β well. glad weβre on the same page in flying directly toward our demise. βΒ Β it was the inquisitorβs poor attempt at HUMOR β which didnβt quite land with her dry tone. even the smile she offered iden β thin and restrained as it was β couldnβt help the sentiment.Β Β β at least you have backup. iβm glad you spoke to me β thereβs no world on which you shouldβve done this on your own. βΒ Β at the very least, she and iden would have each othersβ backs. when iden asked if she was ready, she sucked in a breath.Β Β β and what if i said no? βΒ Β trilla offered β still an attempt at humor. she is, in fact, as ready for this as sheβll ever be.
once the ship was docked, trilla followed iden to her feet, although she had considerably less preparation to do. retrieving her saber, the second sister attached it to the sheath on the back of her uniform. the only other weapon was the rarely-used officer pistol at her hip, though she didnβt bother to check the ammunition. she could count on one hand the amount of times sheβd fired that blaster. all she would need is her lightsaber β itβs almost all she ever needed.Β
moving to stand behind iden, she gave her a quick nod of approval, waiting for her to use the controls to open it. once they stepped off the ship β the second sister was greeted by the flash of emergency lighting β the only light to be illuminating the long hallways they stepped into. the eerie silence, flashing lights and what sounded like a distant alarm were enough to make trilla want to reach for her saber. she hesitated, instead taking several steps down the hall and in front of iden.
β remember β neither of us is at the otherβs command. you see something out of place, you act. weβre in uncharted waters here. β
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β HER Β CRACK Β ON Β HUMOR Β DIDNβT Β GO Β UNNOTICED. Β IF Β ANYTHING Β IDEN Β cracked Β her Β own Β small Β smile Β upon Β hearing Β it. Β Though Β she Β faced Β another Β direction, Β the Β smile Β was Β still Β there. Β No, Β it Β wasnβt Β the Β most Β smart Β thing Β to Β do, Β but Β it Β was Β time Β this Β secret Β was Β uncovered. Β Despite Β it Β being Β given Β to Β them Β by Β a Β rebel, Β and Β again, Β she Β knew Β the Β risks. Β Her Β father Β would Β be Β upset, Β but Β it Β was Β something Β she Β would Β deal Β with Β when Β she Β got Β back... Β if Β she Β got Β back, Β β Β Oh? Β β Β a Β brow Β arched Β at Β the Β otherβs Β words, Β β Β Though Β I Β donβt Β doubt Β my Β skills, Β I Β would Β rather Β have Β someone Β looking Β over Β my Β shoulder Β in Β this Β sort Β of Β situation, Β β Β a Β beat Β and Β a Β hum, Β then Β she Β pressed Β the Β release Β button Β for Β the Β door, Β β Β Then Β I Β would Β have Β said Β too Β bad. Β β Β Iden Β turned Β to Β her Β with Β a Β small Β grin.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β AS Β SOON Β AS Β THE Β DOOR Β HISSED Β OPEN, Β SHE Β WAS Β ON Β guard. Β They Β were Β met Β with Β flashing Β lights, Β a Β faint Β alarm Β in Β the Β distance. Β She Β took Β in Β a Β breath, Β and Β then Β stepped Β into Β the Β prison Β barge. Β Her Β blaster Β was Β held Β up Β before Β her, Β stepping Β with Β surprisingly Β quietness. Β There Β was Β a Β heaviness Β in Β the Β air. Β It Β was Β thick, Β and Β felt Β like Β she Β could Β suffocate. Β An Β odor Β filled Β the Β space Β that Β filled Β her Β stomach Β with Β dread. Β It Β was Β sickening, Β actually. Β
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β IDEN Β ALLOWED Β HER Β TO Β STEP Β FIRST Β THIS Β TIME, Β MAKING Β SURE Β no Β one Β came Β up Β from Β behind Β them. Β So Β far, Β this Β place Β was Β just... Β empty. Β Echoes Β of Β the Β ship Β groaning Β in Β her Β ears. Β Besides Β that, Β it Β was Β far Β too Β eerie Β for Β her. Β She Β already Β didnβt Β like Β this, Β and Β wanted Β to Β call Β it Β a Β mission. Β Her Β nerves Β were Β high, Β but Β it Β only Β worsened Β when Β she Β saw Β blood Β streaks Β across Β some Β of Β the Β walls, Β but Β nothing Β far Β more Β major Β than Β that. Β Something Β did Β happen Β here, Β but Β could Β it Β possibly Β be Β what Β Han Β Solo Β had Β suggested?
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β WITH Β A Β SMALL Β ADJUSTMENT Β OF Β HER Β HAND, Β IDEN Β GLANCED Β BACK Β at Β Trilla. Β She Β took Β in Β a Β soft Β breath, Β and Β it Β shook Β through Β her Β body, Β β Β I Β really Β donβt Β like Β this. Β β