Heart Of Darkness (Star Wars)

Chapter 35: The Next Move

I slipped a hand under the table, finding Din's. I gave his hand a squeeze. I watched as his shoulders slumped. He looked over at me, giving me a thankful look.

"Yes. All heroes of the Empire." Hess replied.

"Yes. And all dead." Mayfeld retorted.

"Well, it's a smaller sacrifice for the greater good, son." Hess informed him.

Mayfeld glanced over at Din and me, and we both shook our heads, silently urging him not to continue. We're not here to make things worse. We want to leave without being noticed, and now Mayfeld was making this more complicated.

"Depends on who you ask, don't you think?" Mayfeld shot back.

Hess raised an eyebrow. "What you gettin' at, trooper?"

"All those people, the ones who died, was it good for them? Hmm? Their families? The guys I served with?" Mayfeld retaliated. "The civilians, those poor mud scuffers, died defendin' their homes, fighting for freedom. Was it good for 'em?"

"But we've outlasted them, son. They're eatin' themselves alive. The New Republic is in complete disarray, and we grow stronger." Hess rebuked. "You see, with the Rhydonium you've delivered, we can create havoc that's gonna make Burnin Konn just pale by comparison. And then they're gonna turn to us again."

I could feel my anger rising as I clenched my hands. However, Din was there to squeeze my hand, reminding me that he was here. I glanced over at him to see a calm look on his face. He mouthed to me. "Stay calm."

I took a deep breath, listening to Din. I felt myself slowly calming down. A sinister smile then appeared on Hess's face. "You see, troopers, everybody thinks they want freedom, but what they really want is order. And when they realize that, they're gonna welcome us back with open arms."

I turned my gaze to see Mayfeld glaring at Hess, looking as if he was about to explode. I could feel his pain and anger, radiating off of him. Hess then looked over at me. "You can take that helmet off now, trooper. Don't tell me you're going to refuse a drink from your superior?"

I exchanged a look with Din, who looked just as surprised as I was. I didn't think he'd remember about me. I glanced over at Mayfeld, but he was engulfed in his own thoughts. Realizing I had no choice, I placed my shaking hands on the sides of my helmet. As soon as I took off my helmet, Hess's eyes widened. He looked as though he saw a ghost. He hesitated before speaking. "Lady Noxia?"

I flinched upon hearing that wretched name. I hated hearing it as that name reminded me of all the horrible things I did while I was with the Empire. I nodded. "Yeah, it's me."

"But so many people believed you died on the second Death Star." He mentioned.

In a way it was true, I wanted to believe that part of me died that day...that Noxia died that day along with the rest of the Empire. I glanced over at Din, who looked back and forth between Hess and me, looking uneasy.

"I managed to escape before the second Death Star went down." I informed him.

Hess's smile widened, giving me the whingeing jimmies. My hands continued to shake until Din's hand found one of my hands under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze, reminding me that he was here with me. I looked over at him, giving Din a smile, appreciating his gesture.

"This is the best news we've received all day. I can feel the tide turning." Hess mentioned. He then grabbed his cup, raising it up in the air. "To miracles and the Empire."

Mayfeld let out a chuckle before taking out his blaster before firing at Hess's chest, knocking him to the ground, killing him at once. Din and I both looked at Mayfeld, completely taken back. We then looked around, seeing the officers and troopers in the hall, staring at us. Mayfeld fired at one of the troopers. Din and I then raised our blasters, helping Mayfeld take down the rest. One last officer tried charging towards us. Without thinking twice, I took my helmet, throwing it at the officer, causing him to collapse onto the ground. As soon as he was on the ground, I fired my blaster, finishing him off. Once they were all dead, Mayfeld turned to face Din and me.