*Chapter 23: The Shadowy Figure*
The escape pods deployed, and the crew of the Kestrel fled the stricken ship. Jax watched as the enemy forces swarmed the bridge, their dark armor and helmets making them look like creatures from a nightmare.
Lyra's voice was in his ear, her tone urgent. "Jax, we've got to get out of here! The enemy is boarding the pod!"
Jax's eyes snapped to the display, his mind racing with possibilities. Who was this enemy, and what did they want?
"Get us to the planet's surface," he ordered, his voice cold and steady. "We'll regroup and plan our next move."
The escape pod hurtled through the atmosphere, shaking and rattling as it descended. Jax's stomach was in his throat, and he felt a sense of weightlessness as the pod bounced and jumbled.
Finally, the pod landed with a thud, and the crew was flished out into the bright sunlight. Jax blinked, taking in the unfamiliar landscape. They were in a desert, with towering sand dunes stretching out as far as the eye could see.
Kael's voice was in his ear, his tone grim. "Jax, we've got company."
Jax's eyes snapped to the horizon, and he saw a figure approaching. It was a woman, dressed in a long, flowing cloak that billowed behind her in the wind.
"Who are you?" Jax asked, his hand on the grip of his blaster.
The woman pushed back her hood, revealing a face that was both beautiful and deadly. "My name is Zara," she said, her voice low and husky. "And I'm here to offer you a deal, Jax."
Jax's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. What did this woman want?
"What kind of deal?" he asked, his voice cold and steady.
Zara smiled, her eyes glinning with amusement. "A deal that could change the course of the galaxy forever," she said. "Are you interested, Jax?"