128 Frozen Over

Fortunately, I didn't run into another patrol on my short walk towards the hangar. The large doors that opened into the hangar were just a few yards down the hall. Upon reaching the hangar, I pressed a button on the panel.

The doors slid open, allowing a wave of chilled air to explode from inside. As my luck would have it, I walked right into the midst of the Sith.

There was a woman in the center of the hangar surrounded by a group of troopers that were standing quietly at attention. She turned around to look at me.

She was wrapped in all black, skintight clothing. A few light armor plates covered her sparingly. Her pale white skin contrasted with her black hair and yellow eyes.

She smiled and spoke, her accent exposing her French origin. "Well-well-well, if it isn't the infamous American."

I glanced to my left and right, trying to look for an escape route. There were wide open hallways for as far as my eyes could see.

She laughed. "No need to run and hide, American. Come to me."

I felt a sudden urge in my mind as her seductive voice slithered into my ears. I felt compelled to obey her every command. I shook it off easily but complied, nonetheless. There was no other way. Even if I ran, I wouldn't be able to get away now. I was better off approaching this head on.

She frowned as I approached her. "How peculiar? I thought you would have been more imposing."

I shrugged as I came to a stop. I was a mere 10 feet from her now. "Nope. I'm just… Me."

She sighed. "It matters not. I must commend your efforts, American. Escaping from this vessel alive would have been an impressive feat. Unfortunately for you, your efforts have been in vain."

I took the comm from my left hand and fiddled with it. An inquisitive expression adorned my face. "What makes you say that?"

She smirked as she noticed the comm. "Do you think that your friends can come to save you? Think again."

I shook my head as I gripped the comm. My thumb froze over the button. "Nope. I'm all the help I need."

I pressed down with my thumb and bent my knees slightly to balance myself. As expected, a deafening boom sounded across the ship as it shook violently. A chain of explosions ripped through the ship as alarms started blaring. The lights flickered off before dim, red lighting illuminated the hangar.

Her expression turned serious as she glared at me. "What did you do?"

I smiled and shrugged. "Oh, nothing much. Just a bit of remodeling."

She sighed and shook her head. "Whatever you did, it is futile. Your fleet has been crippled. Our mission has succeeded."

I shrugged and tossed the comm to the side. It clattered across the floor. "Well, I'm off to the escape pods. I suggest you do the same. Bye bye!"

As I turned, she stepped in front of me and pulled out her lightsaber. It ignited with a crimson glow as she fell into an aggressive stance. "This will be your tomb, Jedi."

I sighed and pulled my lightsaber from my sling with the force. I activated it once it hit my palm. "Do we really have to do this? For fuck's sake, we don't even know each other."

She clenched her teeth and shot forwards as she stabbed towards me. I swung upwards and to the left, easily deflecting her strike.

Then, I chopped at her. She recovered quickly and held her lightsaber up, blocking my attack. She then kicked up with her right foot, aiming for my left arm.

I clicked my tongue and stepped back, easily avoiding the kick. "You'll have to do better than that."

She narrowed her eyes as she planted her feet. Then, she pressed forward. She chopped, slashed, stabbed, and kicked. Every type of attack that she could muster was thrown my way. I blocked and deflected it all with ease.

Suddenly, she stopped her pressing and stepped back. She eyed me carefully as she sucked in deep breaths.

I stood in place and met her gaze with stalwart confidence. "It would seem that one hand is enough for the likes of you."

Her face twisted with anger. "Va te faire foutre, espèce de merde."

The blaring alarm ceaselessly rang in my ears. A voice came over the loudspeakers. "ATTENTION ALL PERSONNEL! BEGIN EVACUATION IMMEDIATELY! WE ARE GOING DOWN!"

She screamed and lunged forward while chopping with her lightsaber. I slashed at her and deflected the incoming lightsaber to the side with little effort. Then I kicked out with my right foot.

My kick landed and she stumbled backwards. Then, she looked around. All of her troopers were running towards the only shuttle that was in this hangar.

She grumbled and spoke under her breath as she shook her head. She then deactivated her lightsaber and put it back on her belt. "Chevaliers Hérités will be paying you a visit soon. Au revior, American. Until next time."

I nodded and put my lightsaber back into my sling. "What's your name? I need to know who's ass I can look forward to both admiring and kicking again."

She shot a glare at me and hesitated. "Louise. Don't forget it."

I watched in silence as she walked away. I didn't bother telling her my name since it seemed like everyone knew it already. Ughh, so troublesome.

As her shuttle departed the hangar, I clicked my tongue. "Shit. Escape pod it is."