She glanced at Tech, a soft, knowing smile on her face despite the chaos of the situation. Tech looked a bit bashful, his confidence momentarily shattered, but there was a warmth in his eyes now—a silent acknowledgment of what had just happened between them.

They had a mission to complete, but something had shifted between them. Even in the face of danger, something deeper had sparked, something that could no longer be ignored.

"Let's finish this." (Y/N) said, her voice steady as she prepared for what was to come. Tech nodded in agreement, though a small, rare smile tugged at his lips.

The pair crawled faster through the vents. Every second that passed made the factory feel like it was closing in on them.

"We are almost to the core. Once we reach it, I will attempt to override the temperature controls." Tech muttered, his voice a bit strained due to the heat.

(Y/N) felt a drip of sweat slide down the side of her face.

They finally reached a junction where the vent opened up into the heart of the factory's core. A massive room filled with pipes and machinery, all glowing red-hot from the increasing pressure. Some of the pipes had steam coming from their cracked seams. The core itself was above them. Tech scrambled to get to a terminal near the core. His fingers flew over the controls.

"I can initiate a manual shutdown, but the system was recently fried. It'll take some time." Tech told (Y/N) urgently.

(Y/N)'s mind fought to find a solution to their potentially catastrophic problem.

The comms crackled again, this time with Echo's voice, more urgent than ever.

"The droids are everywhere! We're pinned down, and the heat is getting worse. Whatever you're doing, you need to do it fast!"

Tech cursed again, sweat dripping from his brow as he worked furiously.

"I can't stabilize it fast enough! We need another solution."

(Y/N) felt the weight of the moment bearing down on her. The heat, the rising panic, the sound of malfunctioning droids echoing through the factory—it all pressed in at once. But she was a Jedi. She'd faced worse odds before.

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and reached out with the Force. She could feel the energy coursing through the factory, the heat building inside the core, the pressure that threatened to tear the facility apart. And then she felt the solution.

"The pressure valves." She said suddenly, her voice calm and sure.

"If we can release the pressure from the cooling pipes, it'll buy us enough time to get the core under control."

Tech's eyes widened. "Of course! That could work. But we'll need to do it manually, and—"

"I'll handle it," (Y/N) interrupted, already moving toward the nearest valve.

"You focus on shutting down the core."

Tech hesitated, his concern for her clear on his face, but he nodded.

"Be careful."

(Y/N) gritted her teeth as she reached the first valve, using the Force to turn the metal. It was scorching hot, but (Y/N)'s mind stayed focused on the task at hand. Slowly, the valve began to turn, and with a loud hiss, steam erupted from the pipe, releasing some of the pressure from the core.

"It's working!" Cried Tech from over by the terminal.

(Y/N) didn't need to be told twice as she moved to the next valve. Channeling the Force within her to turn the extremely hot metal. She heard pressure being released after moving the valve. She went to the next one, and then finally the last valve, it released the pressure with a final hiss. (Y/N) panted for a moment before she ran back over to Tech. His fingers danced over the controls as he enabled the virus from a data stick.

"The defenses have been disabled. Now we must plant the detonators!" Tech says, digging into his pack and giving a small handful of charges to (Y/N).

(Y/N) and Tech split up and planted the detonators all over the room, making sure no side of the room would go untouched.

"That's the last of them! We're on our way!" (Y/N) panted into the comms.

Tech moves to the side to let (Y/N) go into the vent first, him following right behind her. As they made their way closer to the end of the vent, the temperature gradually got lower, and (Y/N) felt like she could breathe again. She kicked the vent door open and clambered out. Laying on the ashy ground of Nevarro. She heard Tech drop to the side with her, and the two lay there for a moment, just appreciating the breeze and fresh air.

But the two knew they could only lay there for a few seconds. So they got back up on their feet, knowing Hunter would be trying to reach them on the comm to see their status. The pair started running in the direction of where they had landed the Marauder.

"Status, you two." Hunter's worried voice rang out over the comm.

"On our way back to the ship. Wrecker, you may do the honors." (Y/N) spoke as she ran, Tech rolled his eyes.

"Oh yeah!!! She's awesome! She lets me do all the explodin'!" Wrecker's voice boomed from the comm.

There was a loud boom.

(Y/N) and suddenly felt intense heat behind her as she and Tech picked up the pace, and ran to take cover behind a small hill. (Y/N) covered her ears and Tech wrapped his arms around her to shield her and make her feel safe.

But she felt quite the opposite.

It was chaos, refugees pouring into the transports, screams of terror filling the air, the stench of blaster fire all around. Heat from explosions mixed with the mud splattering everywhere. (Y/N) was in the thick of it, deflecting bolts with her lightsaber, using the Force to guide panicked civilians to safety. A sharp cry caught her attention—two children, a girl and a boy, were crouched in the middle of the battlefield, crying in fear as blaster fire rained down around them.

Her heart clenched at the sight, and without hesitation, she yelled over the chaos.

"Commander, I need cover!" Her clone commander gave a sharp nod and ordered his men to provide suppressive fire.

With a burst of energy, (Y/N) sprinted towards the children, using her lightsaber to deflect incoming shots. She dropped to her knees in front of them, shielding them with her body as she fought off droids, her saber humming through the chaos.

"You're going to be okay, I'm here." She whispered to them, trying to calm their shaking forms.

"Can we see your lightsaber up close?" The boy asked, his tear-streaked face filled with a strange mix of fear and curiosity. It was such an innocent request in the middle of a war zone, and it tore at her heart.

She forced a soft smile. "Later, I promise. But right now, we need to get you to safety."

At last, the clones broke through, rushing to her side. They carefully ushered the children to their mother, who had been frantically searching for them. Relief flooded her eyes.

"Thank you, Jedi, thank you!" she said, clutching her children tightly.

The children's hands reached out for (Y/N), not wanting to leave her side. "Go with your mom," she gently urged. "I'll be right behind you."

They hesitated but eventually boarded the transport, their eyes lingering on her until the last possible moment.

But the respite was short-lived. More blaster fire erupted, and (Y/N) turned to face the new wave of droids. Her lightsaber spun into action again, blocking and redirecting bolts as they came. Amid the battle, she noticed her commander off to the side, receiving orders from someone over his comms. She thought nothing of it at the time.

How naive that was.

Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine. The unmistakable sound of blasters being raised behind her broke through the haze of battle. Slowly, she turned, confused and disbelieving. Her eyes widened as she saw her own clone troopers, her brothers-in-arms, pointing their blasters directly at her.

"What...what are you doing?" she asked, her voice trembling with shock, confusion, and betrayal. Her grip on her lightsaber faltered for the briefest of moments.

The clones said nothing. No explanation. No hesitation. They simply aimed.

(Y/N) felt powerless.

The clones opened fire without hesitation, their blasters erupting in a relentless barrage. (Y/N), one of the most skilled Jedi in the Order, struggled to keep up with the onslaught. She deflected blaster bolts as best she could, her lightsaber flashing through the air, but the sheer volume of fire was overwhelming. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her muscles aching from exertion. For every bolt she redirected, more seemed to come, each shot closer and closer to striking her down. She thought of Master Plo, and how he had helped her with seamless transitions between defensive lightsaber stances.

Suddenly, a searing pain erupted in her stomach. A blaster bolt had slipped past her defenses, piercing her skin. She gasped, stumbling back, her vision blurring as she clutched the wound. The pain was excruciating, but she had no time to stop—no time to process the shock of being hit. She kept fighting, her movements more frantic and desperate.

In her haze, she began to deflect bolts almost unconsciously, no longer able to aim them harmlessly away. To her horror, the redirected shots struck her own clone troopers, the men she had fought beside for years. It was an accident, but it didn't matter. They fell, their armor crumpling as their bodies hit the ground. The sound of their deaths echoed in her mind, each thud a painful reminder of the betrayal that had forced her hand.

A group of droids still engaged nearby provided an unintended distraction. She redirected their blaster fire toward the remaining clones, giving herself a few precious moments to slip away. She stumbled into an alley, her hand pressed tightly against her stomach wound, blood seeping through her fingers. Every step felt like agony, her body screaming in protest as she tried to find cover.

But there was no time to rest. She wasn't alone.

Her commander, the one she had trusted with her life on this mission, had found her. His silhouette appeared at the end of the alley, his blaster raised, and his helmetless gaze cold. There was no hesitation, no remorse in his eyes. Just the unflinching obedience to the order given. To her horror, she could picture her own squad's faces in this clone's.

"Commander...please. Don't do this." (Y/N) pleaded, her voice breaking. She was breathless, her heart pounding with the weight of her injuries and the emotional pain of betrayal.

"We fought together... You're better than this. You can fight it."

But the commander said nothing. His finger tightened on the trigger, and before (Y/N) could react, he fired.

The shot hit her in the shoulder, close to her heart. She screamed in pain, falling to one knee, her vision dimming as blood poured from the new wound. Her lightsaber flickered in her hand, her strength fading fast. She looked up at him, tears in her eyes, still desperately hoping he would stop.

But he didn't. His blaster was raised again, ready to finish her off.

At that moment, (Y/N) had no choice.

With a cry of anguish, she thrust her lightsaber forward, piercing through her commander's chest. He froze, a look of shock and pain flickering in his eyes as he fell. The glow of her blade slowly retracted from his body, and he slumped to the ground, lifeless.

As his body hit the ground, a quiet sob escaped
(Y/N)'s lips. She collapsed against the wall of the alley, her wounds throbbing with each shallow breath. Tears streamed down her face, her heart breaking in a way she had never experienced before. The betrayal. The death of her brothers. Why? Why why why why why?!

She had never wanted to kill them. They were her comrades. And now, they were gone. And she was alone.

Alone in a galaxy that had turned against her. What happened? All she felt was confusion and pain. So much pain.

(Y/N) slumped against the cold, damp wall of the alley, blood seeping from her wounds, her entire body trembling with exhaustion and pain. As her vision blurred, her thoughts drifted to the only thing that gave her any comfort: her squad. Tech, with his calm logic and comforting presence; Hunter, always leading with unwavering determination; Wrecker, whose strength was matched only by his heart; Echo, resilient in the face of everything; and Crosshair, the protective one.

She longed for them, her chest aching more than the physical wounds. She wished they were here, fighting by her side, keeping her safe. She wished Tech were there, his quiet reassurances guiding her through the madness. But they weren't here. She was alone, and the weight of that loneliness pressed down on her like a crushing tide.

As tears filled her eyes, she looked out of the alley and saw something that made her pulse quicken—a transport, preparing to leave with the refugees she had just helped save. This was her chance. Her escape.

Using the last of her strength, she pushed herself up, her legs shaking under the weight of her injuries. She staggered toward the transport, each step more painful than the last. Her shoulder throbbed with every movement, and the burn in her stomach made it hard to breathe, but she didn't stop. She couldn't stop. If she did, she wouldn't survive.

She reached the side of the transport, its engines humming as it prepared for takeoff. She quickly glanced around—no one had seen her yet. With a deep, shuddering breath, she climbed into the cargo hold, pulling herself inside and closing the hatch behind her. It was dark and cramped, filled with supplies and crates meant for the refugees. She collapsed against a stack of boxes, gasping in pain, her body screaming for rest.

But she wasn't safe yet. She needed to take care of her wounds, or she wouldn't make it to wherever this transport was headed.

She rifled through the cargo, her fingers trembling as she searched for anything that could help. Finally, she found a first aid kit buried in one of the crates. Her hands shook as she opened it, her vision swimming from blood loss and fatigue, but she forced herself to focus. She cleaned her wounds as best as she could, biting down hard to stifle the sobs as she stitched the gash in her shoulder. It was sloppy, the stitches uneven, but it was enough to stop the bleeding.

With her wounds somewhat treated, she lay back against the crates, her entire body wracked with exhaustion and pain. Tears streamed down her face, silent and uncontrollable. She had lost her comrades. Her identity as a Jedi. The galaxy had turned upside down and she didn't know what to do.

As the transport made the jump into hyperspace, the gentle hum of the engines barely registered through her haze of pain and grief. She cried silently for the rest of the ride, clutching her side as the transport carried her away from Nevarro.

"(Y/N) please!" A desperate voice broke through to her.

(Y/N) was suddenly aware of the tears streaming down her cheeks, and the person in front of her. Tech was frantically saying things so fast (Y/N)'s brain couldn't process. He looked extremely worried.

"(Y/N)?" Tech's voice was soft but laced with deep concern. He was kneeling beside her, one hand hovering near her shoulder as if unsure whether to touch her or give her space.

"What's wrong? Please talk to me."

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came. Instead, the overwhelming weight of her memories—the fear, the pain, the grief—came crashing down all at once. Her chest tightened, and before she knew it, a sob escaped her lips. Then another. She had been holding it in for so long, she hadn't even realized how much she'd been suffocating under the weight of it all. Now it was impossible to stop.

"I... I can't," she finally managed to choke out between sobs, her voice breaking. "I can't do this... I can't carry it anymore."

Tech's eyes widened in surprise, clearly taken aback by her sudden outpouring of emotion. But without hesitation, he reached forward and pulled her into a tight embrace. His arms wrapped around her, holding her securely against him. His chest was warm, steady, and safe—everything she desperately needed in that moment.

"(Y/N)," he murmured softly, resting his chin gently on top of her head. "You don't have to carry it alone."

The dam broke. She buried her face into Tech's shoulder, gripping his armor as sobs wracked her body. She hadn't realized just how much she had been carrying, how much she had kept locked away. The guilt, the sorrow, the memories of that day—it all came pouring out.

"I tried to save them," she whispered between her sobs, her voice raw. "The refugees... the clones... the commander. I didn't want to kill them. But they turned on me. And I... I had to—" Her words dissolved into another sob, and she shook her head, the weight of what had happened pressing down on her chest like a vice.

Tech's grip tightened around her, his hands rubbing gentle circles on her back, offering what little comfort he could.

"It wasn't your fault," he whispered, his voice firm yet filled with empathy. "None of it was your fault. You did everything you could, (Y/N). The clones, your commander—they weren't in control. It was the chip, the orders. You had no choice."

But she shook her head again, the guilt still gnawing at her heart. "I had to kill him, Tech. My commander. I—" Her voice faltered, and she squeezed her eyes shut, as though it would make the memory go away. "I didn't want to, but I had no other choice."

Tech pulled back slightly, just enough to look her in the eyes. His own were filled with compassion and a determination that caught her off guard.

"You did what you had to do to survive. You made the impossible choice, and you did it to protect yourself and others. That doesn't make you a monster—it makes you strong."

His words hit her like a wave on Kamino, and though the pain didn't vanish, something in her chest loosened, just a bit. She had been carrying this guilt for so long, letting it consume her, but hearing Tech say it wasn't her fault—it was like a small flicker of light in the darkness. It didn't fix everything, but it was enough to keep her from drowning.

She cried until there were no more tears left, until the grief and exhaustion finally settled into a quiet numbness. Through it all, Tech didn't let go, holding her with a kind of steadiness she didn't know she needed.

When her sobs finally subsided, she pulled back, wiping her face with a trembling hand. She glanced up at Tech, who was watching her with such gentle concern that it made her heart ache. Tech gently lifted (Y/N)'s chin up with his gloved hand, as if asking for permission. (Y/N) leaned forward and the two gently kissed. It was short but sweet, and it got the point across. Suddenly, their comms started blaring at them.

"Tech? (Y/N)? Come in! Do you copy?" Hunter's worried voice said.

"Affirmative. We ran into...some slight complications but we are mostly intact." Tech responded.

"Are you able to meet us at the rendezvous?" Asked Echo.

Tech looked over to (Y/N), whose tears had mostly dried by now. She nodded her head, still holding Tech's hand.

"Affirmative. We will be there soon." Tech switched his comm off and looked at (Y/N)