Chapter Text
Spending time in his quarters was suffocating. It had been a couple of days since Kazuda was taken away by the lieutenant. He shouldn’t worry about the younger man but he did, only realized a few days after Kazuda was taken. It didn’t matter if it was because he saved him from dying, and if it’s only short lived. This was the first time in a long time that he had cared about someone.
Not only that but he was constantly disrespected by lower ranked officers. It irritated him that others below him treated him like equals or even worse. He did not need their antics when he was already being threatened by the Supreme Leader. He would have killed them if it weren’t for the fact that it would cause him more trouble.
In the last eight years working in the First Order, he never once faltered. When he was tasked to kill a commanding officer who he considered a father figure, he didn’t hesitate. He believed that everything the First Order did was for a reason. Which was solidified when he learned the commanding officer was providing information to the Resistance; he was a traitor! He felt… betrayed. Why would he do that? How could he look at him and continue to lie to him when he knew he hated the Resistance?
A short while after, he was assigned the task of taking over the Colossus—the station was necessary for them to succeed. So they had records of everyone on the Colossus, in case anyone was suspected of being affiliated with the Resistances. Nothing in Kazuda’s records stood out; it was a bit odd but almost everyone on the Colossus was the same.
He found him interesting but also irritating. Kazuda worked for Jarek Yeager, who owned a mechanics shop on the platform. From the few times they interacted briefly, he noticed that the younger man was clumsy and awkward. He didn’t stand out, but he always appeared when things failed, so he decided to keep a close eye on him… but was that really the reason?
After continuous failures—which he blamed Kazuda for—Agent Tierney and him were threatened by Kylo Ren. Just thinking about it, he had no right! After everything I did for them, and all I gave up! What right did he have to get rid of me just because of some… some children!?
He wondered if he should stay with the First Order. He didn’t regret anything he did and would do it all again if he had to, but he couldn't stay if it cost him his life. Suspending his power could only mean they don’t need him anymore. They’ll get rid of him! How do I get out of here… maybe I should leave using an escape pod, but what if I get caught? I need help to stay hidden, but who can help me? The realization hit when he remembered Kazuda. The Resistance! The only way he could safely escape the First Order was with their assistance. I’ll do anything to stay alive even if that means… siding with the Resistance. Though it is unlikely that they would help him… unless… Kazuda was on his side.
When thinking of Kazuda, Silas was reminded that the black-haired man was currently being interrogated. A sudden heavy weight fell over him. He knew Kazuda wouldn’t reveal anything so easily, so information would have to be extracted by force.
Feeling guilty was a new experience for him. He had only cared about himself; there was no need for him to think about others. I'm losing focus. I shouldn't—I can't afford to. I need to escape with Kazuda before it’s too late. Which means I have no choice but to break him out.
Before then, I should study this ship's layout.
………………
As Pyre reviewed the ship’s layout on a holographic button, voices from outside his room caught his attention. Conversation was audible from the hallway on the other side of the door.
Silas set the device down, and he neared the door to listen closely. The sounds of heavy footsteps made their way across the hall. A pair of stormtroopers, no doubt.
“The prisoner hasn’t given us any information about the Resistance, no matter what methods we try. He’s lasted longer than most, I’ll give him that. He’s a loyal Resistance spy.” The troopers were conversing about Kazuda’s interrogation.
They must have finished interrogating him, and had escorted him back to his cell. Silas resisted the urge to open the sliding door and run to the younger man’s cell. He couldn’t get to him just yet.
When the voices of the two stormtroopers faded away, he exited the room. If his memory served him well, then the brig should be on the floor above the escape pods.
Silas checked the corners of each hallway as he made his way to the holding cells, narrowly avoiding detection. Since he was suspended, there would be major consequences if he was caught disobeying orders.
After a while of running through monotonous silver hallways, Silas finally reached the prison cells. Unlike the rest of the ship, the cells’ walls were obsidian, and its floor glowed a faint crimson. The dim lighting only served to make the place more eerie.
Silas peeked through each of the doors’ small barred windows. On the third door, he sighed with relief when he saw a figure sitting in the corner of the room. “Kazuda,” he called out before he could carefully consider his words. He furrowed his brows when he didn’t receive a response. He banged on the bars with a cautious aggression—to catch Kazuda’s attention but not alert any soldiers.
Silas peered inside, and Kazuda did not look good, to say the least. The brunette was curled in on himself, hugging his knees to his chest. He looked up with wide eyes when he heard Pyre.
“Kazuda,” he called again. The younger man flinched at his voice. That left a tinge of distaste in Silas.
“Pyre,” he belatedly spoke, “have you come to finally kill me?” There wasn’t a hint of anger or fear in his voice—only a worn out acceptance. The lieutenant must have done a number on him; Silas was privy to the kind of torture they used to extract information from Resistance members. They had left the usually optimistic and hard-headed Kazuda quiet and compliant.
“What? No.” Silas shook his head. “I’m here to help you.
“I have a proposal. I believe it will be mutually beneficial for the both of us. I…I want to betray the First Order, but I need your help. If I don’t leave, they will surely kill me once we reach the Imperial Facility.”
Kazuda remained silent, and he took it as a sign to continue.
“If I could have left alone, I would have done so already. But I have no plan of action if I get caught. I need this to be under the guise that you’re escaping, and I’m attempting to capture you. If we do manage to be caught, then you will take the blame. You’ll be fine; they won’t kill you. They need you alive. As for me, I’d be fulfilling my duty as a Commander by preventing prisoners from escaping.”
“Why should I believe you won’t betray me? This plan of yours sounds awfully convenient for you,” Kazuda questioned, “How do I know you won’t just turn me in to make yourself look good?”
Silas paused. He understood why Kazuda would be suspicious and doubt his trustworthiness. After all, they were enemies on different sides.
He inhaled deeply before reasoning, “Do you really think they’ll let me off easy after turning you in? I may avoid death by preventing your escape, but they’ll demote me and make my life miserable. They’ll likely find a new way to get rid of me. I know all about how they get rid of failures and threats within the ranks.”
“Hm,” the younger man huffed. “I guess we have no choice then.” It surprised Silas how quickly the younger man agreed. Though he understood why, everything he’s been through he just wants to… get away.
“We may not trust each other, but we’re all we have right now.” Silas never thought he’d say something like that. He was used to having the First Order’s military on his side, not some weak rebel pilot. “Here’s the plan: we’ll wait for the lieutenant to return, and I’ll hide when he does. Kazuda, you’re going to attack them from the inside.”
“What?” he croaked, “How? I’m not strong enough or skilled in combat. I’ll be beaten immediately. Also…just call me Kaz, it’s easier.”
“Alright, Kaz. You’ll ambush the lieutenant and his officers while I make sure they don’t escape.
“We have to kill the lieutenant. If we leave him alive or unconscious, we run the risk of him alerting other stormtroopers. With his corpse, we’ll use his face for the scanner to reach the escape pods. Do you follow?”
“No,” Kaz muttered. “How the hell am I supposed to ambush a lieutenant and two armed officers?”
“Don’t worry, they aren’t as undefeatable as you think.” Pyre proceeded to tell Kaz about all of the armored soldiers’ blind spots and weak points. Due to their bulky armor, they were slow and had limited peripheral vision. “Shouldn’t be too difficult. I’ll take care of the lieutenant since that coward won’t fight anyone head on. I’ll kill him when he tries to flee.”
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
They waited a few hours for them to come back.
The lieutenant walked into the brig, followed by two storm troopers. His posture was tall and confident. The dark gray color of his military uniform added to his domineering presence. Boots clanked on the metal floor as the three walked closer to Kaz’s cell.
Kaz’s pulse hammered in his ears. Sweat ran down his temple, and his shoulders were as stiff as a board. This is bad. Why did I even agree to this? I’m going to die!
The door to his cell clicked open as the lieutenant unlocked it. He marched in, hands folded neatly behind his back. “Kazuda Xiono. You got off easy the first time. But this time, I’ll make sure you squeal.”
Kaz tensed at the idea of enduring any more torture. They’d already shocked him, injected him, and extracted his blood. They’d definitely do worse the second time around, and Kaz barely managed to survive and stay mentally intact. He was so screwed if this plan failed.
He was hopelessly trying to keep his composure and not appear weak. He stood up, but his legs trembled like a leaf. Kaz took a deep inhale to calm himself down.
The brunette begrudgingly went to the soldiers’ side, seemingly letting himself be taken and tortured. He’d rather not be dragged by his hair again.
Kaz moved fast, staying just outside the stormtroopers’ narrow field of vision. He lunged forward and quickly swiped the blaster from the soldier on the right. The stormtrooper gasped and turned slowly, his heavy armor delaying him as he scrambled for his stolen weapon, but Kaz was already stepping back.
Kaz couldn’t hesitate. He moved again, staying in the edges of their vision, and leveled his aim. He rapidly fired across both stormtroopers. They cried out as the bolts hit, knocking them back, and their white armor and now exposed skin scorched.
Once he was certain they were neutralized, Kaz turned around and raised his blaster, aiming directly at the lieutenant’s face.
The man immediately raised his hands, his composure crumbling as panic flashed on his face. He opened his mouth to speak–
A hard blow struck him from behind. He collapsed to the floor, body lying limply on the ground.
Commander Pyre stepped forward, lowering his hand. The lieutenant had left the door ajar, and Pyre slipped in when Kaz was taking down the stormtroopers.
“What are you waiting for?” Pyre said in an even voice. “Shoot him.”
Kaz gulped. His grip on the blaster tightened.
He had never done this before. Never killed anyone directly, at least.
For a moment, he hesitated.
Then he fired.
…………………………
The walk to the escape pods was quiet.
Clothes rustled around. Behind him, something dragged along the floor. A pair of boots scraped, and the lieutenant’s lower body hit the floor in uneven thuds.
Commander Pyre was holding the lieutenant by the collar, dragging the lifeless body with him. Whenever they reached a door, Pyre brought the man up just enough for the scanner to read his face and open the door.
Kaz’s shoulders ached. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, the soreness felt like he’d been hit by a starfighter.
He’d definitely pulled something.
After passing through multiple corridors and taking the elevator, they finally reached the escape pod bay.
Kaz was getting tired of them.
Yes, they helped him avoid capture, but needing one meant he’d already been caught. And it happened twice in one week! That’s two times too many.
Commander Pyre cast the corpse aside as soon as the bay door hissed open.
They scanned the room for any signs of stormtroopers or anyone of the like. Upon seeing none, they rushed into the nearest escape pod.
Kaz threw himself into the pilot’s seat.