*Chapter 40: The Aftermath*
The Rebel Alliance's base was a hive of activity as they worked to clean up the damage from the battle. Jax stood at the center of the chaos, his eyes fixed on the holographic display projected before him. The display showed a map of the galaxy, with the Empire's remaining forces marked in red.
Arcturus stood beside him, his voice low and urgent as he outlined the plan. "We need to move quickly, Jax. The Empire may be defeated, but there are still loyalists out there who will try to restore it to its former glory."
Jax nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. He knew that they couldn't let their guard down, not yet. "What's the situation with Zara and her investors?" he asked, his voice cold and steady.
"They're in custody, awaiting trial," Arcturus replied, his eyes glinning with a cold, calculating light. "But I think we should consider offering them a deal."
Jax's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. "What kind of deal?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.
Arcturus smiled, his eyes flashing with a hint of malice. "We could offer them immunity in exchange for their cooperation. They could provide us with valuable information about the Empire's inner workings, and help us to dismantle its remaining structures."
Jax's face twisted in distaste, but he knew that Arcturus was right. They needed to know how the Empire worked, and Zara and her investors were the only ones who could tell them.
"Okay, set it up," he said, his voice cold and steady.
As Arcturus nodded and turned to leave, Jax couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something. Arcturus's plan seemed straightforward enough, but Jax had a sense that there was more to it than met the eye.
He pushed the feeling aside, focusing on the task at hand. They had a galaxy to rebuild, and they couldn't do it by themselves.
As he turned to leave, Jax caught a glimpse of Lyra, standing in the shadows, watching him with an unreadable expression.
"Lyra, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.
Lyra shook her head, her eyes flashing with a hint of concern. "Nothing, Jax. I just...I think we should be careful, that's all. We don't know what Arcturus is really planning."
Jax's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. He knew that Lyra was right, but he also knew that they needed Arcturus's help to rebuild the galaxy.
"I'll be careful," he said, his voice cold and steady.
But as he turned to leave, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking into a trap.
The darkness closed in around him, like a shroud, and Jax knew that he was in this alone.
But he was ready.
The fate of the galaxy hung in the balance, and Jax was no longer sure if he was making the right decision.
As he walked away, Lyra's eyes followed him, her expression unreadable.
The Rebel Alliance had won the battle, but the war was far from over.