(Ember POV)
The dust hadn't settled from the last explosion, and already the rhythmic crack of blaster fire echoed through the collapsed building's skeletal frame. Ember pressed herself against a section of duracrete wall that had somehow remained intact, her DD-42 blaster rifle held in a low ready position. The weapon felt solid but manageable in her hands. Through the gaps in the debris-strewn structure, she could see the opposing building roughly fifty meters away, its windows dark and threatening.
Her HUD flickered with tactical information in the upper right corner of her vision: team status indicators showing Grav 1 through 5 in varying shades of green and yellow, ammunition count displaying 87 rounds remaining in her power pack, and a simplified overhead map marking known enemy positions with hostile red dots. The simulation was running at what the instructors called "combat intensity"—everything functioned exactly as it would in real operations, except the blaster bolts were tuned to stun rather than kill.
Small mercies.
"Grav Two, status?" The voice crackled in her ear Grav One, their team leader, a human male named Raxis who'd been at the Academy for three months longer than her.
Ember keyed her comm with a subvocal click. "Holding position, east wall. No clear shots on the hostiles in the opposite structure. They've got good cover."
Around her, the building groaned ominously. This had been some kind of administrative complex before the instructors had condemned it for training purposes. Now it was a labyrinth of collapsed floors, exposed support beams, and enough rubble to make movement treacherous. Perfect for urban combat simulation.
The objective was simple enough: four teams of five cadets each, twenty people total, dropped into a combat zone with orders to secure a central objective point—a data terminal in the neutral building between the four starting positions. The last team with active members or the one with the data won.
A bright emerald blaster bolt sizzled past her position, close enough that she felt the heat wash across her exposed cheek causing her to jerk back instinctively, her heart rate spiking as adrenaline flooded her system. Someone in that opposite building had her spotted. She was reaching for her comm to call out the sniper position when she recognized the armored bulk of Grav Three as she slammed into the rubble beside her, shaking loose a shower of dust and small debris.
The Twi'lek woman was built like a siege weapon with broad shoulders encased in heavy combat armor that added at least forty pounds to her frame, and cradled in her arms was an M-300 assault cannon that most people would need a tripod to fire accurately. The weapon was a monster: a rotating barrel assembly with a wide stock and dual power feeds capable of laying down suppressive fire that could shred light cover and make advancement impossible for anyone caught in its cone of fire. The barrel assembly glowed faintly orange from recent use, heat radiating from the weapon in visible waves.
Grav Three's lekku were wrapped protectively against her neck and secured with tactical straps to keep them out of the way during combat. Her armor was scorched in several places where she'd taken hits, but the heavy plating had absorbed the stun bolts without issue. She settled into cover beside Ember with surprising grace for someone so heavily equipped.
"Nice spot you've got here" the Twi'lek said breathlessly, her voice carrying that slightly higher pitch characteristic of her species but roughened by exertion. "Very defensible, good sight lines could use better overhead protection though." She adjusted her grip on the assault cannon, checking the power cell indicator on its housing. "I'm Taavi Shenn, by the way. You're the new arrival, right? Ember?"
Ember nodded, still processing the casual introduction in the middle of a firefight. "Yeah, I'm—"
Before she could finish, Taavi popped up from cover with the smooth confidence of someone who'd done this a hundred times before. The assault cannon roared to life with a sound like continuous thunder, its rotating barrels spitting a devastating stream of crimson blaster bolts across the gap between buildings. The fire was concentrated and brutal—each bolt following so closely behind the previous one that they looked like a solid beam of crimson destruction.
Window frames exploded into showers of pulverized duracrete. A support beam took multiple direct hits and began to sag ominously. And in the opposite building, Ember could sense through her Force sight the panic and confusion as hostiles were forced to abandon their positions or risk being caught in the devastating fire.
Taavi held the trigger for three full seconds before ducking back down as return fire began converging on her position. Chunks of their cover exploded outward, peppering both of them with stinging fragments. The Twi'lek seemed completely unbothered by the near-misses, already checking her ammunition status and planning her next burst.
"So" Taavi said, as casually as if they were having caf in the mess hall rather than being shot at, "Do you want to be friends?"
Ember stared at her, momentarily unable to process the question. The contrast between the violence of the past few seconds and the genuine, almost childlike hopefulness in Taavi's tone created a surreal disconnect that left her searching for words.
"I... what?" Ember managed, her brain still trying to catch up with the situation.
"Friends" Taavi repeated, as if it were the most natural question in the galaxy. Her amber eyes were bright with enthusiasm despite the chaos erupting around them. "You know people who hang out, watch each other's backs, share ration bars when one person forgets to grab lunch." She grinned. "It's just, you're new, and I know how hard it is starting late when everyone else has already formed their groups, and I thought maybe you'd want—"
"Grav Three, what the hell are you doing?" Raxis's voice cut through the comm channel with sharp authority. "I need you providing fire support on the northern approach, not socializing!"
"Multitasking, Grav One!" Taavi called back cheerfully, then looked at Ember expectantly.
The absurdity of the situation being asked about friendship while pinned down under hostile fire in a combat simulation finally broke through Ember's confusion. A small laugh escaped her, and she felt some of the tension in her shoulders ease.
"Sure" Ember said, surprised by how much she meant it. "Yes, I want to be friends."
Taavi's face lit up with genuine delight. "Excellent! Okay, friend, watch this."
Ember leaned out from her side of the cover, bringing her rifle up to her shoulder and sighting through the targeting reticle, following movement in the opposite building. She found her target: a human male in medium armor attempting to relocate to a window that would give him a better firing angle on Grav Four's position. She focuses more on her Force sight letting the man continue to run, just watching him through the obstructions. The signature was distinct as she exhaled slowly, letting her breathing settle into the rhythm Sera had taught her during their training sessions. Steady pressure on the trigger, don't anticipate the recoil, let the weapon's natural point of aim do the work.
The rifle tapped against her shoulder with a small pressure that pushed back but didn't throw off her aim significantly. The crimson bolt lanced across the gap burning through a wall and catching the hostile in his upper arm, the impact spinning him partially around. Through her Force sight, Ember could see the outline of the man as she dropped to a knee behind the more cover as the energy of the stun setting did its work.
Not a kill shot in a real firefight, but good enough to take him out of this simulation temporarily.
"Good hit!" Taavi squealed, and before Ember could respond or even properly process the compliment, the Twi'lek erupted from cover again.
This time, Taavi didn't just stand she surged upward with the assault cannon already tracking toward a higher floor in the opposite building, her movements aggressive and confident. The weapon roared to life again, but this time the fire pattern was different. Instead of a sustained burst, she fired in controlled three-round bursts, each burst aimed at a different window on the fourth floor.
Ember could sense multiple hostiles on that level atleast four, maybe five all scrambling for cover as the assault cannon's fire tore through their positions. One of them wasn't fast enough, and Ember felt their energy signature flicker as a burst caught them square in the chest.
Taavi shouted over the roar of her weapon, her voice carrying that manic edge of combat adrenaline mixed with genuine enthusiasm. "All the new kids the early arrivals like you we're having a party later tonight! 2200 hours in Recreation Hall D! You should totally come, it'll be—"
Her words cut off abruptly as return fire intensified. Not just a few shots anymore, but concentrated volleys from multiple positions. Ember's HUD lit up with threat indicators as at least three groups decided that the Twi'lek with the assault cannon was the biggest threat in their sector.
"Down!" Ember shouted, but Taavi was already moving, her combat instincts overriding her social enthusiasm.
The Twi'lek dropped into a controlled fall, abandoning her elevated firing position and sliding back behind the same section of cover Ember occupied. The transition was smooth and practiced she'd clearly done this maneuver countless times. But she wasn't quite fast enough to avoid all the incoming fire. A blue bolt probably someone was using a different weapon than standard issue clipped her shoulder armor, sending a shower of sparks cascading off the heavy plating.
Taavi slammed into the cover beside me with enough force to shake loose more dust and debris from the damaged structure. Her assault cannon's barrel assembly was glowing cherry-red now, heat shimmer visible around the weapon's housing. She immediately began checking her power cells, her fingers moving with practiced efficiency even as blaster bolts continued to hammer their position.
"That was exciting!" Taavi said breathlessly, grinning despite having just taken a hit. "Did you see that one guy on the fourth floor? The one who tried to—"
Another volley of fire tore into their cover, this time from a different angle. Multiple hostiles were coordinating now, attempting to pin them down from multiple directions simultaneously. Chunks of duracrete exploded outward, and she flinched as she felt something stinging her cheek.
Ember called out, her training kicking in. Through "Grav Three, we need to relocate or we're going to get pinned!"
"Copy that!" Taavi's playful demeanor shifted slightly, becoming more focused even if her enthusiasm didn't completely disappear. "On three, we both move...there's a collapsed section about ten meters to our right that'll give us better angles and defilade from that elevated position. Ready?"
Ember checked her ammunition, 79 rounds remaining and nodded. Her heart was hammering against her ribs, adrenaline singing through her system in a way that made everything feel simultaneously crystal clear and slightly unreal.
"One" Taavi counted, her free hand already reaching for a concussion grenade on her belt. "Two"
More fire poured into their position. Ember could hear the distinctive whine of power packs cycling, the sharp crack of bolts impacting duracrete, and underneath it all, the groaning complaint of the damaged building structure protesting further abuse.
"Three!"
They covered the distance in seconds, both of them diving behind a massive section of fallen ceiling that created a natural bunker position. The cover was significantly better with thicker material, better angles on the opposite building, and most importantly, protection from the elevated firing position that had been giving them so much trouble.
Taavi immediately popped up and began laying down covering fire with her assault cannon, the weapon's rotating barrels creating that familiar continuous thunder. Ember joined her, finding a firing position that gave her a clear line of sight to multiple hostile locations.
"So anyway" Taavi said, pausing her fire to swap power cells, "party tonight. You'll come, right? It won't be super fancy or anything, but there's usually decent food, and everyone's really friendly once they're not trying to shoot you." She slammed a fresh power cell into place with a satisfying click and brought the assault cannon back up. "Plus it's a great way to meet people who aren't, you know, actively hostile."
Ember squeezed off several more shots, forcing a hostile to abandon an advantageous position, before responding. "I'll be there," she said, and realized she actually meant it. Despite the chaos, despite being in the middle of a firefight, despite everything Taavi's genuine friendliness had cut through all the stress.
"Awesome!" Taavi's grin returned, fierce and bright. "Oh, and one more thing—"
The PA system crackled to life, cutting through the sounds of combat with electronic clarity. The voice was synthesized, neutral, carrying across the entire training facility with perfect audio balance.
"SIMULATION TERMINATED. TEAM TEAL HAS SECURED THE DATA TERMINAL. ALL PARTICIPANTS REPORT TO ARMORY FOR EQUIPMENT CHECK-IN AND DEBRIEF."
The announcement repeated twice more as the sounds of combat began to die down across the training space. Blaster fire ceased, the smell of ozone and burning materials hung heavy in the dust-choked air, and Ember could sense through her Force sight the collective shift as all the participants began to stand down.
Taavi lowered her assault cannon with visible reluctance, the weapon's barrels still glowing faintly orange from sustained use. "Aw, we were just getting warmed up" she said with mock disappointment, though her amber eyes were still bright with adrenaline. "Team Teal though they're good. That's the third time this month they've won the objective scenario."
Ember safed her rifle, engaging the power cell's lock and lowering the weapon to a carry position. Her shoulders ached slightly and she could feel the adrenaline beginning to ebb from her system. "How many people are on Team Teal?"
"Same as us five per team. But they've been here longer, train together constantly, and their team leader is apparently some kind of tactical genius." Taavi stood, stretching her back with an audible series of pops. "Come on, let's get out of this death trap before something else collapses."
They began making their way toward the exit, carefully navigating through the debris-strewn floor of the collapsed building.
Around them, other participants were emerging from their various positions some looking triumphant, others frustrated, all of them bearing the telltale signs of combat: scorch marks on armor, dust and grime covering exposed skin, the focused fatigue of sustained tactical operations.
As they reached the exit a large reinforced doorway that led back into the main training facility Ember and Taavi found themselves merging with the stream of other participants heading toward the armory. The corridor beyond was wide and well-lit, a stark contrast to the shadowy chaos of the simulation space they'd just left.
"Hey, Taavi!" A male voice called out from behind them. Ember turned to see a human male in medium armor jogging to catch up, his dark hair matted with sweat and a wide grin on his face. "Nice shooting back there. That burst fire pattern on the fourth floor? Beautiful."
"Thanks, Kade!" Taavi responded enthusiastically. "This is Ember she's the new arrival I was telling you about. Ember, this is Kade Verant, one of our classmates."
Kade gave Ember an appraising look that seemed more curious than judgmental. "The one who arrived early? Nice to meet you. Good tactical awareness back there"
"Thanks" Ember said, feeling slightly awkward under the attention but managing a small smile. "It was my first time in one of these exercises."
"First time?" Kade's eyebrows rose. "You handled yourself better than half the people here did on their first run. Most new arrivals panic when the shooting starts."
As they walked, more participants joined their impromptu group, a Zabrak female named Trialae who'd been on Team Teal, a pair of human twins named Jak and Jessa who finished each other's sentences, and a Mirialan male called Resh who seemed to know everyone. The corridor filled with the chatter of post-exercise analysis, people replaying key moments, arguing about tactical decisions, and generally decompressing from the intensity of combat.
"So are you coming to the party tonight?" Vessa asked Ember directly, her facial tattoos accentuating her inquisitive expression. "All the early arrivals will be there it's kind of become a tradition to welcome new people properly."
"I was planning to" She said, then hesitated. "But I don't really have anything nice to wear. Just my academy uniforms."
Taavi waved a hand dismissively, her assault cannon resting comfortably on her shoulder despite its bulk. "Don't worry about that at all! I'll handle it. Clothes are not a problem."
"Handle it how?" Ember asked, genuinely confused.
"Shopping!" Taavi announced as if it were the most obvious thing in the galaxy. "The station has a whole civilian sector with shops and everything. We'll get you something perfect for the party. Just follow me for the rest of the day we all have the same last class anyway, right? Advanced Combat Tactics?"
I checked my HUD schedule quickly. "Yeah, 1540 to 1700, Simulation Chamber 5."
"Perfect! So we stick together, hit the armory, maybe grab some food if there's time, then class, and after that we'll go shopping before the party." Taavi seemed to have their entire afternoon planned out already. "It'll be great!"
I found myself nodding along, slightly overwhelmed but also oddly grateful for Taavi's take-charge attitude. The Twi'lek was definitely weird asking about friendship in the middle of combat, planning shopping trips while covered in combat dust but there was something genuinely warm about her that made Ember feel welcome in a way she hadn't expected.
'This girl is definitely weird but maybe weird is exactly what I need right now.'
They reached the armory entrance a massive reinforced door marked with Imperial insignia and flanked by security terminals. The door slid open automatically as they approached, revealing a large rectangular space filled with weapon racks, armor stands, and equipment lockers. Several other participants were already inside, going through the process of checking in their training weapons and gear.
"Alright everyone" a stocky human instructor called out from a raised platform at the far end of the armory. "standard procedure. Weapons first then armor, then any accessories. Everything gets inspected and logged. Any damaged equipment gets flagged for repair. Let's move it along!"
Ember made her way to one of the available check-in stations, where a bored-looking human female wearing armory technician insignia sat behind a terminal. She set her DD-42 rifle on the counter, followed by her mostly empty power cells.
"ID?" the technician asked without looking up.
Ember placed her identification chit on the scanner, which beeped its acknowledgment.
"Cadet Ember, confirmed. One DD-42 training rifle..." The technician picked up the weapon and performed a quick inspection, checking the barrel for any obstruction, testing the power cell connection, and verifying the serial number. "Looks good. Eighty-seven rounds expended from primary cell, noted. Power cells?"
Ember handed over her spare cells, which the technician scanned and logged. "Return these to the dispenser rack on your way out. Next?"
The process took about fifteen minutes total as Ember went through each piece of equipment she'd checked out for the exercise. The armory staff were efficient and professional, clearly having done this hundreds of times before. By the time she finished, Taavi was already done having checked in her assault cannon and armor with surprising speed and was lounging against one of the equipment lockers, watching the flow of cadets with casual interest.
"That was fast" Ember commented as she approached.
"Practice" Taavi replied with a grin. "I've done this so many times I could probably check in gear in my sleep. You get quick when you've got a hungry stomach and food waiting in the mess hall."
Ember was about to respond when her HUD suddenly flickered with a new notification. She blinked to focus on it, and the message expanded:
[SCHEDULE UPDATE]
Advanced Combat Tactics - 1540-1700 - Simulation Chamber 5
STATUS: CANCELED
REASON: Instructor unavailable due to station emergency. Class will be rescheduled. Check your schedule for updates.
"Huh" Ember said aloud. "Class just got canceled."
"Really?" Taavi immediately checked her own HUD, and her expression brightened with delight. "Oh, excellent! That means we have way more time for shopping now!"
Around them, other cadets were receiving the same notification, and the armory filled with murmured conversations as people realized they suddenly had an unexpected free afternoon.
"Do you think it's serious?" asked a female voice nearby. Ember turned to see two human females standing near the armor racks, both looking concerned. "A station emergency? That sounds bad."
"I heard there was some kind of containment breach in one of the research labs" her companion replied in a hushed tone, clearly enjoying being the source of gossip. "Apparently some experimental tech went haywire and they had to evacuate an entire section."
"No way, I heard it was a docking accident" another cadet chimed in from across the room. "One of the transport ships came in too fast and damaged an airlock. They're sealing off the section until they can get it repaired."
"You're both wrong" Kade interjected, having apparently been eavesdropping on multiple conversations. "My roommate works in station operations he said it's a security drill. They're testing emergency protocols or something."
The speculation continued to build as more cadets finished checking in their equipment and joined the growing crowd near the armory exit. Ember listened with half her attention, more focused on the fact that she now had several unexpected free hours.
"Ember!"
She turned to see Taavi moving purposefully through the crowd, and more surprisingly, dragging another girl behind her by the hand. The other girl was a human with dark auburn hair pulled back in a practical ponytail, wearing the same standard academy uniform but with an added tool belt that suggested some kind of technical specialization.
"Ember, this is Lyssa Corr she's amazing with tech and also one of the early arrivals" Taavi announced as they reached her. The enthusiasm in her voice made it clear I needed to watch out for her later tonight"Lyssa, this is Ember, the one I told you about during breakfast."
"Hi" Lyssa said with a slightly shy smile, extracting her hand from Taavi's grip to offer it to Ember properly. "Nice to meet you. Taavi's been talking about you non-stop since she saw your name on the early arrival roster."
"She has?" Ember shook the offered hand, surprised by the revelation.
"Oh yeah, Lyssa continued "She was super excited when she found out there was another new person. Taavi's kind of adopted everyone who arrived early as part of her extended friend group."
"Because being new is hard!" Taavi interjected. "And everyone should have friends, especially at an Imperial Intelligence Academy where people are generally suspicious of everyone. Plus we're all going through the same training, so we might as well support each other, right?"
Before Ember could respond, Taavi had already moved on to her next point, her words coming fast with excitement. "So! Class is canceled, which means we have approximately" she checked her chronometer, "three and a half hours before we need to start getting ready for the party. That is perfect shopping time!"
"Shopping?" Lyssa asked, though she didn't sound opposed to the idea. "For what?"
"Party clothes!" Taavi announced as if this should have been obvious. "Ember doesn't have anything nice to wear, and honestly, neither do I. I've been wearing the same outfit to every party for the past month. Plus you could use some new accessories, Lyssa. Those earrings you've been wearing are practically held together with hope and solder."
Lyssa touched her earrings defensively. "They're not that bad..."
"They're definitely that bad" Taavi said firmly but not unkindly. "Come on, this will be fun! The civilian sector has some really nice shops, and we can grab dinner at one of the restaurants afterward before heading back to get ready."
__________________________________
(Hours later)
I stood before the full-length mirror in her quarters, staring at the reflection with a mixture of disbelief and something that might have been excitement. The person looking back at her seemed like a stranger—elegant, sophisticated, almost dangerous in a way that had nothing to do with training.
The dress Taavi had insisted she buy was a deep imperial purple that seemed to shift between violet and indigo depending on how the light caught it. The color was striking against her crimson skin, creating a contrast that was both bold and sophisticated. The garment was strapless, held up by some combination of engineering and what Ember suspected might be actual magic, leaving her shoulders and collarbone completely exposed. The bodice fit snugly, emphasizing curves she hadn't really paid attention to before, then flowed out into a skirt that fell to just above her knees.
The dress had been Taavi's find she'd spotted it in the third shop they'd visited in the station's civilian sector, a boutique that specialized in formal wear for young professionals and academy cadets. The shopkeeper, a middle-aged Twi'lek woman with impeccable taste, had taken one look at my uncertain expression and declared that purple was "absolutely her color" and that strapless was "definitely the right choice for someone with your bone structure."
I had been too overwhelmed by the whole shopping experience to argue.
She reached up to adjust the dress's position, her fingertips just brushing the mirror's surface as she tried to shift it slightly on its mounting the angle wasn't quite right, and she wanted to see the full effect. The moment her skin made contact with the cool glass, she felt something warm and wet on her fingertip.
Looking down, she saw a small drop of blood welling from the pad of her index finger.
'What the'
She pulled her hand back, staring at the crimson droplet that had transferred to the mirror's surface. It stood out starkly against the reflective glass, a small perfect sphere of red that caught the room's lighting. She hadn't felt anything no pain, no sensation of cutting or tearing, just suddenly blood where there shouldn't have been any.
Without really thinking about it, Ember brought her finger to her mouth and sucked away the blood, the familiar copper taste filling her mouth. It was the same thing she'd done countless times in the laboratory when the researchers had drawn blood samples or when training exercises had resulted in minor injuries.
She grabbed a cleaning cloth from her desk and carefully wiped away the blood drop from the mirror. The glass came clean easily, leaving no trace of the red smear behind. Then she examined her finger more carefully, turning it in the light to see where the wound was.
There was nothing there.
No cut, no scrape, no puncture that might explain the blood. Her skin was completely intact, smooth and unblemished crimson without even the faintest mark to indicate where the blood had come from. She frowned, turning her finger over one more time just to be absolutely certain. Nothing. It was as if the wound had healed instantly, or perhaps had never existed at all.
She shook her head, deciding not to dwell on it. Tonight was supposed to be fun, a party with new friends, a chance to actually be a normal for a few hours instead of a genetic experiment or an intelligence trainee. She wasn't going to let mysterious bleeding fingers ruin that.
Besides, she had bigger concerns. Like the fact that her hands and arms were completely exposed in this dress, and while her crimson skin was distinctive enough, there was still the matter of looking polished and put-together for an event. Moving to her desk where she'd laid out the accessories Taavi and Lyssa had helped her select. Among them was a pair of long gloves in deep black that would extend past her elbows, creating an elegant contrast with the purple dress. The material was soft and flexible while still allowing full range of motion.
She pulled them on carefully, smoothing the material up her arms and making sure they sat properly.
Looking at herself in the mirror again now with the gloves completing the ensemble, she couldn't help but shake her head slowly.
;I can't believe I'm actually doing this' she thought, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth despite herself. 'Going to a party. Wearing a fancy dress.'
It felt surreal in the best possible way.
She grabbed her mini purse from the bed a small black clutch that Lyssa had insisted was "perfect for parties because it holds exactly what you need and nothing you don't." Inside was her identification chit, a small amount of credits, and her emergency comlink. And, tucked into a small interior pocket were a few of her smokes.
Ember pulled it out, examining the familiar cylinder in the room's lighting and pondered if she should activate one now.
'Definitely a stressful situation, she thought wryly, looking at her dressed-up reflection. Social interaction with peers at a party. Yeah, I need this.'
She cracked twice then brought it to her lips and inhaled deeply. The vapor was smooth, sliding into her lungs and almost immediately beginning its subtle work. She felt the familiar sensation of her nerves settling, the constant background noise becoming more manageable, the edge of anxiety about the upcoming party smoothing out into something more like anticipation.
Ember took one more look in the mirror, then nodded to herself with more confidence than she felt. She left the smoke in her lips, squared her shoulders and walked to her door.
The corridor outside her quarters was busier than usual for this time of evening. As the door hissed open, she could immediately see other cadets heading in the same direction some in casual clothes, others dressed up in various levels of formal wear. The mix was interesting: some had gone all-out with elaborate outfits that would have fit in at a diplomatic reception, while others had opted for just casual.
"Ember!"
She turned to see Lyssa emerging from her own quarters two doors down. The tech specialist had opted for a sleek black jumpsuit with silver accents that somehow managed to look both practical and elegant. Her dark auburn hair was styled in loose waves that framed her face she had even added minimal makeup just enough to accentuate her features.
"You look amazing" Lyssa said with genuine warmth, looking Ember up and down approvingly. "That purple is absolutely perfect on you. Taavi was right."
"Thanks" Ember replied, feeling a slight flush of embarrassment that she hoped wasn't visible on her crimson skin. "You look great too. Very sleek and sophisticated."
"I try" Lyssa said with a small laugh. "Though I'm probably going to be constantly adjusting this belt it has too many pouches and I keep wanting to fill them with tools out of habit."
Before Ember could respond, another door burst open further down the corridor, and Taavi emerged like a force of nature.
The Twi'lek had gone for bold and unapologetic in her outfit choice: a form-fitting emerald green dress that complemented her skin tone beautifully, with strategic cutouts that showed off her athletic build while maintaining a sense of elegance. Her lekku were adorned with decorative bands in gold and silver that caught the corridor lighting, and she'd applied dramatic eye makeup that made her amber eyes even more striking.
"There you are!" Taavi exclaimed, practically bouncing over to them with infectious enthusiasm. "You both look fantastic! This is going to be so much fun!"
Without waiting for a response, she grabbed both of their hands Lyssa's left and Ember's right and started pulling them down the corridor toward the main transit ways.
"Come on, come on! We don't want to be too early, but we also don't want to miss the beginning when everyone's still getting there and it's easier to mingle!" Taavi's words came fast. "I heard they got real food for this one not just the standard mess hall stuff, but actually good food from some of the restaurants. And there's supposed to be music, and I think someone mentioned there might be dancing, though I'm not sure how many people actually know how to dance versus just kind of moving awkwardly to music—"
"Taavi" Lyssa interrupted, "breathe."
"Right, breathing, good idea" Taavi said without slowing down even slightly. "I'm just excited! First party since the new arrivals showed up, and we get to show Ember how we do social events at the Academy!"
They moved through the corridors quickly, joining the growing stream of cadets heading in the same direction. Ember could sense the general mood a mixture of excitement, nervousness, anticipation, and in some cases she could she some people drinking already but that everyone seemed to be turning a blind eye to.
As they walked, Ember noticed more of what Lyssa had mentioned the variety in how people had chosen to dress. A pair in perfectly pressed suits that looked like they'd come straight from a diplomatic function. A Zabrak female in flowing robes that showed off her facial tattoos beautifully. A group of Sith purebloods in matching dark red ensembles that made them look like wanabe Sith even at a party.
And scattered throughout, cadets who'd clearly pregamed in their own quarters—laughter a bit too loud, movements a bit too loose, the telltale signs of social lubricant at work.
"Is that allowed?" Ember asked quietly, nodding toward a group of three humans who were passing around a flask while walking.
"Technically no," Lyssa replied in an equally quiet voice. "Officially, alcohol is prohibited in academy quarters and must be consumed only in designated areas with proper supervision."
"But practically?" Ember pressed.
"Practically, the instructors know that if they tried to strictly enforce that rule, they'd spend all their time doing random quarters inspections and disciplinary actions," Taavi interjected. "So the unofficial policy is: as long as you don't show up to class drunk, don't damage academy property while intoxicated, and don't do anything dangerously stupid, they pretend not to notice."
They turned a corner and found themselves in one of the station's main transit corridors. This was where the architecture opened up to higher ceilings, wider walkways, large viewports showing the star field beyond the station's hull. The space was filled with cadets now, all flowing in the same general direction like a river.
As they got closer to their destination, Ember began to hear music drifting through the corridors. It was different from anything she'd heard in the Academy's standard areas, not the background noise or the martial music that sometimes played in training facilities, but actual party music. The sound had that distinctive cantina feel to it: a jazzy, upbeat rhythm with synthesizers and what sounded like steel drums creating a melody that was simultaneously alien and infectious. The kind of music that made you want to move, even if you had no idea how to dance.
The bass line pulsed through the corridor's structure, vibrating subtly through the deck plating under her feet. Overlaying that foundation was a playful horn section that reminded her of recordings she'd heard of the popular music genre that dominated cantinas and clubs across the galaxy.
But what caught her attention more than the music were the figures stationed along the corridor.
They were older cadets third or fourth-year students based on their bearing and the confidence in their postures. Unlike everyone else heading to the party in their formal wear or smart casual outfits, these students were in full tactical gear: light armor, utility belts with various equipment, and most notably, sidearms holstered at their hips. They stood at regular intervals along the corridor, positioned at intersections and access points, their attention focused not on the party but on the approaches to it.
"What's with the armed guards?" I asked quietly, nodding toward the nearest one a broad-shouldered human male who tracked their passage with professional assessment before dismissing them as non-threats.
Lyssa followed her gaze and smiled slightly. "Security detail. But not the official kind."
"They're lookouts" Taavi explained in a cheerful whisper, apparently unbothered by the need for such measures. "In case the professors or station security decides to do a surprise inspection or shut down the party for rule violations. This gives everyone inside enough time to scatter if needed to dump any contraband, disperse into smaller groups, that kind of thing."
"Has that actually happened?" Ember asked, fascinated by this glimpse into the Academy's unofficial social dynamics.
"Twice that I know of" Lyssa confirmed. "Once last semester when someone was stupid enough to start a fight that got loud enough for instructors three sections away to hear. And once during orientation week two years ago when someone brought in recreational substances that are very illegal on an Imperial military installation."
"What happened?"
"The whole party got shut down, about forty cadets got written up for various infractions, and three students got expelled" Taavi said matter-of-factly. "So now there's an unofficial understanding: the upperclassmen provide security and make sure things don't get out of control, and in exchange, the instructors pretend they don't know these parties are happening as long as nobody does anything dangerously stupid."
They passed another pair of lookouts a female and a Twi'lek male, both armed and alert. The female gave Taavi a small nod of recognition, which Taavi returned with a wave.
"The security detail rotates through volunteers" Lyssa added. "People who want to help but maybe aren't big into dancing or socializing.
As they walked She felt familiar anticipation building. Not nervousness exactly the smoking device had smoothed most of that away but a sense that she was about to step into something and she couldn't wait.
Without really thinking about it, she reached up to activate her HUD with a subtle subvocal command and eye movement pattern. The interface materialized in her field of vision, translucent and unobtrusive, showing her various system statuses and available programs.
There tucked in a folder given to her by her mom Vex was a program labeled [Y.Seed v.1]. She had described it as a "passive security monitoring and countermeasure system" designed to detect hostile hacking attempts or unauthorized data access. The idea of having an active defensive program running in the background gave her a sense of security she hadn't even realized she needed but was glad to now have and would never shut off if she could help it.
She pulled up the program's settings interface a sparse menu with only a few configurable options. The main one was strength/sensitivity, adjustable from 10% to 100%. For a party where she'd be surrounded by Intelligence Academy students many of whom probably had their own hacking skills and might be drunk enough to think scanning random people's implants was funny 50% seemed like a reasonable compromise.
Ember adjusted the slider to 50%, then activated the program with a thought.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then she felt it a subtle pulse that seemed to originate from somewhere behind her eyes and radiate outward. Through her Hud, she could actually perceive it: a brief wave of red-tinted code that spread roughly eight to ten centimeters around her body before fading.
The HUD displayed updated information:
[Y.Seed v.1] - ACTIVEStrength: 50%RAM Usage: 6/18 unitsStatus: Monitoring
Every three steps she took, the pulse repeated aheartbeat of digital protection that extended slightly further with each activation, gradually mapping the immediate electronic environment around her and establishing passive defenses. After about a minute of walking, the program settled into a stable operating pattern, maintaining a protective sphere that moved with her.
It was subtle enough that nobody without active scanning equipment would hopefully notice, but it would flag any unauthorized attempts to access her implant, query her system status, or inject malicious code. At 50% strength, it wouldn't actively counterattack that required 70% or higher but it would alert her and could temporarily block intrusion attempts, Satisfied with her setup, she minimized the HUD back to its default configuration.
"Can I try that?" A voice pulled her attention causing her to focus back around her.
Ember turned to find Taavi looking at her with open curiosity, her amber eyes fixed on the metallic cylinder. "It smells really nice, kind of sweet and metallic? What is it?"
"A medical compound" Ember said, which was technically true if wildly incomplete. "It helps manage some issues I have. Side effect of my... unique makeup."
"Still" Taavi pressed "smells way better than most medical things. Can I try it?"
Shaking her head with a small smile. "Not a good idea. It's specifically calibrated for my body the compound interacts with genetic modifications I have that you don't. For me, it's therapeutic. For you..." She paused, considering how to explain. "It would probably just make you dizzy and nauseous. Maybe give you a headache. Definitely not healthy."
"Oh" Taavi's enthusiasm dimmed slightly but didn't disappear. "That's too bad. Could you like, dilute it or something? Make a version that works for normal people?"
"Maybe?" I considered the question seriously. "I'd have to understand the chemistry better, figure out which compounds do what. And I'd need access to better lab equipment than what's in our quarters or allowed to cadets in general. But theoretically... yeah, possibly."
"That would be so cool!" Taavi's excitement returned immediately. "You could make custom scents for people! Like personalized aromatherapy but actually good!"
"Let's see if I survive my first Academy party before I start a business" I said dryly, but couldn't help smiling at Taavi's infectious enthusiasm.
The music was louder now, The crowd had grown denser, cadets packed more closely together as multiple corridor streams converged on their destination. Through the press of bodies, Ember caught her first glimpse of their destination.
Recreation Hall D was larger than she'd expected the entrance alone was a set of massive double doors, currently propped open to allow the flow of party-goers. The space beyond glowed with multi-colored lighting that pulsed in time with the music, creating a shifting aurora effect visible even from the corridor.
But what immediately caught Ember's attention wasn't the lights or the music but the crowd, as she kept walking closer to the entrance she could see that the room was packed far more than the corridors leading to it. She could see the outlines of hundreds of individual life signatures compressed into what was admittedly a large space but still remarkably crowded.
"See that?" Lyssa said, calling out as both of our gazes happened to land at the bar the moment we got closer to the entrance. "The bar usually opens about thirty minutes after the official party start time. Gives everyone a chance to arrive, mingle a bit, and settle in before the real drinking starts."
As She stepped through the massive double doors into Recreation Hall D, the full impact of the party hit her like a physical wave due to the music that she had no choice but to give her attention to.
The sound system looed professional-grade, far better than anything she'd expected from this party. The speakers were positioned around the room and the current track was a modern take on a classic genre that made her body want to move almost involuntarily. The bass line pulsed through the floor, traveling up through her legs and into her chest where it seemed to synchronize with her heartbeat. Layered over that foundation was a playful melody created by synthesized horns and what sounded like actual steel drums, creating a rhythm that was simultaneously alien and infectiously danceable.
Without really thinking about it, Ember found herself swaying side to side, her hips moving in time with the beat.
"See? You're already getting into it!" Taavi laughed, noticing the involuntary dancing. The Twi'lek's own were swaying gently in time with the music, a subtle movement.
"How about we get some drinks to start?" I suggested, raising my voice slightly to be heard over the music. "The bar's open now."
"Yes!" Taavi's face lit up with enthusiasm. "Perfect idea! Come on!"
The three of them began weaving through the crowd toward the bar. It wasn't easy the room was packed, and people were either dancing, talking in tight groups, or moving between different clusters. Ember found herself pressed against strangers more than once, feeling the heat of so many bodies in close proximity and smelling a mixture of perfumes, colognes, sweat, and alcohol.
As they navigated the crowd, both Taavi and Lyssa kept pausing to greet other cadets. It seemed like everyone knew everyone else, or at least knew of each other. Names and callsigns flew past Ember's ears—some she recognized from classes or training exercises, others completely unfamiliar.
"Taavi! Lyssa! Over here later, yeah?" called out a deep voice from a crowd to the left.
"Definitely!" Taavi called back without slowing down.
"Lyssa! Did you finish that encryption project?" This from a human female with bright blue hair.
"Turned it in yesterday! Talk later!" Lyssa responded.
The social navigation continued until they finally reached the bar, where they managed to squeeze into a small opening between a group of celebrating upperclassmen and a pair of Twi'lek females who seemed to be deep in animated conversation.
The bar itself was impressively well-stocked, behind the counter, several older cadets served as bartenders all wearing matching black shirts with "STAFF" printed across the back in silver letters. They moved with practiced efficiency, mixing drinks, pouring shots, and managing the flow of orders with the kind of smooth coordination that spoke to experience.
Taavi practically bounced up to the counter, immediately catching the attention of one of the bartenders.
"What can I get you?" he asked, projecting his voice over the noise.
"Two shots each for the three of us" Taavi said without hesitation, holding up two fingers for emphasis. "Whatever the special is tonight."
"Imperial Stardust" the bartender confirmed with a grin. "Coming right up."
He moved with fluid efficiency, pulling out shot glasses and lining them up on the bar six total, two for each of them. From a row of bottles behind him, he selected one containing a liquid that glowed an eerie, luminescent green under the UV lights scattered throughout the bar area. He poured carefully, filling each glass to the brim, then slid them across the counter toward Taavi.
Ember looked at the shots curiously. The green liquid seemed to shimmer slightly, and there was a faint sweetness to its smell that cut through the general bar odor of alcohol and mixers. She reached for one of her shots, intending to follow whatever protocol seemed appropriate
Taavi's hand shot out, covering Ember's and preventing her from picking up the glass.
My immediate reaction was a flash of irritation that manifested as a frown and a sharp glare directed at her new friend. The expression lasted only a second before catching herself and smoothed it away, replacing it with controlled neutrality.
"Why did you do that?" She asked trying her best to keep her voice to sound merely curious rather than hostile.
Taavi didn't seem to notice—or chose to ignore—the brief flash of danger. She just grinned mysteriously. "Trust me, just wait a moment. You'll see why. Chill."
Before I could press for more explanation, the music suddenly cut out.
The effect was dramatic, hundreds of conversations continued for a split second in the sudden silence before people realized something was happening and began to quiet down. Within moments, the entire room had fallen into anticipatory silence, all attention turning toward the raised DJ platform at the far end of the hall.
The DJ himself was a sight to behold: He stood behind an impressive array of mixing equipment and turntables, one hand raised dramatically to command attention.
When he spoke, his voice boomed through the sound system with perfect clarity:
"Alright, alright, ALRIGHT!" Each repetition got louder, building energy. "I see all you beautiful people out there! New faces, old faces, everyone's faces looking ready for a PARTY!"
A roar of approval rose from the crowd.
"Now listen up!" the DJ continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone though the enthusiasm never quite left it. "We're standing on the edge of something here, people. New year starting up, new semester about to drop on us, You know what that means?"
"What?" several voices shouted back.
"It means that tomorrow—TOMORROW—we're all gonna wake up and remember why they call this place Imperial HELL Academy!" He paused for effect. "So tonight? TONIGHT, we don't think about tomorrow! Tonight, we make sure that when we wake up tomorrow, we're not even sure what PLANET we're on!"
More cheering, louder this time.
The DJ reached down behind his equipment and produced a shot glass filled with the same glowing green liquid that sat on the bar in front of Ember. He held it high, letting it catch the lights so everyone could see.
"So here's how this is gonna work!" he announced. "When I give the word and ONLY when I give the word everyone with a drink raises it HIGH! And then, we toast to bad decisions, questionable life choices, and making memories we probably won't remember!"
The crowd laughed and cheered.
"Are you READY?" the DJ shouted.
"YEAH!" the room roared back.
"I said, ARE YOU READY?"
"YEAH!"
"Then everybody grab your drinks! Hold them up! And when I say NOW you DRINK!"
Taavi turned to Ember with a knowing smile, releasing her hand from where it had been preventing Ember from drinking early. "NOW you can drink" she said, picking up both of her own shots.
She grabbed one of her shots shaking her head, raising it toward Taavi in a gesture before tapping the base of the glass against the bar counter once then tipped the shot back in one quick motion, the green liquid hitting her tongue with a burst of flavor that was unexpectedly sweet like berries.
Around her, the crowd erupted into cheers and shouts as hundreds of people downed their drinks simultaneously. The energy in the room spiked dramatically, the collective mood shifting from anticipation to celebration in an instant.
The music crashed back in something even more energetic than before, with a driving beat that immediately got people moving. The DJ was already working his equipment, one hand on a turntable while the other adjusted levels on his mixing board, his head bobbing in time with the rhythm he was creating.
Ember set down her empty shot glass and her fingers found her smoking device from her lips the current one nearly finished and she brought it to her lips for one final drag, feeling the familiar taste of the smoke clash againt the alcohols burn. She activated the small extinguishing mechanism built into the device, safely ending its operation, then tucked it back into her purse.
A fresh device came out next. She cracked it thrice along its seams, the familiar click-click barely audible over the music and brought it to her lips. The vapor filled her lungs as she inhaled, and she couldn't help but smile as the green smoke leaked from around her teeth.
"Ready for round two?" Taavi asked, already picking up her second shot. Her amber eyes were bright with excitement, and her cheeks had flushed slightly—whether from the heat of the crowd, the first shot, or simple enthusiasm, Ember couldn't tell.
Ember grabbed her second shot, this time not waiting for any ceremonial signal. She raised it toward her friends both Taavi and Lyssa had their second shots ready and they clinked the glasses together in a toast before downing them in unison.
The second shot went down even smoother than the first, and Ember could feel the warmth spreading through her system now, settling into her chest and radiating outward. It was pleasant.
"So!" Taavi said, already moving on to planning their next move with characteristic enthusiasm. "Now that we've properly initiated the evening, what do you want to do first? Dance? Mingle? Find somewhere to sit and people-watch? This is your first Academy party, so you get to set the agenda!"
Ember looked out across the packed room the dance floor where bodies moved in various states of coordination, the clusters of conversation throughout the space, the darker corners where couples were already getting intimate, the observation positions where the more introverted or strategic-minded cadets watched the chaos unfold.
She felt the whiskey warmth in her chest combinging with the vapor, the music vibrating through the floor, and something she hadn't expected: genuine excitement about what came next.
"Honestly?" she said, surprising herself with how relaxed she sounded. "I have no idea. This is all completely new to me. What do people actually do at these things?"
Lyssa laughed a warm, genuine sound. "That's the beautiful part. There are no rules. You do whatever feels right in the moment."
"Then let's start with another drink" She decided, already feeling more confident. "And then... we'll see where the night takes us."
Taavi grinned. "Now you're talking like a real cadet. Come on, let's see what else the bar has to offer."