54

The Batch had gone dangerously still. Fingers strained against triggers, flooding the Force with a prickling sense of unease and anticipation. Behind them, holding tight to Hunter's leg, Omega's panicked eyes met Saedii's.

Gently, Saedii slipped between Wrecker and Hunter. Standing in front of her team. Both lightsabers were in her hands, but she held them loosely at her side, disengaged. Waiting to see what Kalth would do.

His own lightsaber was clipped onto his belt. The arrogance of that simple fact was enough to set Saedii's teeth on edge.

"This is a surprise," Kalth said lightly. "When the Grand Inquisitor sent me here, I thought it was to learn a lesson. Not earn my redemption."

Saedii said nothing. Letting him talk instead.

"Why are you here, Jedi?"

"Why are you?" Saedii challenged. Behind her, Hunter's finger tensed on the trigger.

Kalth took a lazy step forward – a move that was tracked by the five blasters behind her. "This is my punishment for failing to kill you. But it seems my great failure will now lead to glorious salvation."

"Arrogant as always, Kalth."

"That's not my name," he snarled, dropping the cocky act.

A mocking lift to Saedii's lips made him go still. "You really haven't changed much. You're still just as stubborn as always."

A low buzz filled the room as he yanked his lightsaber from his belt, holding it in front of him. At her back, the boys tracked his movement. But Saedii kept still. Keeping her own lightsabers low. A way of taunting him back.

"You got lucky on Hareth, Jedi." Red light from his blade gilded the skull on his mask. His voice echoed, deepened by the mask he wore. "Today, I'm going to present your head to my master and be welcomed back as a loyal soldier of the Empire."

Hunter's anxiety washed over her. She blocked it out as best she could, keeping her expression neutral.

"Get on the rail car," Saedii whispered, low enough where only Hunter could hear.

The weight of his eyes settled on her. Unwilling.

Kalth moved, surging forward. In a single deft move, Saedii engaged both lightsabers and met his charge, catching his blade between both of hers. At the hiss of their blades meeting, the Batch all leapt back, giving the two space as Saedii shoved Kalth away and swung for his head.

The platform became a blur of movement. From another door, five stormtroopers suddenly swarmed inside, firing at the car as the Batch ducked inside. Leaning through the door, Hunter and Crosshair began to return fire, taking down one before the others took cover.

Light and heat flashed past her. Saedii's attention was split between the blasts that danced close by and the blade that whistled at her head. Kalth either didn't notice the shots or didn't care as he pushed forward, moving so fast his weapon was a red wash of color before him.

Saedii kept her feet moving, blades coming up to block his. She tracked every step he took, mirroring his movements to stay a step ahead. He was off-balanced today. More aggressive than usual. More desperate.

She settled into a defensive stance, letting him take the lead. Blocking and shadowing. Around them, the platform was loud with the sharp pop-pop-pop of blasters. The calls of the troopers as they tried to outmaneuver the Batch.

Kalth spun, aiming a savage arc towards her head – full of power and anger. With a graceful step, Saedii slid beneath his arm, flicking her blade up to tag him on the side.

It was nothing more than a flesh wound, but he snarled at the blood that burst forth. He stabbed at her, forcing Saedii to leap back.

And then, the most beautiful sound cut through the racket: the crunch of metal on metal. Of a track humming with power.

The rail was ready.

Saedii pushed out with the Force, sending the stormtroopers off their feet and Kalth to his knees. In the moment of stillness that followed, she ran for the rail, urging Tech, "Go! Go, now!"

Overhead, the engine whined as Tech pushed it faster. Saedii jumped out, leaping through the empty door just as it pulled away from the platform.

Wrecker let out a triumphant laugh as Saedii rested her hands on her knees, breathing hard. "You showed him!"

Thump!

Saedii straightened at the sound of landing feet on the top of the rail car. A moment later, a red blade hissed through the ceiling of the attached car, cutting a circle large enough for a fully grown Clone to slip through.

"Damnit," she cursed as Kalth jumped down inside.

Hunter and Echo both turned towards him, getting off a few shots that he deflected. One of them collided with Wrecker's right shoulder, painting a swath of blood on the window behind. He howled in pain, dropping to his knees.

"Wrecker!" Omega cried.

Saedii shoved forward, trying to get in front of the guys. Kalth turned to her next, swinging up and just missing her head. Sparks danced on her shoulders as his blade exploded against the pipes and wires lining the inside of the car. They were hot against the bare skin of her shoulders, burning.

He moved again, getting into Saedii's space as he struck at her. In close quarters like this, his strength was overpowering. Saedii's speed wasn't enough to keep her ahead of him if she didn't have space to run to. The hot kiss of his lightsaber threatened against her side as their blades met and his tipped forward.

Her knees nearly buckled as he forced her back a step. Behind her, Hunter and Echo stopped shooting as the two came close together. As she struggled to hold him, gritting her teeth against his sheer strength.

Kalth pushed, shoving both her blades aside. In the split second that followed, his hand was on her throat. Slamming her head forward into the side of the rail car.

Bright lights exploded behind Saedii's eyes. She grunted, feeling hot blood spray from her forehead, dripping into her eyes.

He flung her head back, exposing her throat. Red flared at the edge of her vision – the sight of his blade arcing towards her.

A startled breath tore from Kalth's chest as a body slammed into his, grabbing his arm. Stilling it long enough for Saedii to slip out of his hold and stumble away a step. Giving them some space.

There was a moment of slowness. Of pause as Saedii sucked in a breath.

At the front of the car, Tech and Omega had crouched beside Wrecker, trying to slow the bleeding in his shoulder. In front of them, in a defensive position, Hunter and Echo were tracking Kalth's movements as he tried to knock Crosshair off from the vise-like grip he had on his shoulder.

Saedii lunged, blade missing Kalth by a hair as he jerked to the side. Arm still locked in Crosshair's, he kicked out, landing a crunching blow to Saedii's side that propelled her backwards, powered with the Force.

The back door of the car folded beneath her. Then, there was a sickening moment of falling. Of realization that there was nothing beneath her but empty space.

Her hand flung out on instinct, gripping the edge of the door hard. The momentum pulled her body backwards to slam into the side of the cart and she gripped even harder as she dangled dangerously. Beneath her, the grey clouds were a dizzying distance below.

"Saedii!" Hunter's voice called from inside.

The metal was hot under her hands as she pulled herself close to the car. As she tried to steady herself.

The car came to a lurching stop.

This time, the momentum nearly broke her hold. Her right hand slipped against the slick metal and her entire body flung out into nothing, tethered only by the powerful grip of her metal arm. Steel folded beneath her prosthetic fingers as she urged her arm to hold.

It did. With a relieved sigh, Saedii flopped back against the car. Glancing up in surprise. Above, the engine had gone silent.

Inside, there was a commotion. The sharp crunch of broken bone. A harsh cry. Then, Saedii's head jerked on instinct, avoiding the red blade that whistled out from the inside, scraping along the ridge of her cheek.

She yanked herself up on top of the car, turning as she sensed Kalth follow. He crouched before her, weapon out.

"We've lost power!" Echo's voice called on comms.

Kalth spun his blade in a lazy circle. "And here I thought this was going to be a challenge."

"Kalth," Saedii urged, risking a glance over her shoulder. On the parallel track, another car had come to a stop a few hundred yards away. Close enough that the troopers opening the doors and windows would be able to reach them as they turned their blasters towards the Batch. "They're going to kill you."

"They wouldn't dare," he said confidently.

"They will. The Empire would rather see you dead then let us escape," she argued, ducking as a shot went over her head.

He stilled, realizing the truth of her argument. The Force around him sharpened with anger before smoothing into acceptance. "It is an honor to die for the Empire."

"You don't have to die. We can get out of this. Together," Saedii said.

"Together? Right." He gave a dark laugh. "Like I would ever trust you."

Behind him, in the distance, thick black smoke was trailing up from Tarkin's compound. It billowed out like a plume of feathers, fanning out high into the sky above them. Thin veins of flicking amber and gold spread through one of the lower windows. Fire left unchecked. The devastation from the thermal blasts had been massive.

"Saedii," Hunter's voice sounded on comms. It was panicked. Anxious. "The explosions knocked out power to the rail line. Tech is going to try to reboot it."

There was a hidden message in Hunter's warning. Saedii let her gaze slip up, tracing the line above them.

Her stomach dropped as she spotted the emergency operating system – attached to one of the terminals towering on the track above. In order to reboot the system, Tech was going to have to climb up there.

Kalth wouldn't let him. He'd kill him if he got the chance.

She understood. Hunter needed her to clear a path. To distract Kalth long enough for Tech to reboot the system and get the engine back on.

Saedii used the Force to propel her straight up – all the way onto the track above her. It was nothing more than a thin beam beneath her feet. No wider than a foot. She knew that Kalth would follow.

Sure enough, solid footfalls pealed behind her. She turned, holding both arms out for balance as she faced him.

"Where do you plan to go from here, Jedi?" Kalth held his arms out, gesturing to the whole wide nothing around them. The sheer drop that waited beneath them. "You have nowhere to run."

Behind him, Tech climbed up the side of the car. Towards the rail line. At the scrape of his armored hands on the rungs, Kalth spun around.

Saedii jumped up, flipping over him. Landing between the two of them just as Tech climbed up onto the rail line behind her. Heat bathed her face as she held her lightsabers in front of her.

"You could just leave them, you know," Kalth said, almost amused. He leaned over the side, looking down at Hunter and Echo as they returned fire to the stormtroopers in the other car. "They're stuck here, but you, with your training – you can save yourself."

"I'm not leaving them," she said. Staunch.

"You're faster than I am. Have better balance. You could get away."

It felt as though the breath had been knocked out of her. She frowned. "How do you know that? I thought you didn't know me."

Silence met her question. She had the sense that Kalth had taken himself by surprise – that he'd spoken before his mind could catch up with his mouth. He seemed startled by what he'd said.

"I don't," he insisted.

"Kalth," she tried, but he lunged for her before she could finish.

The two came back together, trading blows. They went quick, both trying to dislodge the other – to knock the other off balance. But Kalth was right – Saedii did have better balance, thanks to her short stature and low center of gravity. She was just as comfortable up here on the thin rail as she was down on solid ground.

He teetered as he tried to keep up, swinging too fast and too hard. Easily, she batted his blade away, dancing away from him. Cartwheeling along the narrow line, just to really get under his skin.

Behind them, Tech had finally made it to the terminal. He was far enough away that Saedii couldn't hear the click of keys as he typed in commands, but she could sense his pleasure. The system was cooperating.

"Tech?" Hunter demanded.

Tech's voice was pleasantly calm. "I almost have it. Stand by."

Saedii and Kalth both froze in unison as there was a flutter down the Force. The faint hum of warning.

Together, they both turned towards the compound as the distant figures of four small attack shuttles took flight. Saedii knew what their objective would be.

They were going to shoot the car down.

"We have four ships inbound!" Hunter reported. The sounds of blaster fire paused below as the stormtroopers caught sight of their own ships disappearing into the clouds.

A flare of panic swelled in the Force around Kalth. For all his bravado, he didn't want to die on this rail line.

The low hum of approaching engines grew louder. The Force rippled with the approaching ships, coming from the west.

Hunter's voice shouted, "Tech, we need power!"

Shadows emerged in the clouds. Growing closer. Down below, Crosshair's rifle peeked out the front window as he fired, taking down a ship as soon as it dipped down below the shroud of grey.

But the others were too quick.

Bright lights burst from the barrels of their front facing guns – blaster fire. Then suddenly, the air was exploding all around Saedii.

She ducked, dropping onto her belly as burning heat licked close by her sides. As it exploded on the line near her feet. Metal popped as it gave, ripping apart beneath the onslaught of canon fire. An ominous groan echoed from the car beneath as it swayed, and both connectors along the line lit up with bursts of light.

Next to her, Kalth let out a gasp as he lost his footing. As he fell straight onto the line, knocking the breath from his gut.

He scrambled, arms reaching for the rail line. His lightsaber nearly tumbled from his gasp as he struggled to hold onto the thin beam of metal. As his whole body slipped and dangled above a freefall.

Saedii looked at him. Hesitated. If she left him, he'd likely fall and die. There would be one less Inquisitor out there to hunt her. They'd be safe.

But just like on Hareth, when she looked at him, she remembered the boy who'd chased her down the halls. Who'd sat beside her as she'd forged her lightsaber.

You're faster than I am. Have better balance.

What if he was still in there?

Kalth's grip slipped. He was hanging on by his fingertips now. Only seconds away from slipping.

Her hand shot out just as his lost its grip. Their hands grasped each other hard. Kalth's weight and momentum was so great that it nearly pulled her off the side, but Saedii dug her grip into the rail and refused to budge.

She gritted her teeth. "Give me your other hand."

He did as she said, holding onto hers with both of his. Using the extra strength Tech had programed in, she pulled him up with her prosthetic. Just enough so that he could grab the track for himself.

Quickly, he pulled himself back up. Panting. His helmet swung up to her in surprise, but silence settled between the two of them.

"Echo, now!" Tech's voice interrupted the silence.

Power whirred in the car below. Trickled down the rail at their feet. The nearby engines lit up, switching back on. Further down the line, Tech unplugged his holopad and ran back towards them.

Then came another sound: the distant hum of a fighter engine.

"Hunter!" Saedii called, but he'd heard it.

Crosshair's rifle barked out a deadly shot, nailing the nose of the first fighter that emerged from the clouds. It imploded, flipping backward. Careening straight into the ship on its flank. Thick black smoke bled into the grey clouds.

And then, from the smoke, a line of blue canon fire erupted.

Saedii and Kalth both scrambled backwards, avoiding the blasts that collided with the rail. A sharp burst of light exploded along the rail connectors.

Groaning, one of the connectors snapped. Saedii watched in horror as the second car tumbled down just as Tech landed on its top.

"Tech!" Saedii screamed as he fell straight towards the side.

His hands slipped along the smooth metal, searching for a handhold. He found none, falling straight into open air. In a last desperate attempt, he flung out a hook from his bag, attached to the emergency rappelling line at his waist.

The car jerked to a stop. Dangling ten feet below it, Tech, too, was jolted. The line creaked but held and he was left suspended above the ominous carpet of clouds hundreds of feet below.

A low groan came from the second connector. Tiny cracks were just visible along its face. It was giving. The weight of the two cars was too much.

It was going to fall, too.

Saedii jumped to her feet. But a hand on her ankle brought her straight back down, crashing onto the rail line.

Without looking, Saedii kicked with all her might, landing a solid blow to Kalth's helmet. He grunted and fell back, releasing the hold on her leg.

She jumped – straight down onto the remaining car. Grabbing onto the side, she swung herself straight down and through the glass of one of the windows, stumbling inside.

At the end of the car, Wrecker was leaning over the edge. Watching as Tech tried to pull himself up.

"Come on, Tech! Hurry!" he shouted.

"I'm climbing as fast as I can!" Tech shouted back – the first time Saedii had ever heard him raise his voice.

Saedii came up to Wrecker's side, holding her hand out. She pushed hard with the Force against the rear grate of the dangling car, ripping it straight from its foundation. It fell, missing Tech by mere inches. Giving them a straight shot to Tech waiting below.

Crosshair was already at her side, rappelling rifle in hand. One of his arms, Saedii noticed, was at an awkward angle. Broken. He fired, hitting Tech squarely in the chest plate. As soon as it was secure, Tech cut his own line. Trusting that Crosshair would hold him.

"Tech, stay still!" Saedii shouted. Then, she jumped up and swiped her lightsaber through the last bit of connecting metal that held the two cars together.

Air whooshed and metal screamed as the car fell straight down, plunging faster than Saedii anticipated. Tech condensed himself, holding in his arms and legs as the hollow car fell around him. Passing dangerously close by.

"Get him on board!" Hunter ordered as behind him, Echo said, "We need to go!"

Crosshair's arms shook as the gun whirred, pulling Tech up. His broken arm suddenly gave and the gun nearly tumbled from his hands. Below, Tech jerked wildly in midair.

Wrecker was there, grabbing fast to the gun. Together, they held it steady as the line wound all the way up and finally, finally, Tech was pulled on board to safety.

He was safe.

"Go!" Saedii screamed.

Echo slammed his scomp deep into the ignition. Rumbling, the engine came to life and the car shot forward, faster than they were anticipating. At the edge of the car, Omega nearly fell out of the opening at the force of it.

The car rocketed along the trail, past the other car. Light bounced off the side as blaster fire followed them, but none of the shots hit their marks. The car was moving far too fast.

Wrecker hurried them all away from the edge, holding his injured shoulder awkwardly. The car swayed violently beneath them and he shot out an arm to keep Saedii upright.

"Is everyone alright?" Hunter asked, looking over the five of them.

Saedii wiped the blood from her eyes. "Fine."

"I am also unharmed," Tech said, though his eyes were narrowed behind his goggles. He was looking straight ahead, out the front facing window.

Crosshair hissed as he came up on Tech's left, "We're going too fast."

"The system's fried! I can't slow it down!" Echo tried to yank his arm out of the scomp but it wouldn't budge.

Hunter looked between Saedii and Omega. Head jerking quickly.

Massive arms wound around her. Pulled her down towards the ground. Wrecker, shielding her in the circle of his arms as the landing station flashed in the front window. Too fast. There was a blur of color as Hunter made a grab for Omega.

And then the world crumbled in on them.