ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴡᴏ

ᴊᴜꜱᴛɪᴄᴇ ɪꜱ ʙᴇꜱᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ꜱᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ ʜᴏᴛ.

《☆》

The harsh winds blew a harsh sheet of rain across the city. The darkness of the night casting many shadows across the thin streets. The rain which drowned the many holes in the ground, created pools of grime; reflecting the ambience of the city.

Kitra perched upon a building ledge, submerged within the disguise of her dark hood which she had sewn into her leather jacket. The same jacket which had experienced many battles within the Rebellion.

While her damp hair blew in the wind and her skin burned from the cold; she raised her scopes to her eyes and magnified the range. Kitra inspected the figures which walked through the streets. She took notice of the bucket heads which patrolled the area, observing the bar which welcomed many customers.

She honed her sights onto a figure who sat inside the bar. Comfortably sitting in a large booth, draped in a thick winter's coat. Kitra quickly gazed down at the small disk which was hidden in her belt. The girl pressed a button, making a hologram image of the same man appear. Kitra quickly hid the disk again.

She found the Imperial.

Kitra slid down a ladder that was attached onto the side of the building and landed on the wet ground. Her feet splashed against a dark puddle, soaking her boots.

The girl moved through the dimly lit streets and towards the bar, swerving through the moderate crowds of people. Kitra reached the door and pushed through it, into the warm enclosure of the bar.

Stepping upon the wooden floor, Kitra approached the bar where a tired man stood cleaning a glass. "A Coreillian please." She requested, sliding a credit towards the man. The bartender peered at the girl before he accepted his payment.

Kitra leaned forward against the bar, keeping the Imperial's booth in her peripheral. The many voices within the bar echoed together, competing in volume as different conversations over powered each other.

Her eyes honed in onto the Imperial. He wore a proud smirk as he paraded his arms about, boasting about his defeats against the Rebellion. The arrogant laughs which came from his peers only frustrated Kitra even more.

The scraping sound which came from her drink being slid towards her, tore her attention back to the bar. Kitra caught the drink and raised the glass to her lips, drinking the dry spirit.

Kitra had rehearsed the situation in her head many times, all she needed to do was get up from the bar. But she couldn't move. The girl glanced down to her chest, grasping the chain that she had hidden beneath her shirt. She tugged it out from its hiding place and observed the ring.

He is lost, within the stars; while the Imperial who was present in the catalyst of his death, laughed into his drink. The one responsible treats his death and many others, like a normal rotational job.

He had no sympathy, no remorse. And in turn Kitra shall have none either.

Kitra raised the glass to her lips and downed the rest of the bitter liquid, feeling its burn migrate down her throat. She sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes; allowing the humid air to fill her lungs.

She placed her glass back onto the bar and pushed herself off from the bar. Hidden behind the shadows of her hood, she weaved through the crowded bar, forcing herself to trip over her own feet. Her clumsiness catching the attention of the nearby Imperials, who gazed at her from the corner of her eyes.

"I think you've had enough to drink, missy." One of the Imperials chuckled, making the other men around him laugh. Kitra peered towards the men from beneath her hood. She wanted to glare, she wanted them to feel the burn from her gaze. But she couldn't, not yet.

Kitra quickly softened her eyes and gazed towards the Imperial of a higher rank, the man she was looking for. "Please help me....rebels...they stole my speeder." Kitra stuttered, forcing a pant out from her lungs.

The Imperials straightened their postures once she mentioned the Rebels. "Nonsense child. We cleaned this planet clean of Rebels. You must be mistaken." The Imperial Lieutenant spoke, as he waved her away.

"They were Rebels. I could tell from their low voices and hushed footsteps. They wore the mark of the star bird, engraved into their shoulders, following the orders of a smuggler and a Wookiee." Kitra described. The Imperials shared a couple of scared expressions.

"It's them." One Imperial muttered, while another paled. Kitra knew exactly why. She had described the band of Rebels who had destroyed their beloved creation. And they had all heard whispers of a power that one of the rebel's possesses. They were afraid.

"I heard one of them, a young boy, direct them in the direction of the main communication tower." Kitra continued, making one Imperial shoot up to his feet. The Imperial beside him pulled them down to their seat.

The high ranking Imperial sucked in a deep breath and peered towards the girl. "Show me." He ordered, making Kitra nod in response.

Kitra peered towards one of the side doors and beckoned the Imperial to follow after her. "Sir-" One officer called out, standing up from his seat. The man who now stood beside Kitra faced the younger man. "-Sit down. I will check out the situation. I'll alert you on the severity once I see the evidence for myself." The man spoke before facing Kitra again.

The older man sent the girl a smile, which Kitra ignored as she turned towards the door once again. The girl grasped the metal wheel which operated the heavy exit door. As she held the wheel, she peered towards the Lieutenant from the corner of her eye, while he watched her intently.

Biting back a smirk, Kitra slid her hands along the metallic wheel and let out a couple of grunts. Her performance caught the man's attention, making him smile to himself before he took a step forward. "Let me.." He offered, placing a heavy hand on her shoulder.

The skin beneath his hand sparked with hatred, as she felt her disgust and illness arise from her stomach. Swallowing her feelings, Kitra nodded at the man and took a step back. The Imperial took her place and grasped the wheel in a tight grasp and turned it, making the metal release a rusted squeak from being inactive.

The door swung open, making the Imperial glance over his shoulder, down to where Kitra stood. The man hummed before he turned away and stepped out of the door. Once he turned away, Kitra couldn't help the smirk which creased against her lips while her eyes sparked with intent.

Kitra stepped out of the door after him, following him out into the dark alleyway. The Imperial looked down at her, "So where are these Rebels that you speak of?" He asked, his voice holding a condescending undertone. Kitra gently twitched her fingers within the shadows, making the door release another squeak as it was slammed closed. The Imperial quickly peered towards the door with scepticism.

"They went down the main street, that way." Kitra directed, making the man nod. He turned around and walked towards the exit of the alleyway and glanced past the wall to observe the main street. It was quiet except for the everyday speeders which flew by. The communication tower which was illuminated at the end of the street, still sparkled in control.

The Imperial gazed over his shoulder, noticing that the girl was not as close to him as he thought she would be. Humming to himself, he observed the street again. "You probably think you saw something, but everything is fine-"

The Imperial quickly looked down to his feet as a grapple hook tightened around his ankle. Dread quickly flashed over his eyes, before the wire was recoiled and he was thrown onto his front. The man was dragged against the rough ground, cutting his face and tearing his uniform as he was yanked away from the light.

Once he stopped, the Imperial slowly rolled onto his back while he panted. His heavy breaths echoed within the confinements of the alley, as a shadowed figure approached him. He gazed up at the young girl, who's shadowed face looked down at him.

His eyes trailed down to her wrist, where he noticed the grapple wire extending from her wrist cuff. "Huh-what? Who are you?" He frowned, as she neared him.

The girl stood over him and brought her hand to her face, pulling her hood down, revealing her face to the Imperial. Kitra looked back at the man with cold eyes, while he gazed up at her in shock. "You-you! I....I thought you were dead! Vader announced your death...the cruiser explosion over Christophsis.." He stammered.

He pushed his hands into the ground and began to raise himself up from the ground. Kitra slammed her boot into his chest and pinned him. The man wheezed as Kitra crouched down to his level.

Kitra took out one of her blasters and held it in a relaxed grasp, clear in the Imperial's eye-line. She watched as his eyes followed the weapon in her hand. "I am very much alive." Kitra spoke in a low tone, her voice sending a vibrating resonance against his rib cage. "What do you want from me?"

Her cold eyes were replaced with a deathly glare, as she looked at him with no remorse. "You took something from me.." She started, before she stood up once more and aimed her blaster towards his head. "..So I will take something from you."

His scared eyes widened, as he gasped for his breath. "You won't get away with this. Rebel Scum! You will pay." He threatened, making Kitra smile to herself. "They need to catch me first."

The Imperial sucked in a shallow breath. "You will never win. The Empire will thrive over your graves. Long live the Empi--" The blast echoed within the alley, as it's tremor travelled towards neighbouring streets.

Kitra looked down at the Imperial who had smoke steaming out from between his eyes. "Imperial scum." Kitra snarled, before she spat on the ground beside him.

"Hey!" A voice called out, making Kitra turn around as the other Imperials ran around the corner, into the alley with Kitra. The men blocked the exit of the alley and raised their small blasters.

Stepping to the side, Kitra tugged at a long piece of fabric, discarding of the cover as her speederbike shone in the moonlight. "Don't make another move or we'll shoot!" One Imperial threatened.

The rain began to splatter against the ground, the water rattling against the metallic pipes concealed their confrontation. Kitra squinted her eyes in the heavy rain, as the wind blew her wet hair around her shoulders. Her soaked skin burning in the icy wind.

Kitra stowed her blaster and held both hands up in surrender. The three Imperials shared a couple of glances, before they began to step towards her with their blasters aimed.

A chorus of heavy blasts rained down onto the Imperials, knocking them down onto the ground where they steamed in the rain. A thunderous engine rumbled against the storm, grabbing Kitra's attention as she gazed up towards the sky with curiosity.

A blinding light suddenly illuminated the sky, shining down onto Kitra. The girl quickly ducked and took a step back, as she covered her face with an arm to protect her eyes from the bright light.

The deep engines continued to rumble with the wind, as the light still warmed Kitra. The girl took a couple of breaths, before she slowly lowered her arm from her eyes. She squinted as she looked up at the painful light, while she tried to identify the ship which controlled it.

Her hands slowly lowered to her twin blasters as the light began to dim. Once the light was gone, Kitra blinked her eyes multiple times to try and focus her vision.

Regaining clarity, Kitra looked upon a Coreillian freighter. One which she recognised, as it hovered at the end of the alleyway.

A confused frown spread across her face as the ramp lowered, revealing a familiar face who welcomed her to her own rescue. The girl did not dare to second guess herself, as she ran towards the ship and jumped onto the ramp.

"We got her. Now get us out of here." Rex spoke into the communicator in his wrist. Kitra felt the ship swerve as the ghost ascended into the clouds, away from the dark streets of the city. The ramp slowly raised and closed, putting a barrier between Kitra and Imperial danger.

Kitra released a heavy breath and collapsed onto the floor, bringing her knees up to her chest as she caught her breath. "What are you doing Kitra?" Rex questioned, as he slowly approached the girl. Kitra looked up at the old clone, who wore a concerned expression, making her tear her eyes away from him.

Rex grunted as he crouched down to her level, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I know what you're going through, but this is not how you handle it." Rex expressed. Before Kitra could respond, a pair of footsteps stopped from behind them.

Glancing over her shoulder, Kitra looked upon Hera and Zeb, who both sent her disapproving looks. "Cockpit, now."

Kitra avoided Hera's gaze as she sat in the cockpit. "I know you want them to pay, Kitra. But what you're doing will damage the Rebellion, it will undo all that we've built so far." Hera explained.

The star tunnel surrounded the ghost, as many systems flew past them. Many lives, many stories, left behind in half a second. Kitra's eyes got lost in the blue void of hyperspace, as she felt its allure trap her in a rhythmic trance.

"Kitra...do you understand?" Hera repeated, looking at the girl with desperate eyes. Kitra finally tore her gaze away from the stars and looked the pilot in the eyes. "Yes." She mumbled, while she played with her hands.

Hera watched the broken girl. The girl who never really belonged anywhere, who couldn't call anywhere 'home'. The closest thing to her home was left behind on Scariff, left in a dust cloud on the broken planet.

While Kitra's escape, her calm within the hectic storm; had also been taken from her too. Torn down by the wrath of a duel; murdered by Darth Vader, with only memories for Kitra to cherish.

The two people Kitra cared for the most in the entire universe; both perished from the same catalyst, in the proximity of the same weapon. It did not surprise Hera that Kitra wanted everyone involved in the weapon's operation to pay with their lives.

But Hera had been told, and had whispers from a distant call; telling her to pull Kitra away from this path. Before the girl could travel too far.

"Kitra. I understand what you're going through, what you're feeling. I can understand, more than anyone, that you want every Imperial to burn for taking away the person you loved. Trust me, I know. I felt the same, I still do." Hera started, as she gazed outside towards the many star systems.

"But we cannot afford to make them suffer. There's too many people relying on us. The Rebellion is counting on us. We need to focus on this fight and win it. When that day comes, and I know it will, he will be able to rest in the stars, at peace, knowing that you are safe and that his mission had been fulfilled. They both will." Hera explained.

Kitra's once unfeeling eyes were slowly glossed over with grief. An expression she only let Hera see. The pilot could feel her heart crumble when she saw the Jedi break in front of her. The warrior who had been trained to distance herself from people, and had faced nothing but loss for her entire life; could not stay strong for any longer.

"I'm tired of it. It always happens. I'm always the one to survive...why me?" Kitra spoke in a fragile voice. Hera leaned forward and grasped Kitra's gloved hands in her own. The Jedi's cold hands trembled in her warm embrace. "Because the force has written a purpose for you. It wants you to fulfill it. And it is keeping you safe until you do that." Hera explained.

Kitra could barely smile as she looked back at Hera. She would never express it, but she owed her everything. She was eternally grateful for her.

The Jedi knew, deep in her gut, that the force had an unforseen destiny written out for her. Kitra knew that she had to try her best to stay strong until that moment came.

The girl stood up from her seat and began to walk towards the door. Kitra stopped in her tracks and looked back at Hera, who looked up at her with endearing eyes. "Thank you Hera, for everything."

And with that, Kitra left the cockpit, leaving Hera alone. Hera closed her palms and released a heavy breath. The rebel pilot gazed out into the hyperspace portal and closed her eyes, feeling the familiar presence of a soul which rested millions of systems away, far from her reach.