limited supplies and merely hoping to reach the next safe haven with living passengers. Ships were cramped with various occupants...many fleeing Imperial rule while some were escaping uprisings on their own worlds. The only shared goal was a wish for no more loss. No more death and destruction. And in that goal, Elsa found solidarity.

The eldest Dellian clutched her stained cloak, still musty with the scent of Dantooine's woodlands and ashy from the Muunilist foundries. Yet no matter how much she wished to flee those places from her past, she had to press that cloak to her face. Keeping her head down and her hood up, she hid in the furthest corners. She let herself get lost amongst the huddled masses of families and tired laborers. As the transport glided across the stars, she remembered when she'd posed as a refugee to help find Anna during the Clone War. She never imagined actually being one years later. All of that time had her thinking far too much.

An infant's wail had Elsa tilting her head up. Her tired, blue gaze found a mother desperately trying to hush her child. As she looked elsewhere, she spotted another woman eyeing that mother. A frown deepened on her lips before she buried her face in a man's chest. Her heavy whimpers left too much to Elsa's imagination, as she wondered how many children that woman had lost. Furthermore, she considered how much grief she was surrounded by. And as Elsa sank deeper into her bench, she came to a greater realization that had been slowly creeping over the years: The Jedi had failed.

The protectors of peace and justice had failed the people who needed them most. While they were defending a corrupt system, those in need continued to suffer. And the promises of a better tomorrow never came. In fact, they only worsened. Elsa was nothing more than another victim. A phantom of who she was, disconnected from the galaxy and boundless alongside its victims. Even the Force seemed to have abandoned her. And as she let those thoughts and feelings reach her, Elsa understood just how alone and frightened she was. Stel...Yelena...Frost...Mattias. They weren't just friends she'd lost. They were a checklist. Fate was catching up and it was only a matter of time before it was her turn to meet the inevitable.

Elsa furrowed her brows, overwhelmed with the sadness of it all. She thought about how she'd fled what companions she'd had left on Nar Shadaa. How she didn't even think twice to run from her sister this time...from everything. But they were just as lost as she was. And after Kristoff killed that pilot to steal a ship...Elsa's hope had shattered. Hugging herself, she softly wept as a shiver tingled up her spine. These anxiety shakes had her trembling until a blanket was draped over her shoulders.

Glancing leftward, Elsa saw an old Devaronian. His horns were scraped and his green-skinned face was scorched and scarred. One of the blaster scars curved up his cheek and led towards the paleness of what had been an eye. Despite the horrors he'd endured, the Devaronian still smiled down to Elsa. "It will be alright," he said huskily. Elsa clutched his blanket and tried to speak, only she couldn't find the energy in herself to do so. "You don't have to say anything," the Devaronian assured. "Just...be." Elsa faintly smiled and nodded to him. As she embraced his kindness, a sudden boom echoed from beyond the transport's hull. This brief boom heralded several gasps as refugees hurried to the viewport. Elsa glanced back to observe the commotion, doing her best to see beyond the swarm of clustering heads. But no amount of panicking bodies could obscure the frightful sight of a wedge-shaped craft gliding into view. Elsa's heart dropped as an Imperial light cruiser emerged from hyperspace.

Not as massive or slow as a Star Destroyer, light cruisers were maneuverable...and far more numerous. They made the Imperial Navy all the more frightening, as it felt like every star system had a light cruiser in every quadrant. These ships patrolled they hyperspace lanes, monitoring everything from routine inspections to full combat. For those aboard the refugee craft, their worst fears had been realized. For those on the approaching cruiser, it was just another day at the office.

The gasps had turned to screams as refugees scrambled to and fro. They shoved at one another as if there was any place to go. While some wanted to believe the ship was only passing them by, those who truly knew the Empire understood that their freedom voyage was over. A man dropped to his knees in tears while the mother kissed her baby as if it would be the last.

Even the pilot had abandoned hope as the Imperial transmission came through over his comm channel. "Unmarked vessel!" the cruiser's admiral barked. "This is Admiral Orik of the Imperium. Identify yourself and present your chain code immediately." The pilot froze, knowing all faulty credentials would be discovered as forged. He sank back into his seat, never blinking once while listening to the agonizing cries of his passengers. "Unmarked vessel!" Admiral Orik shouted into the void. "Failure to comply will result in being boarded." The pilot's eyes reddened, swelling with tears. His bushy mustache quivered as he peered down at the ship's dashboard. The throttle was tempting out of desperation, but he knew it was a fool's hope. That they couldn't outrun an Imperial frigate. He'd smuggled enough refugees to know Imperial procedure. Failure to comply would mean getting boarded. Fleeing would result in getting gunned down. At least the boarding party would take prisoners and give people a chance elsewhere. The others a chance anyway. The pilot knew that if he were to be taken, the Empire would question how many refugees he'd transported. He'd be questioned about their motives and if they included a greater rebellion. And even if he'd told the truth through the worst of tortures...they still wouldn't believe him. "Final warning!" the admiral bellowed. Taking a deep breath, the pilot turned off comms and unclipped the underside of a dashboard compartment. As he did so, a blaster pistol dropped into his hand.

The transport rumbled and caused greater panic. "It's a tractor beam!" someone screamed. People shouted for their lives as the light cruiser came closer through the viewport.

Realizing that it was only a matter of time, the Devaronian gave the blanket a tug and forced Elsa up. She furrowed her brows in concern, rushing to form words as he guided her out of the main hold. Finally bringing it upon herself to speak, she asked, "What are you doing?"

"Saving your life," he hissed. "At least for now. The rest is up to you."

"I'm-"

The Devaronian pulled Elsa into a storage room. "A lot of these folks are on their first flight and don't know the trick. Imperial procedure is to do a sweep of the hold and inspect cargo. Ventilation goes unchecked. At least on the first go. It's the best shot I can give you-"

"I'm-" Elsa croaked. She shuddered as the transport locked against Imperial grips. More screams echoed from down the hall. "I'm not worth it."

"Of course you are," the Devaronian insisted. With a heavy sigh, he gestured to himself. "I have lived my life. Fought my wars. Yours isn't done."

"You don't even know me," Elsa derided.

"You don't need to know someone to have hope." He yanked open one of the ventilation grates and cupped his hands together. "Now there's no more time for debating. Get in!" With nearly forty years to her name, Elsa found it in herself to trust him. She stepped on the elder's hands as he boosted her into the vents. Once tossing her in, he sealed the chamber. "May the Force be with you," he said.

"What?" Elsa uttered.

"It's something that Jedi used to say," he replied. "They may not be around anymore, but those words always gave me courage. May it do the same for you."

Elsa paused on his words as the stranger became a distorted blur. He vanished back into the hold and Elsa crept deeper into the vents. Tucking away, she wrapped herself in the blanket and braced. For after all of the clamoring came a horrid stillness. The likes of which brought greater panic to those in the hold. What started as individual screaming soon became coupled with those of troopers shouting commands. Shuffling emanated throughout the ship as refugees were captured by the boarding party. In time, their wails faded...even those of the crying infant. Elsa could only hope the child hadn't been separated from its mother. More voices echoed through the shaft as several knocks came through.

"Open up in there!" a stormtrooper could be heard demanding. "Open up!"

Elsa initially thought they were coming for her, but soon realized that those echoes were coming from the cockpit. In that instant, a single blastershot sounded throughout the vessel. Elsa's blood ran cold as she balled herself up in the vents.

"Get that door open now!" a trooper could be heard hollering. Grinds and scratches hissed as the soldiers forced the cockpit doors open. "Team to command," he called in. "Pilot's dead. Proceeding with sweep."

Elsa hugged herself tight, bracing as footsteps clamored throughout the ship. The occasional door hissed as rooms were cleared and she awaited the inevitable storage entrance. Closing her eyes, Elsa found herself alone with a quickening heartbeat and rising nausea. In years long past, moments like this would warrant a familiar coping mechanism. She'd shut her eyes and ground herself by the Will of the Force. But now she felt abandoned...or rather that she had abandoned it.

Elsa clenched up as several troopers clamored into the storage room. She held her breath for as long as she could, ultimately resorting to shortened gasps. Her eyes listed through the shadowy vent as footsteps sounded below. "Performing sweep," a trooper said.

"Copy that," another responded as they scoured the area.

The faint flicker of searchlights occasionally reached the ventilation grates, making Elsa worry that they were heading towards her. Instead, the stormtroopers kept their focus on the crates below and any shelving units. She let herself fully exhale as a stormtrooper declared, "Storage is clear. Awaiting orders."

A call soon came through over comms. "Seize the hold and prepare for transport to nearest military station," it said.

"Copy command. Locking down."

Elsa swallowed hard and backed up further into the vents. As she tightly held on to herself, the clanging of heavy machinery scraped across the vessel. It sounded as though the storage unit was being disassembled from the rest of the craft...and perhaps it was. All Elsa could do was hold on, bracing herself for wherever the Empire was taking the equipment. The cacophony was profuse, making her bury her face in the bulk of her cloak. When it came to a stop, the new means of transportation shifted into the familiar launch of hyperspace. Of which had Elsa's already anxious stomach churning.

She hadn't taken flight sickness pills in years and her condition had only worsened. With minimal food in her system, all she could do was press against the vent shaft and repeatedly dry heave. As mental and physical exhaustion took hold, Elsa found herself leaning into the cloak. The heavy lull of the rattling shaft coupled with her soft cloak had her eyes closing as she drifted into much-needed slumber.

Elsa had forgotten the meaning of peaceful sleep. For many under the stresses of what they'd experienced, getting some shuteye meant a temporary escape. For Elsa, she still heard the screams from all those years ago. She saw Stel's lifeless body, heard Frost's final whispers, and felt Yelena's last touch. That pain would often have her shuddering awake. Only this time, she was propelled by a heavy bang. It was stronger than something rocketing out of hyperspace and had Elsa slowly stirring.

Opening her reddened eyes, she stretched her body through the cramped vent. As she tried to make sense of what she'd heard. a second blast reverberated throughout the ship. Several bumps and ripples had Elsa peering down the shaft as the vent suddenly burst from its furthest side. Flames briefly spewed and gave way to powerful gusts from a silvery sky.

Terrified, Elsa crawled back from where she'd came and made for the grates. With the shaft exploded, Elsa could hear distant laserfire beaming through unknown skies. Warning sirens blared as she kicked the grate down and plummeted back into the storage room. Unsure where to go, Elsa found herself standing amidst a deathtrap of sliding crates. Several pieces of cargo had come undone as another blast struck the vessel's underside. This formed a massive burst in the hull, sucking supplies out and into unknown reaches. Elsa lost her footing and went tumbling towards the gap. Desperate, she grabbed on to a nearby crate that was still locked into its shelving unit. Her security was short-lived as she noticed the bolts loosening under pressure.

Elsa's breathy gasps became muffled screams as the crate was dislodged from its shelf. She and her only handhold were expelled clean out of the vessel, beginning a freefalling descent into an unknown atmosphere. Mere seconds of eerie silence ensued as Elsa peered up at the swirling clouds. An Imperial transport had been modified to carry the severed storage unit on its underside. But its destination no longer mattered as anti-air weaponry opened fire from the planet's surface. With another strike to its engines, the transport exploded and took a drastic nosedive through the clouds.

Elsa's cloak flipped upward, catching air in the least effective way possible. She clung to the crate for dear life as countless other units fell alongside her. Their speed was only increasing as they fell towards a snowy landscape. Elsa couldn't trust herself to use the Force. Perhaps in her prime, she could fathom the concept of stopping such a high-velocity object. But this was far too much. So much, that a grim thought crossed her mind. As Elsa found herself lost among the clouds, a voice within tempted her...to let go. That same voice urged her to just close her eyes and let the collision happen. That it would all be over soon. The faces...the nightmares...the voices...All she had to do was-

A scarlet strobe on the bottom of the crate caught Elsa's attention. In the event of a sudden drop, all shipments were equipped with emergency repulsorlifts. Fighting dizziness and gravity, Elsa pulled herself along the rapidly descending crate. Her fingertips scraped along its furrowed edges as she reached the strobing switch. With a heavy pull, Elsa activated the repulsorlifts. Upon doing so, a miniature gravity well ignited from each of the crate's corners. The sudden stop from her fall had Elsa slamming against the top of the crate. Nausea met her in full swing as she took a deep and hearty breath. While the repulsorlifts weren't strong enough to keep the crate stationary, they helped steady its drop to the fields below.

As Elsa caught her breath, she found her sweaty face chilled by a frigid breeze. Peering out across the land, she saw expansive snowfields. As the ship and rest of the supply crates crashed down to them, Elsa noticed a city far to the north. Grey structures extended past the icy hills as smokestacks spouted smog into the air. "A-...Aren?" Elsa croaked. Only it couldn't have been, for there wasn't a fjord nor forest in sight. The fires of industry continued to burn in the distance while a light snowfall stretched for miles. The whiteout was so thick, that Elsa had nearly lost track of depth perception. She'd become closer to the ground than she realized as her crate struck a snow mound with a thud. Rolling off and into the slush, she embraced the chill with a heavy sigh of relief.

She could barely take a moment, even on ground level, as the echo of vehicles filled the air. With widened eyes, Elsa bolted up from the snow. She peered across the debris field to see a horde of frosty landspeeders and speeder bikes on the approach. If there was any moment of doubt over the occupants, Elsa panicked when one of the silhouettes had a driver carrying a rifle. "Come on!" he hollered as Elsa took cover behind her crate. She was in no shape for a quick getaway, and instead heard the combined shouts of an incoming raiding party.

The vehicles came to a halt at the crash site and a variety of passengers quickly disembarked. Still raising his rifle to rally the others, a heavily-bundled Rodian kept shouting commands. "Keep pushing! Grab whatever you can!"

"Sigmo!" a woman yelled amid the chaos. As the figure staggered into view, Elsa glimpsed a stocky Twi'lek. Her purple lekku dangled over a black jacket as she approached the Rodian. "This is too much!"

"And look at the spoils," Sigmo fired back. "The Empire brought this on themselves. Now grab what you can because our window is closing." She stared him down. "Or would you rather stay here and debate with me, Makari?" Frustrated, the Twi'lek jogged away to help the group salvage supplies.

Dented crates were popped open while other raiders scrounged up rations that had spewed into the fields. Elsa gasped when they reached her crate and began prying open its lid. One of the hooded raiders noticed Elsa, observed her cloaked attire, and returned to his business. The eldest Dellian crawled away from the madness and cautiously watched it unfold. The crashed ship was like a dying animal, whose disemboweled entrails were being fed on by ravenous insects along the snow.

A series of heavy grunts caught Elsa's attention as she observed a smaller, lankier individual. This teenager was trying to pull open a larger crate by herself. And with each mighty tug, her bright yellow lekku swished in exasperation. Elsa's eyes widened when she noticed that a severed piece of the transport's hull was lodged atop the crate. And if the young Twi'lek were to move it any further, she'd be crushed to death. Still, the teen persisted.

"S-" Elsa croaked. "S...stop."

There was eagerness in the young girl. Willingness reminiscent of Elsa's own apprentice. "I've almost...got it!" she panted.

"Stop," Elsa whispered, feeling as though she was speaking much louder. Her heart skipped a beat as she predicted the inevitable. She saw the crushed teen laying there, and that body reminded her of Stel's.

"Gotcha!" the Twi'lek rejoiced as she dislodged the crate. Her smile instantly faded as the heavy grind of machinery sounded above. She sank back into the snow as the debris' dreadful silhouette consumed her bright essence. Frozen in terror, all she could do was scream and shield her eyes from instant death...only it never came. It was as if a heavy gust of wind had blown the metal away and sent it crashing mere inches beside her. The Twi'lek stared at her would-be demise, tears streaming down her face.

"Avett!" a voice called out. "Sister!" The purple Twi'lek dropped to her knees and embraced her younger sibling. "Are you okay?" she asked, checking her over. "What were you thinking?"

"I'm-...alright, Makari. I just-...I-"

"Don't even speak," Makari insisted. "It's a miracle that you're alive."

"Yeah...a miracle."

She took Avett's hands in hers and helped her up. "I'm getting you back on the bike right now. We shouldn't even be here."

As the Twi'leks scurried away, Elsa was left staring at her hand. She hadn't felt such a sensation in years. Not willingly anyway. How it had just burst into her palm in the spur of the moment. Seeing that girl in such danger reminded her of the Siege of Carida during the Clone Wars. She recalled how terrified her Padawan had been and the words she'd told him.

"You shouldn't be here. None of us should be in this terrible situation. But hear me, apprentice. We are Jedi. And right now people need us. Can you help me to help them?"

Elsa flashed herself back to the present as she watched people scavenging Imperial supplies. She thought about the Devaronian stranger who'd saved her life. How he'd believed in her and never even known her. Perhaps the words of her past were now here for her. And that she had to be as kind to herself as a stranger was to her.

The raiders kept loading their vehicles, occasionally dropping supplies from over-carrying. Sigmo continued to oversee the process as a horrific, metallic sound came from beyond the slopes. The locals were all too familiar with it and descended into panic. "Walker!" someone bleated betwixt the crowd, dropping all of his gear and fleeing.

Their time window had expired as an Imperial recovery team arrived. Led in by an AT-ST, the unit was comprised of two squads of stormtroopers who immediately opened fire. The Empire had no interest in prisoners given the circumstance and viewed everyone stealing from an Imperial crash site to be hostile. The AT-ST's heavy laser cannons bombarded the snowfields, leaving massive craters and scrap swirling through the air.

"Sigmo!" Makari yelled while ushering Avett to safety. "We have enough! We need to fall back!"

"Those rations will last us a week tops," the Rodian blurted with wild and bulbous eyes. "There's a few more crates by the crash. We can still get them! I'll catch up!"

"You're gonna get yourself killed!"

"One life for all of yours," Sigmo huffed while charging up his rifle. Simpering, he nodded to her and her sister. "I always knew this was a one way trip." He dashed back into the field and called out to several others. "Grab the crates! I'll cover you!"

"Sigmo!" Avett cried as Makari forced her onto a speeder bike.

The Rodian slid into cover and taunted the stormtroopers in his native tongue. "Oona goota?" Blindly firing from cover, he drew their attention away from the crates. This split second was enough time to get his people more supplies. While he managed to blast one stormtrooper, another struck him in the shoulder. Sigmo tumbled behind debris, checking his wound and ammunition. "Ittu!" he cursed. "Te jacta. Skak."

As Elsa ran away from the field, one of the landspeeders slowed beside her. Mistaking her haggard and cloaked appearance as one of the raiders, the driver yelled, "Get in!" Much to Elsa's surprise even the speeder's overloaded bed was full of welcoming, dirt-stained hands reaching out to her. Out of options, Elsa took the ride and blended in among hooded figures.

The fading sounds of speeders brought a smile to Sigmo's snout. For no matter what happened to him, he'd won. His community...his found family...would live to fight another day. As he rose from cover to return fire, he found himself staring down the AT-ST's laser cannons. Avett glanced back from the speeder bike, even as the skirmish had become a distant smoke cloud across the snow.

The raiding party changed directions twice to cover their tracks in an icy pass, ultimately pulling in to a slum district. The likes of which led Elsa into the grey-toned city she'd seen from the sky. The smog was even worse just beneath, where the sun had been blotted out entirely. Snow and ash seemed to be one in the same as dark sludge dripped from rooftops. Once the vehicles were parked, the raiders dispersed and rushed supplies into separate garages. Those who had nothing to carry simply returned to their impoverished lifestyles and gathered around poorly maintained fire pits.

With nowhere else to go, Elsa sat at the nearest pit and remover her hood. Her long, unbraided waves were a mess from the skirmish. She let her face get lost in every strand as she stared into the dwindling fire. Her tired eyes occasionally glanced at those around her, and that same sadness from the refugee transport returned. To see so many lost souls trapped in a miserable place. As much as Elsa wanted to blame the Empire, she couldn't help but wonder how many places in the galaxy had always been full of such suffering. And how many places were willingly ignored by the Jedi? Despite the group's achievement of scavenging supplies, there wasn't a single song to be sung. No one had a moment of revelry, and instead mourned those they'd lost. Those they'd continue to lose while maintaining any sliver of sanity in such harsh conditions. Elsa watched a man delicately rip open his ration packet and lose several crumbs from the motion. Instead of leaving them be, he chose to eat those off of the floor to savor anything he could get.

Elsa looked at her hand and recalled the Force that had pulsed from it. I felt you, she thought to herself. But I don't see you. I don't hear you. Not in a place like this.

"Excuse me," a young voice beckoned and Elsa flinched. She turned over to see Avett holding out a ration packet. "I've never seen you before," the Twi'lek said. "You must be starving." Avett's bright yellow face was set aglow by the fire's light.

After seeing the other man's desperation to eat, Elsa shook her head. "No, thank you" she refused. "It's your food."

"What if...we share?" Avett insisted and sat beside her. Gently tearing it open, she broke off a piece and handed it to Elsa.

With a heavy sigh, she relented and accepted the Twi'lek's kindness. She got two bites in before Makari came stomping over. "Sis!" she scolded. "What are you doing?"

"Eating?" Avett said shyly.

Makari's glare was deathly. "What is the point of having food if you're going to give it away?"

"What's the point of stealing from the Empire if we don't share?" Avett quipped.

Makari rubbed her violet temples and groaned. "Why are you like this?...Just-" She jabbed a furious finger. "Make-"

"Make sure I eat enough. Got it." Avett scoffed and Elsa chuckled.

Makari crossed her arms. "Something funny, old lady?"

Elsa was too busy chuckling at their attitudes to find the age remark insulting. "It's...nothing really," she sighed, urging herself to speak up more. "You just remind me of my sister and I when we were younger."

Makari rolled her eyes while sitting beside them. "Did your sister make you want to scream too?"

"Almost every day," Elsa reminisced.

Avett munched on another ration before warming her hands up. "I'm sorry you lost her."

"AVETT!" Makari scolded and yanked at her frail arm. "I am so sorry, miss-"

"Don't be," Elsa assured and glanced at the little sister. "What makes you say that?"

"Because she's not with you," Avett answered after pondering for a moment. "And sisters stick together." She smiled at Makari. "No matter what." As much as her words were meant to be reassuring, she noticed the sadness on Elsa's face. "We've lost people too."

"Avett," Makari whispered sharply.

"It's okay," Elsa was quick to reply. "I think it's safe to say that in these times, loss is all too common."

Makari nodded slowly. "Our mother was killed when the Separatists came to Ryloth. Avett was only a baby at the time. Our father...he was a good man."

"A hero!" Avett declared and pretended to hold an imaginary blaster. "He protected us from the droids and the Empire! He fought to keep us safe!" Her valiant demeanor faded as she sunk back by the fire. "And then one day, the Empire came to our city. He and so many spoke out to protect us."

Makari took Avett's hand in hers. "They were taken and never seen again. We're all that's left now. Even as the Empire chips away at us month by month."

"I'm so sorry," Elsa mourned. "I lost my parents too. They fought for what they believed in."

"That's all any of us are doing here," Makari admitted. "Although fighting seems useless compared to surviving. As you heard, I'm Makari. The little sun here is Avett."

"I'm-" the older Dellian paused, unable to recall the last time she'd introduced herself to anyone. On a fool's hope, she almost trusted the youth with her real name. And in a flash of terror, Elsa imagined them being interrogated under the Empire's wrath. Such thoughts had her shivering as she forced a smile and answered, "Menzel."

"That's a pretty name," Avett lauded.

"You say that to everyone you meet," Makari grumbled.

"So?" Avett snapped. "Instant confidence. Everyone's name is pretty and they should hear it."

Elsa smirked at the teen's boast, yet couldn't help but raise a brow at their environment. "Where exactly am I?" she asked.

"Trito," the eldest Twi'lek said. "One of the biggest industrial cities here on Ghorman. It was once a melting pot for workers across the galaxy. When Ryloth was ravaged by the Separatists, our father brought us here under the Republic's refugee laws. But whether it was the Republic or the Empire, they still didn't care and left us here. Now Ghorman's populace has been suffering. The Empire expects us to keep working their mines and shipyards, but cuts our food supplies in the same breath. Look how we're living," Makari gestured to the slums. "Look how-" Noticing the discomfort it was bringing Avett, she paused and took a breath. "All we have is each other and we're lucky enough to be granted that. This raid today was out of control and-"

In that instant, the roar of a speeder bike reverberated from down the alleyway. Citizens scrambled to their feet while others idly accepted fate. Elsa braced herself while Makari instinctually pushed Avett back into the shadows. "Stay there," she urged.

"But sis-"

"Keep your head low!" Makari scolded while she went to investigate.

Relief came over her as a co-worker from the local mine came riding in. His dreary, sunken eyes were the only thing atop through his crimson scarf. "Have you seen the HoloNews?" he panted through the fabric.

"No-" Makari stammered. "No? What?"

Her coworker swished a hand towards the crowd of rising civilians. "The Imps tortured Sigmo. Got'em good they did. He didn't go lightly by the looks of it." The news spurred gasps as he hung his head in despair. "They-...strung him up on display in the square. Trying to send a message they are no doubt."

Makari noticed her curious sibling in the back and brought her voice down to a whisper. "O-okay," she murmured. "That's enough, Grisk."

"I wouldn't worry too much, love." Grisk shrugged. "Sigmo was scrawny, but that Rodian was tougher than durasteel."

"He never should've hijacked that anti-air station."

"But he knew what he was doing, love. What he was getting himself into." Grisk gestured to the populace around them. "It was never about him. Only about getting us all what we need."

"But for how long?" Makari mourned. "As noble as his sacrifice was...how long before we run low again-" She glanced over at Avett. "And another radical plays hero?"

"Stay present," Grisk insisted. "Besides, I doubt Sigmo gave the Imps anything. They beat'em up bad they did. Probably took his life before he even peeped."

"Thanks for the updates," Makari sighed. "I'm going to keep an eye on my sister. I don't want her seeing any of this." She stepped away while Grisk filled other onlookers in. As she returned to the fire pit, her heart sank to see Elsa hunched alone. The Twi'lek's eyes widened as she looked further through the slums and found a group of clustered denizens. Among them stood Avett, with her eyes glued to a flickering datapad. "Avett!" Makari called out to no avail.

Although outdated and cracked, the screen still showed a gruesome display of Sigmo's mangled body dangling in the square. While many looked on in disgust, pure terror struck Avett. Her breaths shortened as sweat trickled down her golden cheeks. She looked as though she'd burst into tears, and instead unleashed a sharp scream.

"Move," Makari spoke sternly, shoving past Elsa and making her way to a dilapidated tent. "Hold on Avett!" she assured. "I'm coming!" She soon came running back with a unique totem cradled in her hands. By the time Makari reached her sister, Grisk was already trying to comfort her.

"Calm down, kiddo," he said as she panicked in his arms. "I'll get your hallikset. Wanna play a song?"

"You can't rush these things!" Makari snapped and immediately watched her tone. Avett shuddered and wriggled out of Grisk's grasp. She curled up into a ball and whimpered. "Avett?" Makari whispered soothingly. "I'm here, Little Sun. I've got you." Avett sobbed into her chest and succumbed to her embrace. "It's okay." Once she had a safe hold on Avett, Makari held up the totem close. "Look, sis." she said and held the heirloom close. "The kalikori." Each of its intricate strands displayed a unique piece of family artwork. Avett's whimpers became sniffles while Makari pointed. "Who's this, hm?" She let her finger stop on a set of etched, vibrant swirls.

"G-Grandfather and Grandmother," Avett answered.

"That's right," her big sister whispered. "And down here?" She gestured to a pair of indigo wings.

The sight had Avett's lip quivering. "Mother...and Father," she uttered.

Makari nodded and smiled softly. She fought to withhold her own tears and said, "They loved you so much, Avett."

"Mak...I'm so sorry," Avett whimpered. "It's all my fault. I'm not strong enough. Not to help Father...or Sigmo...or you...or anyone."

"No," Makari assured and hugged her sister tight. "Avett, what happened is not your fault and I'll say it as many times as I need to." She held her tight and kissed her forehead. "It's not your fault. None of this pain is your fault. None of us should be here." Makari sighed. "But we are. And I'm not going anywhere you're not. I'm staying with you until-" Makari raised a brow when her sister's attention seemed to be focused elsewhere. "Avett?"

Her little sister scrubbed her remaining tears. "Where's Menzel?" she asked. Together the Twi'lek's stared at the empty space where Elsa once sat.

Nightfall on Ghorman was just as dreary as daybreak. The mines never quieted with one overworked shift replacing another. Snow and ash still messed with one another to create an eerie mix of substances along poorly hinged rooftops. The likes of which Elsa found herself traversing. She moved like a troubled shadow, occasionally losing her balance on thin sheets of ice. The nighttime breeze brought brief comfort to her skin...before clouds of smog reached her lungs. As Elsa neared Trito's square, a sudden announcement had her dropping against the rooftop.

A cubical, Imperial recon transport hovered through the lower streets. An officer's voice blared from speakers mounted on all four corners. "Curfew is in effect! All citizens are to remain indoors until morning or their designated shift time!"

As that transport carried on, a second vehicle paused on the adjacent street. A blinding searchlight pierced through the darkness and settled on a hobbling Nikto. "Halt citizen!" the transport's overseer shouted. "Remain where you are!"

"No, please!" he begged and raised his trembling, gloved hands. "I was just looking for an extra shift! I need more credits!" Two snowtroopers exited the craft and were quick to approach him. "I just need more work. That's all I need. That's all I-" Elsa flinched as one of the troopers struck the man with the butt of his blaster. The blow to his torso was enough to have him falling forward into the second trooper's grip. Together, the soldiers detained him and threw him into the transport.

Elsa didn't realize how much the sight terrified her until she noticed how tightly she was gripping the rooftop. Her knuckles reddened against the icy shingles, quivering as she let go. The transport departed, leaving her laying in darkness. Catching her breath, Elsa continued to come to terms with how far she'd fallen. During the age of the old Republic, she wouldn't have hesitated to help that man. Even helping Avett had been a shocking impulse. But even what she was about to do was a risky leap.

To Elsa's intrigue, the town square was abandoned. If one thing had remained consistent about the Empire over time, it was its gross overconfidence. They followed a similar strategy on all worlds, prioritizing the protection of economic and military assets. Most troop transports and heavy sentries had been moved to the mines and other ongoing foundries. As for the civilian dwellings, the Empire was hardly present after a certain time. All they had to do was instill fear. Once the initial consequences had been established, they no longer had to worry about people stepping out of line. At least that's what they told themselves. Still, Elsa wouldn't be in the square any longer than she had to be.

She considered dropping to ground level, but realized her footprints would be left behind in the snow. Instead, Elsa cautiously crept along the remaining rooftops, making her way to the square's centerpiece. Noticing the grandiose hooks on its ledges, Elsa deduced the centerpiece was reveled in simpler times. She imagined a calmer Ghorman, where the festivities were hung from the square...adorned and celebrated. Now the stench of a frosted corpse reached Elsa's nose. Despite how proud he'd been in life, Sigmo's body had given up on him. The Rodian's starry eyes had gelled over and the green streams of blood across his body had glazed. Thick wiring kept his arms mounted to the hooks as a dreadful display...or a grievous martyr. Elsa shook her head at the sight, and rushed to free Sigmo from his snares.

Elsa impulsively reached for her lightsaber, and instantly froze upon feeling that arcetron hilt. The metal in her palm had her shuddering, as her eyes darted back and forth to the body. Her mind spiraled as she hesitated to clasp the weapon. She recalled renouncing it in the first place. Even just imagining its azure ignition had her heart racing. Her eyes widened, for she didn't see Sigmo's body hanging...but Commander Frost's. His sad, deathly gaze brought tears to Elsa's eyes as she shook away the sight. As easy as it would make her task, she couldn't use a lightsaber.

Instead, Elsa raised an open palm. Taking deep breaths between her sniffles, she tapped into the dormant power within. She focused on the hooks, picturing them in her mind as she closed her eyes. Fear pried at her with each motion, but she fought to concentrate on an image of Avett and Makari. She found solace in their innocence and exhaled calmly. As Elsa did so, the wiring started to loosen.

Living in the city slums, Makari had grown accustomed to hearing the constant cacophony of shuffles and bickers. But Avett knew better than to deprive her big sister of much-needed slumber unless the situation were serious. Which was all the more reason for Makari to be bolting upright as Avett shoved her awake.

"Sis! Sis! Sis!" Avett blurted.

Makari shook off her grogginess, grabbing a dented ladle as if it would be any means of defense. "Wha-what is it?"

"Hurry?" her sister said. "Come see!" Avett dashed out of the tent, forcing Makari to hobble out.

Scrubbing her eyes, she observed a solemn gathering just beyond the slums. Citizens had bunched towards a patch of land where Grisk could be seen shoveling dirt and snow. "What's this all about?" Makari mumbled as they approached the group. Her breath hitched as she peered down, briefly glimpsing Sigmo's remains as Grisk finished the burial.

"For all he did...for all of us," Grisk panted. "He deserves this much."

"I don't understand," Makari persisted. "How is this possible?"

"The body just showed up this morning," he answered while continuing to shovel.

"The Empire would never-" Makari uttered.

In spite of their harsh reality, Avett found her self smiling hopefully. "It's a miracle," she said and peered beyond the crowds. She quickly glimpsed Elsa's cloaked figure overlooking the burial before returning to the slums. "A...miracle."

As Elsa knelt at a nearby fire pit, she felt a long lost sense of accomplishment within. A sliver of goodness amid such trying times. Her Force attunement was off balance, but she could sense the darkness on Ghorman. It took her back to a conversation with her lost apprentice.

"It's the Dark Side, Stel. And it's had years to thrive. Festering amid the corruption of those in power. Twisting in the hateful hearts of the oppressed. Spreading like a virus across the fires of industry."

"How do we stop it all?" Stel had asked her.

"We are Jedi," a much more confident Elsa had proclaimed. "As servants of light, we will bring peace and hope to this planet."

Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading this week's chapter of "The Frozen Force!" I'll see you next time for "Chapter: 128 - The Spark."

Long Live Imagination and May the Force be with You,

~ Sparks