The nightmare clung to me like a shadow, the phantom pain of the Sith’s blade still searing against my chest. Even awake, I could feel its weight and inevitability. I focused on steadying my breath, damp with cold sweat, as I lay in the dim light of my quarters. This time, I’d managed to hold back my scream, but each vision felt heavier, more real. I felt the quiet presence of the Murakami Orchid, in my mind—a small but comforting touch.

“Does it ever get any better?” I asked, hoping for some sliver of reassurance.

Through our connection, I felt the Orchid's energy, something like the mental equivalent of a slow, sympathetic shake of the head. “No. Visions are rarely pleasant, and their weight doesn’t ease with repetition.”

“Then why show me if there’s nothing I can do? What’s the point?” I pressed, the frustration clear in my voice.

“Sometimes, it’s about understanding why something must happen,” the flower explained, its words laced with a note of sorrow.

“So I’m meant to suffer, just to understand suffering?” I muttered, incredulous.

“It’s more meaningful than that. There are things we’re not meant to know until just before they happen. The timing has a purpose, though it may not make sense now.”

I sighed. “That’s insane.”

“That’s the universe,” she replied with the mental equivalent of rolling her eyes.

A moment of silence passed before I cleared my throat, shifting the conversation. “I should give you a name. I can’t keep calling you ‘Orchid’ or ‘Flower.’ What would you like to be called?”

A thoughtful, quiet pause lingered between us before a soft reply echoed in my mind. The voice shifted, becoming distinctly feminine, as though revealing something more personal. “Xanthe.”

“Alright,” I said, a small smile tugging at my lips. “But I’ll call you Xan for short.”

“Is Xanthe too long for you?” she teased, amusement warming her voice.

“It’s faster to say in an emergency,” I countered.

A ripple of laughter filled my mind, light as a breeze. “Fair point. Xan it is.”

As the weight of the nightmare finally began to fade, the ship’s comm crackled to life, jolting me back to the present.

“Roan, we’ve got a problem,” Teya’s voice came through, tense and clipped.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

I sprang from my bed, crossing the room in two steps to press the comm button. “What is it?”

“We’re being hailed by a small fleet of Imperial surveillance TIE fighters. They’re demanding identification. They recognize the ship as one of theirs.”

I closed my eyes, feeling the urgency twist in my stomach. “Are we in range of any nearby Imperial bases?”

“None that we know of,” Teya replied. “But they could still have patrols nearby. We need to decide fast.”

I clenched my jaw, weighing our options. “Alright, let’s meet in the helm. If we’re lucky, maybe we can talk our way out of this. If not…” I let the words hang, the implication clear.

“Understood. Meet you here,” she replied, the comm going silent.

With a final glance at my disheveled reflection, I threw on a shirt and rushed down the hall toward the bridge. As I arrived, Retra looked at me, eyes searching for a solution.

“Roan, any ideas?” she asked, worry flickering in her gaze.

“Can’t you just show them who you are?” I asked, a shred of hope in my voice.

She shook her head. “No. I disobeyed orders when I left, and I’m probably on their wanted list. Even if they don’t know that, they’ll likely insist on escorting me back to the Grand Inquisitor.”

Teya stepped forward, voice steady and intense. “Then why don’t we fight? We handled just as many last time, and now we have someone experienced with the turrets.”

“We don’t know if they have reinforcements nearby,” I replied. “There could be a whole legion of Star Destroyers hiding just past the nearest asteroid.”

Teya looked at me, frustrated. “Then what do you suggest?”

I ran through several ideas in my mind, and one possibility stood out. “Teya, do you know how to perform a Jedi mind trick?”

She shook her head. “No. I never learned it, and it’s supposed to be easiest on people nearby.”

“I can guide you through it and amplify the effect,” Xanthe’s voice echoed in my mind, calm and reassuring.

“Xan, you can do that? Across space, I mean?”

“Distance and size are irrelevant. Those limits are only in your mind. Remember the shot you made by using the Force? Everything is connected.”

I took a breath, glancing at Retra. “Open the channel and put me on the screen with them.”

She looked skeptical. “Are you serious? What’s the plan?”

“Going to mind-trick them with Xan’s help,” I replied.

Teya and Retra looked at me in unison, puzzled. “Who?”

“Sorry, I meant the Murakami Orchid. Her name is Xanthe now.”

Teya blinked, processing it. “Alright, I guess.”

Retra glanced at me, then moved to open the channel. “Ready?”

I nodded, steadying myself as Retra opened the screen to the fleet’s commander. The figure of an Imperial officer appeared, his face stern and expectant. “Identify yourself,” he demanded, the rank markings on his uniform suggesting he was higher than your average patrol.

I raised my hand subtly, feeling Xanthe’s presence guiding me, amplifying my focus. I channeled the Force, building a connection to the officer. After a moment, I projected my voice with calm and confident authority. “I’m sending my identification now. I’m an undercover agent for the Emperor. You’ll see that everything checks out.”

The officer’s expression faltered, his eyes narrowing as he studied his console. “I don’t see… Oh, my apologies, sir. Everything appears to be in order. Would you like an escort, sir?”

I kept my voice firm. “No, we’re fine without one. Remember, I’m undercover.”

“Yes, sir. Understood. Have a safe journey, sir.” He saluted before the screen blinked off.

I exhaled, tension releasing from my shoulders as I turned to the others. Retra’s mouth curled into an impressed grin, while Teya just shook her head, half-amused, half-disbelieving.

“That was… well-played,” Teya admitted, smirking. “Guess we really are putting our faith in the ‘all-mighty Force’ after all.”

Retra laughed softly. “I think I could get used to this.”