I looked up at the infinite sky, watching stars fly by like shooting stars heading somewhere unknown.
Soon, I spotted lights shining ahead. "You see that?" I asked.
"Yeah. You see that?" Jacen asked, pointing at other speeders headed the same way.
A little anxious, I thought about how big this event must be. There would definitely be dangerous people—but that's part of the fun, right? I loved meeting new folks, even if sometimes it was tricky. You never know what they'll think of you.
A small dome-like building came into view, and more speeders appeared, all kicking up dust as they raced for it.
"Speed up!" I yelled. "Speed! Speed! We can't lose!"
"No way!" he yelled back. "We don't need to make enemies by racing everyone!"
I pinched his cheek hard. He yelped and twisted the speeder out of control for a few seconds before regaining it.
"Are you crazy?!" he yelled.
"When I tell you to do something, just do it," I said coolly. "So do it! Speed up! Speed!"
He sighed. "You're a brat."
He kicked into a higher gear, launching us forward so fast I had to grip his tan jacket for dear life. We were moving so fast I thought I might puke.
The building got closer and closer—I almost hoped we'd crash right into it. I liked making entrances.
A large crowd swarmed outside the dome building. There were so many people that I started to wonder if maybe we'd made a mistake coming out here alone, without any weapons.
Auntie always warned me how dangerous it was to be a woman on a planet like this. She used to say, "Hera, nobody's going to give you power. You have to take it." I wanted to be like her—strong, powerful, the kind of woman who didn't let the pain she'd lived through keep her down.
I remembered what she told me about the man who took everything from her— said he was the only man who ever broke her. And that he was the last. She said, "As I walked away from that chapter of my life, I knew if I didn't leave all the anger, hatred, and bitterness behind, I'd still be his prisoner."
I made a promise to myself to never be at the mercy of another being—never vulnerable enough to let someone bring me down.
Never.
Jacen pulled back the handlebars of the speeder, bringing us to a stop just before the massive crowd, which moved like one giant, screaming, whistling mob hyped for the fights to come.
"Where are we supposed to park?" he asked.
Other bikers hopped off their speeders and pushed them further into the crowd, the vehicles hovering just above the sand.
"Guess we don't," I said.
Jacen slid off and I followed, holding onto the speeder as he pulled it alongside him. The sea of people made me a little nervous. I didn't want to draw attention. I just wanted to get into a cage match, earn my credits, and get out.
We followed the crowd inside the dome. Spotlights cut through the smoky air, finally revealing the arena. Fighters from all over the galaxy filled the place—Wookiees, a few Elcor, even some Jawas. Those things were creepy, always staring with their beady little eyes.
"Hera, what have you gotten us into?" Jacen asked.
I didn't answer. I just looked around in awe. So many fighters, all here to prove themselves... and make credits.
"I'm going to check things out. I'll meet up with you later."
"So you're ditching me now that I gave you a ride?"
I punched his shoulder lightly. "Calm down. I said I'll meet you later. Just find a place to park."
He shook his head. "Yeah, alright. Just try not to get us into trouble."
"That's obviously the first thing ima do." I grinned. "I'll find you as soon as I can."
He nodded and went off to park his speeder, while I faced the growing crowd. Fighting connected me to people in a way words never could.
I glanced up at the large monitors hanging above the arena, showing the fight brackets. I was fourth in line. It hadn't been easy getting signed up for this tournament.
A booming voice echoed through the arena. "How's everyone's night going so far?!"
A man in battered battle armor stood inside the cage, the center of attention. A large scar ran down his neck, and he wore a patch over one eye.
"I am Alpha! And this is my cage match arena! Here, I'll see if any of you have what it takes to amass the wealth I've earned surviving this hellhole!" He laughed, loud and rough.
The roar of the crowd filled the air. The thrill of fighting strong opponents coursed through me. This was it. This was what I lived for.
"I don't feel like waiting any longer! Who's ready to have some fun?!"
Alpha threw his arms up, and the crowd roared.
"Let's introduce our fighters! On the left—"
A spotlight swept across the cage and caught a hooded figure. Face hidden. Woah, that's cool as hell.
"A mysterious young woman who joined at the last possible moment. They call her... Nay!"
The crowd went quiet.
"Nay?" I muttered, squinting. "That's gotta be the dumbest nickname I've ever heard."
"And on the right—"
A second spotlight landed on a broad-shouldered man, with jagged horns and red patterning streaking down his face. A Dathomirian.
Far-off memory buzzed in my brain at the name.
He shed his robe, revealing more inked markings across his chest. He looked... kinda badass. And also like getting punched by him might rearrange your organs.
Nay stepped into the cage, silent and steady, like she'd done this a thousand times. No fear. Not even a flicker.
"What is this? Am I expected to fight this child?" the Dathomirian scoffed, lowering his head to get a better look at her. "An insult."
She didn't even flinch. Just gave a small bow and backed into her corner. People who acted like her always won their fights. It's just an unspoken rule, so I knew who I'd be placing my bet on.
Alpha raised his arm. "Without further ado... let the first match begin!"
Wraith lunged first—full beast-mode, charging with both arms out like he was ready to throttle her into the floor.
But she slipped beneath him. Fast. Stupid fast. Before he could blink, her fist was in his gut. Then another. Then—wham—a spinning kick drove into his back, sending him face-first into the bars.
The crowd gasped.
Wraith spun, looking pissed, but she was already airborne. Her knee cracked into his nose with a sickening thud. She didn't stop. Her fists became a blur, each strike crashing into him like she had no pause button.
Then—graceful as a dancer—she flipped back, landing without a sound.
Wraith staggered, face mangled, eyes wild.
"Call it," Nay said flatly. "I don't think this one will be—"
He bellowed and charged again.
She met him mid-step, her leg arcing around like a crescent moon—then crack—heel to skull. He dropped like dead weight.
"Apologies. Now, you can call it."
Silence.
I didn't wait for the crowd to react. I was already pushing to the front, fingers tight around the cage bars, eyes locked on her.
She didn't even look winded. Just standing there like this was her warm-up. Like she didn't even care who came next. Like nothing rattled her.
"She's... awesome," I muttered, grinning before I even realized it. My heart was pounding, not from fear, but from something way better—excitement. I needed to get in there. I needed to know what it felt like to fight her.
Alpha raised his mic again. "Well, that was a surprise, wasn't it? But the rules are the rules—she keeps going 'til someone takes her down. So? Who's next?"
I was already about to shout when some idiot beside me beat me to it.
I already about to shout when some idiot beside me beat me to it.
"I'll go next!"
I glared sideways. He didn't even seem impressive. Just tall and loud.
Fine. Let him get destroyed.
But then the next one stepped up.
And the next.
And the next.
And every single one of them? She beat. She didn't even look tired.
Every time I opened my mouth to volunteer, someone else cut in line. It was getting ridiculous. If they kept this up, she'd be exhausted by the time I got in—what fun would that be?
So after the next guy dropped like a sack of bricks, I made my move. I climbed the side of the cage and shoved my hand through the bars, pointing right at her. "Hey! You!"
She looked up. So did Alpha.
"I'm next," I said, thumbing toward myself.
Alpha raised an eyebrow. "Well, well. This one looks like she's got something to prove."
I grinned. "I ain't tryna prove nothing. I just wanna fight her. Or anyone that'll try me as a matter of fact. Then after I win, I'll be taking your credits with me."
He chuckled. "Look closely, folks. This is what overconfidence looks like before it meets reality."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah? You wanna try it then, old man?"
That got a laugh from the crowd. My face went hot. Not from shame—just irritation. Let 'em laugh. They didn't know me. Not yet.
"I'll take on anyone here!" I shouted over the noise. "You hear me?! I'll mop the floor with every single one of you!" That just made the crowd laugh harder. Like I was some brat playing dress-up.
"I said shut up!" I barked, gripping the bars tighter. "You think I'm just messing around here?! Come find out then!"
Alpha raised his hands like he was calming a riot. "Alright, alright. Let's give the girl a shot. Everyone gets a turn. Even the loud ones."
I dropped down and pushed through the crowd, heat burning through my chest. I could feel every stare, every smirk, every karking whisper. But I didn't look at them. Didn't need to. I just focused on the cage. On her.
They didn't know what I could do. But they would.
I stepped into the ring and faced her.
She didn't say anything. Just stood there like this was routine. Like I was already figured out.
I hated that.
She was still hooded, still unreadable. Like a statue. A really smug one.
I clenched my fists. She'd fought what—six, seven people by now? And I was fresh. There was no reason I shouldn't win this.
Alpha stepped up again. "Name?"
I smirked and opened my mouth. "Hera Star—"
But then I heard it. Not out loud. In my head. Mom's voice. "Never say that name to anyone you don't know. Remember that, Hera."
I blinked and caught myself.
"—Just Hera."
The woman tilted her head slightly, like she'd caught the slip.
Alpha didn't seem to notice. "Well alright then, Hera. Let's see what you've got."
She didn't move.
Just stood there, quiet and relaxed like she hadn't just taken down six people in a row. Like this was nothing.
I rolled my shoulders, cracked my neck, and got into position. My stance was loose—fast, aggressive. It always worked before. I didn't overthink it.
Across from me, the woman—Nay—didn't even raise her guard. She looked like she was waiting for a drink, not a fight.
I frowned. "You gonna stand there all day or what?"
She tilted her head, like I'd asked her something interesting.
"Arrogant," she said.
I bristled. "You don't know me."
"No," she replied, calm. "But I admire the spirit."
I scoffed. "Who cares what you think? Let's just do this already."
Alpha shouted something from the edge of the ring, but I wasn't listening anymore. The second the bell rang, I went for it.