The morning sun bathed the hidden market in a warm, golden light, filling its narrow streets with a vibrant explosion of color. Crimson and sapphire silk banners danced in the breeze, while neon signs flickered like trapped stars overhead. The air was thick with the enticing scents of spiced tea and hot street food. As Ezra navigated through the bustling crowd, he kept his bandaged arm concealed beneath a borrowed gray jacket that scratched uncomfortably against his skin. He had slipped away from the safe house just as dawn broke after a night of restless tossing and turning. His boots scraped against the ancient cobblestones, and the unopened data pad in his pocket felt like a heavy weight. Guilt churned in his stomach—how could he face Kael after almost betraying him? Losing his comms in the alley had left him isolated, too embarrassed to ask for help.
Suddenly, a woman caught his attention. Her silver hair gleamed like spun moonlight, and her cape shimmered with iridescent threads. Her stall was a treasure chest of odd tech relics, filled with sparkling crystals and rusty gadgets. "I know you,besides you seem to be running from someone or something," she said gently, sliding a cracked holo-crystal towards him, its surface shimmering with secrets. Ezra's heart raced with a flicker of hope, but the moment was interrupted by a sharp whine—the sound of Veyra's sleek drone hovering above, its laser light shining ominously. He quickly ducked behind a stall overflowing with vibrant oranges, the warmth of the crystal in his hand providing a strange comfort even as the drone scanned the area.
Meanwhile, Kael was pacing his office, the harsh morning light highlighting the worry etched on his face as holo-screens buzzed with chaotic information. Since parting ways with Ezra, he had been grappling with the empire's disintegration—deals falling through, staff in turmoil. His thoughts drifted to Veyra's technology and the unease surrounding Ezra's absence nagged at him like a dull ache, but a sudden sabotage alert snapped his attention back, and he began drumming an anxious rhythm on the desk.