FN-3043 and FN-1217 entered a vast courtyard that was utterly breathtaking at first glance. There was a stained glass ceiling sitting fifty-feet above them, a beautiful marble water fountain, 30-foot long paintings of archaic queens of Naboo hung on the walls, but all of this was tarnished by the display of carnage that was transpiring before them. They hurriedly found cover behind a pair of fancy columns and exchanged fire with adversaries in the courtyard as they located and trailed the Supreme Leader’s path of destruction. The battle surrounding them was expectedly intense but remaining in Kylo’s presence meant there was less danger, for wherever he stepped enemies disappeared beneath his saber.

Kylo Ren abruptly altered his path of direction and turned into a dark doorway.

3043’s eyebrows rose beneath his helmet. There was something going on. He waved for Seventeen to follow him. As he reached the same doorway he suddenly felt a rush of dread.

He was a stormtrooper. There were certain rules you followed as one of the First Order’s soldiers. The number one rule was to never bother superiors. Especially someone as important as Supreme Leader Kylo Ren. But 3043 was curious and that meant he was about to break that most important rule.

Seventeen looked at him. “If you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking,” he nudged 3043 hard in the shoulder, “are you out of your mind?!”

“I want to know what he’s doing,” 3043 responded.

Seventeen waved an arm in exasperation. “Don’t we all?”

An explosion resounded behind them.

“Look, Double-Three. We’re stormtroopers. We need to join the squadron like obedient soldiers and pretend we never saw the Supreme Leader go this door.”

3043 knew Seventeen was right but something was preventing from him making the logical choice. He didn’t know why but he didn’t want to play by the rules. He was greater than an average stormtrooper. He even liked to imagine one day he would have ranked high in the First Order like Captain Phasma or Commander Pyre. Wouldn’t the chrome-armored captain have followed Kylo Ren through this doorway?

“What do you think you’ll find through here anyway?” FN-1217 asked, inclining his head toward the doorway.

FN-3043 turned to him.

“I don’t know but I intend to find out.”

Suddenly an X-Wing and TIE fighter crashed through the glass ceiling.

3043 sighed. “Not again.”

He and FN-1217 fell to the ground as the two ships plummeted to the courtyard floor, imploding into two fiery explosions. Statues tumbled and stormtroopers and rebels alike were sent scattering.

As crumbling dropped from the ceiling to crush FN-3043 and 1217 they were forced to jump into the doorway. The large pile of rubble fell in front of the doorway blocked their access back into the courtyard.

3043 rose to his feet, helping 1217 to his feet. “Well, I guess we’re going to have to go this way.”

Seventeen shook his head.

“We’re going to get in so much trouble.”