Blaster fire erupted immediately from within the building, forcing Vernestra to dive to the side to avoid being hit. She twisted the bezel on her lightsaber and spun the violet whip around her, using it to protect herself from the blaster fire. Her vision filled with a purple light, and the scent of ozone filled her nose from the blaster bolts the lightsaber managed to repulse.

Vernestra began to make her slow way into the building, the blaster fire still heavy. If she moved too quickly, she risked hitting herself with the blade. It had taken her months to realize that the whip required an additional level of control within the Force to be used effectively, and luckily her time on Ibbe had given her everything she needed to be proficient with the weapon.

But she was still in no rush to see just who was shooting at her so mercilessly.

Vernestra entered the room, and the blaster fire immediately stopped. She didn’t lower her lightwhip, though, keeping the arc of the flexible blade moving, her other hand held out before her. But then she lowered her hand and flicked the whip up, a huge smile breaking across her face as she twisted the bezel and powered down the weapon.

“Do you always make it a habit to shoot first?” Vernestra asked. J-6, Avon’s former nanny droid, stood in the middle of the droid shop, holding a blaster in each hand. She also had several blasters held in mechanical arms that had sprung from her chest. Vernestra wasn’t sure if that was a modification Avon had implemented or something the droid had done herself, but she was definitely carrying enough blasters for a small army.



Star Wars The High Republic Defy the Storm Chapter 24