ADVISORY: The following chapter contains sensitive material relating to: Violence and abuse. Remember to practice self care before, during, and after reading.
Chapter: 137 The Battle for Avinaria (Part I)
- ACCESSING IMPERIAL NETWORK -
IHC: Imperial High Command to all regional governors of the Outer Rim. By order of Grand Moff Tarkin, the summit will commence in one month. Make sure all statistical files are updated in time for proper inspection. Failure to comply will not be tolerated.
Silver clouds streaked across the overcast skies of Avinaria. Smoke rose to meet those clouds on the outskirts of Tristis. Overcrowding had become an ongoing concern in the slum districts, forcing the ramshackle complexes to extend towards the gravel-paved turf leading towards the forest. Despite these dreary conditions, the children of Avinaria still found reasons to play amongst each other. They dashed and fluttered about, muddying their already soiled feathers as engines rumbled in the distance.
This rising whir of machinery had the children stopping in their tracks and sent elders scrambling out of their homes. Distinct chirps and chitters went out as parents beckoned their children back inside. An Imperial troop transport skulked its way through, startling the locals as stormtroopers were quick to disembark. Just the sight of their pale and pristine armor was enough to have Avinarians hanging their heads. His day was just beginning, and the unit's officer was already frustrated with his current orders. He stepped out of the transport, scoffing at inhabitants while swishing his hand towards the capital.
"By order of Governor Reina," he decreed. "All Avinarians dwelling in here are to relocate back to the capital. This section of land is for industrial purposes only."
While some Avinarians quietly complied and packed their things, others talked amongst themselves. A dusty, green-feathered civilian raised a clipped wing to speak up. "With-" he coughed. "-all due respect, officer..." He hadn't even finished his statement and the Imperial was already seething with disgust. "There is no room left for us in the capital housing units. We were already living on top of each other as is. And the governor allowed us to set up shacks out here months ago."
The officer had no time for defiance, and struck the Avinarian with the bottom of his fist. As his victim painfully cawed into submission, the officer growled to the onlookers. "Any other questions? Then start packing! Move!" He stomped his foot as a sharp hiss whizzed through the air. A flicker of blue struck the officer's chest and sent him rolling to the floor. Both stormtroopers and Avinarians alike were stunned as the officer fell dead, his face frozen in a state of shock.
At first, the troopers believed the shot had come from one of the civilians, and turned their attention to the slums. And as they did so, a volley of blue muzzle flashes emerged from the forest. Catching the troopers by surprise, these multi-level shots were lethal and precise. Troopers dropped in waves, struggling to form up with their commanding officer dead.
"Defensive positions!" a trooper yelled.
"The forest!" another shouted. "The forest! Return fire!"
After taking heavy losses, the Imperials were shocked to see that the enemy blasterfire had started to fade. "We've got them on the run," a trooper panted. "Crush them!" Eager to avenge their leader, the remaining stormtroopers charged into the forest. One by one, their armored bodies disappeared into the shadows as the civilians watched from their homes.
Stillness fell across the outskirts while rain trickled from above. And one by one, the stormtroopers' muffled calls rang out with the sounds of sporadic blasterfire. Their commanding tones had turned to frightened shouts as a nimble figure barreled between them. While some Avinarians stayed hidden, others had to get a closer look. Some children peeked from their shack windows, just in time to see a bizarre...green blade swishing though the shadows. With each mighty slash, a stormtrooper's shadow fell to darkness. The blade's wielder finished the troopers off as silence returned, and the silhouettes returned to the forest.
"Look!" a civilian squawked and pointed from his window.
Barely emerging from the treeline, Ryx dropped his smoking rifle and let it hang to his side. Extending his feathers amid the storm, he shouted to his downtrodden people. "Raise your wings!"
His call echoed for a moment, almost frightening those in the slums. It was then that the very Avinarian the officer had struck emerged. Regardless of his bloodied face, he lifted his clipped wings in defiance. "Raise...your...WINGS!" he shouted back. While some Avinarians refused to partake, several others emerged from the slums and joined in the chant. Ryx grinned as an entire group formed, raising their wings back to him. Some even left what they had in the slums and ran to the forest to join their ranks.
"Raise your wings!" Ryx chanted again until Anna patted him on the shoulder.
"Okay, big guy," she said. "Time to go." Together, they regrouped with the Resistance and disappeared back into the forest...leaving the Imperial comm channels buzzing to figure out what had happened.
The sun was setting over an Imperial forestry team. Machinery was preparing to advance on the next set of trilli trees when a thermal detonator burst near its frontal repulorslift. The bulldozer crashed, prompting stormtroopers to run over and investigate the incident. As the unit arrived, a wave of lasers emerged from ensuing smoke. Vona charged in, her bulky wings carrying a heavy, rotary blaster. This multi-round monstrosity unloaded a storm of plasma into the surprised troopers while others raced to recover.
As another group of stormtroopers formed up, they were shot from behind as Ryx and Idrial advanced. While her husband stuck to his rifle, she fired her pistol into a trooper's face. One of the Imperials tried to take the high ground, and position himself atop the broken bulldozer. But once he reached the wreckage, an unseen force pushed him off of the ledge. Raising her hand, Anna lifted the man and hurled him directly into her lightsaber.
The silhouette of a TIE fighter shifted as its well-known screech filled the air. It began its descent alongside the sunrise, performing a low flyby across the forest canopy. Captain Tinun emerged from atop one of the branches, his talons digging in to steady himself. Raising a rocket launcher, he fired after securing a lock-on. The missile swirled through the air, ultimately blasting the TIE fighter and sending its remnants crashing in a smoldering fireball.
Speeder bike headlights darted over the Zenaida Fields as a group of scout troopers patrolled the night. Blades of grass were all blurs to them, as were the tripwires set up ahead. By the time the lead biker spotted the thick wiring, his chest was already binding against it. He and another trooper went tumbling while their bikes crashed ahead. The rest of the troopers took evasive action, swerving around just as a Resistance member rose from the tall grass.
"Fire!" Idrial commanded as her and Ryx led the shooting. It was hardly much of a firefight, as the bikers were gunned down before they could take aim.
A survivor weaved between the blasts and accelerated to retreat. But before he could report back to base, a green lightsaber emerged from the tall grass. With a vicious upward slash, Anna severed the bike's power cortex and sent its rider spinning out of control. He crashed into one of the hills, and his explosion lit up the night.
Payori Village was alive with the sounds of proud chirps and cheers as Resistance fighters brought in a hijacked supply transport. While Tinun drove...Anna, the Fincs, and several fighters emerged from the dorsal hatch. Together they tossed an array of stolen goods down to those who'd gathered around the transport. Anything from ammunition, blasters, food, and medical supplies dropped into joyous Avinarian wings.
Over the weeks, morale had soared with each successful strike. And the Resistance had even managed to recruit more fed up civilians to their cause. Idrial tossed her last medpac to a soldier and then stood tall with Vona.
"Yeah!" Olgi cheered her family on as Minerva clapped alongside her. This prompted the Resistance to applaud even louder.
"Raise your wings!" Ryx shouted to the crowd as Avinarians of all backgrounds stood as one. It mattered not if their wings were intact or if they'd been clipped...they rose them together. Wanting to make Anna feel included, Ryx lifted her hand and yelled, "The Force is with us!"
Surprisingly, the once reserved and deriding crowd now leapt for joy. So much so, that Anna couldn't remember the last time that anything she did was celebrated. It was enough to bring a faint, yet accomplished smile to her lips. Ryx put a wing around her as they dismounted from the transport. "You did this," he said.
"Well..." she replied. "We did all of this. It's been a group effort."
"Indeed," Idrial added, having overheard their conversation. "But your abilities have been a game changer for us. And each victory has only helped strengthen the Resistance. We couldn't have come this far without you, Anna. And with that being said, I owe you an apology." Anna raised a brow as Idrial continued. "When we first met, I didn't think much of you. Let alone believe you were an actual Jedi. But then again, the last Jedi to reach Avinaria disgraced us all."
"I have to go with Mom on this one," Vona confessed. "I wasn't sure what Dad saw in you, but you've proved us all wrong."
As the ladies departed, Captain Tinun offered a respectful nod and said, "After everything the Empire has put us through. Put...me through." He gently rubbed his scarred wings. "It's meant a lot to make them pay for it and raise my wings again. Thank you, Jedi."
Ryx smiled at Anna and kept walking with her. "When I say 'you did this'...I'm not just referring to helping the Resistance." She appeared perplexed at first as he continued. "I've been counting the days, Anna. I know it hasn't been easy. I've still heard you some nights and I've been there for the breakdowns. But you've now been clean for an entire month. And that's pretty damn special. I know it doesn't always feel like it, but I see it in you. Your skin looks brighter. You look well-rested. You're eating."
"It's been hell, I'll admit." Anna answered. "Our missions have been solid distractions, yet the itches still come back at times. But-..." Anna bit her lip, processing her full thought. "I haven't felt this...good in years, Ryx. No matter the situation, I can at least say that I can feel everything happening. Every real emotion instead of just being numb to it all. I feel alive-...and-"
"And?" Ryx worried.
"Relieved to know that the Berry Supreme Juice thing you make is actually sweet and not bitter." Ryx and Anna shared a laugh as a somber thought crossed her mind. "Do you think it's too late?" she asked. "To find Elsa and the others? Mend what I broke?"
Ryx didn't even have to think about his response. His stare was unblinking as he leaned towards her with a proud grin. Keeping his wing on her shoulder, he said, "Whenever you feel like something is impossible, I want you to remember how far you've come. All that you've healed from. It's never...ever...too late."
In that instant, Anna surprised Ryx with a grateful embrace. He gasped at first, but then happily accepted the hug. "Thank you, Ryx." Anna whispered as she disappeared beneath his wings. "For everything."
The frequent humming of holograms should be considered routine for a regional governor. But for Reina, this irksome sound was so foreign, that she had to hide her irritated sneers. She sat in a darkened office, surrounded by holograms of fellow governors from across the stars. At the center of it all sat Grand Moff Tarkin himself...tired and in no mood for setbacks. His unwavering, steely-eyed gaze surveyed the group as he reported on happenings. "I understand we've seen a rise in incursions across the Outer Rim," he said. "Need I remind you why it is you were all chosen. As governors, you are the future rulers of your assigned worlds. These are not temporary missions or routine promotions. These are your true responsibilities. Some of you believe that the Outer Rim can never be tamed, and it is that logic which breeds continuous failure." His hologram gestured to the guilty officials in the room. "Mandalore is fighting back. Jedha's mining operations have stalled due to local terrorist attacks. And need I say more about Avinaria?" His stare lingered on the stoic Governor Reina for a moment.
Knowing she was the subject anyway, Reina opted to speak up and get it over with. "You've made your point very clear, sir," she said. "And what is it you'd have me do? My resources are spread thin as it is. The Avinarian Resistance continues to strike my convoys and cut off supply lanes. Their attacks are unpredictable, as they often choose soft targets. I'm fighting my own war out here and I'm supposed to tame this wasteland?"
"That is precisely the job you were given, is it not?" Tarkin asserted. He didn't humor her wallowing for a moment, and neither did any emotionless governor in that office. "Governor Reina," he scolded as if she were a pouting child. "You are an official of the greatest military power in the known galaxy. You have these primitive birds outgunned, and yet fear their cowardly guerrilla tactics? I am losing my patience with your constant failure. As am I with the other incompetent governors in this meeting. Remind your populaces what the Empire stands for. Don't just stop opposition. Break it. Crush it until its participants and future generations lose all stomach for resistance."
"Sir," a governor questioned. "While I understand the approach, you must acknowledge that some of us are limited in what tactics we can use."
"Explain," Tarkin insisted without even getting a breath in.
"Some...methods of breaking the opposition may be deemed as dishonorable and cause greater outrage."
"He's right," said another governor. "Look at what happened with the riot on Ghorman. After that shooting, Senator Mothma denounced-"
"The opinions of the Imperial Senate are of no concern to us," Tarkin interjected. "In fact, such a hypocritical establishment will soon be dissolved. Only the emperor's voice will reign supreme. And under his order, I am commanding all of you to do whatever it takes to maintain control of your regions. Otherwise, I will not hesitate to make sure similar fates befall you. Am I clear?"
The governors quietly nodded and rose from their seats. Reina reluctantly followed suit as they saluted Tarkin and brought the meeting to a close. She took a deep breath to recollect herself as the holograms powered off. The office lights flickered back on, and General Stavo stood up from an observer's chair in the back corner.
"Well, that could've gone worse." Stavo considered.
"Indeed," Reina said as she continued down the hall to their war room. "Damn that blasted Tarkin. I'd like to see him manage this planet. He takes credit for overseeing the Outer Rim, but what exactly is he doing except putting us on the chopping block?"
"With all due respect, governor-" Stavo began. "Now isn't the time to be griping about Grand Moff Tarkin. We need to stop the Resistance by any and all means. We've seen an unprecedented rise in attacks this month."
"I'm well aware," Reina grumbled.
"Then do something about it instead of standing by!" Stavo scoffed.
Reina's icy stare darted to him as she snapped, caring little for the observing staff. "And what would you have me do?"
Stavo held his ground. "Most reports come from the forest," he said. "Push all forces to keep cutting. Better yet, burn or bomb the whole thing down."
Reina shook her head. "Don't be blinded by desperation, general. We'll lose the advantage and take more casualties if we fight this in their element. And if we destroy the forest, there goes one of the biggest natural resources this planet has to offer. Regardless-" Reina sighed as they entered the war room. She leaned against a holomap and looked over her city. "I'm not spreading our forces that thin."
"So we're stuck at a standstill as they pick us off," Stavo murmured. "As the Jedi does."
His words chilled Reina's veins. She slowed her turn, observing any onlooking officers before whispering, "What?"
Understanding how grievous the situation was, Stavo stepped closer. "I've visited the scene of each attack," he said. "I've witnessed the destructive aftermath firsthand. And for all of the sporadic randomness...one factor remains constant. Some of the troopers found dead had unique...markings."
Reina knitted her brows and leaned in. "What do you mean, markings?" she asked while glancing at her staff.
"Burnt gashes. The likes of which ranged in depth and direction, unlike blastershots. Some troopers were even found decapitated...or fallen over with dismembered arms or legs. These cauterized remnants bear all the traces of a lightsaber, governor. The weapon of a-"
"I'm well aware of who wields such a blade," Reina hissed. "And we don't need that word spreading beyond this office." While few of her staff seemed skeptically cautious, the older officers nodded in agreement.
"But governor," Stavo persisted. "This changes everything. If the Resistance has a Jedi in their ranks-"
"It changes nothing," Reina scoffed. "And as far as we're concerned, that theory is going to stay a theory."
"But this could be the cause we need," Stavo retorted. "If there is a Jedi survivor on Avinaria, High Command would send us greater reinforcements. You could use this Jedi as a scapegoat to secure your power and lock down the planet."
Reina simpered, shaking her head at the suggestion. "You really think it's that easy, General Stavo?" she jeered. "Grand Moff Tarkin is looking for any misstep to take this planet away from me. From us. Notifying of a Jedi would warrant High Command to send an Inquisitor. They wouldn't take orders from us, and would instead answer to a greater superior. This would just be the start of our power loss as we would be deemed incompetent. Then we'd be demoted and removed from the planet. So...no. I have worked far too hard and lost too much to forfeight my governance now."
Stavo growled over her reasoning. "Damn it all, ma'am. Forget about positions and put aside your ego for a moment. With each passing week, the Resistance has grown. If left unchecked, these warbirds and their Jedi will end us. No Inquisitors required. I'm trying to help you win this war!"
Reina didn't seem fazed, even as Stavo lost his temper. Instead she turned her attention back to the war room's holomap. Her stare shifted from her list of supply routes, to images of casualty reports. Reina focused on a map of the capital itself as Stavo grew more frustrated with her silence. "We will win," she assured. "And we won't need Tarkin...High Command...or the Inquisitors."
"Governor?" Stavo questioned.
"All warfare is deception," Reina remarked. "And no matter how 'random' the Resistance attacks feel, make no mistake there is a pattern. And there's no coincidence that they've increased activity after I hung Poma and her affiliates on display. Cause and effect. We kicked the nest. Now we'll just have to smash it."
The winds of Zenaida Fields whistled against Chuza's mossy hutt. He let that breeze bring a sliver of comfort as he hobbled across his cramped quarters. Struggling to see through the dusty rooms, he gingerly lit his only candle and smiled at the flicker. He rattled with the delicate and timid flame as a wrapping came to his door.
"Master Chuza," Anna's muffled voice came through. "It's me."
Whatever brief flicker dwelled in his eyes was quick to simmer. Instead, he approached the door with great irritation. His beak continued to grind as Anna knocked again. "I'm coming," he hooted. He cracked his door open and frustratedly poked his head out. "Hm?"
To his surprise, Anna didn't look as sickly as she had upon their initial meeting. While she was still a mess in her forest green poncho, her taut braid kept the rest of her face easily visible. "Evening," she greeted.
"Hm," he reiterated and kept staring at her.
"May...I come in?" Anna asked.
Although cautious at first, the elder ultimately nodded. Anna went to her previous spot, crouching her way over before sitting down. Unwilling to have his time wasted, Chuza went for the obvious statement. "You're not here to put your saber in the box, are you?" he asked.
While she'd anticipated building up to her question, Anna tried to stay unwavering. "Ah," she coughed. "Well...no," she murmured. "No I am not."
"Then why even bother returning?" Chuza resigned.
"For you," she answered as his feathery brows perked up. "You said we'd be destroyed, but we're still here. The Resistance has been fighting back."
"Is that what you call prolonging the inevitable?" Chuza quipped. "I'm sorry. Is this mediocrity cause for celebration? Let me get my fancy plate." His dry sarcasm fell on deaf ears as he pulled out a wooden plate. "And what do you mean 'for me'?" he asked. "Leave me out of your narrative."
"I couldn't see it all then," Anna explained. "But I'm thinking a little clearer these days. You should be with us. Not tucked away in the middle of nowhere. You are a Jedi."
"You sound like Ryx."
"I am speaking for myself," Anna defended. "And I've seen what the Resistance is capable of. Chuza, we have a chance here. Look how far they've come with one Jedi. Imagine two."
"Two-" Chuza sputtered. "Do you hear yourself? And what exactly is it that you and your rabble have accomplished? You've attacked a few outposts? Stopped some shipments? You are but an irksome pest to the Empire as a whole, asking for extermination."
"More have joined our cause," Anna explained. "With each move against the governor, Avinaria's people are seeing how strong they really are. They are finding hope again."
"Hope cannot defeat the Empire!" Chuza wheezed.
"Hope is our symbol!" Anna countered, rising so high that she bumped her head on the ceiling.
Her raised voice startled Chuza enough to have him extending a wing to the door. "Get out," he commanded.
"Not without you."
"I said leave," Chuza enforced, barely able to keep up his aggression. "Haven't you put me through enough? Haven't we been through enough? How many times must I explain to you that our Order and all we are is finished?" Anna stared down at the old Avinarian. Tears puddled in his tired eyes and dampened his feathery cheeks. "I gave my life to the Jedi while asking for very little in return," he sniffled. "And that little which I did ask for, will never come to pass. I didn't want to be a soldier. I wanted to be a chronicler. A keeper of ancient history. And my apprentice would stay by my side-" Chuza stretched his wings towards a dusted bookshelf and smiled. He wept while imagining Gav standing there, organizing books across the shelf. "But everything has fallen to darkness. We are but the shadows that remain."
"Chuza," Anna tried snapping him out of it.
But the elder sank further into his depression. "Please go," he uttered. "I can only tell you so many times. Leave me. Leave me and die for your lost cause."
For a brief moment, his brokenness fell over Anna. She hung her head and prepared to exit, until a great fury came over her. Her fingers clenched the doorframe as her nostrils flared. "No," she spoke up.
"What?" Chuza whimpered.
"No!" she shouted over him. "Get up. Get...up." Anna's fists tightened as Chuza remained immobilized. "You think you're the only one who's lost people? The only one who wants to disappear?"
Chuza fought through his pain to counter Anna. "I am accepting what is."
"Banthashit."
"I am!" Chuza hooted.
"You're afraid," Anna fired back. "All you want to do is hide away and reminisce about what was."
"I am in mourning," he pleaded.
"Enough," Anna carried on relentlessly. "Don't you see? Yesterday will always be better than today for you. It's not limited to the Republic before the Empire. Even when I was a Padawan, you wouldn't shut the hell up about how the Old Republic was a better time. A better time you weren't even alive for. I'm no historian, but I've seen enough in my lifetime to infer that the 'Golden Age' you praise was a time of heroes. That the Old Republic was a time of Jedi fighting across the galaxy and righting wrongs. Do you think the ghosts you idolize sat on their asses? You praise the glory days as if you ever had any."
"How dare you," Chuza croaked.
"You lived by everyone else's rules," Anna asserted. "All while looking up to people you wished you were like."
"You are no one to judge me!" the elder squawked and sent a Force tremor rippling throughout the hut. Anna watched as the bookshelf, table, and lone candle quaked in response. "Your master would be ashamed of you," Chuza spoke in a final defense.
"Maybe," Anna said, her lip trembling for a moment. "But at least I'm not afraid to step forward." She could feel Chuza's glare on her as she made for the door. Before fully exiting, she glanced back over her shoulder. "You said a purge like this happened in the days of the Old Republic, right? That the Jedi were nearly wiped to extinction?" Anna took his silence for confirmation. "Do you think those survivors defeated the Sith and rebuilt the Order by 'accepting what was'?" Anna departed, and left a passing gust to slam the door behind her. Alone in the deafening silence of it all, Chuza sat beside his candle. He stared intently at the lone flame before breaking down in tears.
No matter how much she'd been through over the years, the sound of prepping blasters was eerily comforting to Anna. In some ways, it took her back to the eager order of the military. Feeling any semblance of organization helped calm her as she atop a trilli tree branch. Ryx was sprawled out across from her, prepping his rifle while occasionally glancing over at her. Draped in leaf-woven ponchos, they and an entire unit of Resistance fighters looked like foliage in the high trees.
"Don't beat yourself up about it too much," Ryx said. "Many people are prisoners to their own minds. You can shout at them all they want, but they're the only ones holding the keys to freedom." Noticing Anna's perpetual pouting, Ryx persisted. "I lost a lot of friends over similar circumstances. When we formed the Resistance, many stayed with the Empire no matter how hard we tried to convince them otherwise."
"I like to think that everyone's mind is already made up," Idrial added from the branch above them. "Sides were chosen long ago, and nobody's switching to the opposition any time soon. We're all we've got."
"I'll drink to that," Vona chirped across the way.
"Not on duty you won't," Idrial scolded while Ryx and Anna snickered.
The evening skies were blanketed in a thick, silver veil. The distant echo of thunder reached their ears as Anna asked, "When did you stop? You know...being a pacifist?"
Ryx's laughter faded as he hugged his rifle. "You'll find that the most devout pacifists have seen the horrors of war. After recovering from the domestic threat on Avinaria, I went into politics. It was my effort to try and stop future conflict, and I thought my experiences as a veteran would give me the credibility I needed. At least, President Kestri always thought so." A gentle smile found its way to his beak as he reminisced. "She was a leader. Kestri rebuilt Avinaria and united the regions. And believe it or not, we had fought on different sides during the war. But as a political duo, we were proof of Avinaria's reconstruction."
"Until the Empire," Anna said.
Ryx's nod was somber. "I admired your sister's pacifistic methods. They reflected my own mindset and were inspiring. And yet, no amount of inspiration could prepare any of us for the Empire. Kestri didn't even get a fair fight. We were told that the emperor had deemed her unfit to lead her own planet, and that they would appoint a governor for us. The nightmare was only beginning, as President Kestri was publicly executed for...'treason'...the next day."
Knowing how much it pained her husband, Idrial spoke words of reassurance from the upper branch. "Her death wasn't your fault," she reminded him.
"I know, dear." Ryx lamented. "I still wish I could've done more. But I suppose all of our efforts now are in Kestri's name." Ryx turned to Anna with steely eyes. "Everything changed when she died. The family and I went into hiding and began building the Resistance. If we were to survive, I knew what I had to become again. But this time on my terms."
"Generals," Captain Tinun called in from a tree further across the canopy. "Convoy approaching. Right on time."
"Make ready," Idrial ordered over comms as the Resistance steadied themselves."
"Remember this, Anna." Ryx said while leaning atop the branch. "Don't fear the people who light the fire." Ryx took the safety off of his rifle. "Fear the monsters born in the flames."
In spite of rolling thunder overhead, the sounds of an incoming transport echoed from below. All eyes were on the lone vehicle as several stormtroopers marched alongside it. Resistance rifles slowly tracked the transport, waiting for the signal as it passed beneath the canopy, A light drizzle hazed its way through the trees. And as lightning streaked across the clouds, the Resistance opened fire.
A storm of blue lasers descended on the transport. The initial barrage was furious and precise, smashing directly through the windscreen. Having taken several shots to the chest, the driver collapsed at the controls. While their transport listed into a tree trunk, the surviving troopers returned fire. Cleaning up the defenders was easy, as the Avinarians made short work of them. The stormtroopers' arrogantly pale armor was easy to find in the forest. As Ryx shot the final trooper dead, he glanced over at Anna. "Sorry if we took all the fun from you."
"You're up, Anna." Idrial said, keeping them on task.
While several Avinarians began their descent, Anna leapt down ahead of them. She landed atop the disabled transport and drove her lightsaber into its hull. Slicing a clunky hole through the vehicle, she offered an entry point for the rebels to raid from. While some Avinarians looted the downed troopers, others entered the hole to recover the transport's supplies.
"Nice shots, ladies." Ryx complimented Idrial and Vona.
"Generals!" a Resistance member hollered from within the transport. "We've got a situation!"
"I got this," Anna assured the Fincs. "Let me do something else," she teased before dropping into the transport. Upon landing, she noticed that the echo of her boots was unexpectedly hollow.
One of the men reported to her as she drew her own conclusion. "It's empty," he cawed.
"No kidding," Anna muttered and made her way to the driver's seat.
"Maybe they unloaded somewhere prior?" the soldier suggested. "That would explain the minimal security."
As Anna neared the driver, she heard an incessant...yet muffled trilling. Realizing that it was coming from beneath the driver's chest, Anna lifted his corpse away from the seat. The ringing increased as she looked over the dashboard and observed a strobing button. "What the?" Anna whispered until her eyes widened. "Homing beacon," she identified as the nearby soldiers backed away. Quick to get on comms, Anna called it in. "Get everyone out, now. Immediate retreat."
"What?" Ryx blurted.
"What's going on?" Idrial added.
"Transport is one big homing beacon," Anna explained while helping to boost Avinarians out. "We've been compromised. Get your teams out of-" Suddenly, a horrid screech filled the skies and had heads turning upward. As lightning flashed once more, the silhouettes of a TIE fighter squadron flickered in the distance.
"Scatter!" Was all Idrial could screech as the TIEs performed a destructive strafing run. High-powered, green lasers beamed through the forest. While some split the branches above, others caused explosions across the ground. Feathers burst through the smoke as Avinarians were hurled into the air. The TIE squadron was merciless, and already flipping to make another run.
"Retreat!" Ryx shouted over the explosions. "Go now!"
As if the TIEs weren't enough, another series of vessels echoed through the storm. Following the signal, several Imperial gunships glided towards the forest floor. Their ramps dropped and out poured wave after wave of stormtroopers. While some landed opposite to the Resistance, other gunships dropped further ahead to try and cut off their means of escape.
"We're cornered!" Ryx warned and took aim. "Engage! Engage!"
Blasterfire zipped across the forest as Anna ignited her saber. She deflected where she could, all while searching for an opening to escape. "We can take to the trees!" an Avinarian shouted. He'd only started to climb when a TIE fighter laser obliterated him and sent the tree toppling over.
Despite their efforts to stay united, the Resistance was cracking through the ambush. Directions were lost, as many Resistance members turned to fighting to the death. Others fled in multiple directions...either escaping into the shadows or getting ambushed by more troopers.
Anna advanced to cut down two Imperials. "Ryx!" she grunted between swings. "Get your teams out of here! I'll buy you what time I can!"
"Like hell," he cawed and stayed at her side. "We'll hold the line and-"
The next strafe came sooner than expected, igniting the terrain in a wave of green. The sporadic shockwaves sent Ryx and Anna tumbling back into clouds of billowing smoke. Both warriors in their own right, they were quick to recover and regain their footing.
"Dad!" Vona squawked betwixt the firefight.
"Vona!" he called to her and dashed through the smoke. "I'm coming, kiddo!"
Anna staggered forward, reigniting her saber to light the way. "Ryx!" she called out...only to be met with incoming blasterfire. She batted away a laser and kept her head down. Following any source of blue shots, Anna found several Resistance members providing cover fire.
"It was a damn setup from the start," Tinun hissed while shooting through the smoke.
"All troops!" Idrial's voice crackled through comms. "Break formations. Lose them in the forest and fall back to Payori."
"You heard the general," Tinun squawked. "Retreat!" Popping what smoke grenades they had, the Resistance further screened their escape. As Anna followed the captain, she could see silhouettes of troopers still advancing through the mists. Wings went up in surrender. And while some were gunned down in cold blood, others were surrounded to an unknown fate.
Anna couldn't stay any longer, and ran alongside Tinun. She followed his old feathers into the bushes as the Resistance vanished. In time, chaotic blasterfire subsided and a tumultuous rustling of leaves took over. While they hadn't made it to Payori Village yet, many survivors slid into a deep and mossy grove. Tucked away beneath several toppled trees, this hideaway gave the Resistance time to regroup and catch their breath.
Anna dropped beside an ailing soldier and helped put pressure on his leg wound. As she did so, a medic hurriedly applied salve to the laser burn. No matter the survivors' conditions, everyone ducked as TIE fighters screeched overhead. Their shadows were hardly visible as the squadron passed over the canopy.
Tinun lowered his gun and slowed his breaths. "If we can't see them," he assured. "They can't see us."
Twigs snapped beyond the grove as Anna prepared for another fight. She and several rebels rose for battle, only to see Ryx and Vona leading more survivors. While the duo looked shaken, they were far from beaten. "Kriffing hell," Anna sighed before helping them into the grove.
"We've got several wounded," Ryx grunted.
"You sure you're not hit, Dad?" Vona worried. "You could be in shock."
"Check me all you want," Ryx insisted. "But I swear I'm good. You always know when you're shot because it burns like hell." He helped Avinarians drop to safety while checking the area. "How are we looking?"
"I think this is it from the raiding party," Tinun answered.
"Let's assemble as many able-bodied as we can and get our wounded back to Payori," Ryx said. "Where's Idrial?" A suffocating silence filled the grove as Anna checked over the group. "Captain?" he queried.
His fellow soldiers' feathers stiffened. "I-...I thought she'd be with your group," he professed.
Although he tried to remain calm, Ryx accidentally sent Vona a concerned stare. Anna couldn't spot her in both crowds of wounded as Ryx emitted a unique call. The proud chirp echoed throughout the forest, and had his heart racing when his wife didn't answer. "Idrial," he called into comms. "Idrial? Baby, come in." There was a wildness to Ryx's eyes as he found it impossible to stay calm. "Idrial?" he called again, his feathers ruffling with each wave of silence. "IDRIAL!"
SECRETS OF THE JEDI - FROZEN FORCE TRIVIA
1. The concept of dissolving the Imperial Senate foreshadows the events of Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope. With the emperor's regional governors in place, it is only a matter of time before a certain super weapon is built to assume total control.
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: 138 - The Battle for Avinaria (Part II). Just a heads up to everyone. This chapter is going to be a long one. My work schedule may prevent me from finishing it in a week's time. If I do by some miracle, great! If not, you can find updates by following The Frozen Force News on FF. net. See you next time and take care!
Long Live Imagination and May the Force be with you,
~ Sparks