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[ He shakes his head. ]

Don't know. This thing should be crawling with personnel. [ They're never empty. He's never seen one empty. ] If everyone's in the hangar waiting for us, would you rather die first or second? Because I'm pretty sure that's the only way that ends.

[ If you're salty in your dreams, you're salty for real.

Somewhere behind them, not directly but near enough to be clear, a series of painstakingly deliberate metallic thumps start rolling out, like one set of heavy, metallic footsteps.

Finn absolutely starts going faster. Hello dread his old friend. ]

Walk like you've got somewhere to be. Don't look.

I am not dying on some shitty boring-ass spaceship.

[Just to make that clear. Optimism isn't exactly Taako's whole jam, but he knows he's good and if he can defeat the Hunger, surely he can handle whatever the hell is going on here.

Still, he can follow instructions when given, releasing Finn's hand on the assumption that it'd look out of place, and then straightens up and fixes his gaze ahead. He hadn't paid a whole lot of attention to his outfit until now, but he's wearing the same black clothes as Finn.

And that's the real nightmare.]

If we get made, it'll take me a couple seconds to get a spell off so try to keep 'em busy for that long, yeah?

[ Finn will never in his life deny that this is a boring-ass spaceship. Never. It's one of the most potent truths of the First Order.

He doesn't stop to think it's strange that they're not in armor, just accepts it in stride. Something they're supposed to be, maybe. They are what they are. They have what they have. ]

I can manage.

[ The corridors get darker. The turns get sharper, more sudden. They look strangely warped, sometimes, metal that bends as if it started to melt in the heat. There's sand again once in a while, trickling down from the ceiling in fine lines, kicking up beneath their shoes as they walk.

The footsteps behind them don't stop.

Finn stays straight-backed, stern-faced, tells himself he can't look, either.

The hangar doesn't seem to be on the near horizon. He wonders if this is a star destroyer. He wonders if they've been doing loops in a simulation room. Mostly he tries not to think about it. ]

[It's the sand that finally makes Taako realize something isn't entirely right about this situation. He might not be an expert in spaceships, but he can't imagine that sand coming down from the ceiling is the sort of thing that happens without a reason.]

I think we should start running, my man.

[His voice is dropped to a whisper, but it still feels too loud, echoing around the corridor. This is bad, he doesn't want to be here any more.]

[ It's kind of a mixed bag, yeah. Finn's more on the "shit I guess that's just happening" track than anything else in particular right now. ]

Weren't you the one talking about 'getting made'?

[ The thing is, he's sure not disagreeing in practice here. At this point, there has to be anywhere to end up that's not one of these corridors. ]

Something is super not right, you know it, I know it, everyone else probably knows it cause they're fucking in on it. I don't think uh, playing it safe is gonna help us out much anymore.

[They're not supposed to be here and whoever's in charge of this place has to know, it would explain the stillness except for those relentless footsteps. It feels a little like they're a wounded animal being slowly tracked down. There's no need for whoever's hunting them to rush, not when they're trapped.]

I almost hate that you have a point.

[ Because Taako really does seem to have a way of making good points.

But you know what? Fine. Something is wrong here. He doesn't know what. It's a dread that lives in a corner of himself, that he's used to carrying, a spark carefully cultivated into a wildfire.

Finn reaches for Taako's hand again, half for the reassurance that it's there, half with the intention of making sure they don't get separated.

The corridor jerks to one side beneath their feet, settles back into place, almost like it's just proving that it can. Enough to force their steps to falter, and that moment is all it takes for a voice to drift up to them-- female, accented, carefully mechanically modulated.

"FN-2187."

It can only be described as a command. Finn freezes where he stands for a moment.

"I sense hesitation."

And just like that, he has no issue whatsoever in adjusting his grip on Taako and trying to break into a flat sprint.

Which he thinks would be a great attitude adjustment, if that voice weren't all it took to make him realize that they probably won't make it out of here. ]

[Taako has a lot of skills, it's a result of a fairly long life where he's only had himself and Lup to rely on, not to mention all the assorted experiences he's managed to wrack up with the IPRE, but at the end of the day he's really not a runner. Especially not when it's been a good 11 months since training at the Bureau.

So he's doing his best to keep up with Finn, but there's likely to be a noticeable drag on where their hands are clasped. He could use a spell to speed himself up, but those always come with a downside after and he's not sure if it's worth the risk.

Instead, he half-shouts at Finn:]

You're cool if I fireball this asshole, right? I'm gonna assume there's no love lost here.

[A little part of him makes the connection, between the address the woman used and Finn, it's just that things like names are the last of his concerns right now.]

[ He's gotten so used to taking for granted that the people with him will run fast. This was probably inevitable. Finn slows to match Taako's pace better, once it actually registers. Obviously letting him fall back isn't an option, doesn't even merit entertaining. It'll be an easier time planning if Finn isn't trying to pull his arm off, anyway. ]

Fireball?

[ Finn assumes that the name is self-explanatory. And the thing is, blasters don't take well to Phasma's armor, as easily as they'll get through standard stormtrooper armor. If it's not strong enough, it bounces off as harmless as anything.

A fireball is definitely not a blaster bolt. And that armor is solid metal. Solid, easy-to-heat metal.

And Taako is, by all his own claims, a "dope ass wizard."

He's maybe never had a moment of such fierce and fervent hope with Captain Phasma in any sort of near vicinity. Impulse control? Never met it. Trash compacter? A pittance that apparently didn't even take.

Fireball. ]

Yeah. Torch her. I won't care.

[ If it works and/or they survive, then Hygge truly has nothing on gifts anymore. This is all he's gonna tweet about, he's wanted this for months now. ]

[You know what? He said fireball and that was on him, but he's actually going to go a slightly different route here after a second of consideration, because they're in a hallway that goes back fuck knows how far and he really doesn't want to miss.

Taako stops, turns, and casts wall of fire instead, at the highest level he can.

Twenty feet wide is more than enough to fill up the hall, and this way it stretches back sixty feet behind them which is surely enough to catch any assholes following them. The heat of it is oppressive, but that's a sacrifice he's willing to make.]

We've got a minute before it dies down. Let's uh, let's make that shit count.

[ This is still more than acceptable. Like, if that's not good enough, he'll buy a hat and throw it to the ground.

In other news: holy shit? Finn has to take a second to just kind of... admire this. He can't not. That absolutely counts as torching someone. And he doesn't know anything about levels or spells or wizards or anything, really, but he knows a huge deal when he watches it.

Phasma remains, in some corners of his mind, an untouchable figure-- always composed, always in control, something to answer to, something to fear, something infallible and not human. He's known her his whole life, more or less, and she cultivates her image exactly as she likes it. Part of him still says, she's absolutely not dead even after that. She'll always be back there following him.

But it's worth watching fire completely decimate this stretch of corridor and picturing it. The thing is, it helps. The tightness in his chest eases, even if just a little. In spite of everything, Finn's face splits into a momentary grin. ]

-- yeah. Right.

[ He got out once. Twice, sort of, if barely surviving Starkiller counts. Phasma or no Phasma. Finn starts moving. ]

We'll find a door. [ Finding it matters more than outpacing what's behind them. ] We're gonna do this.

[ Whatever's on the other side of any door they find can't be worse than this, he thinks. Even if it's not a hangar, a ship. That matters. ]

Already told ya that.

[Did he? Maybe not in so many words, but Taako's able to conjure up some false bluster when he needs it, especially if it's a shitty situation that he doesn't want to get stuck in.

Hence: door.

Taako watches the fire for a second longer, wishing Lup were here, before he jogs to catch up with Finn, keeping a careful eye on the corridor in front of them just in case someone else turns up and he needs to throw a spell at them. Luckily, he doesn't need to have worried, because the next thing they find is a door, not a person.]

Okay, let's do this thing.

[Carefully, at least! He eases open the door, listening for the telltale sound of people, but it's silent and he can't see anyone on the other side, so he tentatively makes his way into the room. It's dark and it isn't until the door closes behind them that Taako realizes it's more than just dark. The air is filled with black smoke.]

Nope, nuh-uh, this isn't fucking possible, I'm not doing this shit again.

[More black smoke pours out of Taako's mouth to join the rest of it, as the smoke shifts and solidifies into constructs. Lights shine down from the ceiling to illuminate the wheel that takes up the center of the room.]

Welcome back, Taako, we've missed you soooo much. And look! You've even brought us a friend.

[Lydia and Edward speak in unison, from wherever they are, and Taako casts a panicked glance at Finn, unsure what to do next.]

[ Well. Black smoke? Unfamiliar surroundings? Huge wheel, disembodied voices? Bad. The way Taako looks over at him is possibly the worst thing of all. The triumph of getting out of that ship in one piece slides away as easily as it slid into place. Dread comes roaring back.

That said, it's a dread far less personalized to Finn. His impulsive nature leans more to fight than flight when it's not about him, so he'll reflexively try to get himself a step out in front of Taako. ]

Joke's on them, [ he says sidelong. ] I'm picky about friends.

[ He just has a record of really strong first-five-minute impressions is all. So what if it's all lined up. ]

[It's a sweet gesture, very Magnus, but ultimately pointless when there's no one to fight, not in this room. Maybe if it was the monster factory, or the boss rush, but it's just the fucking wheel.

One of the liches chuckles (Edward? Lydia? it's hard to tell) as two lights briefly flash above the wheel before going dark, indicating they have to take two spins.]

That's all well and good, dear, but you still have to play the game.

[Taako is trying to tell himself not to be scared, most of what he lost in Wonderland wasn't a big deal, it's fine, he just has to get lucky.

To Finn, he explains:]

You gotta spin the wheel to get out. Whatever symbol it lands on, they'll take something from you. Like an eye, a memory, time. It's uh, it's pretty fucked up! But it's the only way to get through, so... you wanna do this thing first or will I?

They'll take something. [ Not quite a question, not quite a statement. He takes a moment to orient himself to this setup. Spin the wheel, lose something (inevitably), get out.

It's hard to say that's not possible. He just watched Taako incinerate a full-length corridor on a star destroyer. Magic. Wizards. ]

First or second really doesn't matter when you don't have a choice, Taako. [ Which is an easy enough mentality to slip into, still. Thanks for contributing to the black smoke problem, Finn.

What's the point of it? How does this happen? If he spins, does whatever it stops at get crossed off of Taako's options list?

(If he asked, would there be any actual answer he was satisfied with or would it only make things worse?) ]

You're still okay if I go up, right? The only thing to worry about in here is-- that?

[ Finn gestures towards the wheel and tries not to think about how there's an actual picture of an eye on one of the sections. (Unsuccessfully.) Leaving people behind isn't his favorite pastime. Least of all someone who may or may not have seriously put a dent in Phasma's helmet. ]

[Giving more power to the liches is low on Taako's list of concerns at the moment. This isn't like going through with Magnus and Merle, where they had a goal and each other and just had to survive long enough to get through it, because Finn is great, sure, but Taako doesn't know how well he's going to handle a monster fight.

So they need to get out ASAP, and he just seems to know that a spin of the wheel is what they need to do.]

We're not gonna get fucked up by a dragon or whatever. They're fucking evil liches bent on making you suffer but they follow their own rules, you know? [And then he needs to sort of address the peanut gallery:] Shit rules, bee-tee-dubs, fuck both of you, I hope Kravitz locks you in ghost prison for-fucking-ever.

[There's so much smoke coming out of his mouth oh boy.]

[ There's so little he understands about most of that. Genuinely. Just... a complete lack of context. But he gets enough to muddle through. Enough to understand what the immediate next step is, anyway.

Finn's made do with less.

And Taako does sound positive that leaving him won't be leaving him to the metaphorical rancor pit. ]

Okay. Let's get this over with.

[ Off he marches to the wheel of general misfortune. They can do this. He can do this. Spin the big wheel, get back to-- home? The Quarantine? Just about anywhere that's not here, he'll take it.

Finn wishes he had a blaster and could just shoot these liches though. If only technology were up to that level yet. ]

[The wheel spins, colors and symbols blurring together until it finally slows to show the number at the top: twelve o'clock, followed by the sound of a bell striking the hour.

Taako only has a second to realize that isn't right, before the ground cracks beneath them with the scream of an angry purple worm and he closes his eyes instead, preparing for the breaking-burning-dying feeling that usually accompanies this particular situation.

Except it doesn't come. When he opens his eyes there are two things he sees, the first is Finn falling beside him, the second is that rather than the earth below Refuge, they're falling through a very familiar black ink, shot through with blues, greens, and reds.]

Finn! Fuck-- this is-- [Can he cast levitate in here? He's not sure, but he wants to try, he just has to get to Finn first.] Try to fall towards me?

[This is bad.]

[ His broad assumption is that this is still somehow wheel-related. And he hates it. Not to make light of the very legitimate fear and dread infused into every single aspect of this situation and him as a person. Just as a statement of fact.

Finn hates whatever is happening. ]

This is getting really out of hand!

[ Like he can even talk. I mean, he's definitely going to try to fall more... towards Taako. At this point, it seems like a fair request to answer. ]

[This is getting really out of hand, now that Finn mentions it. Because they defeated the liches, they fixed Refuge, why is this shit happening? And how did the Hunger even get here.

Oh.]

This isn't real.

[Taako stops trying to reach Finn, because he's too busy trying to right himself, as if somehow that will help with this nonsense.]

Fuck's sake, are we dreaming?

What?! Of course not!

[ That's ridiculous. Why would he dream about someone who's never set foot in his galaxy turning up in his galaxy and torching Phasma and then spinning a big wheel and falling into the abyss.

Although.

When it lines up like that, it's admittedly an idea. Sort of a suddenly trying to think through metaphorical syrup idea. Worst and most confusing life experience for 600. Finn frowns, looks down at his own hands. ]

Are we?

[Most people might have a moment of wondering how someone else is in their dream, but Taako skips that stage because he's done this before. It started out being aware that it was a dream, sure, but the constant shifting through nightmarescapes isn't entirely new.]

I mean, none of this shit makes sense. We killed those fucking liches and the Hunger so how the fuck are they here? And how did we even get to that fucking ship in the first place?

[ Finn, for starters, half-assumes on some level that if this is a dream, maybe his brain is also just throwing Taako in for added flavor or something. Dreams don't always make sense.

The second point of thought, he goes ahead and vocalizes. ]

I don't understand half of what you just said. [ But the ship, the ship was... unusual as hell. Attached to a negotiation room from deep in the belly of a mining colony.

There's still sand under his fingernails. ]

At this point we're lucky if it is one, right?

[ How does one yeet oneself awake. The real mood of the year. ]

I've done falling to death and uh, if there's an option that doesn't end in that I'm gonna take it.

[Of all the other dreams he's had like this, Taako wasn't able to force himself awake so he's not assuming it's going to happen now. They'll just have to wait it out.]

[ New mood: uhhhhhhh what the fuck. ]

You've "done" falling to death?!

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