the starborn legacy

The silence in the service tunnel was deafening. Liora leaned against the cold, metallic wall, her mind racing. Kade was crouched nearby, his blaster gripped tightly, his gaze locked on the sealed hatch they'd just escaped through.

"She's not coming," Kade said flatly, breaking the silence.

"You don't know that," Liora shot back, though her voice lacked conviction.

Kade glanced at her, his expression a mixture of frustration and sympathy. "Ezi knew what she was doing. She covered our escape because she had to."

Liora clenched her fists, anger bubbling up inside her. "We should have stayed. We could have helped her!"

"And gotten ourselves killed in the process?" Kade snapped. "You think that's what she wanted?"

The words stung, but Liora knew he was right. She slumped against the wall, the weight of their journey pressing down on her shoulders.

"We can't keep running like this," she murmured. "The Empire will just keep coming."

"Then we need to hit back," Kade said, his voice firm. "But we can't do it alone."

Liora looked at him, her brow furrowed. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying we need allies. Real ones," Kade replied. "That beacon you activated—if there are other Starborn out there, now's the time to find them."

Liora hesitated, the memory of Kyren Jhal's hologram flickering in her mind. The Starborn remnants were scattered, their numbers dwindled to almost nothing. Could they truly unite against the Empire?

Before she could respond, a faint noise echoed through the tunnel. Both Liora and Kade froze, their hands moving instinctively to their weapons.

The sound grew louder—a rhythmic clanging, like heavy boots on metal.

"They're tracking us," Kade muttered, his grip tightening on his blaster.

Liora nodded, her pulse quickening. "We need to move. Now."

The service tunnel led to another set of maintenance corridors, their walls lined with flickering lights and exposed wiring. Liora and Kade moved quickly, their footsteps muffled by the worn flooring.

As they rounded a corner, Liora spotted a ladder leading to an access hatch above. "This might take us to the upper levels," she said, gesturing to it.

"Or straight into another trap," Kade countered, though he began climbing without hesitation.

Liora followed, her hands trembling slightly as she gripped the cold rungs. The hatch creaked as Kade pushed it open, revealing a small observation deck overlooking the station's central docking bay.

The view was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. Dozens of ships, from sleek smuggler freighters to bulky cargo haulers, filled the massive bay. Imperial patrols moved among them, their black-and-red uniforms unmistakable.

"There's our ride," Kade whispered, nodding toward a freighter docked near the far end of the bay.

The ship was battered but functional, its engines humming softly. A group of workers loaded crates into its cargo hold, their movements hurried and efficient.

"Think we can convince them to give us a lift?" Liora asked, her voice laced with sarcasm.

"Convince? No," Kade replied with a sly grin. "But I've got a knack for improvisation."

Before Liora could protest, Kade slid down the ladder and headed toward the freighter.

Reaching the freighter without being spotted was easier than Liora had expected, though she suspected luck had played a larger role than skill.

As they approached the ship, Kade motioned for her to stay back. He crept toward the loading ramp, his movements silent and calculated.

The workers were too focused on their task to notice him slipping aboard. Liora waited, her heart pounding, until Kade reappeared at the top of the ramp and waved her over.

Once inside, they ducked behind a stack of crates, their breaths shallow as they listened for any signs of pursuit.

"Okay," Kade whispered, "now we just need to figure out where this thing is headed and—"

A voice interrupted him, low and gravelly. "And who said you could come aboard my ship?"

Liora and Kade turned to see a man standing a few feet away, a blaster trained on them. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his face hidden beneath a hood.

"We don't want trouble," Liora began, raising her hands.

"Too late for that," the man replied. "Stowaways don't usually mean well."

"We're not stowaways," Kade interjected, his tone calm despite the situation. "We're paying passengers. We just haven't paid yet."

The man's lips curled into a wry smile. "Nice try. Who are you, and what do you want?"

Liora hesitated, her mind racing. They couldn't afford to reveal too much, but they also couldn't risk being thrown off the ship.

"We're running from the Empire," she said finally. "And we need your help."

The man studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he lowered his blaster.

"Name's Tharn Kor," he said gruffly. "And if you're running from the Empire, you've got bigger problems than sneaking onto my ship."

As the freighter lifted off, Liora couldn't shake the feeling that their journey was about to grow even more dangerous. Tharn was clearly no stranger to trouble, and the faint scars on his face hinted at a past he wasn't eager to discuss.

For now, though, they had a ship and a chance to regroup. The question was, how long would their luck hold?