Chapter Text
There was a heavy tension on the Colossus after their last encounter with the Star destroyer. They were running out of food and many felt unsafe, scared of what the First Order would do to them when caught. So when Tam received her orders from Yeager, she was determined to complete it. She quickly went to look for Kaz, heading straight to Yeager's garage. When she arrived, she saw smoke and was worried, so she called out.
“Kaz? Kaz! What are you doing?”
“Yeah? Sorry, Tam, I'm a bit busy fixing the Fireball. I almost got it… just a bit more.” Kaz had been struggling to repair the Fireball’s engine, which had burned out during one of their missions to look for supplies.
Tam raised her eyebrow. “You're still working on that? What’s taking so long? Do you want me to help you?” She went close enough to see the Fireball’s engine. Not only that but she was able to see that it was more damaged than when she last saw it.
Kaz turned his head to face Tam, looking a bit embarrassed. “I am not struggling with this, Tam. I'm just, uh... and no I’m fine.” Tam folded her hands. She was worried for him. After the whole incident with the Star Destroyer, they really haven’t had much time to talk. It’s been hectic so to say.
Kaz avoided eye contact, he didn’t like how awkward it had become between them. He could tell she wanted to say something but was hesitant.
“So, um, what’s up? Do you need anything?”
“Yeah. Yeager wants us to go look for some spare parts for this new ship he has to fix, he says it could help us out a lot.” Tam wasn’t too happy with the situation they were in, but that could be expected. At least she seemed more like herself than when she first came back.
“Okay, yeah sure just give me two minutes. No- fifteen. Give me fifteen minutes.” I could probably finish it by then if there aren't any more issues.
“I’ll be waiting, don’t take too long and don’t break anything while I’m gone. Also, don’t forget to bring the holomap.” Tam shook her head and left to prepare a ship.
Yeah like I can do any worse.
Just as he turned, a panel from the ship fell off with a thud, startling him. He heard Tam laugh in the distance.
“Just great!” he huffed as he picked up the panel.
……………
Kaz realized that he was taking longer than 15 minutes, so he sprinted towards the hangar after grabbing anything he needed for their trip. Although he felt like he was forgetting something he couldn’t quite put a finger on. I really hope she’s not mad that I took so long.
When he arrived, Tam was already in the pilot's seat, flicking switches.
“Sorry I took so long. I got everything we would need though.”
Without looking at him she asked, “Did you bring the map?” He froze.
I knew I forgot something.
“Yes! Of course. I could never forget something so important!” He felt ashamed, he scratched the back of his neck. Tam slowly turned, holding the folded map in her hand with a smug grin.
“Well, I knew you would forget it, so I brought it with me just before I left.” She saw his dumbfounded expression as his eyes landed on the map in her hands.
Kaz defeatedly sat near Tam, not saying a word. The ship rumbled as it lifted off the platform.
After some time, he perked up. “I could’ve flown this thing, y’know. I am a pilot.”
“You also once hit a refueling tower on takeoff.”
“That was only once! Technically it was leaning a little bit! Not really my fault.”
“Sure it wasn’t.”
“It wasn’t! Why does no one let that go?” Tam smirked.
“So,”Kaz said, stretching, “ where exactly are we headed?”
“Not far from here, just an old scrape yard. Mostly junk. But Yeager believes it could contain a hyperdrive we can salvage.”
“A hyperdrive? Nice! Should be fun!”
Tam sighed, “Please don’t cause any trouble. I mean it, Kaz.”
“Yeah, yeah. I promise I won’t.” Kaz lazily waved a hand in the air. “I mean, what's the worst that can happen?”
She shook her head. “You better hope we don’t find out.”
……………
“Tam, how long are we going to–”
“Until we find this damn hyperdrive!” Tam leaned over the armrest to punch Kaz’s shoulder.
“Ow! Okay, I get it! I was just asking…” Kaz rubbed where she had struck him. “Why didn’t Neeku come with us?”
“Unlike you, he actually had something important to do. So stop talking and stay on task.”
“Fine. I’ll go look over there while you look here.” Kaz proceeded to unboard the aircraft. The junkyard they had landed on was completely deserted and filled with trash. The entire planet seemed to have been used as a garbage disposal by neighboring systems.
The ground he stood on was of a yellowish color. It felt like stone under his feet. Kaz began to search through a nearby ship wreckage. He had been searching for hours. He found nothing and was about to move on to the next pile when he saw it.
“Tam! Look! I found a hyperdrive!” Kaz yelled in excitement while holding up the propulsion mechanism like a trophy. He was relieved that he would finally be able to leave the barren planet after completing their search.
“Great. Now bring it over while I start up the ship,” she ordered, wiping her hands on her pants before entering the aircraft.
Kaz struggled to walk over all the garbage and mysterious liquids on the floor. He was nearing the ship when suddenly, a loud noise roared above him. Kaz tilted his head up to see a TIE fighter gliding through the lavender sky. Two more TIE fighters were alongside it, followed by a larger spaceship heading straight towards him. Before Kaz could react, shots were fired in his direction.
“Kaz! Hurry up! They’re here!” Tam shouted from their ship’s cargo ramp.
“What about the hyperdrive? We can’t just leave–” he was interrupted by the stormtroopers firing at him from afar. The TIE fighters landed and more white troopers were marching out. Kaz narrowly dodged their shots. “Nevermind! Let’s go!”
When did they get here? The expert pilot ran as fast as he could, occasionally stumbling over littered scraps. He almost reached their ship when his path was unexpectedly blocked by a TIE fighter. The black spacecraft’s blasters were aimed at him. Their ship couldn’t afford to be caught—it could be tracked back to the Colossus. Both Kaz and Tam knew it was dangerous for the Resistance’s starship to be located by the First Order.
Kaz gulped nervously before yelling, “Tam! You have to leave!”
“What about you!? I-I can’t just-” she stuttered, “FIne! I’ll go get help!” Tam sped off before the TIE fighters could follow her. Kaz exhaled in relief that she was able to escape.
The black-haired man slowly turned his attention back to the enemies. He was completely surrounded—soldiers and ships pointed their weapons at him. Kaz weakly lifted both of his hands in surrender.
Shit… I’m so screwed.
He hastily looked around. All three TIE fighters were on the ground, and the larger metallic ship was hovering over them. Stormtroopers directed their guns at him, but none of them fired. They aren’t shooting? Do they want me alive?
His attention was diverted by the sound of rumbling engines. The grand ship gradually descended until it made contact with the yellow earth.
Kaz was shaking at this point. His senses were on high alert, aware of the danger he was in. He took deep breaths to calm himself down. It’s all right, Kaz. Maybe they just want to have a friendly chat?
The hatch of the silver ship lowered to reveal the inside. Heavy footsteps echoed throughout the now quiet air. Soon, Kaz could make out a golden figure walking down the ramp.
Can my luck get any worse than this? Why’d it have to be him? Kaz mentally cursed as the golden-armored strode towards him. The aura he emitted was threatening and commanding with every step he took.
Kaz remembered the last time they were this close.
They were both on a Star Destroyer which was on the brink of destruction. Kaz had to escape, but the only thing holding him back then was now standing before him. He froze. He never knew what happened to the golden-armored stormtrooper but believed he died as he was stuck under heavy rubble.
“Kazuda Xiono,” a gruff voice behind the armor called, commanding attention, “You don’t know how much you have caused me… how long I have been looking for you.” Slight anger was laced in every word. “Troopers, lead Kazuda Xiono aboard ship. Detain him in the cells nearest to my quarters.”
Kaz was roughly pushed towards the large aircraft by two white guards. Commander Pyre followed closely behind. His jaw tightened when he heard, “Agent Tierny will be happy to hear you’ve been apprehended. Especially after the trouble you and your friends have stirred up months ago.” The ship’s hatch closed behind them.