Chapter 35: Prey
"BEWARE!"
Bayla Istillo opened her eyes, she lay in bed, staring out into the dark. Only the sound of her heart beating, and her breathing as it slowed.
She blinked, and murmured under her breath.
"Merrit?"
She got no answer, neither through the Force, or in person, she simply lay in bed, listening…thinking.
Her eyes narrowed.
We are not alone.
She had been dreaming, back on Kafrene, she had been fighting the Knights of Bantoon again, only this time, no one had come to save her. This time, they were armored, and had strange creatures with them…this time…
She shook her head.
No, Kafrene was the past, this was different. The soldiers and the creatures…
…they…were the now. She knew it to be true.
She felt it…in the Force.
She sat up, pushing off the covers, and looked around, realizing immediately that something was wrong.
The room was too dark, and too quiet.
The air was off, the ventilation units had fallen silent, in fact, she could hear no sounds in the usually busy base. Even at night, mechanical sounds were common. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she realized that there was no light from beneath the door, and only starlight coming through the window.
The base had gone dark, and fallen silent, unusually silent.
That…was not a good sign.
"Milady?"
The voice was a whisper, from the bed across from hers. Tara Valenthyne had volunteered to share a room with her, to continue in her role as watcher and protector.
Bayla was grateful for that now.
He was warning me, she realized, thinking of hearing Merrit's voice in her mind, it was no dream…
…though given her dreams his presence would not have been surprising.
Her roommate rubbed her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Tara asked in a low voice.
Bayla shushed her raising he hand.
"Quiet," she hissed, "I…I think we might be in trouble."
That was all it took to get Tara Valenthyne moving. She rose silently from her bed, grabbing her clothes and weapons.
Bayla followed her example.
While they dressed, she informed Tara of her dream, and what she was sensing. The former smuggler, having lived around Jedi, didn't question.
Bayla was grateful for that, if they Did have uninvited guests, questions could only slow them down.
No, they needed to be moving…now.
All the while she reached out with the Force, trying to get an idea of what might be awaiting them in the hall.
What she felt…was strange.
The Force seemed…off.
She sensed panic and fear, but it was not localized, her connection to the Force felt…strained, as if trying to see while deep underwater…
It felt…unreal.
She tried her commlink, perhaps she could reach Cooper or his security chief, but was rewarded with static, and the wail of a jamming signal.
Bayla cursed under her breath.
So much for the power loss being a random malfunction.
She didn't let that stop her, during her time in the Bantoon military, she had often had to set the Force aside, to function despite her Paladina training.
Being a soldier served her now. If the Force offered nothing, then she would simply have to put her faith in her skills and instincts.
That is what soldiers did after all.
Both women drew their blasters, opened the door to their quarters, and stepped into the hall. Again they were met with darkness and silence.
Not good, Bayla thought to herself.
Not good at all.
The two moved together, covering each other. As they made for their way forward, they noticed that the base alarms still had power, the lights were green, and the lever in easy reach.
Bayla thought of pulling it, alerting everyone to the possible danger, but held back.
So far, there was no sign of any guards, which meant they might have already been dealt with, if that was the case…
…Ring the alarm and wake up the house, have people stumbling out of bed, perhaps running head first into danger they didn't know was there. How many would die in the panic? They…
The sound of a creaking board before them stopped both in their tracks, the two women took the only cover they could find, Tara in a doorway, the door behind her sealed. Bayla got low, pressed her back to the wall.
The two pointed their weapons, and waited.
The muzzle of a blaster rifle appeared around the corner.
Bayla tensed her fingers tightening on her own weapon.
The silhouette was not one she recognized, fully armored, and not in a way she recognized. So, unlikely that this person was one of the organizations enforcers. She…
The attack came from the right, behind Tara.
The door she was taking cover by, opened, an armored figure appeared, and grabbed her from behind.
A blade flashed in the dark.
Bayla didn't hesitate.
She caught the attacker's arm with a spin kick, knocking the vibroblade away. Tara grunted as she shoved the man back the two went down struggling.
She heard the muffled sound of a blaster going off.
Tara!
NO!
Before she could come to her ally's aid, she was forced to deal with the other trooper, the one with the rifle.
She had no time to raise her blaster, his was already coming up, and would be fired before she got the chance.
There was only one choice.
She called on the Force, and dashed forward, crashing into him, pinning his weapon between them.
He dropped it, and struck at her head with his forearm she blocked the blow, shielding herself with her own arm, but the force of it still made her stumble.
He kicked her blaster away, and then attempted to knee her in the gut, but she managed to spin around his attack, but it left her open for a few seconds.
Strong this one, she thought distantly, fast too…
…Almost Jedi fast.
The trooper raised his hand, a gesture familiar to her from training. Her neck was exposed, an easy target for a killing chop, and he would have done so, had she taken a step back as he expected.
She didn't.
She stepped forward, and drove the palm of her hand up into his chin, putting all of her strength, and the Force behind the blow.
The attacker's head snapped back, his helmet went flying as he fell back, dazed.
Bayla was on him in less than a second. She had her lightsaber in hand. Though she didn't ignite the blade.
She caught him in the throat with the cross guard, driving the metal point into his unshielded neck, and twisted.
She found herself staring into his face, a human face, his yellow eyes widened in surprise.
She pulled out the blade and spun away regaining her feet.
Her attacker didn't rise to meet her. The cross guard had found its mark, opening his throat. He lay there gurgling, gasping as blood gushed from the wound.
He was dead in seconds. Almost as long as their fight had been.
She stood there, her heart pounding, her breath ragged.
The Paladina shuddered, but didn't lower her guard, not until she sensed life leave the body.
She looked down at the bloody saber hilt, the blood on her hands.
She took a breath, and tried to calm herself.
Master Kit had taught her that move, it was not something to be used often, but in a close quarters fight, where it was you or them, it served.
She shivered.
She looked down at her dead opponent.
Sorry, she thought.
You gave me no choice.
She turned to the sound of footsteps. She raised her weapon ready to ignite her blade.
Tara stood there, hands up and open.
A sigh of relief escaped the princess.
Praise the gods.
"You, okay?" the smuggler mouthed.
She nodded back.
Tara motioned her forward. The two met in the room, and looked down on the second attacker, as dead as the one in the hall.
Bayla frowned.
Armored, same as the other one, though the helmet was bubbled out at the top, the visor cracked and smoking. Burn marks on the upper chest plate.
She shoved the blaster up under his chin, Bayla realized, fired into the helmet to muffle the sound. Ugly way to go, but necessary if they didn't wish to alert the attackers.
Tara leaned down and pointed at the armor.
"Sith trooper," she murmured.
Bayla nodded.
So, the Sith had found them, the armor had no markings ,and was slate grey, perfect for camouflage, a commando trooper's uniform.
Tara pulled off the glove, lifting the dead man's arm, showing her what she had found there, a tattoo, a familiar tattoo.
Bayla recognized it.
If was a sworn protector tattoo, from home.
She winced.
The attackers were from Bantoon, which meant she knew why they were here, not that that should have been in doubt.
They…had come for her.
More sounds in the hall drew their attention. The two women moved as one Tara closed the door all but a crack, while Bayla took cover behind a small desk.
Still the Force remained clouded, it…
There was a flash of pain, and then…
Bayla gasped.
The Force returned to normal, it snapped back into focus, and her senses opened up.
She sensed five people in the hall, but they were not enemies. She motioned for Tara to lower her weapon.
"Uncle," she called out, just loud enough to be heard.
The door before them opened, Gabe Cooper stood there, with Vey's apprentice Zhar, and five of his enforcers.
He relaxed at the sight of them.
"You girls alright?"
"Yeah," Bayla said, as Tara nodded.
Uncle Coop gave them a grim look.
He looked at Zhar.
"You getting anything kid?"
"The Force is back to normal," he said, "Merrit must have taken care of the creature."
Bayla blinked.
Creature?
Cooper spoke quickly, telling them what had happened.
Zhar had been the first to sense it, a strange feeling in the Force, a feeling that disrupted his Jedi senses. The enemy had approached the base, using it for cover.
The boy had tried to call for help, only to find the comms had been jammed.
He had been in medical watching over his master. Two of the enemy troopers had gotten ahead of the pack, they had entered the medical bay without the benefit of the protection field, that had given the young padawan an edge.
Zhar had dealt with them. He had then gone and got Cooper. Finding several dead guards, and base personnel along the way.
That had led them here.
"These soldiers are not normal people," the boy said, 'They move faster."
"They're sworn protectors," Bayla informed them, "Genetically enhanced, and strong."
Coop cursed under his breath.
Bayla didn't blame him.
Facing protectors in battle…it was not something that most people wanted to deal with.
Cooper also told them about the aliens, the creatures that had come with the soldiers. According to Merrit they were what was affecting the Force, disrupting the Jedi's senses.
"Have you seen Merrit?" she asked him.
"He is hunting the last of the creatures. He also got two of the Sith on the perimeter. Zhar got two in the medical bay…
"And we got two here," Tara said grimly.
Coop nodded.
"Sith Commando units have twelve members, so we got at least six more moving through the base." He turned to one of his enforcers.
"Wake who you can, get help, but keep it quiet, and watch for ambushes. We will meet in the main hall in five, move."
Two of the soldiers headed out.
Cooper looked at Tara.
"You girls need to get out of here, now."
Bayla blinked.
"Uncle?"
"Make for the ships, we will catch up as soon as the base is secure."
"Uncle, no! We can help!"
"Yeah," Tara agreed, " You need us."
"These murglaks are here for you, kid," he reminded Bayla, "If they get you, they win."
She frowned.
Coop shook his head.
Merrit was heading for the landing bay, he will have cleared a path. Stay quiet, and stay safe. I'll send you rendezvous coordinates later.
"What about Vey," Zhar said, "She is defenseless in that tank."
"We're not leaving her kid, she is coming too, after the base is secured, we are all getting out of here."
He turned again to Bayla.
"You are going now. Merrit should already be waiting for you."
Bayla opened her mouth to say more, but stopped.
She curses silently.
Running again.
It seemed she had been running from her enemies since Bantoon had fell.
She didn't like it, leaving people behind to cover her escape.
It felt…cowardly.
She was a soldier, a Paladina knight.
She wanted to stand and fight.
"Go now, kid," Cooper repeated, "My people will make sure you don't have any problems."
Tara nodded, and took her hand.
"Come on," she said, I know a back way, it shouldn't be watched.
Bayla nodded, and looked at the old man…her Uncle Coop.
"Be careful," she said.
He gave her a sly grin.
"Hey, it is me."
The two women made their way down the hall, quick and quiet.
They didn't hear blaster fire until they entered the small courtyard. It was a short journey to the hangar.
Bayla sensed the creature, the strange effect in the Force, it was moving quickly, running not far from where they were.
The two women made for the hangar, only to find the entrance blocked.
The doors were sealed, six small circular probe droids floated before them, blocking the path, and forming a defensive wall, and at its center stood a tall heavily armored droid.
Bayla's eyes narrowed as she drew her lightsaber.
The two yellow lights of the droid's optics focused on her.
"Identification: Target located, Bayla Istillo, Paladina knight, priority one. Target two: Unknown human female, unknown capabilities, proceed with caution."
"An assassin droid," Tara hissed.
The droid focused on her.
"Clarification: Assassin droid? A limited description, Target Two. The probes behind me are assassin droids, useful in corralling prey, but unrefined. The unit's purpose is, and I say so most proudly, is wanton slaughter."
The droid stood a little straighter.
"Pleased statement: After so long a hunt, this unit is most excited to engage in that purpose."
Bayla glared at the machine.
"So you are here for the Sith bounty?"
"Clarification: Negative, I am HK Sigma 3, My master is Darth Avaryss, the Dark Lord of the Sith, and next ruler of the galaxy. As far as meatbags goes, she is quite skilled, ambitious, and smart."
The droid leaned forward.
"Statement: She has to be, otherwise she would not have had me rebuilt to serve her, and deal with meatbags standing in her way, meatbags such as you, target one."
Bayla started to raise her weapon when she felt it, the strange echoing effect that had blocked the Force earlier, the shadows to the right of the creature parted, revealing a strange purple furred humanoid.
The creature let out a bleating cackle.
"Princess Bayla," it said, "You will come with us now, our master demands it."
She regarded the creature, there was something familiar about it, she had never seen one before, but…
Her eyes widened, the creature was wearing a gold chain around its neck, a chain bearing symbols, symbols, she recognized.
"House Morr," she said to the creature, "House Morr serves the Sith now."
The thing giggled.
"I serve the Sith, princess. I am…I was Temton Morr, first born son of my house."
Bayla almost gasped, this man, had been a Bann once, human.
This thing…was one of the nobles!
"What did the Sith do to you?!"
"They offered me power, more power than I ever could have had under the matriarchs, and your fool mother."
The creature grinned, showing its sharp teeth.
"I am the future of Bantoon, my kind are the future of Bantoon."
The HK made a sound, it could have been a sigh.
"Query: Is this going to take much longer creature? I would prefer to engage my assassination protocols, and commence firing at once."
The thing smirked.
"I just wished for my former princess to realize how hopeless her resistance has been. How it has led to only death and failure. Her failure and the death of all those that would protect her.
The creature grinned as it touched a button on its belt.
Explosions tore through the estate behind them.
Bayla unable to look away from the two enemies could only stand there…sense was what happening…feeling the horror!
She could feel it, the death…pain.
Uncle Coop?
She…she didn't know if he was still alive!
She…
No!
"Pleased statement," the HK droid said, "It seems the explosives we wired into the knell troopers' armor worked. Full death toll will need to be tallied later."
"Damn you!" Tara hissed raising her weapon.
"Easy," the creature said, even as the assassin probes began to spread out.
The thing that had been a Bann noble addressed Bayla.
"This is on your head, princess, your resistance has brought only death and destruction to those you care about. Ruin and death, that is all the Istillo line bring. Why not end it now, come back with the droid and I. Darth Avaryss would much rather have you home then wandering around inspiring trouble."
The creature held out its long-clawed hands.
"No more people have to die. All those deaths have been pointless, I'm sure you would agree. Surrender yourself to Avaryss, and there will be no more need for destruction. Your mother awaits your return, as do your siblings."
The droid added its part to the argument.
"Statement: Surrender is your best option. I will deactivate my assassination protocols, and no more meatbag lives would end, unfortunately."
Bayla bit her lip.
She…she felt like she was drowning in doubt and fear.
The creature, its presence eroded her will.
Death, she thought.
So…much…death.
If they fought, she could not guarantee Tara safety, Tara Valenthyne was strong and fast with her enhancements, but was that enough? The creature was disrupting her connection to the Force, she would not be good enough to saver her fellow Bann.
More death.
Then there were the people in the compound, her uncle might be dead already. Zhar too. She didn't know who was alive or dead. If the assassin probes entered Cooper's compound, the wounded would be easy targets.
She felt a tear run down her face.
Had it all been pointless?
Was all this death her fault?
She began to lower her weapons.
"Milady," Tara said, "What are you doing?"
Bayla looked down at her saber and blaster.
Useless, just like her.
She hadn't been able to save her world.
She would not be able to save anyone.
"Bayla! NO!"
She shook her head.
What choice was there?
The creature was right, the darkness surrounded her, drowning her.
She was lost.
She was a failure!
The thing that had been a Bann noble smirked.
"It can all end right here," the thing that had been Temton Morr said, "You can protect all those you love by simply…URK!"
The thing fell silent as it grabbed its throat, it was lifted into the air, being strangled by an invisible noose. The assassin probes whirled, their weapons powering up targeting the women…
HK Sigma 3 didn't move, its optics focused on its primary target, it showed no concern for the creature, even as it struggled and gasped for breath. It…
SNAP!
The thing that had been Temton Morr gave one final twitch as its neck broke loudly.
The body was dropped to the ground like it was nothing, a sack of garbage.
Bayla gasped.
The disruption was gone.
The Force returned with pure clarity.
The Paladina shook her head, no longer did she feel her failures crushing her, consuming her.
She glared at the dead creature.
Filth, she thought.
Diseased filth.
She looked at the droid.
The Bann people had always had a distrust of droids. In ancient times, their world had been invaded by enemies using several battalions of them.
She now understood why her people distrusted them.
Droids like this.
They deserved the scrap pile!
A new voice rang out.
"Avy didn't do her work very well with these things. They are too fragile; they break too easily."
Merrit Fallenstar emerged from the shadows, he was grinning widely, his golden eyes hidden behind his glasses turned their lenses a deep blood red.
He looked at the two women, and then at the HK droid.
"Hello, ladies," he said jovially, "Sorry, I'm late."
Bayla shuddered; she had never been so happy to see someone.
Merrit was here.
She was…glad.
"Better late than never, Fallenstar," Tara quipped, "Though, our work isn't over."
Merrit nodded as he looked at the droid and its probe back up.
"No," he agreed, "It is not."
The HK unit regarded him, its yellow eyes flashed as it accessed its memory.
"Statement: Target three identified, Fenn Shadowstone."
"I'm not Fenn anymore, but I remember you, too, droid. I cut your head off the last time we met, unless Avy found another of you.
The droid didn't answer.
"Accessing special orders," it said.
The Dark Jedi chuckled.
"Avaryss gave you special orders regarding me? I'm flattered."
"Clarification: orders confirmed. If located Fenn Shadowstone is to be brought back to Bantoon. Your presence at my master's side has been missed, Jedi. She offers you a place at her side. If you have survived this long, then you must understand what she tried to teach you."
"I learned," he replied, "Though I doubt it is what she hoped that I would learn."
"Statement: You are the one my master covets. She has instructed me to inform you that you have been missed. Lord Taya misses you as well."
He shrugged.
"They have a funny way of showing it," he said motioning at the burning compound behind them.
"Indifferent statement: Meatbags die all the time, Jedi. My master would say you should not be concerned with such things."
Bayla winced part of her wanted to go back, see to the survivors, but they couldn't not as long as this droid still functioned.
Merrit looked at her.
"You okay, Back-up?"
"Still, a bit off," she admitted, "That creature…"
"It gives off a field that makes you want to lay down in surrender," Merrit said, as he regarded the Sith Lords's assassin.
He shook his head.
"Surrender isn't an option, Bayla. Trust me. I know Avaryss, she would parade you through the streets, proof of her superiority, and then…she would execute you. She wouldn't take the chance of you inspiring resistance, the rest of your family too."
She nodded grimly.
She didn't doubt it, now that the thing wasn't feeding her insecurities, she could accept that.
No.
Surrender was not an option.
Besides she didn't want to surrender.
This…Sith had hurt the people here.
She wanted to make her pay for it.
She…she wanted the Sith to suffer!
"Warning," the HK growled, "If target one will not surrender it must be terminated, along with all its defenders. Target 3 will not be protected if it engages this unit."
"Try it, clanker," Tara spat, raising he weapon.
"Droid," Merrit shouted, "Before, we begin, I have a message for your master, if you would be so kind to take it back to Avaryss?"
"Query: What is the message?"
The Dark Jedi opened his mouth to speak, but stopped, stopped and laughed.
"Never mind, your broken parts being dropped at her feet will be message enough."
With that, the battle began.
Bayla didn't have time to think, if she took the time, she was dead, instead, she gave herself to the Force, did so in a way she had not done in years, since before joining the military. She used it as master Vey had showed, as she had reminded her.
The girl was grateful for those lessons.
Blaster bolts went everywhere as the assassin probes tried to engage. Bayla threw out her reflector disks, letting the Force guide them as she opened fire with her own blaster, her silver white blade whirled as she blocked shots from the probes.
She didn't care about them, only the metal killer in front of her, the one who had brought the creatures and soldiers here.
She glared at the HK.
I'll have your head!
The droid drew a pair of blaster pistols, but she cut them in half. It took a step back and fired it flamethrower.
She used the Force to push the flames around her, and as they stopped, she reached out with the Force and crushed the nozzle on the droid's weapon.
Its weapon destroyed, the droid stepped forward, energy shields activated on its wrists as a blade emerged from its right hand.
It blocked her blows, even as it slashed at her face.
Balya danced away, using her saber to parry the droid's attack even as she fired her blaster, her own bolts ricocheting wildly, striking both the droid and its probes.
She had no time to check on Merrit or Tara, she could sense them through the Force, Tara was a blur dodging and firing, while Merrit was an angry storm lightning and his orange blade flashing in the dark.
Despite her training, she could feel his anger feel it and was drawn up in it, it awoke her own rage, her own desire.
I wan to break this thing!
I want to TEAR IT APART!
A metal cord hissed from the droid's arm, it snared her blaster, ripping it from her hand. She spun back and hit the droid with a Force push, it slid back, but didn't lose its feet.
A grenade launcher on its hip activated. It fired twice.
Bayla back flipped out of the way as the weapons popped, poison gas, billowed out.
She Force pushed the gas away. As the droid charged through the cloud, using the distraction. It lunged with its energy shield, pinning her blade, while it slashed out with its blade.
She hissed as she felt the steel touch her face, felt the pinch of the cut.
The pain didn't stop her…
…it enraged her.
DROID SCUM!
She thrust out her hand again.
This time the machine stumbled back.
She sliced at its head.
A small metal plate on its shoulder rose up, her saber struck it.
Struck it, and the blade died.
Before she could back up, it struck her with its metal arm, sending her sprawling back.
She tumbled to the ground, barely avoiding a spray of razor-sharp blades that fired from the droid's arm.
It reached onto its hip and drew another weapon, that opened, and exposed a series of linked blades which coiled into a whip.
The droid snapped it in her direction, finally wrapping it around her ankle, pinning her in place. As the whip pulled tight, it cut through her boot and into her leg.
Bayla cried out in pain.
The droid raised its arm again, either to fire more blades or trigger another weapon.
"RARHHHHH!"
Merrit angry cry drew the droid's attention, his lightsaber sliced through the handle of the whip as the droid brought up its shields again, falling back, and blocking his attack.
Bayla used the Force to uncoil the whip from her leg, as she inspected the damage, she got a better idea of how the fight had gone. Broken assassin probes were scattered around the hangar doors. Tara had been pinned behind a pile of crates, as the two remaining probes tried to move in and finish her off.
Drawing on her pain, the Paladina seized one of the probes and sent it crashing into its fellow. The damaged droid fell from the air, and bounced around the ground losing weapons and comm antennae as it fell.
Merrit and the HK droid were still locked in combat, it used its arm shields to deflect his attack, likely trying to wear him down, or get him to take a swipe at its head and the pure cortosis shield that disabled her blade.
One on one, the droid could be Ritt, but she wasn't going to let that happen.
No one else dies today.
She seized the remaining probe with the Force, and flung it with all her strength at the HK. The two droids crashed together, throwing the assassin off balance.
Merrit took advantage, he stabbed out at the droid, damaging one of its arms, and before it could recover shoved the blade up into its chassis, where the torso and waist linked.
HK Sigma 3 sparked as it deployed its grenade launcher, trying to fire off one right into Merrit's face.
Bayla wrapped the droid in a Force shield, the grenade barely cleared the launcher, it bounced back, and got stuck under the droid's chest plate.
Merrit barely had time to flip back and out of rage before the grenade exploded, and as it did the other explosives withing the droid ignited tearing its metal body apart.
KRAKOOM!
Shrapnel sprayed out from the explosion. Bayla was able to shield herself, but she still suffered several glancing cuts from the hot metal that had once been a Sith Assassin Droid.
The world turned silent.
Bayla looked at the smoking ruin where the droid had stood, puffs of poison gas leaked from a melted metal leg laying three feet away from the body. It…
The HK droid lunged out of the smoke, what was left of it anyway. Its head and chest propelled by its right arm, it leapt at Bayla swinging its blade, it…
KRISH! POP!
The arm came away mid swing, the blade went flying off into the shadows.
The droid came down with thud, it lay their convulsing as electricity sparked around it.
"Sys…syst…systems failing…master."
Bayla stumbled to her feet, her leg hurt, and she could barely stand, but…
Tara was there, helping her. Merrit came as well, the three of them all cut by the shards of the beaten droid.
An antenna emerged from the droid's head; its eyes flashed quickly.
Tara recognized what was happening.
"It is dumping its files before it shuts down, sending a report to its master!"
She raised her blaster ready to destroy the head before it finished its work.
Bayla stopped her.
Let it report back, she thought.
I have a message for who sent it.
She approached the wrecked machine.
I'm tired of being prey.
I'm done.
She looked down on the beaten machine with disdain.
"I hope your master can see this, droid, because I have a message for her."
The princess glared.
"I want you to know, Sith. Know that I'm through running. You won't have to send anymore killers after me, hurt others looking for me. You want me, you won't have to look very hard.
She stepped on the droid's neck looking down into its flickering optics.
"NO MORE," she growled, "You like suffering, Sith? You like death? Well death is coming, your own!"
She reached down and grabbed the HK's head, yanking it from what remained of its chassis.
"I'M COMING SITH!" shouted at the droid, watched as its eyes finally blinked out.
The only sound was the sparking of electricity, and the popping of hot metal.
Bayla Istillo let the droid's head fall. She looked at her allies. Tara had a grim smile on her face.
Merrit looked concerned, he pursed his lips, but said nothing.
Bayla sighed.
I'm done running, she thought, I'm coming Sith.
…I'm coming.