@hopefired continued from x:
the shouts and booms of the ongoing battle fades out in rey’s tiny corner of a resistance hideout, blurring away to be replaced by pain. she’d only just managed to stumble against a wall, hand clutching her side. she’d known she had stretched herself too thin; not focusing on too many enemies was a basic lesson, and one she’d ignored. she had just wanted everyone safe. and now there’s a gaping hole in her side, which is dripping blood onto the pale steel of the floor. courtesy of a stormtrooper’s blaster.
she barely has enough energy to lift her head when she sees him coming. he’s like the reverse of a mirage in the desert – appearing just when she doesn’t want him to. she will, at least, be standing when this happens, she thinks. “your troopers… are becoming better shots,” is all she says, but her voice betrays the severity of her wound; she’s gasping and her teeth are gritted so hard it hurts. she slides a little further down the wall, her knees failing to support her all the way. she wonders if he’s actually here or if it’s just in her head – her thoughts run together like the waves of pain hitting her.
The Resistance might have begun to regrow, but it was time for the Supreme Leader to tear it apart, root and stem. His hope His nemesis was weakened before him. He wasn’t sure whether to be impressed with his troopers or disappointed in her. His hand was supposed to defeat her, and no other. To strike her down now would be dissatisfying. There was no mercy in it. No sport either.
A gloved hand raised toward her, his fingers sticking out like claws. She was held in place,the sensation of the force surrounding her and preventing her from collapsing completely. It was a small favor. Her humor fell on deaf ears. “As much as it pains me to find you like this, there is some joy to it. I made you an offer, and you turned your back. It would be unwise for the Supreme Leader to let the assassin of his predecessor go free.” A sudden flash of red filled the area. His saber was ignited, but it was not trained toward her. “Give me a reason to save you.”
