The minutes ticked by, Alera sitting beside a still crying Cato while the droids brought more captives, some quiet, some hysterical, and still others were injured. Alera played with Cato’s dark hair, her fingers braiding the black strands together to keep her mind distracted, until a shadow covered the pair. Looking up, she stared at the battle droid looming before her, yellow eyes fierce. “What do you want?” she demanded, hands still weaving her little brother’s hair. “Get up, both of you.” He lifted his blaster, and Cato screamed. With a glare at the w3apon, Alera stood, carrying Cato on her hip while he shivered. Around her, the other captives rose, goaded by the droids, and the large group neared the ship that had delivered the droids to the surface. Two super battle droids moved through the people, and the commanding tan droid shouted, “Divide up!” “What?” Alera whispered, face paling. The droid beside her reached for Cato, and she stepped away. “You are not taking him!” “You have to separate,” he said in monotonous tones. “He goes with the men.” Her hands shaking, Alera stepped back, her eyes darting around her. The droid stood still, watching her with his cold eyes. “You have to separate,” he repeated, raising his blaster. “Anyone who refuses won’t come on the ship.” “I’ll gladly stay here.” Alera tilted her chin up, eyes devoid of fear. “Very well.” His blaster fired, all the other captives flinching at the sound, and Alera braced for impact, her right hand over Cato, palm extended toward the droid. The air grew still, and she peered over her brother’s head, the blaster sh0t hovering between them and the droid. Gasping, she dropped her hands and clutched Cato tighter, and the bull3t fell to the ground. “A Jedi?” the droid cried, his voice fearful as he shied away from Alera. “That’s right!” Alera stood taller and looked out over the gathered droids. “And if you don’t let us free, I’ll turn you all to scrap metal!” The captives cheered while the droids looked at one another. The one beside Alera raised his cold metal hand and pressed his comm. “No, sir,” he muttered. “We’ve run into complications. There seems to be a Jedi on Pantora. Requesting backup.” Alera’s stomach sank, and she stepped forward, waving her hand. “You call backup, I destroy you all now!” His hand flinched, but the droid continued, “Yes, backup request confirmed. Thank you, sir.” Although looking around with a glimmer of hope before, the weary captives sank back into submission, and the super battle droids separated the two groups. “The boy goes with them,” said a droid, and he approached Alera, arms reaching for Cato. “And you stay here to meet your fate.” “Take him, and you’re d3ad,” she muttered, teeth clenched. The droid continued his course, cold hands clamping around Cato. “Alera!” he shrieked, and she pulled against the droid, but her boots slid on the ground. “Alera!” She flinched when a blaster fired, the sound echoing off the buildings while it whistled in Alera’s ear. She shrieked at the burn1ng pa1n on her cheek and reached up to feel her skin, fingers returning with bl00d on them. The droid fell back, steaming from the sh0t, and she pulled Cato back into her arms. Glancing at the corner, she watched the two clones emerge, blasters raised. “You nearly killed me!” she shouted at the clone captain, the one who had stopped her earlier. He rolled his eyes at her under his white helmet, though a smirk formed on his scarred face. “You’re welcome, kid!” he replied, blaster raised. While her eyes burned, Alera bit back her frustration and looked down at her brother. “We’re saved, Cato!” she whispered, a smile twitching on her lips despite her near-d3ath experience. The boy’s crying slowed while he rested his head on her shoulder. “Get them into the ship! We’ll deal with this Jedi later!” The commander droid gestured to his troops, and they fired at the two clones, who ducked behind rubble for cover. The droid beside Alera butted his blaster into her, and she followed the other captives, eyes glaring. She kept taking glances behind her shoulder, looking to see the two clones still battling the droids when the ramp closed, rising until it blocked out the light. Bright lights flickered on, and the ship shook as it rose into the sky, the captives shrieking. Alera knelt, keeping her balance while the ship rocked through the sky. Cato looked up at her, hands clutching at the loose hair framing her face. “Alera, I’m scared,” he whispered. “It’s okay, Cato. The clones are coming.” Alera looked behind her to the ramp, where she had last seen that captain and his comrade. She added to herself while letting Cato lie down and sleep, “I hope.” Standing, she walked to one of the circular windows overlooking the ground while the ship continued to gain altitude.
The world of Pantora passed away, blurring into swirling white and red. The vast expanse of space was left, bright stars against the dark sky. Alera gasped, her breath fogging on the window, and used her sleeve to clear it away. “Cato,” she muttered, shaking his shoulder to wake him. “Come and look.” “What?” he whimpered, body curled into a ball while Alera helped him up. She gripped his hand and led him to the window, his head barely reaching its edge. “I can’t see,” he mumbled, voice curious without a trace of fear. Smiling, Alera hoisted him up, and the star-dotted sky reflected in his irises. “It’s so big!” he cried, laughing while staring out. “And home is so small, see?” She pointed to the planet, just a ball of red now, and he gasped. “That’s home?” She nodded. “Yeah.” The ship jerked, sending the two flying to the ground, and Alera groaned as she landed on her side, pa1n flaring in her cheek. “You should have that looked at,” a shaking woman, her blue face marked with yellow tatt00s, commented. Alera patted Cato and moved to answer the fellow Pantoran when a droid loomed over her. “You won’t need to, not where you’re going.”
