the starborn legacy

The machinery chamber's stale air weighed heavily on Liora as she scanned the room for an exit. The faint, metallic groans of the hatch under strain reminded her that their time was running out. Ezi worked silently, dismantling a rusted panel on the far wall, while Kade paced, his frustration radiating off him like heat.

"You sure this is the right way?" Kade finally asked, his tone sharp.

Ezi didn't even glance back. "Unless you've got a better idea, maybe keep your mouth shut and let me work."

Liora stepped between them, her patience thinning. "Enough! Both of you. We don't have time for this."

Kade sighed and leaned against the wall, while Ezi pried the last bolt free. The panel clattered to the ground, revealing a dimly lit maintenance tunnel.

"This should take us to the lower decks," Ezi said, stepping aside to let Liora and Kade through.

"Should?" Kade muttered, but he followed anyway.

The tunnel was cramped, forcing them to crouch as they moved. The walls were slick with condensation, and the hum of the station's power core vibrated through the metal. Liora tried to focus on each step, but the unease in her chest wouldn't go away.

Someone had betrayed them. And until she figured out who, none of them were safe.

They emerged into a cavernous storage bay filled with towering stacks of crates. The space was dimly lit, and the shadows seemed to stretch endlessly. Ezi motioned for them to stay low as she led them toward an access ladder on the far wall.

"Once we're in the lower decks, we can reroute to another docking bay," Ezi whispered. "With luck, we'll be off this station before the hunters catch up."

"Luck hasn't exactly been on our side," Kade muttered, but he followed without complaint.

As they moved, Liora's mind raced. The attack in the cantina had been too precise, too coordinated. Whoever tipped off the Empire knew exactly where they'd be.

"Kade," she whispered, falling back slightly to walk beside him. "Do you really think Ezi—"

"Hold it," Ezi hissed, cutting her off.

The group froze as a pair of figures emerged from a side corridor. They were wearing mismatched armor, clearly not Imperial hunters but dangerous enough to make Liora's pulse quicken.

"Pirates," Kade murmured, his hand moving to his blaster.

Ezi held up a hand to stop him. "Let me handle this."

Before Liora could protest, Ezi stepped out into the open, her blaster lowered but still in hand.

"Looking for something?" she called out, her voice calm but edged with authority.

The pirates turned, their hands hovering near their weapons. The larger of the two—a broad-shouldered man with a jagged scar across his face—sneered.

"Well, if it isn't Velka," he said. "Didn't think I'd see you skulking around here again."

"Business brings me back," Ezi replied. "Same as you, I imagine."

The pirate's eyes flicked to Liora and Kade, narrowing slightly. "Friends of yours?"

"They're with me," Ezi said. "And they're off-limits."

The pirate chuckled darkly. "Off-limits? You know how things work here, Velka. Everything's got a price."

Ezi's cybernetic eye whirred, the faint glow intensifying. "Careful, Korin. You're not the only one with friends in low places."

For a moment, the tension crackled like a live wire. Then Korin grunted and motioned for his companion to follow. "You're lucky I'm in a generous mood. But watch your back, Velka. You're not as untouchable as you think."

As the pirates disappeared into the shadows, Ezi exhaled and turned back to the group.

"See? No problem," she said, though her grip on her blaster was white-knuckled.

"Yeah, you're a real diplomat," Kade muttered, but he followed as she led them toward the ladder.

They climbed down into the lower decks, the air growing colder and more oppressive. The corridors here were narrow and maze-like, the walls lined with conduits and flickering lights.

As they moved, Liora couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Her skin prickled, and her hand hovered near her knife.

Finally, they reached a junction where the corridor split in two. Ezi stopped, consulting a small datapad.

"This way," she said, pointing to the left.

Kade frowned. "How do you know? That datapad's barely functioning."

Ezi shot him a look. "Because I've been here before. Trust me."

Kade didn't look convinced, but he followed anyway.

Liora hesitated, her gaze shifting between the two paths. Something about the right-hand corridor felt… wrong. The air was heavier, the shadows deeper.

"Liora," Ezi called. "You coming?"

Shaking off the unease, Liora followed them down the left-hand path.

They hadn't gone far when the ambush came.

The first shot came from above, a red bolt that barely missed Ezi's head. She dropped to the ground, firing back as Kade pulled Liora into cover behind a stack of crates.

"Imperials!" Kade shouted, returning fire.

Liora's heart pounded as the corridor erupted into chaos. The hunters moved with deadly precision, their armor gleaming in the dim light.

"We're pinned!" Kade yelled, ducking as a shot ricocheted off the wall beside him.

Ezi gritted her teeth, her cybernetic eye scanning the room. "There's a service hatch up ahead. I'll cover you—go!"

Kade grabbed Liora's arm, pulling her toward the hatch. She stumbled but kept moving, her instincts screaming at her to keep low.

As they reached the hatch, Liora turned back to see Ezi still firing, her movements fluid and precise. For a moment, Liora hesitated.

"Go!" Ezi shouted, her voice sharp.

Kade yanked the hatch open, and Liora scrambled inside. As the hatch slammed shut behind them, the sounds of the battle faded, replaced by the hum of the station's systems.

Liora collapsed against the wall, her chest heaving. Kade sat beside her, his expression grim.

"Do you think she made it?" Liora asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kade didn't answer.