Chapter 7
With her mission so close Zheth had shoved aside her pride and allowed the medical droids to fix her more critical wounds, though they couldn't do much without the Bacta Tank out of order... Wonder why that would be, probably something to do with Kylo Ren. After that and a short rest she felt much better, though her limp was still noticeably there as she walked. Not knowing what else to do, well she could find Kylo to get his meditation help if he wasn't in one of his moods, Zheth walked down to the training session Phasma was giving to the Storm Troopers. They looked better than last time she'd sparred with one.
"Would you care to join us or are you just going to stand around, Crogh?" Phasma turned her head to face her.
Zheth shrugged and walked out of the doorway's shadow. "Well if you insist, I guess I could show them how a real warrior fights considering you can't do it."
If Phasma was fazed by the insult she didn't show it. "It's hand to hand combat, three to one."
Wait it was what? With her leg and rib... Zheth shook the thought aside; this wasn't any different than if she had to face enemies on a mission while in this state. Three Storm Troopers entered the ring with her, their white armor slowing them down and giving her an advantage.
"Piece of cake." She flashed a challenging expression at them. "So, who wants to lose first?"
The first one came straight at her while the other two went for her sides, so they did know teamwork... Zheth ducked under the first one and slammed her body into the second one on her right. Her unsuspecting attack caused the poor trooper to fall flat on his back and she could've finished him off if the third hadn't changed his attack so quickly and dragged her away. The two still standing kept her distracted with their attacks, which she dodged to the best of her abilities once she managed to break free of the third's grip.
"Stop playing around you four!" Phasma paced around the circles, watching them and several other rings with Storm Troopers training rigorously.
The second one had gotten back up while her back was turned and Zheth winced as they kicked her injured side. She scooted back along the floor, observing how the trio was regrouping for an attack... like a pack. But every pack had its weaknesses and this particular one couldn't attack together after the main strike despite backing each other up, if she could use that to her advantage...
"Predator!" All fighting froze in place as the dark cloaked figure stepped into the room.
"Lord Ren what is the meaning of this? We are in the middle of training." Phasma was probably glaring at Kylo from under that chrome helmet.
The Knight of Ren ignored her and instead walked closer to Zheth. "I've been sent to fetch you, get up and follow me."
"By who?" She asked as she obeyed, a bit irritated she couldn't try out her battle plan.
"Don't ask questions." He growled.
After that they both went silent as they walked down the halls, earning nervous looks from at least half the people they went by, though it was more of annoyance and dread from the maintenance crew. It didn't take long to figure out where they were going, the prison cells were away from most of the important places on the ship and considering he wouldn't tell her who wanted to see her... it was probably their secret prisoner. A couple minutes later she was proven correct as Kylo opened the cell door.
"Why do you want to see me?" Zheth asked coldly, disguising the pity she felt seeing the old smuggler trapped.
Han stared at her, his spirit obviously not hurt too badly by his situation. "Can't a father ask to see his son and daughter together?"
"That was a lie." She snarled. "Your wife lied to you so I would have a reason not to betray the Resistance."
Beside her Kylo seemed to be forcing himself not to murder his father. "I have no further use for him, he will be executed tonight."
"You won't kill me." Han's voice was calm, confident, despite his son's words. "Ben is still in there and my son would never kill his family."
"Ben is gone!" Kylo fell silent for a moment after his outburst before a dark laugh came out of the helmet. "He was so weak. Killing him was the best option, he's out of the misery this world gave him."
"K-Kylo?" Zheth backed away from him, slightly nervous as a bad feeling rose up inside her.
"Yes, I am Kylo Ren now. Master of the Knights of Ren and apprentice to Supreme Leader Snoke." He whirled on her. "Do what you wish, just keep the smuggler alive... I want to be the one to kill him."
Zheth waited until Kylo was gone before turning to face Han. "You wanted to see me for another reason other than seeing me, why?"
"I want you to help bring my son back to us. He isn't a monster, that wasn't our son, Snoke has tainted his mind."
"I don't work for you." She growled. "Not that it matters because you'll be dead soon enough."
"Luke will save us. You took the one thing he cares about most in this world... what do you think will happen?" Han reasoned.
"Is that a threat, Solo?"
"A promise."
She scoffed and paced a bit before stopping and glancing at him again. "Then he will die."
Zheth started to leave when Han spoke up again. "You won't let me die. I know you can't let Leia go through the pain of losing someone she loves, you see her as family and you know it."
"What do you think you're trying to pull? A Jedi mind trick?" A laugh escaped her throat. "Look, I don't care how she feels. My family is... They are dead to me."
"I mind not be able to read minds kid but I don't need that to know you're lying to me."
She walked back over to him before pulling out a small capsule from a container on her belt. "Eat this. At least you won't feel pain when you go out... and Leia won't have to watch you suffer. Like Ren said, I don't have any use for you to be alive."
"I hope you know how to survive the storm headed your way. I would have a bad feeling if I knew an enemy like Luke was approaching my doorstep." He threw the comment out casually before eating the pill, not that he would've had a choice in the matter; she would've forced it down his throat if needed.
"Strength is life for the strong have the right to rule. Honor is life for with no honor, one may as well be dead. Loyalty is life for without one's clan one has no purpose. Death is life one should die as they have lived." She recited the Mandalorian code as Han slowly lost consciousness. "Therefore, Han Solo, if I am to die... I will accept my fate."
There was no response from the elderly man and his head was hanging down limply. It was done... soon she wouldn't have any guilt left for dragging him into this place. Zheth unlocked the restraints holding him and began dragging his body across the smooth floor, making sure to lock the door as though he were still in the cell. She had almost made it to the hanger, which would provide a good enough place to hide him until she left for Naboo and dumped him there, when his predicted attack rained down hell. X-Wings came in the first few waves, rocking the Star Destroyer with their coordinated attacks, then came the ground troops as they managed to land and get out... not as many as she would've expected but maybe the Jedi was over confident. They were killing the Storm Troopers easily enough though... she backed away, searching the new comers for any familiar face or uniform that would mark the Jedi.
An explosion from a skidding X-Wing triggered several TIE Fighters in the hanger to impload as well and Zheth grimaced as heat swept over her from the blast. A groan came from above and she barely dodged the falling metal beams... What would they do if the Finalizer crashed? She didn't like this at all, especially not when a large brown hairy Wookie spotted her and gave chase, letting out roars of rage the entire time.
"Oh, great, the Shag Rug again..." She muttered before going back the other way, still dragging Solo's limp form to at least keep some enemies following her while more Storm Troopers arrived to defend the Star Destroyer. "Come on you big dumb Hairball, give me your best shot!"
That was the worst thing to challenge a Wookie to do... It had a very good aim and the pain from Chewie's blaster was enough to cripple her firing arm. She dropped Han and backed away, refusing to turn her back on the furious beast until he had dropped down to his copilot's side with a mournful tone ringing out of his throat. Predator was aware Chewie wouldn't be distracted long and ran for General Organa's cell, after all, if the Jedi wasn't in the main attack he had probably snuck in a different way. Hopefully she could stop him in time. More blaster fire caught her and a glance back revealed Poe Dameron, BB-8, and two other familiar people... one of which held a glowing blue lightsaber.
"There's no place to run Predator!" Poe shouted.
She slowed, the pain wracking her body, before shooting out an air duct and crawling inside. If she was right, going straight would take her to the prison cells... if she wasn't shot first. The space was tighter than she would like but it had been a better way to escape than running, Poe certainly couldn't fit in here with his broad shoulders. The metal creaked and she froze, looking down to check for anything breaking but found nothing... and then the metal caved inward. Predator howled as it pressed into her body, stealing her ability to get oxygen and cracking more ribs... that girl was doing this! She was going to die in battle against an opponent who didn't even have to be in front of her. No. That wouldn't happen. She grunted and shifted her good arm a bit to point the blaster towards the ground, firing it didn't seem to actually hit anyone but the metal around her stopped moving. Well, they knew her exact location... any of them could kill her now. She panted, waiting for the final strike while blood dripped rhythmically onto the metal from her new puncture wounds.
"Rey, go help Luke find General Organa." Poe was speaking again. "I'll stay here with Finn and BB-8 to hold off any Storm Troopers."
"Don't do anything stupid Dameron." Rey's voice spoke and Predator heard her footsteps leave... at least she wouldn't have to worry about being crushed anymore.
She tried shifting a bit more, wincing as the metal scraped at her through the armor, before resting a moment, as more air was able to enter her lungs. No turning back now though, she had to keep going unless she wanted to be stuck here.
"Do you think Rey killed her?" It was another man's voice, probably Finn.
"I don't know." Poe's footsteps moved under the vent just behind her. "Let's find out."
A blaster bolt ripped through the metal and she bit her tongue to prevent a hiss of pain from escaping as it grazed her ankle. The falling blood and lack of sound seemed to satisfy them of her death however as she didn't receive any more attacks. Predator quietly shuffled forward in the vent until she found another vent at an intersection, looking down she saw Leia Organa looking worried as she sat restrained in her cell. She blasted the grate off and dropped down into the cell, a bit clumsily in her roll, but she managed to stand. She glanced at the door, the Jedi would find this cell soon enough but she felt relief sweep through her as Kylo's dark uniform appeared in front of the door.
"You Jedi will die." She rasped. "Just like your husband."
"What have you done to Han?" Leia's eyes widened just slightly enough to be noticeable.
Predator coughed. "Let's just say you'll be flying solo for a bit until you rejoin him."
"Predator, the Jedi are coming." Kylo opened the cell door and unlocked Leia's restraints with a wave of his hand. "Take her to General Hux, he'll make sure they can't get a hold of her."
"You can't take both of them, not alone!" She argued, remembering how hard it was to fight one Jedi... even with his similar abilities, could he actually fight two off?
Kylo took some of her weight for a moment as he backed into the cell at her side. "I won't die. Take their leader and go, you can't fight."
"I was ordered-"
He glared at her through his mask. "Do as I say, Predator!"
She scowled back, knowing she wouldn't be much help in this fight just like he'd said. "Fine."
"Hurry up." He stalked off again; drawing out his crackling lightsaber as the two Jedi came into sight.
Predator jerked Oragana after her and in the opposite direction, she couldn't be sure of Hux's location but he had to be near the control room to watch over the battle. "Don't think about escaping or screaming. Ren has been training since the last time he fought your rebels... the only way they'll get past is over his dead body."
"My brother Luke taught Ben, he won't fall for his tricks old or new." General Organa responded confidently. "And if you stay on this path he will kill you."
"I'm dead now no matter what." She staggered slightly as a coughing fit over took her. "S-so... at l-least I'll t-take a...a-a few of y-you with m-me."
"Zheth..." There it was, that disappointed motherly voice again, she glared at Leia. "There's always time to change, I know that for a fact."
Predator shook her head roughly, her white hair dripping crimson in some places. "Liar."
Her body failed her a few steps later and she crashed to the ground, beside her, Leia knelt down with concern. Predator couldn't even cough anymore as she shallowly breathed, desperate to get enough air. Footsteps approached and a small smirk came over her face as Hux's orange hair came into view along with several Storm Troopers.
"Take the prisoner and keep the Resistance far away from her." He ordered before crouching down as they left, dragging General Organa after them. "You did well keeping her away from the Resistance. Lord Ren won't last much longer from what I saw in the cameras so we must leave, can you walk?"
"I..." She shuddered involuntarily before shaking her head. "L-leave m-me."
Hux stood up again with a solemn nod before walking away. "I expect you to be joining us eventually though, you owe me a life debt if I remember."
Zheth gave a laugh that quickly broke off into a choked sound. "Y-yeah..."
Then she was alone. The sounds of fighting fading in and out from hallways and levels close by as she began losing consciousness of the world around her. Footsteps were the last thing she was aware of before giving in completely... she would die here.
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