Beginning, Previous Section, Section IV, Section V
Part Twenty
Posted on Friday, 27 August 1999
Wickham hummed to himself as he sat in the cockpit of the Serpent. It wasn't long now, before he would exit hyperspace and arrive at Nicira.
He had quite enjoyed this trip. Gianna had been relatively co-operative, unlike some of the other merchandise he had captured before. Apart from several crying and screaming sessions, she had been very quiet.
Wickham flexed his right arm experimentally. No lasting signs of pain at all. The medical facilities on his ship had been more than adequate to fixing his wounded shoulder, and now, except for a slight scar that would soon disappear, it was as good as new.
The chrono on the wall pinged. It was time for Wickham to feed the prisoner.
The green-skinned alien gracefully arose off his seat, and, taking a tray of processed food, proceeded to the cabin where Gianna was kept.
With a mocking parody of gentlemen-like behaviour, Wickham knocked on the door, perfectly aware that Gianna could not open it. Pretending to be insulted when there was no answer, he opened it himself.
"And how does the evening find you, my dear?" he asked the prisoner. Gianna was currently seated on the bunk, hair hanging limply over her eyes that were red from crying. She did not answer but looked at him fearfully.
"I am sorry I cannot afford to give you more . . . lavish accommodations, but I see you have made do quite well." He placed the tray of food on the bench beside the door, which remained open. Keeping his blaster nearby (not that he expected much resistance from Gianna but it never hurt to be prepared), he sat down on a metal chair between the bunk and the door.
Neither spoke. Wickham lounged casually on the chair and twirled his blaster.
"I am sorry to say that our trip together is almost at an end. In a few hours we shall have arrived at our destination and then we must part. My employer looks forward to your company with great pleasure," he said pleasantly.
Gianna looked at him, then at the open door. She mentally calculated the probabilities of successfully getting out of the room before Wickham could draw his blaster and stun her. The result was very low, so she remained where she sat.
"I must confess I am quite curious as to how a pretty thing like you warrants such a high bounty of twenty thousand credits. What on earth did you do to Lady Katrin, I cannot imagine."
"Lady Katrin? Who is she?" whispered Gianna.
"Don't you know?" asked Wickham with mild surprise.
"No."
"Well, I suppose it would do no harm to enlighten you, since you are going to meet her anyway," said Wickham, yawning. "I inferred from the information she gave me she wants your expertise on a certain project she is working on. Lady Katrin and her daughter M'Ann are quite charming ladies, as you will see."
"What project?" said Gianna.
"I have no idea. I am providing a service, my dear, and one does not ask questions of one's employer."
"Where are you taking me?"
"To Nicira and Lady Katrin. I would have thought that obvious. You aren't as clever as I thought a weapons scientist would be."
Gianna made no response, though her cheeks were flushed with shame.
Wickham got up off his chair and advanced on his helpless victim, who shrank away into the darkness of the bunk.
"I provide . . . other . . . services too," he whispered, bringing his handsome face closer to hers. "I promise I won't hurt you. You are quite valuable alive and unharmed. You might even find the experience . . . pleasant . . ."
Bringing the full strength of his pheromones to bear, Wickham leaned forward and kissed her.
Gianna at first found herself enjoying the experience. She melted into his cold embrace and did not resist when Wickham pushed her down. But the dry, sensible, scientific part of her mind protested indignantly. Indignantly, loudly, and when Wickham reached for the clasps of her clothes, violently.
Wickham found his face being stabbed by long fingernails that dug deep and painfully. He screamed, more with anger and annoyance than pain, and tried to draw back. But as he did so, the skin of his face began to literally, pull away.
Gianna was so shocked and startled she withdrew her fingers and gasped. Wickham's face seemed . . . lopsided. His dark eyes flared at her and he spun around, hands moving swiftly as if he was . . . readjusting his face.
The entire incident lasted only a few seconds. Wickham took several shallow gasps as he fixed a smoldering gaze on her. Gianna met it without flinching, and stared at him defiantly. She had clawed his face. She had hurt him.
Gianna felt very, very good.
They remained in this contest of wills for some time. Suddenly, Wickham hissed,
"Soft little female, if it wasn't for the fact that you are worth twenty thousand, I would rip out your heart and throw you out into cold vacuum!"
"But, unfortunately, I am worth twenty thousand so you can't do anything to me," replied Gianna sweetly.
Wickham snarled and in a fit of anger, drew his blaster and shot the dinner tray. It flash-melted in a second, the food becoming totally inedible. Without looking at his handiwork, Wickham spun on his heel and stormed out of the room, slamming and locking the door behind him.
As soon as he was gone, Gianna sat down on the bunk and cried for several minutes. When she had no tears left, she lay down and stared at the blackened, melted mess on the bench.
She hadn't been hungry anyway.
Nicira. An out of the way planet on the Outer Rim of the galaxy that no one knew about. It was no planet Gianna had ever heard of, and it wasn't much to look at either.
They landed on the eastern coast of the largest continent. From their approach, Gianna could see a large landing platform, with a large hangar to one side. There were a few TIE fighters visible just inside, and several AT-AT's patrolling the perimeter of the compound.
She paused at the foot of the boarding ramp, taking one moment to check out her surroundings. Wild jungle crept around the outside of a sterile building just in front of her, the border between the facility and jungle blackened and burned. Strange creatures called to each other in the depths of the green unknown.
"Keep walking," ordered Wickham, jabbing his blaster into her back. Gianna obeyed, fear creeping up her spine as a unit of stormtroopers came out of the building behind an imposing woman with black, slightly graying hair and steel gray eyes. To the lady's right and just behind, was another woman, a younger, more beautiful and deadly version of the first woman. Both were dressed in black, in sharp contrast to the white uniforms of the stormtroopers.
Gianna heard Wickham draw a sharp breath behind her, as if he was shocked about something. She turned slightly to see Wickham's face looking slightly pinched. His black eyes were fixed on the blocky Imperial crest emblazoned on the woman's breast.
"Greetings, Wickham," said the older woman. "I see you have been successful."
After a short pause, Wickham replied in an icy voice. "Lady Katrin. What a . . . pleasant surprise."
The woman called Lady Katrin smiled thinly. "My escort shall take you and Scientist Drax inside, where we shall discuss the terms of your payment."
The presence of the stormtrooper escort, led by the lithe figure of the younger woman made it clear that a refusal was not an option.
Gianna was immediately taken to a detention cell. As soon as Wickham, Lady Katrin and M'Ann were alone, Wickham turned upon the ones who had deceived him.
"Would you mind explaining to me what the hell is going on?" he said, hand twitching near his blaster.
M'Ann saw this and casually dropped her hand to rest it on her own blaster with a meaningful look at Wickham.
Wickham took the hint and moved his hand away.
"Why so surprised, Wickham?" said Lady Katrin smoothly. "I would have thought it was obvious that we were from the Empire."
"I do not work for the Empire!"
"But you just have."
Wickham seethed at how he had been tricked. "You will not get away with this!"
Lady Katrin yawned, as if the threat was beneath her notice. "But this does not mean that your services shall not go unrewarded."
Wickham froze and looked warily at Lady Katrin.
"Why should I trust you?"
Lady Katrin gestured for her daughter to come forward. M'Ann, still keeping her hand on her blaster advanced on Wickham and handed him a sheaf of untraceable credit chits. It was rather thinner than Wickham had expected. Much thinner, in fact.
Nevertheless, he took it gingerly, as if expecting it to explode at his touch. Watching the two Imperial women carefully, he counted it. When he had finished, he looked up and stared at Lady Katrin.
"Two thousand," he said slowly. "Two thousand?!"
"You forgot one agreement about this bounty, Wickham," said Lady Katrin in a hard voice. "The two week time limit."
Wickham froze.
"Do you know how late your delivery is?" asked Lady Katrin. "Five months."
Wickham flicked his gaze from Lady Katrin to M'Ann. He did not speak.
"Now, bounty hunter, was there something wrong with your payment?" asked Lady Katrin menacingly.
Wickham stared at her for a long time. He was painfully aware of M'Ann standing about a meter from him, hand ready by her blaster.
There was nothing he could do.
"No, madam," he said through clenched teeth. "Nothing at all."
"Good," said Lady Katrin, smiling. "M'Ann, see that a detachment of stormtroopers escorts Mr. Wickham to his ship."
"Of course, mother."
M'Ann spoke into a comlink and within a few seconds, two stormtroopers entered and flanked Wickham. More stormtroopers stood outside the room.
Trying to retain as much of his dignity as possible, Wickham bowed stiffly. Lady Katrin nodded in acknowledgement and without another word, Wickham left the room, with two thousand credits . . . and his life.
Soon, the Serpent was burning Nicirian space and headed on its way to the rest of the galaxy.
Space is vacuum. Therefore, no one could hear Wickham's screams of anger and frustration.
He had been tricked. Tricked into working for the Empire who had destroyed his planet, destroyed his family - nearly destroyed his life. And to top it all off, he had only two thousand used credit chits.
Two thousand. Nowhere near enough to pay for the very expensive surgery he wanted so badly.
He stared at his reflection in the mirror. Already the bio-mask was beginning to break down, and he had forgotten to bring the revitalizing unit that he had been given so long ago.
His time was running out. He needed money - and quickly.
Wickham activated his shipboard computer and searched the databases for more bounty hunter cases. There were many, including a very high bounty for a Captain Solo who had already been captured by Boba Fett, so the update said.
Down the list, down, down to the smaller cases.
There was one that caught his eye though. It caught his eye because it was a very easy case for him, but had relatively high returns. Easy, because he knew who and how to get the 'merchandise'.
Wickham smiled and set his course for the New Cov system, which was rumored to have a high Rebel presence.
The first part of the business was over. Now, Lady Katrin and M'Ann turned their attention to the 'merchandise', better known as Weapons Scientist Gianna Drax.
The cell door opened and its lone occupant jumped up at the entrance of the two women. Dressed in the same pale white clothes Gianna had worn when last on Nar Shaddaa, she looked very vulnerable and she cringed away from the black-uniformed Imperials.
M'Ann shut the door behind her and stood beside her mother in the glaring white light of the gray cell. She looked with distaste at the weak scientist who cringed before them.
"Scientist Drax," said Lady Katrin. The Omwat alien girl shrank away and stared at Lady Katrin with large scared violet eyes. Lady Katrin smiled at the girl's fear.
"We need you to continue your work on the Death Star laser."
M'Ann thought it was impossible for the alien to looked more frightened than she was already.
She was wrong.
Part Twenty-One
"Nice," commented Wills, taking a step back to get a better look at the ship. "What's she called?"
Sharl and Myra nudged each other and shared a secret smile, before also turning their heads to look at their ship. It was similar to the Fire Dancer in size but there was little else in common. Where the Dancer looked good as well as it was functional and equipped, this ship was gray and utilitarian. Dagger like in shape but with a stumpy blade, its landing ramp was open to reveal an interior as practical as the outside. There was nothing superfluous about this ship - everything that it had had a use and there was little or no decoration.
"Askme Cozino," said Sharl, her smile broadening.
Wills frowned at their answer. "I know you know, that's why I'm asking you."
"Askme Cozino," repeated Myra.
Wills didn't get it. There were footsteps behind him and he turned to see Lizzi, dressed in her blue flight suit she had worn on the trip to Nar Shaddaa. She smiled slightly but there was little humour behind it.
"Told you the idiot wouldn't get it," she said, dumping her bag on the floor next to the ship's ramp. "You owe me fifty credits."
Sharl swore and dug in her pocket. Drawing out a few credit chits, she gave them to Lizzi. Without even bothering to check the amount, Lizzi raised an eyebrow at her smuggler friend. Sharl swore again and grudgingly handed Lizzi the right amount.
Wills finally got it. He glared at Lizzi who glared right back. "Alright, you've had your fun at my expense," he growled. "Are we finally ready to leave?"
Myra had tentatively found the location for the planet Nicira, where Wickham was supposed to be taking Gianna. After some debate, they had decided to take the Lukas sister's ship, the Askme Cozino not wanting to take any chances in case Wickham had the Fire Dancer tagged and identified.
Knowing that Nicira was more than likely to be an Imperial planet, the rescue team of Lizzi, Wills, Sharl and Myra had decided to use the cover of being an independent freighter bringing in a cargo of raw materials. Hopefully that would give them enough time to get in, get Gianna, and get out. Without being caught, of course.
Wills looked over the rescue team. A slicer, two smugglers who were adept at flying ships and using their blasters and himself, a former Imperial turned Rebel fighter pilot. All about to walk into an Imperial facility, probably heavily guarded, protected and not likely to be overly friendly to Rebel intruders.
The slicer and one of the smugglers he could stand.
Lizzi on the other hand, he both loved and hated.
This ought to be interesting.
The three women nodded determinedly.
"Let's go then."
Some hours later they were speeding through the galaxy at the speed of light, to a little planet no one had ever heard of before. There wasn't really any time in hyperspace, but on the Cozino, it was just after dinner.
The trip was going to take about a standard week and a half, and already Sharl was beginning to think that before three standard days had passed, Lizzi and Wills were going to kill each other. They had tried not to antagonize each other. Tried was the key word.
Every little thing they said was something to irritate or bait the other. Each fight and disagreement between the two got progressively worse, more spiteful, loud, and now and then, violent.
Sharl should have seen it coming. From what little she had seen of Lizzi and Wills' relationship, it was never on the best terms. Gianna's kidnap had only added fuel to the fire. But she did think that after talking to Lizzi whilst Wills and Myra had been checking out Wickham's lair, Lizzi would act, well, a bit friendlier towards Wills. Then again, Lizzi hadn't at all believed her when Sharl told Lizzi that Wills might not be so unkindly disposed towards Lizzi than she thought.
After two days of fight and arguments between the two, it was during a game of sabaac that the final explosion came.
A deck of sabaac cards was the one of the few entertainments Sharl kept on her ship. Out of boredom (and because Sharl had forced her away from her beloved computers), Myra had challenged Lizzi and Wills to a sabaac game. Both had agreed and played amicably enough, though Sharl was tense, waiting for something to happen. Ten games later, Wills had won nine. Myra had won one. Lizzi had won none.
"I can't believe you are so lucky," growled Lizzi to Wills.
"Pure skill, Liz," yawned Wills, lying back in his chair while Myra randomized the cards. "I'll teach you if you'll be nice. Wait a moment. Nice isn't in your vocabulary."
Lizzi sneered. "Why would I want to learn how to cheat from you, anyway?"
At that accusation, Wills froze and leaned forward to face Lizzi across the table. "Are you calling me a cheater?" he said dangerously.
Lizzi rose up till her face was inches away from his. "Cheater. Slime crawler. Hutt tail-licker."
Myra, seated between the two, flicked her eyes nervously between them, as Wills turned white with anger and Lizzi dropped her voice until it was dripping with contempt.
"Tiqcs carrier. Wermo," said Lizzi in Huttese. Even if Wills couldn't understand, he got the general context. His face was pinched with barely controlled anger.
"Stop it, Lizzi," commanded Sharl.
"A smuggler bought a nek as a pet, but it was so stupid it kept running into walls. Guess what he named it," asked Lizzi, never taking her stare off Wills. "Wills." She grinned maliciously. "Couldn't think of a stupider name."
The human Wills was about to lose his temper, Sharl could see that.
"Why is the Empire going to fall?" said Lizzi. "Cause it's led by the Emperor. A failure, just like you."
At that, Wills broke.
"What is your kriffing problem, Lizzi!" he yelled. "Sithspawn, why do you insist on doing this to me?"
"Because I can't stand you!"
"Glad to know the feeling's mutual!"
"You have absolutely no respect for orders or authority! You don't think about anyone except yourself!"
"You think you're so clever you won't admit when you're wrong until it's too late! You based your entire opinion of me on one incident and now you won't let me get to know you better, egotistical piece of rancor spit!"
"Look who's talking! You're so arrogant you think you don't need anyone!"
"Low life pirate!"
"Back stabbing Imperial!"
"At least I don't go and lose my wits because of Wickham's fake pretty face!"
Lizzi turned white with rage. "At least I trust people. I know that if I'm in trouble they'll help. You have no one because you won't let me into your confidence. You shut people away, thinking you're so great and don't need anyone. When people try to help, you arrogantly refuse you - " She finished off with a word in Corellian for the lowest form of street-walker.
Unfortunately, Wills was a Corellian.
"If that's what you Alderaanians are like, then it was a good thing the Empire blew your planet to dust!" he spat.
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them.
Lizzi stood, very still but he could see her trembling. Her right hand tensed and became a fist, then opened again. Before Wills could twitch, she slapped his face, fingernails scoring parallel cuts along his cheek. Wills staggered back, more shocked by the pain that had caused the attack than the blow itself.
Lizzi didn't notice the traces of blood on her fingernails., but stood in the middle of the room, clenching her fists.
"I hate you," she hissed viciously.
She spun on her heel and ran crying to the cockpit.
Sharl and Myra stood frozen to the spot at the fight's violent ending, too shocked at the ferocity of the opponents to do anything. Wills raised a hand to his face where Lizzi had cut him, then collapsed in the chair.
Sharl was the first to gather her wits.
"That last remark was totally uncalled for, Wills," she said coldly.
Wills didn't answer.
"Lizzi may have gotten carried away but gloating in Alderaan's destruction is the lowest level you could sink to in a fight with her," she continued. "No matter what Lizzi may have said to you, bringing Alderaan into it was just pure spite."
Sharl straightened herself to her full height. "As captain of this ship, I'm ordering you to stay in your cabin until further notice."
Wills looked up at her, dark eyes flashing. He stormed away.
"I shall be happy to oblige."
"I shall be happy to oblige," said Lady Katrin.
She smiled thinly as the stormtroopers escorted Gianna Drax away again to her cell. As soon as the door closed, she folded her hands and rested her head on them.
"You must admit the girl has spirit. Not much, but some," she mused.
M'Ann frowned. "Again she tells us she'd rather die than continue working on the Death Star laser. Of course we can't kill her but we can't do much to make her work."
Her mother smiled, gray eyes turning hard as steel.
"Don't worry, my dear. Such a child can be easily manipulated."
M'Ann looked at her mother quizzically. "What do you mean, mother?"
"Wait. You will see."
Lady Katrin flicked on a holomonitor and beckoned for her daughter to come see. M'Ann did so, and leaned over her mother's shoulder.
She watched Gianna looked around the cell she found herself in. It was different to the last one they had put her in, which had been in shades of black, gray and dull orange. This one was a bare white, small and cramped. There was absolutely no facilities or furniture, no decoration at all and was spotless, with nothing to relieve the monotony.
Except for one thing.
Against the back wall was a computer. On the screen were schematics and blueprints for the Death Star laser.
"Worry not about the computer," said lady Katrin, answering her daughter's unspoken question. "It has been programmed against any sort of tampering and has no connection with anything. There is nothing on it but a complete copy of the Death Star laser's plans. Watch."
M'Ann looked as Gianna, after looking around the room, went to the computer as a light drew a moth. She gingerly sat down on the hard chair in front of it, and almost against her will, typed a few keys. Then she shoved herself away from the computer and sat in a corner, forcing herself not to look.
"See?" said Lady Katrin. "I know this type. She cannot bear to do nothing. Her mind is such that she will utilize it rather than be bored, or leave something undone. Show her something new, and she will do it, if only to keep her mind active."
Lady Katrin smiled thinly. "Drax will eventually work. Sooner or later, she will do what we wish."
As M'Ann watched, Gianna took her hands away from her eyes and look longing at the plans temptingly displayed on the monitor.
Then the Omwat weapons scientist returned once more to the computer.
Part Twenty-Two
Lizzi sat in the Cozino's cockpit, brooding as she stared out into the whorls of hyperspace outside.
He hated her.
That fact probably hurt more than all the words Wills had ever said. He hated her - he had made that quite plain.
"If that's what you Alderaanians are like, then it was a good thing the Empire blew your planet to dust!"
Lizzi sniffed and angrily wiped away an offending tear. As she did so, she noticed the traces of blood on her fingers.
She had hurt him.
She sat on her hand, unwilling to look at it and the guilty thoughts it conjured up. But the gnawing voices would not be silenced.
"Why is the Empire going to fall? Cause it's led by the Emperor. A failure, just like you."
The memory of the hurt on Wills' face cut into her like her fingernails had slashed his face, only many times more deeply.
Guilt and anger in equal parts overwhelmed her. Guilt, for the things she had done to Wills. Anger, both at herself and at him, but more directed at herself.
Wills could be cruel.
"If that's what you Alderaanians are like, then it was a good thing the Empire blew your planet to dust!"
Wills could be kind.
"I suppose I had better go report to the Commander. You don't need to come, Lizzi - just stay and rest."
She could be cruel.
"Back stabbing Imperial!"
"I hate you!"
Slowly, unwillingly, she drew out her hand again. Held it up to her face so that the dim light shone behind her fingers. The traces of blood gave her hand a red tinge.
She had hurt him. Hurt the one person that, perhaps, could hold her, protect her...
Love her.
"Get real, Lizzi," she muttered to herself.
"He's a damned Imperial!"
Imperial. Part of the Empire. Part of that which had destroyed her world, creating emptiness that was only filled with a burning hate.
"Then he chose to become a Rebel."
She thought she could appease that emptiness by joining the Rebellion and add her effort in destroying the Empire. But in the Rebellion she met Wills, who though he repulsed her, also attracted her in some way...
Jain could fill her own emptiness. Jain's heart was not only in Alderaan, but also in her passion to help all living beings. And, to Lizzi, it seemed that Jain's emptiness would also be filled a little more with a possible relationship with Charls Bingley.
Lizzi, however, could see no one in the galaxy for her.
Wills?
But he hates me.
He should hate me. He has every right to, after what I have done. He should hate me.
Doesn't he?
Imperial...Rebel...Enemy...Friend...Hate...Love...
Which ones are Wills Darcy?
The swirling colours of hyperspace outside gave no answer.
Wills looked around his small cabin. Sharl would kill him, but he didn't really care at the moment.
He sat down on the bunk, now very uncomfortable since the pillows and blankets were scattered in various places around the room. Bookchips littered the floor as well as every other thing in the cabin that was not tied down. Wills ignored the mess and lay on the bunk, staring up at the ceiling.
"I hate you!"
The words echoed through his mind.
She hated him. It was that simple. The first woman after so long who had touched him hated him.
"I hate you!"
He looked down with some surprise at his hands. They were white, clenched tightly to the edge of the bunk.
Funny how three simple words could affect him so.
He sighed and winced, then gingerly touched the two parallel cuts on his cheek. The blood had dried and he scratched some off and looked at it.
"If that's what you Alderaanians are like, then it was a good thing the Empire blew your planet to dust!"
I deserved that slap.
The fight in the lounge replayed itself over and over again. And each time it did so, the anger he felt at Lizzi faded a little more, until it was directed at himself.
I am such a fool.
How could he have been so heartless as to attack Lizzi's home planet? Alderaan, the home that she had loved so much - and he had contemptuously reveled in its destruction.
Its destruction at the hands of the Empire that he had served.
Could it be possible that in that time between his joining the Empire, through his father's murder to now, he had lost all sense of compassion?
It is possible, he thought grimly to himself. I joined the Empire, to better my status and for my pride in being part of the New Order. Father's murder and her hand in that - that was when I decided I would never be hurt in such a way again. Which meant that I didn't need anyone. Need is a weakness, the first step to failure. I would stand alone, by myself.
That had been the beginning of the emptiness and the loss of compassion that had caused him to hurt Lizzi in such a way.
"Why is the Empire going to fall? Cause it's led by the Emperor. A failure, just like you."
"I can't stand you!"
"You have absolutely no respect for orders or authority! You don't think about anyone except yourself!"
"If that's what you Alderaanians are like, then it was a good thing the Empire blew your planet to dust!"
Only now did he realise that in saying those words, he had destroyed something that could never be repaired.
I would stand alone, by myself.
"You shut people away, thinking you're so great and don't need anyone."
Loneliness.
"I can need someone," he said aloud slowly.
He had tried; he had tried to make friends (more than friends?) with Lizzi. Or so he thought.
You never really tried. Did you ever think about her? asked that voice in his head. No. Those words you said about Alderaan show just how well you got to know her.
He had hurt her. Hurt the one person he had let himself feel such emotions for.
"I hate you!"
Wills groaned and hung his head.
I am such a fool.
Yes, Lizzi had hurt him - but he had hurt her even more.
He had to heal the wounds he had caused.
Should I tell her everything? About Father, about Wickham...
He laughed contemptuously at himself.
You idiot. Who'd have thought I'd even think about swallowing my pride that much to even contemplate telling Lizzi about that?
No. He had to find some other way.
Deep in thought, he got up and began to tidy up the cabin.
"Lady Katrin?" said a metallic, prissy voice.
Lady Katrin straightened up from where she had been leaning over M'Ann's shoulder as they watched the holomonitor image of Gianna Drax's cell.
"What is it, Collins?" she demanded.
The golden droid, Co-3PO shuffled closer. An upgraded version of the C-3PO model of protocol droids, Collins had better mobility and programming that made him capable of demonstrating more human-like gestures. He was also fluent in seven million galactic languages, as opposed to the six million normal C-3PO droids could speak.
"Lady Katrin, I have been monitoring the communications coming into Nicira as you ordered me to and I have found something that I felt I must make known to you immediately. As of one hour, sixteen minutes, thirty-eight second and twenty-one milli-seconds ago we received a top-priority message on the holovid classified under - "
"Get to the point, Collins," growled Lady Katrin. She was still trying to make up her mind if having the upgraded protocol droid was worth putting up with all this procrastinating.
"Oh. Very well," replied Collins, who despite his metallic face, still managed to sound hurt. "Well, Lady Katrin, there is a high-priority message from Coruscant that arrived one hour, seventeen minutes, five seconds and sixty-three milli-seconds ago for you. It is from Imperial Scientist Bevel Lemelisk and he wishes you to contact him as soon as possible. I do believe - "
Lady Katrin didn't bother listening to the droid anymore. She and M'Ann quickly got up and exited the room.
" - that he is inquiring about the progress of the Death Star laser and . . ." Collins' voice trailed off as he belatedly realised, three seconds, twenty-six milli-seconds too late that he was speaking to an empty room.
"I must say!" he bemoaned to the room, sounding more than a little miffed. "I do not understand human behaviour at all!"
Part Twenty-Three
Posted on Saturday, 9 October 1999
Sharl stood between Lizzi and Wills, eyes narrowed, body tense, ready to act on a second's notice should the pair before her decided to continue where they had left off yesterday.
No one spoke for several moments. Lizzi was the first to break the silence.
"Wills, I would like to apologise for yesterday. I suppose I got a bit carried away. I'm sorry I slapped you."
Sharl turned her attention to Wills.
"I'm sorry too," he said at last. "I shouldn't have said...what I said. I didn't really mean it."
Sharl nodded with satisfaction.
"Glad to see you two can swallow your pride and kiss and make up," said Sharl, smiling as her choice of words caused the two to glare at her with identical expressions of distaste. They looked up as Myra walked into the lounge hesitantly. "We've got a truce for now, Myra," said Sharl.
"Glad to hear it. Next time they scare me like that I'll send them off on the Final Leap."
"Even with all that time they still won't get along with each other."
"Stop it guys," moaned Lizzi. "Wills, do you think it'll be worth shoving these two smart-mouthed Jawas into an escape pod and getting rid of them?"
Wills thought for a second. "Yeah, but then we won't have anyone to cook meals."
"And letting people eat your cooking, Wills, is a form of suicide," cut in Myra.
"And without us you two would kill each other," said Sharl.
"No we won't."
Lizzi and Wills gave each other a weak, but sincere, smile.
"Come on," said Myra, breaking the moment. "Let's go work on that plan to rescue Gianna."
Gianna sat glued to the computer chair, oblivious to its hard edges, the stale air in the cell and the tray of high-protein food nearby. All her attention was concentrated on the schematics for the Death Star Laser. Diagrams, blueprints, measurements, equations, materials and descriptions filled her view and her mind.
This is simple, she thought to herself as she altered slightly the alignment of one of the secondary lasers. All I need to do to make this work better is change a few things here and here and divert a few mega-joules of power here, move this a meter to the right...
She worked on and on, too absorbed in her own world of challenges and problems to remember the fact that this project had the power to destroy worlds.
Nor was she aware that all of her work was being carefully scrutinized and noted by others.
Lady Katrin watched as a team of minor scientists scurried about a series of computer terminals, all displaying various aspects of the schematics for the Death Star Laser that Gianna had completed. She smiled a thin smile.
Things were going exactly as she had planned.
"So you're saying, we are just going to walk into an Imperial facility, get Gianna and walk out again?" said Sharl skeptically.
Wills shrugged. "Basically."
"That has to be the craziest plan ever."
"Wait a sec, Sharl, it is possible," Lizzi interjected on Will's behalf. "We let the Imps unload our cargo which on average takes about an hour with the amount of stuff we have."
"Imperial procedure is to lock the crew in the ship during that time," added Wills.
"So we sneak out of the ship, sneak our way to a computer terminal and let Myra loose to slice in and locate Gianna and fiddle with the guard times. Wills and I get Gianna out, and we walk back to the ship and take off. Simple," finished Lizzi.
"That's simple?" asked Myra with one raised eyebrow. "How are you and Wills going to walk around in full view of Imperial security?"
"I guess we'll have to steal some uniforms or something," shrugged Wills.
After some thought, Sharl reluctantly conceded. "It's doable," she admitted. "But I still think it's crazy. We'll be on some very tight time."
"Who said that anything would be easy?" countered Wills.
"Huh." Sharl got up and headed for the cockpit, gesturing for Myra to follow. "I'll leave you guys to flesh it out a little while Myra and I do a nav check. Hang on for the exit."
The Lukas sisters left, leaving Wills and Lizzi alone.
They looked warily at each other.
"So?" asked Wills.
"What are you looking at me for?" countered Lizzi.
Wills shrugged. I don't think there's much we can add to this plan," he said.
"Apart from the fact that we have to dissect Wickham when we find him."
Wills laughed. "Yeah. Slowly."
Lizzi thought for a moment. "We could force feed him some of your cooking. That'll kill him very painfully."
Wills mock-scowled which caused Lizzi to laugh. When she did so, Wills leaned back and looked at her with a curious expression on his face. Lizzi finally noticed this and asked, "What are you looking at?"
Wills didn't move his eyes from her face. "You know, you're cute when you smile."
Lizzi stared at him.
Wills, realising what he had said, smiled weakly while his face turned red.
"I..." began Lizzi.
Suddenly the ship jolted as Sharl dropped them out of hyperspace, saving them from saying anything.
M'Ann gave a brief salute to her mother as she entered the room. Her mother sat at the desk, watching the holomonitor of Gianna's cell, the protocol droid Collins standing nearby. Lady Katrin nodded in acknowledgement then gestured for her daughter to approach.
"Scientist Drax is very good," commented Lady Katrin, indicating the holomonitor in front of her. "It has taken her two days to do what our past scientists have done in two weeks."
"How long until she has completed the job?" asked M'Ann.
"Oh quite a while yet," replied Lady Katrin. "But no matter. Bevel Lemelisk is coming in one month, so we have ample time for Drax to finish the plans and test them. And there is spare time for us to make any...adjustments, should Drax betray us." She looked at her military style chrono. "Collins, go check if Drax has eaten her meal. We don't want her fainting on us."
"Yes madam," said the droid as he proceeded to the door. "I do wish, Lady Katrin, that you would consider some other droid or life-form to do this menial work. I am but a protocol droid and my duty is to translate. I feel that I am ill equipped for a servant droid and - "
"Shut up and go."
The droid meekly exited the room.
"Are you sure it's safe to send him?" asked M'Ann, gray eyes narrowing. "Collins is only a weak protocol droid - what if Gianna tries to escape? Shouldn't we send a stormtrooper?"
"The Emperor has given very little to Helfire Laboratories, despite our importance," snorted Lady Katrin contemptuously. "The few stormtroopers we have are all tied up on patrol, sentry duty and getting rid of all those pests around the compound from the jungles. The annoying swarms of duumka get everywhere. We can't waste any stormtroopers on a menial task. Besides," added Lady Katrin. "Do you think a mere girl who concentrates so much on work that she forgets to eat will escape?"
M'Ann nodded but she still didn't like it. "What are you going to do with her once the task has been completed?"
Lady Katrin smiled thinly. "She will be of no use to use, so we need not bother with keeping her alive."
SW notes:
Final Leap - when a ship is sent in hyperspace with no exit point. In other words, it spends eternity in hyperspace.
Nav check - When you're in hyperspace, you have come out now and again to do navigation checks to make sure you haven't gone off-course due to various factors such as galactic rotation around the galaxy's core.
Bevel Lemelisk - the Imperial Engineer in charge of constructing the Death Star. When DS1 blew up, the Emperor was most exceedingly displeased and killed him in various ways, from piranha beetles to getting dipped in boiling copper - six times. (If you're wondering how Lemelisk gets killed six times, the Emperor used the Force to transfer his mind to a clone of his body.)
Duumka - some creature I made up. Think of it like a mouse with scales instead of fur. Has a thing for metal, and so gets into everything from engines to computers - anything with wires and metal and makes a huge mess of things. Will have a small part in the plot later on.)
Part Twenty-Four
Lizzi sat curled up in the pilot's seat of the Cozino, staring outside but not really looking at the chaotic colours of hyperspace. They were due to arrive at Nicira in a few hours and everyone was snatching an hour or so of sleep.
Everyone, except Lizzi.
Her mind had refused to shut down, pondering over and over again the same subject. Finally frustrated at getting no sleep, Lizzi had gone to the cockpit, the place where she felt the most comfortable. At least there was something to look at instead darkness.
What exactly was her position with Wills? What was his position with her?
She had always thought he had disliked her. She had always thought that she disliked him. But the more she told herself that, the more she became less sure of it.
Am I - are we both too stubborn to admit something we are afraid of?
"What are you doing here?" Lizzi heard someone say behind her.
She turned her head slightly and squinted at the silhouette in the doorway. "That you, Wills?"
"No, it's a stormtrooper," replied Wills as he came into the cockpit and slumped down in the co-pilot's seat. "Couldn't sleep?"
"No, you?" said Lizzi turning back to look outside, unwilling to think on why she couldn't sleep.
"No. Too much to think about."
Lizzi nodded but she wondered if he was kept awake for the same reason as she was.
"Oh? What about?"
Wills looked at her, his dark eyes reflecting the swirls of hyperspace outside. "Can we play Question the Quarren on a different subject?"
Lizzi shrugged as nonchalantly as possible. "What else is there to talk about?"
Wills didn't answer. An uncomfortable silence fell but Lizzi felt Wills' presence somewhat comforting. So much so, she felt her eyes begin to close in preparation for sleep.
"Why don't you like me?" asked Wills suddenly.
Lizzi jerked and sat up a bit straighter. "Wha-?"
Wills was looking straight at her and his gaze refused to let her evade the direct question. "I said, why don't you like me?"
It was certainly one of the last questions Lizzi was expecting and one of the ones she was least inclined to answer. "Uh..." she said stupidly, trying to gather her wits from the relaxed lethargy she had been falling into. "Haven't I already told you?"
"Yes, but I want to hear it when you're not yelling."
Lizzi shook her head. "Well, why don't you like me?" she demanded turning the question onto Wills.
"I do like you!" snapped Wills before he had time to think. As soon as he had said it, Wills turned red and tried to fix things. "I mean, I don't hate you as much as it looks like I do. It's just...I mean...ah, shavit," he swore. Finally he gave up. "Alright. I don't like you because you think everything is fixed. You're prejudiced. You don't believe in change. You think that once someone has been bad, he will stay bad. You don't even let the idea that he may have changed enter your head." Seeing Lizzi's expressionless face he faltered but continued on gamely. "And you're too proud to admit when you have been mistaken. Also you see everything in black and white. Someone is bad, or someone is good. You don't allow for any gray area in between."
Lizzi's face contorted and it seemed as if she was going to hit him again. Then all the tension drained out of her. "Okay," she said through gritted teeth. "You have a bit of a point there, nerf herder. You want to know why I don't like you? Fine, I'll tell you." She advanced on him until her face was inches away from his. Wills didn't flinch, willing to face his judgement head on.
"I didn't want to hurt you, but if you insist," hissed Lizzi. "You're an arrogant, selfish, stubborn bantha who refuses to admit he needs help sometimes. You can't bear criticism, and you accept friends only on your terms, without thinking about the other person. You calculate if they are worth your friendship based on such shallow parameters such as piloting skill, intelligence, planet, species, looks never once wondering what they think of you."
"I do not!" protested Wills.
"Oh yeah?" countered Lizzi. Let me list off your friends. Charls Bingley. Above average pilot, pretty well off, human, and someone who looks up to you. You're just lucky Charls has a great personality too. Clmney Carter. Not really that close a friend but someone I know you can bear to be with. He's clever with a sense of humour. Problem is, you look down on him because he's from Kessel. Zri'an Hodge. Pretty, flirtatious and minor nobility on Thyferra. But you can shoot her out of the sky so you're above her still. Commander Ricard Fitzwilliam. Superior officer, he can beat you in a dogfight, therefore he has your respect." Lizzi thought for a moment. "You know, I can't think of anyone else off-hand who can be counted as more than a casual acquaintance. And even Clmney and Zri'an are more casual friends than actual, real friends."
Wills stared at her, unable to say anything.
"Let's look at everyone else, huh?" continued Lizzi. "All the other Comets; Nyanti Zyol, Denny Cathos, Uid Chamberlyne, Servan Fosset, Forster Par'lya. Non of them are human and so you have practically nothing to do with them. Hendri Sanderson was an engineer on Bespin who had to work for a living, getting his hands dirty and so he's below you. And me," Lizzi's eyes flashed. "I'm from Alderaan, a planet who in your eyes didn't have the spine or courage to stand up against the Empire and chose instead to belief that pacifism would always be the best choice. As far as you're concerned, Alderaan's destruction is a perfect example of 'I told you so'."
"Now wait just a kriffing moment!" said Wills. "Perhaps you're right about the rest of the Comets, but you are totally wrong about one thing." He moved away from Lizzi. "I never looked down on you. In fact, I quite...admired you."
Lizzi narrowed her eyes. "Get real."
"No, really. I thought you were great, what with your flying skill, your brains and the way you were so nice to practically everyone, accepting them without conditions. In fact, I wanted to be one of those friends." Suddenly he remembered he wasn't the only one on trial here. "Except you chose to look at my Imperial past and think that enough reason to hate me."
"Hey, I was perfectly willing to accept you except you likened me to a Wookie on a bad hair day," retorted Lizzi.
"Oh. Yeah. Um, that," mumbled Wills. "Look, I'm sorry about saying that. I didn't really mean it. I was in a bad mood that evening. You're actually rather pretty."
Lizzi softened. "Alright, I accept your apology. And Wills," she continued hesitantly. "I'm sorry I hurt you."
Wills smiled gently. "Me too. Friends?"
He extended his hand.
Lizzi looked at it for a long moment. "Yeah. Friends."
She grasped his hand and shook it firmly.
They kept shaking hands, the situation getting more and more awkward. Neither was willing to be the first to let go of the other for reasons they were embarrassed to admit, even to themselves.
"Well. This is nice," said Lizzi as lightly as possible.
"Yeah."
Reluctantly Wills released her hand. "Um, I think I'd better go check on the droids." He walked backwards and half-stumbled as he bumped into the wall of the cockpit.
"Droids?" repeated Lizzi, her mind still not quite working after holding Will's hand for so long.
"Kit and Modal. I think we left them in the storage area for too long."
"We did?"
"Yes. And I think you should get some sleep. We have an interesting day tomorrow."
Wills tripped again as he exited the cockpit, his eyes not being on where he was going but rather on Lizzi. She laughed a little then fell quiet, looking around.
"I think I'd better get to bed," she said to herself.
She took Will's advice and left, heading towards her room.
Yeah, better get to bed before I decide Wills needs my help with the droids.
Part Twenty-Five
Charls Bingley automatically looked around the briefing room in search of Wills, then corrected himself when he remembered that Wills and Lizzi were still off on that mysterious mission of theirs. With a twinge of guilt, he realised he hadn't thought of them much in the time they had been away.
Well, I don't need to worry. Wills and Lizzi can take care of themselves easily. Then he remembered something and rolled his eyes. As long as they don't kill each other.
His attention was called back to the front as Commander Ricard Fitzwilliam entered, Nyanti Zyol a few steps behind. Charls and the other Comets settled down as their Commander began to speak.
"You all had it pretty easy for a few weeks," began the Commander, "so now it's time to start pulling your weight again." He touched a control on the desk in front of him and a holo-monitor appeared as the lights automatically darkened. A coloured diagram came into focus but the Comets had to wait until the Aurebesh writing appeared beside it.
"This is the fifth planet of the Cathe system," explained the Commander. "It doesn't support any life, or have any real mineral value. However it's right next to a lightly used space lane. The planet's gravity well causes any ships travelling this space lane to be pulled back into realspace. There's no way to go around it.
"In about thirty eight hours an Imperial weapons convoy will be passing through. There'll be about four lightly armed transports and definitely some TIEs. We're going to hit the convoy and take it."
"Sounds simple enough," said Hendri Sanderson.
"We'll ride in on a Bulk freighter," continued Commander Fitzwilliam. "Before you all groan about the fighting capabilities of Bulk freighters, it's there to carry us in and the cargo out - not to fight. That's why we're there."
"Um, sir," said Charls. "We're ambushing a convoy and taking its cargo by force. Isn't that pirating?"
Before Commander Fitzwilliam could answer, Clmney Carter spoke up, leaning over from where he sat on the tier above Charls. "Technically, yes it is theft. However," he added slyly, "when you're taking stuff from the Empire, it's no stealing - it's liberating."
The pilots laughed, Commander Fitzwilliam cracked a smile. Only Captain Nyanti seemed unmoved.
"Well put, Carter," said Commander Fitwilliam. "So that's it - a simple hit and hype raid."
He looked around the room as the pilots nodded.
"You'll have to stay sharp," cautioned the Commander. "We're two pilots light so Clmney you're flying solo. Everyone else stay in your flight groups."
The room swelled with affirmative murmurs. Commander Fitzwilliam scanned each of their faces then said, "I know some of you have been wondering about Wills and Lizzi. They've been gone for a few weeks now."
"Few weeks of peace and quiet," called Zri'an, eliciting a round of laughs.
"I don't know when they'll be back," said Fitzwilliam loudly to be heard, "so don't ask. Intelligence hasn't told me anything. You're all dismissed until tomorrow. I'll see you in the hangar."
In the pilot's lounge, Charls handed a drink to Lijia as he got another for himself and Jain. The atmosphere was fairly relaxed. Zri'an was talking to Clmney and Uid Chamberlyne, Denny was watching the holovids. Forster Par'yla and Servan Fosset were practicing in the simulators while Hendri waited his turn. Other pilots from other squadrons were likewise scattered around the room. Rogue Squadron was out on duty.
"How come the Rogues get all the missions?" asked Charls. "I hardly ever see any of them hang around for long."
"They're the best, that's why," replied Zri'an, looking sideways at Lijia giggling at one of Clmney's sarcastic comments. "Luke Skywalker himself leads the group, except he's off somewhere at the moment. Wedge Antilles is taking his place for the time being. The Rogues were one of the groups that took out the Death Star."
"Oh alright." Charls shrugged. "I don't really mind having it easy."
Beside him, Jain nodded. "I'd prefer it if you stayed and didn't get yourself into trouble."
"You fuss over him like he's your husband," said Clmney. He was rewarded with a blush from Charls.
By now, Jain and Charls were officially recognised as a 'couple'. On the rare occasions that Jain could - or would - take time off from work, they were always seen together. Most of the other Comet pilots teased Charls good-naturedly about it. Jain merely smiled at them whenever they teased her.
Charls seemed to have come to terms with the fact that Jain was devoted to her work. Instead of trying to get her to spend more time with him, he merely made the best of the time they had. He found that he enjoyed it immensely - though he still couldn't understand why Jain had to help people all the time.
"I hope Lizzi's okay." Jain yawned and rested her head on Charls's shoulder, much to his surprise.
"Lizzi will be fine," said Zri'an. "I'm more worried that she and Wills will kill each other."
Jain shook her head. "No, they wouldn't. At least, not Lizzi. She may dislike him but she won't hurt him. Well, not too badly."
Clmney laughed. "I'm bored. You feel like dancing for me, kitten?" he asked Lijia.
The feline girl giggled. "If you get me another cup of juri juice."
Clmney dutifully got up and went to get the drink. As he came back towards them, the doors of the simulators opened and Forster and Servan stepped out, yelling madly at each other.
"You stupid Bothan, how could you think I was a TIE fighter?" screamed Servan, the characteristic Ishori temper bursting into flame.
"My entire clan's apologies," the Bothan tried to remonstrate. "My sensors were affected by the blast I took and played up for a while."
"But still, how can you read an X-wing as an eyeball?"
"I said I was sorry!"
The argument moved into full gear as the Bothan and the Ishori started yelling at each other in their own languages. Servan's arms flailed about wildly, emphasising his annoyance. Unfortunately Clmney, intent on carrying two full cups of juri juice, didn't see where he was going and was hit by one of Servan's arms and so was sent tumbling to the floor. The cups shot into the air and came under the influence of the artificial gravity of the space ship. One landed on Servan's shoulder, colouring him a bright red; the other landed on Clmney's head, painting him likewise.
The entire room burst into laughter at the scene. Lijia in particular could not contain her childish delight.
"Do it again!" she crowed.
Jain stood to one side of the Bulk freighter. Inside she could see ten X-wings. The pilots of Comet Squadron filed past her, acting like a group of kids out on a school trip. She searched for one face in particular.
Finally she saw Charls. He was just entering the hangar. Lijia followed at his side. Jain drew in a sharp breath but sighed as she watched Charls give Lijia a friendly handshake before continuing on his way to the freighter. He smiled as he saw her.
"Hi Jain," he said hesitantly.
"Charls."
They stood there in silence for some moments, unaware that the rest of the Comets had quietly gathered at the top of the ramp and were watching them.
Jain smiled and blinked away a tear. She had been a medic long enough to know what possibilities awaited pilots on a mission like this. Charls however was still young and had the normal belief in his invincibility.
Unable to take it any more, Jain flung her arms around Charls who, though surprised, willingly put his arms around her.
"Come back to me okay?" whispered Jain into his ear.
Before Charls could reply, she kissed him, and did not remove her lips from his for a long time.
Charls was again pleasantly surprised and held her even closer. However he began to blush as he heard the pilots of Comet Squadron cheering above.
Jain pulled away and smiled at him, the only hint of embarrassment being a slight pink in her cheeks. Then she turned and walked away.
Charls stood there with a goofy grin on his face as he watched her leave.
"All right, show's over," announced Nyanti Zyol. "Get in lover boy, we're taking off."
Part Twenty-Six A
Posted on Wednesday, 17 November 1999
"All set?" asked Sharl tensely, hand ready on the controls.
Beside her in the co-pilot's seat, Myra nodded. Behind them Wills and Lizzi also nodded affirmatively.
Sharl took a deep breath. "Okay. Here we go. Five, four, three, two one, now!"
She pulled the switch and the Askme Cozino flickered back into real space. Filling the viewport was a typical planet with greens and greys covering it for the most part. Dull blue oceans added some more colour, but one the whole, Sharl didn't like it.
"Cheerful looking place," she muttered. More loudly, she said, "Starting a sensor analysis."
"Good place for a secret rendezvous," Wills commented. "If there's anything down there, whoever they are would be trying to lie low and hope we don't see them."
"Well, I don't see Wickham anywhere - wait." Sharl frowned at a small reading on her sensors. "Looks like there's something. A group of buildings near the eastern edge of the largest continent."
"Fly over there," ordered Wills.
"Are you kidding?" replied Sharl. "You want a group of hostiles to notice us?"
"It's more than likely that this is the base of whoever wants Gianna. If so, we don't have to worry about Wickham. We can just drop in, go by the plan, walk in and walk out again."
Sharl scowled. "I still think it's crazy. But as you've said before we don't have any other viable options. Myra, get ready to code-slice the comm if we get hailed. I hope the ID overlay you put on the ship is good enough to fool whoever's down there. If not, we have to high-tail out of here."
She maneuvered the freighter over to the location. Once they got into a lower orbit over it, the comm crackled to life.
"We have your location," began the voice, in the characteristic sharpness and harshness Sharl had come to associate with Imperials. "Identify yourself. "
Sharl looked at Myra. "Freighter Rite Ontyme bearing supplies for Niciran facility," she replied as casually as possible, as if she did this kind of stuff everyday. Beside her, Myra was discreetly preparing for whatever slicing she needed to do. "Requesting permission to land."
"Please transmit your code clearance."
Sharl leaned over to read what Myra had displayed on her screen and read it out aloud.
"Your code is bad. You have one more try before we blast you," the voice responded darkly.
Myra, you idiot! Sharl mouthed at her younger sister. Myra shook her head and called up a new code on the display, gesturing for Sharl to read it. With her hands ready to switch the shields on at a moment's notice, Sharl read the second code aloud.
"Much better, Rite Ontyme," the Imperial controller said grudgingly. He had probably looked forward to blasting them out of the sky. "You may proceed to the landing platform."
Everyone in the cockpit breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"That's only part one, don't get cocky," cautioned Lizzi.
"Myra, what the hell were you doing?" demanded Wills.
Myra tried to explain. "It's a system that I heard of from a Corellian. The Imperials all use a standard ROM in their sensor/comm unit integrator, and these ROMs all have a code burned into them. When you use a particular password on these, the system gives you the correct code. On the second try, you give the correct code and you're in."
"Uh huh," said Wills, trying to sound like he understood it.
"I don't think it's going to be viable in a few standard months. The Empire is doing an overhaul on its equipment. But since this is a backwater planet, secret and away from the mainstream, you can bet that the code still works."
"Uh huh."
Sharl was guiding the freighter down towards the planet. Soon they cleared the bottom layers of clouds and were gliding over dense green jungle.
Standing out like a Wookie at a Jawa swap meet was a group of stark white buildings, but less than Sharl expected. Either this place was less important than Sharl originally thought, or there was more hidden, perhaps underground. There was a large landing platform that could easily handle ships much bigger than Sharl's freighter and a large hangar beside it.
The number of AT-ATs walking around, and TIE fighters parked inside the hangar and white armored stormtroopers around told the crew of the Askme Cozino that this was indeed an Imperial facility.
"There's much more to it than what's on the surface," observed Wills. "Standard Imperial layout with more underground than on it."
"What does that mean?" asked Lizzi.
Wills looked grim. "That whatever this place is for, it needs to be well-protected, and well-concealed. In other words, this place is very valuable, and the only way we're going to be leaving if our cover gets blown is in pieces."
Lizzi gulped. "Great. As if we didn't have enough to worry about."
"Will you two stop jabbering and let me concentrate?" snapped Sharl. Evidently the tension was getting to her too.
The rest of the trip was silent.
M'Ann Bourg saluted briefly to her mother then came forward to the desk, the protocol droid Collins on standby next to the door.
"Any news?" asked Lady Katrin, her black-gloved hands folded and face half-hidden behind them.
"The latest shipment of supplies has arrived," reported M'Ann, handing the report to her mother. "A bit ahead of schedule but it gave the proper clearance."
Lady Katrin carefully read the report, frowning. "The Rite Ontyme? What happened to Kahn's Luck?"
M'Ann shrugged. "I expect to get that from the pilot when she lands."
Lady Katrin frowned even harder. "It gave the correct code on the second try?"
"Yes. I think it's a new pilot doing the run, perhaps they made a mistake."
"We cannot dismiss things so easily, M'Ann," admonished Lady Katrin. "The reason for the anomalies may be innocent enough, but it never hurts to be careful. Go and do a full check-up on the ship and its crew."
"Yes ma'am."
"Take Collins with you in case some of the crew don't speak Basic."
M'Ann nodded and slapped the control on the back of the droid's neck.
"Good afternoon, mistress M'Ann," said the droid in an annoyingly cheerful voice. "How may I be of service to you?"
"Shut up and follow me."
"But I cannot shut up. As a droid I try fulfil my duties to the best of my ability but I do not understand -"
"I said, shut up!"
"Shut down all your systems. You may not leave the ship. You will stay inside until we finish unloading," ordered the stormtrooper who met them, gesturing for Sharl to turn back from her position ten meters from the lowered boarding ramp. Behind him were more stormtroopers and a dozen workers. "Don't even think about wandering about, unless you want a blaster bolt in your back."
Sharl tried to remain as casual as possible, though she as well as Myra, Lizzi and Wills could not hide the apprehension. Which was probably the reason for the stormies giving them a hard time.
"Alright," said Sharl. "About how long would that be?"
"Two hours."
Sharl shrugged then slowly made her way back to the ship. She rejoined Lizzi, Wills and Myra and shut the boarding ramp.
"Well?" asked Wills.
"We're parked right next to the main building," reported Sharl. "I'm inferring that it's the upper level of the base. There's jungle all around - pretty darned sloppy of them to let all that undergrowth come up so close. Anyway, we can sneak through the outskirts of the jungle and find a place to break in."
"Problem," said Wills. "We're stuck in here with stormtroopers all around."
Sharl grinned. "Hey, I'm a smuggler. That means this ship has a few modifications."
"Including an extra entrance?"
"Never know when you might need to make a quick exit, even from your own ship."
Wills hefted his blaster. "Let's go then. You two know what to do if anyone comes along?" he asked the two astromech droids.
Kit and Modal both beeped and whistled. Wills double-checked that the voice scrambler on Modal was fitted correctly then followed Sharl.
Sharl led them to the back of the ship and lifted the deck plating. To Wills's surprise, it was hollow underneath.
Typical smuggler's chicanery, he thought, rolling his eyes.
All four of them dropped down, and Sharl opened a hatchway. A meter below the opening, Wills could see the burned permacrete of the landing pad. Sharl stuck her head out. She could see white armored feet all gathered around the cargo bay. There was no one near them. Carefully, she dropped lightly to the ground, then gestured for the others to follow. They did so and quietly made their way to the tall trees three meters away.
The jungle was dark, even though the group was only a few meters deep into it. The leaves gave the place a green light and everything seemed muffled. Strange noises from alien animals were heard frequently, making them all jump. Myra swore under her breath as a small organism appeared out of nowhere and latched onto her portable computer. With an expression of disgust she picked up the scaly rodent and flung it into a tree.
"Now what?" whispered Lizzi. "You're the former Imp, Wills, what now?"
Wills looked at Lizzi quizzically. She smiled at him. Wills looked away at the white building scarcely visible through the trees.
"Standard Imperial layout would have a utility entrance in that direction," he said, pointing to the back of the building.
"Guarded?" asked Myra.
"Not heavily. Probably only two guards at the most."
Sharl smiled evilly. "Then it won't take a lot of noise."
"Yeah, but what do we do with them afterwards?" asked Lizzi.
Sharl looked at her friend. "The jungle's pretty thick. I doubt anyone will see a couple of dead stormtroopers."
Lizzi grinned.
As Wills had predicted, there were only two stormtroopers at the entrance. However, instead of using her blaster, Sharl took out two vibroknives hidden on her person and before the Imperials could react, flung them with deadly accuracy where the helmet met the rest of the armor.
"Nice," said Wills, eyebrows raised as Sharl and Lizzi did their best to drag the heavy bodies into the undergrowth. Sharl paused for a moment to pull her knives out of the soldier's necks and wipe them in a leaf. "Handy trick."
"I thought it'd be quieter than using a blaster," Sharl shrugged. "Alright, Myra, go slice the lock."
Myra willingly obliged. Wills, Lizzi and Sharl stood an uneasy guard over her, each second seeming like an hour.
"Hurry up," whispered Lizzi. "We don't have all day."
"Patience is a virtue," replied Myra. "Here we go."
With no dramatics whatsoever, the door slid open.
Lady Katrin smiled thinly at the holomonitor that displayed all of Gianna Drax's work. Finally, it was complete.
And the stupid girl doesn't even realise what she's doing.
"Make sure you copy this verbatim," she ordered one of the scientists standing nearby.
She got up. Time to congratulate the prisoner on her glorious work for the Empire.
"I've always had a low opinion of Imperials, and seeing this only makes it worse," growled Lizzi as she gripped her foot. She had stubbed her toe on a deactivated droid that was sitting in the middle of the unused, messy, disorganised service droid storage room.
"Shut up," said Myra absently from where she sat in front of a computer terminal. "Anyone coming?" she asked Wills who stood guard at the door.
"Not a soul," he replied. "I'm guessing most of the people are working deep underground."
"Burning stars," breathed Myra as gigabytes of information scrolled up the screen.
"What?" asked Sharl.
"I can't believe this place," Myra began. "It's a research facility called Helfire Laboratories, and they're working on something very big. There's thirteen levels and an enormous hangar for testing something code-named 'Hammertong'. The commander of the place is - "
"Never mind that," Wills cut in. "Just find out where Gianna is."
Myra sighed, unwillingly letting the data go. She called up another map and a asked for the location of the detention center. "Alright. Level six block B17. Cell AR-122785."
Wills came to look at the screen, committing the half-remembered layout to memory. "Okay. Here's what we do. Sharl, you and Myra stay here and keep an eye out for anything that goes wrong. Signal on the comlink if anything happens. Lizzi and I will go get Gianna."
"Agreed." She looked at Wills and Lizzi for a long moment. "May the Force be with you."
M'Ann led a squad of stormtroopers with Collins following at her side to the freighter that sat on the edge of the landing platform. The workers unloading the cargo looked up and snapped to attention.
"Acknowledged, get back to work," she ordered. Ignoring the activity around her, she strode purposefully up into the cargo hold of the ship. The entrance that led into the ship was locked.
M'Ann switched on her comlink. "Captain M'Ann Bourg requesting to see the Captain of the Rite Ontyme."
A pause for several seconds, then a flat voice answered, "The Captain is currently asleep."
"Wake her up."
"The Captain is asleep," the voice repeated.
M'Ann frowned. The voice sounded very flat and had an electronic overlay.
"Who am I speaking to?"
"GT-4DO, in the service of Captain Mika Rrsist of the Rite Ontyme."
"Oh!" said Collins. "May I ask, GT-4DO, what exactly is your programming? I have never met a 4DO unit before and I am quite curious as to -"
M'Ann spun around, waving her blaster threateningly. "Shut up!"
"But mistress, I am unable to 'shut up' as you so often order me to. I can shut down which you ask me to do quite frequently and I can shut doors and perform various other duties that require minimal dexterity and I can -"
"I don't want to hear another word from you while we're here! Be silent!"
"I understand your command completely. I shall be silent." Collins stopped talking, and M'Ann thought she could hear a sigh of relief from her stormtroopers.
"Cursed droids," grumbled M'Ann. "This is an Imperial order. Wake your Captain and send her out."
"I am afraid that is not possible."
M'Ann's gray eyes narrowed. "What does your crew consist of? How many and what species?"
"The Captain, the co-pilot and myself. The organics are both human."
M'Ann frowned. She turned to the stormtrooper beside her. "Go point some sensors at this ship," she ordered. "I want to know exactly what is on it. Any modified weaponry, upgrades, and the crew."
"As ordered."
Lizzi looked around her uneasily. There were nearing a more populated area of the facility.
"We're going to have to steal some uniforms," Wills whispered to her. "There's the crew quarters over there."
"Let's hope there's no one inside."
Luck or the Force was with them. The second room they checked out had no one inside. What it did have was numerous tech uniforms. Wills took two of them in what he hoped were the correct sizes and threw one to Lizzi, who had locked the door.
"Get changed."
Lizzi looked around the room. There was no changing area. "In front of you?" she asked incredulously.
"This isn't the time to be fussy," replied Wills. "Hurry up. It's not as if you're the only one changing."
Lizzi glared at him, but realising the urgency of the situation, couldn't really argue. Purposefully turning her back on Wills she proceeded to put on the brown Imperial uniform. Wills had to consciously tell his eyes to look at something else as he did the same.
"Put this on," he said, handing a hat to her. Lizzi nodded and bundled up her long dark hair underneath. From a cursory glance, she could pass as a man as long as no one got a close look at her face.
"What are we going to do with our clothes?" she asked.
"Leave them. We've got more on the ship."
Lizzi bundled her clothes and Wills's up as small as possible and did her best to conceal them. Then the two of them unlocked the door and sauntered out, making their way into the deeper recesses of the Imperial base.
The further they went, the more people they encountered. Lizzi kept her head down and did her best to imitate Wills's stance of Imperial arrogance. If someone spoke to them, she let Wills do the talking.
The experience brought back many memories to Wills's mind. Unconsciously he resumed the pose of his years at Carida, one of the main Imperial training centers of the galaxy. His eyes took in each man's rank insignia and he accordingly addressed them whenever they spoke to him. By taking the lead role in this part, he easily put any suspicions to rest.
Everyone thought he was the perfect Imperial.
Even Lizzi.
"Sensor analysis completed," reported the stormtrooper emotionlessly. "There are no life forms on board."
M'Ann's face took on a dark glare. "Repeat that?"
"There is no one on board the ship, ma'am."
The Imperial Captain turned white with anger. "I want two stormtroopers to stand guard on this ship. The rest of you form up on me. Collins," she said, turning to the droid.
"The droid did not answer her.
"Collins! Answer me!"
"But ma'am, how can I answer when you said that you did not wish to hear another word from me while we are here?"
"Forget that last order! I want you to find my mother and alert her to the situation. Hurry!"
M'Ann led her group of stormtroopers into the building while Collins shuffled off in the direction his database informed him was the quickest way to Lady Katrin's last known location, through the utility entrance.
"How much further?" Lizzi asked as they exited the turbolift.
"This is the right level," Wills told her. "Stay sharp and let me do the talking."
Lizzi nodded, then schooled her face into an expression of boredom as they approached the sealed doors of the detention center.
Lady Katrin opened the door to Gianna's cell. The girl still kept working at the computer, oblivious to Lady Katrin's entrance.
"You are doing a fine job, Miss Drax," said Lady Katrin condescendingly. "I commend you."
At the sound of her harsh voice, the Omwati waif spun around and gasped.
Weeks of imprisonment had not been kind to Gianna. Her feathery hair hung in wisps about her pale face. She looked haggard and thin from not eating - more her own fault than by forced starvation. The once bright violet eyes were dull and half-closed, and she rubbed them against the white light that spilled in from the corridor.
Lady Katrin smiled, but it was not a kind smile. "I am glad to see that have been able to occupy yourself and be useful."
"Use - useful?" stammered the girl.
"Surely you have realised that your work has been for the glory of Emperor Palpatine and the Empire," replied Lady Katrin.
Gianna's eyes widened with horror and she stared at the screen.
"Ignorant child, did you not know that we have been scrutinising every aspect of the work you have done for us on the Death Star's planet destroying laser? You may be pleased to know that the entire galaxy will be able to bear mute testimony to the success of skills, as the second Death Star crushes those planets which defy the Emperor."
"Se - second Death Star?" Gianna repeated, her voice rising several octaves with fear.
Lady Katrin smiled like a predator about to spring. "Yes, the Second Death Star. And we have you to thank for it."
Gianna began to shake uncontrollably, then burst into tears.
"It's bleeding useless, if you ask me," grumbled the Imperial guarding one of the corridors of the detention center. "I mean, this is a secret facility. There's no one to stand guard over cause no one comes."
"Tell me about it," replied the second Imperial as he gave Lizzi and Wills a cursory glance over and nodded briefly, letting them in. "I'm sure that only five of these cells have been occupied since we came here. A few stormtroopers or techs needing some discipline. No real prisoners."
"There's one - that girl the alien brought in. But she doesn't even need watching. How's a kid like her going to get out? Why do we need to waste our time watching a bunch of empty cells?"
"Talk like that might get you facing a stormtrooper firing squad," Wills cut in. "Where's the prisoner? Top brass wants to speak to her."
"She does?" asked the first Imperial. "Thought she already is. Or did. Whatever."
Wills's glared at the lazy Imperial. He had been a Commander when he was in the Imperial Navy, and knew how to treat subordinates. "You can't remember? When I have the time I'm going to make sure you're seeing the inside of these cells because of your lack of responsibility. Now take us to the prisoner."
Hearing the steel in his voice, the two Imperials got up.
"I don't need an escort, lamebrain," growled Wills. "Just tell us where she's kept."
The lamebrains in question quickly fixed their mistake and gave Lizzi and Wills the directions.
"That's better. But I'm still not impressed. Go report to your commander on the double," snapped Wills.
"But, we can't leave. We're on duty," protested the first man.
Wills sighed with a wonderful impression of strained patience. "We're here," he said, indicating himself and Lizzi. "Get to it."
The two Imperials left as fast as they could.
"What are you thinking?" said Lizzi as they walked down the corridor in search of AR-122785. As soon as those two go to their superior officer they'll know something's wrong."
"Don't worry, we'll have enough time to get at least to the upper levels before they come back," Wills said reassuringly. "Here it is."
From the other side of the door they could hear sobs. Then a hard voice spoke.
"Miss Drax, the Emperor himself will honour you for your fine work, if it were possible for us to let you go. Unfortunately as we cannot let you leave with the knowledge of Helfire laboratories, I am afraid you shall have to be terminated."
Wills and Lizzi didn't hesitate. They opened their blasters on the door, not caring about the noise they made. The door collapsed and through the smoke they could see a tall, imposing form dressed in black. Before the figure could react, Lizzi had pointed her blaster.
"Stay where you are. Make one move and I shoot," she ordered, and was rewarded with the sight of the person raising their arms. "Gianna, get out!" she called, unable to see much through the smoke.
A half-terrified sob was heard, then Gianna came running out, tears streaming down her face.
"Lizzi! Oh, thank the Force you're here! Wills!" She flung herself into his arms, babbling. "I'm so sorry, they made me do it, I never knew, oh I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to do it -"
"Shh, it's okay now," said Wills, not really understanding. "Come on, let's get out of here."
"What do we do with this person?" asked Lizzi, her blaster still aimed at the shrouded figure's chest.
"No time, let's just run for it."
"Works fine with me."
With Gianna between Lizzi and Wills, all three of them took off as fast as their feet could take them.
Lady Katrin wasted no time. As soon as the intruders were out of the detention center, she sounded the alarm.
Part Twenty-Six B
Posted on Wednesday, 17 November 1999
Collins found something at the utility entrance that did not correlate with his files. There were supposed to be two Imperial stormtroopers on guard at all times at the door, which were changed every two standard hours. By his internal clock there was still forty-three minutes, thirty-two seconds and eleven milli-seconds until the guard change.
"This is most strange," he said to himself. He switched his optical sensors to infra-red and did a 360 degree turn.
Then he saw something that made him miss a refresh cycle.
Slowly cooling in the humid jungle were the bodies of two stormtroopers. By the temperature of their bodies, Collins calculated that they were killed twenty-eight minutes, seventeen seconds and fifty-six milli-seconds ago.
"Oh dear!" he exclaimed, because he was programmed to act like a human and so imitated a human's shock at the discovery. "I must alert Lady Katrin of this immediately!"
When he went to open the door, he found yet another anomaly. It was slightly ajar.
"How curious." Then the updated programming of the Co-3PO models showed itself in what could be seen as a delusion of grandeur. "Perhaps I can find where these intruders went and tell Lady Katrin," he said aloud.
With this primary target logged in his database, Collins entered and looked into each room that he passed.
"Someone's coming," hissed Sharl. Immediately Myra moved away from the computer and took up positions at the door, blasters in hand.
Sharl listened carefully. The footsteps were shuffling and had a metallic ring. Due to the echoing effect of the metallic corridors, she could not determine their exact position.
"Stay down. Let's see if he passes," Sharl whispered. Myra nodded nervously.
The footsteps got a bit louder and echoed even more. Sharl waited until she thought the danger had gone.
"I think he's passed us. I'll just check," said Sharl. Slowly she stuck her head out and came face to face with a protocol droid.
"Good afternoon. I am Collins, designated Co-3PO unit for Lady Katrin. Excuse me ma'am, but I am afraid I do not have your identification in my memory bank," said the droid. "May I ask for your identification?"
Caught on the spot, Sharl said, "Uhh, Captain Mika Rrsist of the Rite Ontyme."
Collins took on a posture of surprise. "Oh! You are the intruders!" He amplified his voice to maximum intensity.
"ALERT!! ALERT!! ALERT!!" he shouted.
Sharl jumped and covered her ears. "Oh great. Just great."
She raised her blaster at the screeching droid.
"ALERT!! ALERT!! ALE - BZZZZZZZZZZ!"
Sharl looked over her handiwork - smoking parts of Collins scattered around the corridor.
"For some reason I feel a great sense of fulfillment," she muttered.
"Come on!" said Myra, grabbing her sister's hand. "We've got to move in case that bucket of bolts brought the Imperials down on us."
The Lukas sisters ran as fast as they could. Reaching a turbolift, they got in.
"Up or down?" Myra asked.
"Down. They'd expect us to go up."
Myra shrugged. "Okay."
The doors slid shut and they dropped down. However they stopped at level three. The doors opened again and Sharl and Myra lifted their blasters - and found themselves staring down the barrels of Lizzi and Wills' blasters.
"What the hell are you doing here?" snapped Wills. He jumped into the turbolift, Gianna and Lizzi following. Myra keyed for the top level.
"Some droid found us. I blasted him but he was making a hell of a lot of noise," said Sharl. She looked at Gianna. "You okay kid?"
Gianna buried her face in Wills's chest, and started crying again. Sharl opened her mouth to ask what the Imperials had done, but Wills said, "No time for questions. Let's just get back to the ship. The alarm's been sounded and we don't have much time."
M'Ann's comlink started buzzing at about the same time as the alarms started wailing. Marching double pace with two squads of stormtroopers behind her, she keyed it on. "Captain M'Ann."
"M'Ann, we have intruders inside the facility. They've taken Gianna and are heading for the top level," said Lady Katrin. "Disperse the stormtroopers around the landing pad and capture them."
"As ordered," she replied, not bothering with needless questions. "Squads, turn back!" she shouted, running through them to take the lead again. Without slowing, the stormtroopers turned around and headed back to the top level.
M'Ann spoke into her comlink again, her pace more urgent. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, dear. Just get those Rebels. Gianna Drax must be taken alive. As for her would-be rescuers, I want them alive if possible. If not," Lady Katrin paused and M'Ann could easily imagine her mother's grim face. "If not, I'll understand."
They were nearly there. Sharl was in the lead with Myra dragging Gianna just behind. Wills and Lizzi brought up the rear. Any attempt at discretion was abandoned - speed was what mattered now.
They had reached a junction. At the end of it was a large turbolift that led up to the landing bay.
"Come on!" yelled Sharl, bowling over a lone Imperial technician. "Get into the turbolift!"
As they got nearer, the doors of the turbolift opened slowly, revealing two full squads of stormtroopers. Leading them was a lithe, deadly woman dressed in black.
Sharl skidded to a halt, Myra and Gianna bumping into her. Lizzi and Wills were still some meters behind.
"Wrong turn," muttered Sharl. She turned back and pushed Myra and Gianna in front of her. "Go back!" She yelled at Lizzi and Wills. Without argument, they obeyed.
"Get them!" ordered the woman.
The stormtroopers surged past her and took chase.
M'Ann frowned as she caught a glimpse of one of the fleeing backs of the Rebels. One of them seemed familiar.
She shook her head. No matter.
She turned back and took the turbolift up to the landing bay.
Sharl could see the exit in front of her. Pulling Gianna along as fast as she could, she put on a burst of speed. She could hear Myra panting just behind her and further back she could hear more blaster fire as Lizzi and Wills shot off a few wild shots at the stormtroopers, more to discourage pursuit than to actually hit them.
One last obstacle left, thought Sharl desperately as she ducked to avoid another blaster bolt. All they had to clear was the blast door - then they were free.
Behind the stormtroopers a turbolift opened. M'Ann got out, her gray eyes taking in the situation. Smiling grimly, she walked over to a control board and hit one of the keys.
In front of the fleeing Rebels, the blast doors started to close.
"Oh, shavit!" cursed Sharl. "Everyone, quickly!"
The gap slowly closed. Sharl reached it and jumped through. Gianna came next then Myra. All three of them stood on the other side, waving frantically at Lizzi and Wills. "Hurry!"
Wills forced his tired legs to move faster, overtaking Lizzi. He reached the blast doors, their diagonal edges moving closer together, a few stray blaster bolts hitting it.
Suddenly he heard a scream behind him. He glanced back to see Lizzi lying sprawled on the ground, clutching her leg. Smoke rose from where the blaster bolt had burned her uniform. Without thinking, he turned back.
Lizzi looked up at him, her face twisted in pain. "You nerf herder, get out of here!"
"I'm not going to leave you here, Ice Queen," he retorted. He scooped her up in his arms, then turned to look at the blast door.
It had closed.
Frantically, Wills looked around. The stormtroopers were getting closer. Seeing a passage off to his right, he dashed towards it, cradling Lizzi in his arms and ignoring her swearing in his ear.
"Will you shut up?" he snapped after his ears tired of it.
"Stupid piece of ectoplasm, why don't you just drop me and go?" she hissed.
"Hey, you didn't leave me to burn at Hoth, I don't leave you to burn here," he replied. He turned to his left again. "I think this is another way out," he said, seeing dying rays of sunlight at the end of the passage.
He ran again, arms just as tired as his legs but there was no way he was letting go of his burden. Lizzi fell silent and held onto his neck. She looked back to see the white armored stormtroopers coming inexorably towards them.
"Here we are!" gasped Wills. He turned a corner -
- to find his way blocked by a huge transparisteel window that looked onto the landing bay.
They were trapped.
Heavy footsteps were heard behind them. Wills spun around, still holding Lizzi. His heart fell at the sight of so many blasters pointed in their direction. Gently he placed Lizzi on the floor.
Behind him, Lizzi could see flashes of blaster fire around the Askme Cozino. Sharl and Myra easily took out the light guard on the ship and all three females got inside. It wasn't long before the Cozino was burning the atmosphere for open space.
"Goodbye, Sharl, Myra. Farewell, Gianna," whispered Lizzi.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" a mocking voice was heard to say. The ranks of the stormtroopers parted and a black clothed woman stepped through.
Lizzi took in the woman. She had long hair as black as her Imperial uniform with steel-gray eyes, with an air of command that Lizzi had once seen in Wills and had so passionately disliked. She wore her blaster on her leg easily and she smiled with delight at the sight of the two trapped.
At the sight of the Imperial woman, Wills froze.
The smile on the woman's face suddenly disappeared.
"Wills Darcy?" she asked incredulously.
"M'Ann Bourg," said Wills with no hint of pleasure.
"What are you doing here, Wills?" asked M'Ann.
Wills's thoughts raced. He looked at Lizzi who sat half-upright applying pressure to her leg. Her dark eyes were turned towards him, wide-eyed and frightened.
They were going to be captured. That was obvious. But Wills saw one chance at escape - and Lizzi wouldn't like it one bit.
"I'm glad you finally came along, M'Ann," said Wills, voice assuming the authority and tone of his Imperial past. "I couldn't have stopped these Rebels on my own. But you still came too late. You let three of them get away."
M'Ann's gray eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"
Lizzi stared at him. "Wills?" she asked in disbelief.
Wills looked at Lizzi indifferently. "What I'm saying, Lizzi dear, that you have failed. I have completed the mission I was given."
He turned towards the Imperials. "And now finally I can drop this double-agent business and get back to where I have always belonged." He stepped towards M'Ann and bowed with Imperial grace remembered from days gone by and watched M'Ann's face soften with memories of her own.
"To the Empire."
Suddenly Wills drew his blaster and aimed it at Lizzi. He set it on stun, trying to ignore Lizzi's expression of horror.
I'm sorry, Lizzi.
Wills fired.
Lizzi slumped to the floor.