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  THE MISSION WAS off to a good start, In Myria's opinion. Sage was being her normal, stoic self, and Varian was playing with BD-1. Myria and Cal walked behind them, unable to speak to each other. Myria could tell he wanted to say something, but she didn't want him to — not yet, anyway.

Sage was the best tracker in the galaxy, in Myria's completely unbiased opinion. She could find anything, no matter how small. She led the group, warning them when to duck or jump. But Myria could tell something was off. She was tenser than usual, nervous; her eyes darted back and forth. Glancing at Cal for a moment, Myria jogged up to her. "Hey, you doing okay?" She placed a gentle hand on the small of her back.

"Yeah," Sage nodded, taking a sharp breath in. "Just a little nervous. Nothing serious, Ria," She brushed off Myria's hand, marching forward. "Just a little longer and we can take a break!" She called to the group.

Slowing her pace, Myria fell back to walk in time with Varian. He noticed how concerned she was and frowned. "She's okay. You know that, right?" Myria shrugged. Varian hated seeing her upset. "I know what will turn that frown upside down!" He chuckled, hoping to lighten the mood. "I got a new speeder just begging to be ridden! It's all yours if you want it?"

Myria shook her head, unable to help the smile he caused. "That's great, Varian. I'll think about it," She nudged his shoulder.

BD whooped. "I think BD-1 over here found it funny," Varian crossed his arms and smirked at the small droid.

"Seems like you two are getting along," Cal had caught up, a smirk on his face.

"Be careful, I might just take this little guy for myself," Varian laughed, smiling down at the Jedi.

Cal chuckled as BD shuffled to his shoulders. He patted his head softly. The little droid beeped. "I don't think he'd like that very much."

"Where's you find a droid like this anyway?" Myria tilted her head curiously.

Cal smiled shyly, rubbing the back of his neck. "He was left alone on a planet far from here. I couldn't leave him," BD nuzzled his cheek and beeped. "We needed each other. Literally — his old master made the Holocron we're trying to find."

"Really?" Myria gasped. "Was he a Jedi?"

Cal nodded. "A great one,"

"Stop!" Sage had called from the front. They had paused at a cliff, below them an Imperial campsite. Troopers marched in groups and AT-ATs and AT-STs stomped around. "There are Wookiees," She told Myria.

She rushed forward, eyes darting, looking for her mother. "I...I can't feel her here," Myria shook her head.

"We need to go down there," Sage sighed. "There's a shortcut through the mountain and a place for us to rest."

Varian came up between the two women. "And how are we getting through that."

"Myria and I can get us through," Cal piped up.

Myria's head snapped to look at him. "Why me?"

He placed a hand on her shoulder. "You have power. Use it."

She shook her head. Cal, I told you. I'm not using the Force, ever again."

"You misunderstood me," Cal looked deep into her eyes. "You don't need to use it how you think. I'll show you."

  They were crouched behind some bushes and rocks. Cal had explained his plan to Myria on their way down. "Are you crazy?" She hissed. "I'm not dying for a man I just met."

Cal ignored the hurt her words caused. "I promise, nothing will happen to you. You're not getting hurt on my watch."

Myria nodded. She still thought the plan was crazy, but Cal being there was almost calming. With him there, it felt like nothing could go wrong. "Okay," She said slowly. Silently, she moved behind a storage crate. A trooper stood guard, oblivious to her presence. She coughed deliberately and its head snapped in her direction. She crouched lower, out of sight.

"Who's there?" A male voice asked nervously, sounding robotic from the helmet. As soon as she caught sight of his feet, Myria leaped, knocking the trooper down. She pulled her blaster and shot. It was set to stun as per Cal's request. One down, one more to go. Now, it was Cal's turn.

She hastily removed the armour and began putting it on. It was a little big but it would do. She watched as from not too far away, Cal pulled another trooper down. He didn't need a blaster like Myria, he used The Force. She shook the nervous feeling from her mind and placed the helmet on. She jogged over to Cal, who began dawning his armour. "I can't believe that work," She huffed, pleasantly surprised.

Cal looked up at her and smirked. "What? You doubted me?"

She rolled her eyes and chuckled lightly. "Hurry, would you? This stuff is uncomfortable," She shifted the white plating around her legs with a sneer.

"No, I was thinking of taking my sweet time," Cal laughed as he placed his helmet on top of his head. "Come on, BD!" He whispered for the droid, who came bounding out from a bush.

"You think he can get us in the tunnel?" Myria asked as she surveyed the camp.

Cal nodded. "Yup. All we have to do is cause a distraction as I said."

"That's where Sage and Varian come in?" She questioned, looking over her shoulder at her two friends peeking down from the top of the cliff.

He nodded again. "Signal them, would you? I'm going in."

Myria went to protest, to tell him it was dangerous, but Cal was already striding into the camp. She sighed and shook her head. She did as he asked, though, signalling for Sage and Varian to hurry down. "Blasters ready?" She asked once they reached her.

"Ready to fry some bucket-heads," Sage smirked. Her mood suddenly seemed to brighten that thought of giving the Empire a much-deserved beating.

"Good," Myria nodded. "Play it cool until I say so," Placing her blaster against Sage's back, the two women began walking into camp, while Varian stayed behind to cover them. "I have a prisoner," Myria awkwardly announced to one of the troopers.

He turned to her and tilted his head. "One of the freedom fighters?" He questioned. Myria nodded, pushing her blaster further into Sage's back — she had to make it look convincing. "Take her to the tunnel, she can join the Wookiee's."

"Right," Myria nodded and quickly walked off with Sage. "That was too easy," She whispered. Her eyes scanned for Cal, she couldn't see him, but she could feel him. He was okay and that was all that mattered.

"Just keep walking," Sage hastily whispered back. As they walked, Myria caught sight of the Wookiee prisoners — their fur was matted and they wore shock collars around their necks. Her eyes narrowed as her anger rose. The Empire saw Wookiee's as animals, primitive creatures, but all Myria can remember is being around them and they were the opposite — they were intelligent, kind — all the things the Empire wasn't.

"We have to help them," She glared. "I can't leave them like that." Sage nodded in response, but both women were unsure of how exactly to help them. She thought about using The Force, how easy it would be to simply flick off the collars. But it would also be easy to accidentally snap their necks.

Cal? She called out with her mind. She hoped he would hear her. Free the Wookiee's. That's our distraction. She looked around and her eyes locked with another trooper and she knew it was him.

Cal nodded. He heard every word she said. He was proud of her, she was another step closer to regaining her memories. He turned to the Wookiee's and focused, inching his hand out ever so slightly and jerked it to the right. The Wookiee's collars fell to the ground. It took a moment for them to realize what had just happened, but as soon as they did, they were attacking their captures

It was a mess — troopers were being flung in every direction. It was time to go. Myria flung her helmet off happily. "Man, these things are hard to breathe in!" She grabbed a couple of blasters, handing one to Sage and tossing some to the Wookiee's. "Varian! Come on!" She waved her arm and Varian popped out from his hiding spot.

The three of them ran to the entrance of the tunnel, trying not to fall in the slippery mud. Cal waited for them, his blue lightsaber lit as he deflected blaster shots. BD-1 was hanging control panel, sparks flying as he attempted to open the tunnel door. "Everyone okay?" Cal questioned. Everyone nodded tiredly. "Good plan, Myria," He smiled. "Smart."

"What? You doubted me?" She echoed his words from earlier with a smile.

Cal didn't get a chance to respond. BD whooped and the doors whooshed open. "Time to go!" Sage hastily pushed them through. Myria briefly turned to see legions of Troopers chasing after them.

AUTHORS NOTE
finally updating this book! It's been getting a lot more reads lately and I couldn't be more thankful! Thank you for all your support and here's a little chapter as a gift :)