There were times where Kijani wished she had been born a normal woman. Just an average citizen from an average planet who didn’t have to make hard decisions. Right now was one of those times. It was as if everything was slowing, the moment stretching for eons.

She knew what she had to do. But she hated herself for it. 

Without responding, she lifted her blaster and shot the stormtrooper in the throat. There was a terrible, gargled noise as he died. The second trooper had enough time to say “What-” before Kijani shot him too. She exhaled slowly. These were the kinds of choices a royal had to make.

She plucked the cell key card from one of the guards bodies. “...it’s different up close.” Was all she managed to say, before stepping past the two dead men. Even if they were the Empire, she hated to have death so up close and personal, and on her hands. 

“Let’s go, Adam. Cell 4653.” She took off without another word, murmuring to herself as she counted cells.

It was only fair. It had been her plan, after all, and all failure was therefore her fault. Only right that she should take the killing shot. This whole thing could turn out to be a major disaster. Get them all captured, killed… and it would be on her shoulders. She shouldn’t have said the Emperor. She should have said Vader. She’d aimed too high.

“4651… 4652… 4653.” For a moment the cell was too dim for her to see. Then the lights clicked on, revealing a figure huddled on the cell cot.

The moment of truth. “Hello?”