Chapter 135

"Sir, the commanding officer is waiting for you inside," one of the troopers said, standing stiffly at attention.

"Take me to him," Ali commanded, his tone as cold and unyielding as steel. Without hesitation, the troopers turned and began leading him and his group through the sprawling Imperial hangar.

Every step Ali took seemed to draw the attention of the workers, engineers, and troopers bustling around the facility. Their curious eyes darted toward him, lingering on the red mask and imposing black uniform that marked him as Sith.

Behind him, Drogath's heavy, deliberate footsteps reverberated through the building, the sound almost matching the rhythmic thrum of machinery. His towering frame added an aura of menace to the group, making it impossible for anyone in the hangar to ignore them. Even the faint smile on Reka's face, born of excitement and awe, did little to soften the palpable tension.

'What a way to announce our arrival to the entire city,' Ali thought as he followed the troopers. He was certain that within minutes, news of their arrival would spread throughout Tartek's elite and underworld alike.

The group eventually reached a large, lavishly decorated room, its walls adorned with war accolades, medals, and the framed banners of Imperial victories. Inside stood an older man and a younger woman.

The older man wore the pristine white uniform of a commander, his grey hair neatly combed to match his stern, disciplined demeanour. Despite his age, his posture was rigid, his presence commanding.

Beside him stood a younger woman, her short blonde hair framing an attractive face which compensated for a lack in other areas, her sharp blue eyes hinted at intelligence and confidence.

'Are they related?' Ali wondered, his dark eyes scrutinising the pair from behind his mask.

The older man's gaze shifted from the Sith apprentice to the giant alien standing behind him. Drogath's sheer size and the intimidating aura he exuded made even seasoned soldiers hesitate.

But then the commander's focus moved to Ali, the masked figure whose aura of menace and authority was equally impossible to ignore.

The commander stepped forward and introduced himself with a steady voice. "Welcome to my home. I am Commander Dran, and this is my daughter, Lena. She will assist you in your mission here on Tartek."

Ali's head tilted slightly as he pointed to himself. "Ali," he said coldly. Then, pointing to his towering companion, he added, "Drogath." He gestured next to Reka, who looked up nervously, "Reka." Finally, he pointed to the woman accompanying Reka. She opened her mouth to speak her name, but Ali cut her off. "Nurse."

His introductions were brief and emotionless, his deep voice adding a layer of intimidation to his already fearsome presence. Commander Dran nodded respectfully. Lena, however, visibly bristled under Ali's cold demeanour.

"Well then," Ali continued, turning his attention back to Dran. "I need the location of every place mentioned in the report."

The commander nodded once more before glancing at his daughter. Lena stepped forward confidently, a sleek tablet in her hand. "Of course, sir. I'll send the coordinates to your comms immediately," she said, her voice crisp and professional. "If you'd like, I could personally guide you to each location."

Ali's masked face turned toward her, and his voice cut through her enthusiasm like a blade. "You're not coming with me. You'll take care of these three for today. I'm going out on my own."

Lena's eyes widened slightly, and she began to protest. "But—"

A sudden gust of air slammed into her face, sending her blonde hair whipping backward. She froze, startled by the wave of power emanating from the Sith apprentice.

"You do not talk back to me," Ali said, his voice sharp and cold. "Is that understood?"

Lena nodded quickly, her heart racing as she tried to steady her breathing. Her father, experienced in dealing with Sith, remained composed and didn't intervene.

Ali turned to leave, Drogath moving to clear a path. But before Ali could step out, Commander Dran's voice stopped him. "Excuse me," the commander said. "Could I have a word with you, Ali?"

Ali paused and glanced at Drogath, giving him a silent signal. Understanding the unspoken command, Drogath led the others out of the room. Lena followed reluctantly, closing the door behind her.

"What is it, Commander?" Ali asked, his tone devoid of patience as he faced the older man.

Dran hesitated for a moment before speaking. "You see, Ali, here in the capital of Tartek, we have a way of doing things—a balance, an ecosystem where everyone lives in peace. It's this order that has kept the city stable for so long."

Ali's eyes narrowed beneath the mask. "Say what you want to say, Commander," he demanded coldly.

Dran exhaled deeply before continuing. "I only hope your mission here does not disrupt the workings of the city. The peace we have built is fragile."

Ali's silence stretched for a moment before he responded. "Rest assured, Commander. I am here to fulfil my mission and leave. Nothing more."

Dran's tense shoulders relaxed slightly at Ali's words. But as Ali turned toward the door, his hand rested on the handle, gripping it tightly. He paused, glancing over his shoulder at the commander. "Of course," he said, his voice suddenly laced with mockery, "if anything stands in the way of the council's goals…"

CRACK.

The wooden handle of the door splintered in Ali's grasp, disintegrating into dust that fell from his open palm.

"Pleased to meet you, Commander," Ali said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. With a flick of his wrist, the door opened through the Force, and he walked out, leaving Dran standing alone in the room, his expression sour.

Outside, Drogath, Lena, Reka, and the nurse waited in tense silence. They fell in step behind Ali as he strode down the corridor.

"Lena," Ali called.

"Yes?" she responded, trying to mask her nervousness.

"I need a change of clothes. Something more casual. If I walk through the city like this, I'll attract too much attention."

"Of course, sir. I can have that arranged," Lena said quickly.

Ali glanced at Drogath. "You should stay here with Reka and rest. If you want, you can tour the city. But be careful."

Drogath grunted in agreement, while Reka beamed with excitement at the prospect of exploring the capital.

Lena led them to a room stocked with clothing options. Ali stopped outside the room, deactivating his mask and catching it in his hand as it fell away from his face.

The three women stared, their cheeks flushing as they saw his devilishly handsome face for the first time.

"Wow…" Reka murmured softly, her voice filled with awe as she gazed at Ali, his image of scary apprentice turning to prince of her dreams.

Ali, unfazed by their reactions as he's used to it, tossed the mask to Drogath, who caught it with ease. "Hold this for me," Ali instructed.

Drogath nodded as Ali disappeared into the room to change.

Minutes later Lena knocked on the door of the room but didn't get a response as she opened the door to find the room empty and Ali nowhere to be seen.

Outside the Imperial hangar, a tall, muscular man in a tailored grey suit strolled casually through the streets of Tartek's capital. His crisp white shirt and spotless white shoes gleamed under the sunlight, while dark sunglasses shielded his eyes from the glare.

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