The Acquaintance
By Bandersnatch
Disclaimer: I do not own star wars and I am respectfully borrowing the concept. Eh-Ron, Karah, Loki, Ecresi and Mischeia are property of 13th Halo Moon Production Studios.
The tension was tight around the small table where she sat with her friends, Loki McKolens and Mischeia, playing sabacc. Eh-Ron knew she could win this; she just had to be careful. Loki looked around; there was no give in any face to show what cards they might possess. Eh-Ron then laid down her hand while Mischeia and Loki followed in suit.
"Idiot's array" Eh-Ron announced. Loki sighed and leaned over to Mischeia whispering loudly "At least she's got one part right". Eh-Ron gave her a look and rolled her eyes.
"Beginner's luck" Loki said as she put the sabacc cards back in their red case and threw them towards Eh-Ron's desk, narrowly missing her lightsaber which was on a rack above it. Eh-Ron walked across her quarters to flop down on her sleep couch. "Guess the Force wasn't with you this time". Loki raised an eyebrow and sighed dramatically.
There was silence for awhile, and Loki wandered around the room.(Or something like that, cause the next thing just comes out of the blue...)
"I wonder if Karah Jinn would ever pick us as apprentices," Loki wondered as she walked toward the window "She just came back from a mission and the rumor is that she is looking to take on an apprentice."
"I really don't care," Eh-Ron said wearily, picking up her data pad from the floor. She wasn't about to trust her fate as a Jedi to one person.
"Well, there's still some hope" Loki said. She really wanted someone to take her on as an apprentice. She needed to learn from someone. While Eh- Ron had no problem with teaching herself from books, Loki knew there were disadvantages to this. Her thoughts where interrupted as a rap came from the entrance to Eh-Ron's quarters.
"Enter," Eh-Ron said without glancing at the door. The door slid open with a hiss and Jedi Knight Karah Jinn appeared in the door. She had a smile on her usually serious face.
"Initiate Kenobi, McKolens. Can I speak with you for a moment?" she asked.
"Sure," said Loki. She could tell that master's smile betrayed a secret.
"Well I know who is going to take you two on as apprentices" she said, her smile widening as Loki's face grew curious. That had caught her attention.
"Who?" Loki asked.
"Well," she paused, "I am". Loki stood in shock while Eh-Ron finally turned from her data pad to regard Karah for the first time since she had entered. Instead of happiness or shock Karah sensed something else there. But she couldn't be sure...
Loki recovered sooner than Eh-Ron and turned to her with a grin, "Who's the Force with now?". (Even thought it doesn't say it, you *know* they must have bet some money on this...)
"Pack your bags; we have to leave on a mission tomorrow. Master Luke assigned it to us." She then walked out the door, which closed with a hiss after her.
"Lucky," muttered Mischeia as she walked out the door.
"Not so, my friend, not so," Eh-Ron said almost inaudibly, starring out at the last rays of sunlight, the stars beginning to twinkle in the Lavender sky. She unconsciously found herself searching for Tatoo I and II, the suns of her home-planet. Loki watched her friend lose herself in her nightly ritual before beginning their age-old argument.
"What is your problem, Eh-Ron?" she asked with an exasperated sigh.
"You know where I stand on this subject," Eh-Ron said indifferently.
"We'll finally be able to see the galaxy and use our powers to help bring justice!"
"How can we trust her? We only know her by reputation. How can you be so willing to trust her?" Eh-Ron asked rising from the sleepcouch, an unusual fire burning in her eyes.
"Ye a little faith," Loki chided, "I can feel that she can be trusted,".
"I'm glad you can find trusting so easy but I cannot," Eh-Ron whispered. Loki then knew what was troubling her friend so.
"Eh-Ron, that happened a long time ago. When are you going to get over it?" Eh-Ron stared at Loki; her reaction was if Loki had just slapped her. She slowly turned her gaze back to the stars.
"Why do you ask questions to which you already know the answer?"
(Is this before or after Eh-Ron regains her memory!?)
Chapter II
"Again I must ask, why did we bring Mischeia along?" Eh-Ron asked with an exasperated sigh. Mischeia was getting on everyone's nerves. Karah strained to control her coreillan temper.
"For one, Master Luke said she was to come along as a, learning experience and two..." she paused as she threw a glance a Mischeia, "Target Practice".
"Hey, does anyone want to play a round of sabacc?" Mischeia asked. Karah turned and glared at Mischeia. Mischeia's eyes widened and she ran out of the cockpit. Karah turned and relaxed in her chair as everyone gave various approvals.
"This is a standard mission," said Karah, "Make sure the negotiations go well and no one is assassinated. We'll come down to Bastion in about three standard days".
The trip on the Coronet Knight continued through hyperspace with no mishaps. Only one thing, Mischeia slept the whole way! Karah thought it must be something in the water, Loki and Eh-Ron made sure a full glass was readily available for Mischeia at all times.
Chapter 3
Loki watched as the Knight pulled out of hyperspace and the white tunnel faded to shards and the blackness of real space took over. But what she saw made her start, shaking her to her very core. There was an Interdictor, several Super Star Destroyers and three flights of TIE fighters sitting in front of Bastion.
Damn, Loki thought. This mission wasn't off to a pleasant start.
"Master! You'd better come see this, now!" she added for emphasis. Karah bolted into the helm with Eh-Ron and Mischeia not far behind.
"Sithspawn!" Karah hissed as she looked out the view port but even as she did the radar beeped ominously as TIE's closed in. The Imperial remnant? No, it couldn't be, they wouldn't provoke the New Republic like this, and their lines didn't extend this far. Laser fire rocked the ship.
"Mischeia, Loki get to the laser cannons. Yes, Eh-Ron I realize that your ship is in the hold, go power it up and get out there," said Karah. Mischeia, Eh-Ron and Loki turned and bolted out the door. Loki ran to the upper cannon. She picked up the headpiece and fired up the lasers. It boomed to life and Loki grabbed the handles.
Mischeia swung hers upward and began firing at the TIE's that where screaming by. Letting the Force take hold she was blasting every ship that came her way. Two more TIES exploded as one crashed into its wing mate. A shadow fell over the ship and Loki looked up to see the white hull of an Interdictor cruiser.
Eh-Ron slid down the ladder into the hold as Loki and Mischeia ran for the guns. She hit the release canopy for the E-Wing and swung herself in. She heard the canopy lock as she began to power up the ships twin sub- light engines. The repulsor lifts fired and she hit the throttle, blasting out of the hold. Eh-Ron pulled upwards so she could get a scope on the fight. There were two flights of TIEs left. She barrel-rolled into their midst, dialing down the inertial compensator and began firing.
"Indigo, get a lock on the Interdictor's bridge," Eh-Ron Shouted. Indigo whistled in reply and began to get a lock. The E-Wing was suddenly jerked back wards, now caught in the tractor beam of the ship.
Mischeia ran to the helm of the ship to find no one there.
"What?" she wondered aloud. Mischeia began to walk down the hall but as she reached the center she was grabbed from behind and pulled downward. Mischeia landed with a thud on the floor and heard metal slide in place overhead. Karah put a finger to her lips and pointed upwards. At that very moment they heard someone walking overhead and talking.
"There should be someone here! An unmanned ship can't destroy three flights of TIE's! I want a scanner brought in her to check for life forms," said a woman's voice.
"Yes Ma'am," came a man's reply. The Jedi heard him walk away but the woman didn't move.
"I know your here scum," she whispered to herself and then they heard her footsteps fade away as she left the ship. Karah breathed then, unaware that she had been holding her breath this whole time. She looked to Mischeia and nodded. They reached up and lifted the section of metal that was the door to a secret compartment. Another section lifted down the hallway, they saw Loki's head appeared. Then they heard boots click and the woman came around the corner with a blaster in hand. Karah reached for her saber, brought it up and ignited it in one swift movement. Everyone else did the same the same.
"A pack of Jedi have we? Well, I hope you enjoy your stay" she said, her voice ice. She turned on her heels and walked out of our sight, only to be replaced by a series of storm troopers, all the sabers then went out.
"What..." Mischeia said in amazement.
"Power drain," said Karah. They weren't going to be going anywhere now. The troopers held out what looked like a blaster but its actual use was to drain power from weapons at a close range. The troopers moved in and took the Jedi's weapons.
"Move out," he commanded and with rifles pressed to the Jedi's backs they were lead out into the hanger. Karah saw Eh-Ron's ship located across the hanger. A group of storm troopers stood around it, a brown form was on the floor in front of them. One of the stormtroopers raised a leather whip, about to whip the young women.
"Stop!" said the woman. The stormtrooper stopped in mid-motion at her command. She walked over and grabbed Eh-Ron by her ponytail, hauling her off the floor.
"I promised I'd deal with you," She seethed at Eh-Ron.
What did you do to her? asked Loki.
I backhanded her Eh-Ron said in an offhand manner.
"Scum like you is unfit to walk this ship's deck!" Ecresi yelled.
"You son of a-" Eh-Ron bit her tongue as she received a venomous glare from Karah. "Well I'm not too fond of you either Ecresi," Eh-Ron said sarcastically.
"You seem quite familiar scum, I recognize that sass," she murmured. "From when I was on Tatooine, the wasteland". She stared and her eyes widened, "Eh-Ron!" she yelled in triumph, "Scum is a compliment for you. How could a low slicer like you reach the rank of Jedi?" Karah gave Eh-Ron a look of surprise and then glanced at Ecresi, confused. An Imperial Admiral knew Eh-Ron? Eh-Ron had been something of a criminal on Tatooine but not enough of one to get notice higher than the local police.
"Well, obviously not by back stabbing my way there like you did as I remember," Eh-Ron said with an edge in her voice.
"Looking for filth is my specialty," Ecresi said coldly.
Checked in the mirror lately? Thought Mischeia to Loki. Loki rolled her eyes in response.
"Looks like you failed to find any," Eh-Ron hissed at Ecresi.
"We'll just interrogate you first, and it will be my pleasure, we'll make sure it's memorable," then leaning closer she whispered, "If you thought the first torture I administered to you was bad you had better think again,". Eh-Ron's head snapped up, now under own power and spat in Ecresi's face. Ecresi took her blaster from its holster, throwing Eh-Ron back against a TIE. She aimed and Eh-Ron crumpled to the floor. Loki and Karah exchanged glances.
Well this is going to be fun, thought Loki.
Chap. 4
Loki, Mischeia and Karah sat on the cold floor of the cell with more than enough storm troopers outside. Eh-Ron was still not back from interrogation; it had already been too long for a normal session. What worried Karah the most was that she could only faintly feel Eh-Ron's presence through the Force. Loki and Mischeia showed their nervousness even more than Karah thought they wished to. As far as she knew they hadn't been through any sort of interrogation before, or any had any training with the drugs they used to get what they wanted out of you. Karah shivered at the thought, even the bravest Jedi knew interrogation was no pleasant ordeal. They lifted their heads as yet another scream was heard from down the hallway.
How could she know that admiral? Loki thought to herself. She had obviously known her well enough to insult her. The thought of her being dragged down the hall after being stunned was not going to be a fond memory.
The door hissed open and storm troopers came in and put electro-cuffs on their wrists. Karah, Loki and Mischeia were filed out and lead down the hallway. The screams grew louder as they came closer to the interrogation room. The door slid open and they saw Eh-Ron's limp form hanging from the interrogation table.
Eh-Ron lifted her head as her nerves quieted down enough to think. She saw Master Karah, Loki and Mischeia being led into the room. Eh-Ron's head lolled back to where it was, how she raised it she could only imagine. Again the pain raced through her nerves in the form of coldness. Eh-Ron screamed helplessly, no meditation could block this out. As the coldness left she saw Mischeia and Loki wince. Eh-Ron had only felt the pain of this machine under the direction of Ecresi once before, but had been lucky to escape. Ecresi had kept her promise; she had psychologically tortured her instead of physically.
The restraints that held Eh-Ron let go and she fell into a lifeless heap to the floor. Loki reached out to her friend but found no response. Admiral Ecresi Mourtier then walked in, the red uniform of admiral showing brightly against the white and grays of the room.
Eh-Ron! Are you all right? Asked Karah through telepathy. Eh-Ron was too weak to even move her head, much less give a reply. She groaned loudly as she received a sharp kick in the stomach and rolled over onto her back from the force of it. Eh-Ron looked up to see Ecresi's icy stare.
"Well Eh-Ron, we happen to have something you want. Very badly I think," She sneered as she lifted up a data card.
"Your history is on this data card. You could tell us what you know, or we could hook you back up to the interrogator" she hissed.
"I know you want this, just tell me what you know" she said, holding the data card out.
Eh-Ron knew she was lying. The old databanks with that information had been burned recently. She received another kick from Ecresi and cried out again.
Eh-Ron! Hold on! Pleaded Karah.
"Admiral-" she began.
"NO, stop don't tell that b---h any-" Eh-Ron stopped as a blaster was pressed to her skull.
"Insult me again Eh-Ron and I'll throw you to the sarlacc!" Ecresi yelled in a rage. Eh-Ron could feel her quivering with anger.
"Send those three back to the cell," she said motioning to Loki, Mischeia, and Eh-Ron, "Interrogate this one-"she said pointing to Karah.
Ecresi then walked over to Eh-Ron and injected her with a soporific drug. Eh-Ron struggled to keep consciousness and then fell into a dreamless sleep. Two stormtroopers came and began to pull Mischeia and Loki away. Loki resisted, looking back towards Karah.
"Go," said Karah quietly. Loki gave a short nod and allowed herself to be led away. Meanwhile a stormtrooper was taking Eh-Ron out the door.
"Can we go home now?" Mischeia asked darkly as they continued down the hallway.
"Mischeia, if you don't shut up the Imperials won't have to go through the trouble of killing you!" Loki said to Mischeia through clenched teeth. Mischeia rolled her eyes to the ceiling wondering just what she had gotten herself into.
Chapter IV
Eh-Ron moaned slightly, waking from the drug-induced sleep. She tried to pull herself up but only succeeded in twitching her back muscles. She looked up to see the worried eyes of Mischeia and Loki.
"Master Karah hasn't regained conciseness yet, she was just brought back from the interrogation," Loki said quietly. At that very moment they heard moan and curse from further into the darkness.
"That was definitely NOT a pleasant experience," moaned Karah. They then heard a scraping as Karah hit the floor after unsuccessfully trying to stand.
"Great, it had stun elements in it," muttered Karah. How could they escape if two of them were not even capable of standing?
At that moment Eh-Ron felt a presence, not evil but, familiar. She looked up to see a man. He leaned down to whisper; "You are a Kenobi, dear sister". Then he kneeled and said "Tell them what they want to know, Imperial," he said with a wink. He then faded away and she was left feeling stunned.
"Eh-Ron? Hello... Eh-Ron?" said Loki. Mischeia gave Eh-Ron a kick in the side, provoking a curse. It looked like she had gone into some sort of trance.
Imperial? Eh-Ron thought. He insulted me why that- Wait Imperial? That's it! The only way to escape death...
"Don't speak to me that way Jedi," she snapped at Loki. Karah sat up with a start. She couldn't have heard that.
"Eh-Ron?" she started feeling more than a bit worried.
"You left me in that interrogation to die! What type of Master lets her apprentice die a painful death?!" Eh-Ron yelled. Karah stopped for a moment to get her Coreillan temper under control.
"Eh-Ron, think of what-" she started.
"Maybe the dark side is a better choice than the Jedi scum," she sneered.
"Eh-Ron, what's the matter? Your safe now," assured Loki. But she could tell it was more than that, Eh-Ron wasn't acting. And if she was it was too good to tell.
"You left me to die! What type of friend leaves a friend to die? You had no thoughts at all to try and come rescue me? How lovely. Three pitiful excuses for what you call justice. You really are the scum you're called" she taunted. Loki stood up momentarily losing control of her temper. She reached for Eh-Ron and grabbed her by her tunic but she was thrown back by a Force push. She slammed into the wall and fell to the floor of the cell. She couldn't possibly be acting; there was far too much hate...
"Do not touch me filth," Eh-Ron snapped.
"Know you can never replay your decision," said Master Karah in a voice that did not seem to allow defiance.
"I don't need you to tell me that Jedi," Eh-Ron mocked. Eh-Ron pulled herself further in the darkness and than said quietly to herself, "Time to speak to Ecresi".
By Bandersnatch
Disclaimer: I do not own star wars and I am respectfully borrowing the concept. Eh-Ron, Karah, Loki, Ecresi and Mischeia are property of 13th Halo Moon Production Studios.
The tension was tight around the small table where she sat with her friends, Loki McKolens and Mischeia, playing sabacc. Eh-Ron knew she could win this; she just had to be careful. Loki looked around; there was no give in any face to show what cards they might possess. Eh-Ron then laid down her hand while Mischeia and Loki followed in suit.
"Idiot's array" Eh-Ron announced. Loki sighed and leaned over to Mischeia whispering loudly "At least she's got one part right". Eh-Ron gave her a look and rolled her eyes.
"Beginner's luck" Loki said as she put the sabacc cards back in their red case and threw them towards Eh-Ron's desk, narrowly missing her lightsaber which was on a rack above it. Eh-Ron walked across her quarters to flop down on her sleep couch. "Guess the Force wasn't with you this time". Loki raised an eyebrow and sighed dramatically.
There was silence for awhile, and Loki wandered around the room.(Or something like that, cause the next thing just comes out of the blue...)
"I wonder if Karah Jinn would ever pick us as apprentices," Loki wondered as she walked toward the window "She just came back from a mission and the rumor is that she is looking to take on an apprentice."
"I really don't care," Eh-Ron said wearily, picking up her data pad from the floor. She wasn't about to trust her fate as a Jedi to one person.
"Well, there's still some hope" Loki said. She really wanted someone to take her on as an apprentice. She needed to learn from someone. While Eh- Ron had no problem with teaching herself from books, Loki knew there were disadvantages to this. Her thoughts where interrupted as a rap came from the entrance to Eh-Ron's quarters.
"Enter," Eh-Ron said without glancing at the door. The door slid open with a hiss and Jedi Knight Karah Jinn appeared in the door. She had a smile on her usually serious face.
"Initiate Kenobi, McKolens. Can I speak with you for a moment?" she asked.
"Sure," said Loki. She could tell that master's smile betrayed a secret.
"Well I know who is going to take you two on as apprentices" she said, her smile widening as Loki's face grew curious. That had caught her attention.
"Who?" Loki asked.
"Well," she paused, "I am". Loki stood in shock while Eh-Ron finally turned from her data pad to regard Karah for the first time since she had entered. Instead of happiness or shock Karah sensed something else there. But she couldn't be sure...
Loki recovered sooner than Eh-Ron and turned to her with a grin, "Who's the Force with now?". (Even thought it doesn't say it, you *know* they must have bet some money on this...)
"Pack your bags; we have to leave on a mission tomorrow. Master Luke assigned it to us." She then walked out the door, which closed with a hiss after her.
"Lucky," muttered Mischeia as she walked out the door.
"Not so, my friend, not so," Eh-Ron said almost inaudibly, starring out at the last rays of sunlight, the stars beginning to twinkle in the Lavender sky. She unconsciously found herself searching for Tatoo I and II, the suns of her home-planet. Loki watched her friend lose herself in her nightly ritual before beginning their age-old argument.
"What is your problem, Eh-Ron?" she asked with an exasperated sigh.
"You know where I stand on this subject," Eh-Ron said indifferently.
"We'll finally be able to see the galaxy and use our powers to help bring justice!"
"How can we trust her? We only know her by reputation. How can you be so willing to trust her?" Eh-Ron asked rising from the sleepcouch, an unusual fire burning in her eyes.
"Ye a little faith," Loki chided, "I can feel that she can be trusted,".
"I'm glad you can find trusting so easy but I cannot," Eh-Ron whispered. Loki then knew what was troubling her friend so.
"Eh-Ron, that happened a long time ago. When are you going to get over it?" Eh-Ron stared at Loki; her reaction was if Loki had just slapped her. She slowly turned her gaze back to the stars.
"Why do you ask questions to which you already know the answer?"
(Is this before or after Eh-Ron regains her memory!?)
Chapter II
"Again I must ask, why did we bring Mischeia along?" Eh-Ron asked with an exasperated sigh. Mischeia was getting on everyone's nerves. Karah strained to control her coreillan temper.
"For one, Master Luke said she was to come along as a, learning experience and two..." she paused as she threw a glance a Mischeia, "Target Practice".
"Hey, does anyone want to play a round of sabacc?" Mischeia asked. Karah turned and glared at Mischeia. Mischeia's eyes widened and she ran out of the cockpit. Karah turned and relaxed in her chair as everyone gave various approvals.
"This is a standard mission," said Karah, "Make sure the negotiations go well and no one is assassinated. We'll come down to Bastion in about three standard days".
The trip on the Coronet Knight continued through hyperspace with no mishaps. Only one thing, Mischeia slept the whole way! Karah thought it must be something in the water, Loki and Eh-Ron made sure a full glass was readily available for Mischeia at all times.
Chapter 3
Loki watched as the Knight pulled out of hyperspace and the white tunnel faded to shards and the blackness of real space took over. But what she saw made her start, shaking her to her very core. There was an Interdictor, several Super Star Destroyers and three flights of TIE fighters sitting in front of Bastion.
Damn, Loki thought. This mission wasn't off to a pleasant start.
"Master! You'd better come see this, now!" she added for emphasis. Karah bolted into the helm with Eh-Ron and Mischeia not far behind.
"Sithspawn!" Karah hissed as she looked out the view port but even as she did the radar beeped ominously as TIE's closed in. The Imperial remnant? No, it couldn't be, they wouldn't provoke the New Republic like this, and their lines didn't extend this far. Laser fire rocked the ship.
"Mischeia, Loki get to the laser cannons. Yes, Eh-Ron I realize that your ship is in the hold, go power it up and get out there," said Karah. Mischeia, Eh-Ron and Loki turned and bolted out the door. Loki ran to the upper cannon. She picked up the headpiece and fired up the lasers. It boomed to life and Loki grabbed the handles.
Mischeia swung hers upward and began firing at the TIE's that where screaming by. Letting the Force take hold she was blasting every ship that came her way. Two more TIES exploded as one crashed into its wing mate. A shadow fell over the ship and Loki looked up to see the white hull of an Interdictor cruiser.
Eh-Ron slid down the ladder into the hold as Loki and Mischeia ran for the guns. She hit the release canopy for the E-Wing and swung herself in. She heard the canopy lock as she began to power up the ships twin sub- light engines. The repulsor lifts fired and she hit the throttle, blasting out of the hold. Eh-Ron pulled upwards so she could get a scope on the fight. There were two flights of TIEs left. She barrel-rolled into their midst, dialing down the inertial compensator and began firing.
"Indigo, get a lock on the Interdictor's bridge," Eh-Ron Shouted. Indigo whistled in reply and began to get a lock. The E-Wing was suddenly jerked back wards, now caught in the tractor beam of the ship.
Mischeia ran to the helm of the ship to find no one there.
"What?" she wondered aloud. Mischeia began to walk down the hall but as she reached the center she was grabbed from behind and pulled downward. Mischeia landed with a thud on the floor and heard metal slide in place overhead. Karah put a finger to her lips and pointed upwards. At that very moment they heard someone walking overhead and talking.
"There should be someone here! An unmanned ship can't destroy three flights of TIE's! I want a scanner brought in her to check for life forms," said a woman's voice.
"Yes Ma'am," came a man's reply. The Jedi heard him walk away but the woman didn't move.
"I know your here scum," she whispered to herself and then they heard her footsteps fade away as she left the ship. Karah breathed then, unaware that she had been holding her breath this whole time. She looked to Mischeia and nodded. They reached up and lifted the section of metal that was the door to a secret compartment. Another section lifted down the hallway, they saw Loki's head appeared. Then they heard boots click and the woman came around the corner with a blaster in hand. Karah reached for her saber, brought it up and ignited it in one swift movement. Everyone else did the same the same.
"A pack of Jedi have we? Well, I hope you enjoy your stay" she said, her voice ice. She turned on her heels and walked out of our sight, only to be replaced by a series of storm troopers, all the sabers then went out.
"What..." Mischeia said in amazement.
"Power drain," said Karah. They weren't going to be going anywhere now. The troopers held out what looked like a blaster but its actual use was to drain power from weapons at a close range. The troopers moved in and took the Jedi's weapons.
"Move out," he commanded and with rifles pressed to the Jedi's backs they were lead out into the hanger. Karah saw Eh-Ron's ship located across the hanger. A group of storm troopers stood around it, a brown form was on the floor in front of them. One of the stormtroopers raised a leather whip, about to whip the young women.
"Stop!" said the woman. The stormtrooper stopped in mid-motion at her command. She walked over and grabbed Eh-Ron by her ponytail, hauling her off the floor.
"I promised I'd deal with you," She seethed at Eh-Ron.
What did you do to her? asked Loki.
I backhanded her Eh-Ron said in an offhand manner.
"Scum like you is unfit to walk this ship's deck!" Ecresi yelled.
"You son of a-" Eh-Ron bit her tongue as she received a venomous glare from Karah. "Well I'm not too fond of you either Ecresi," Eh-Ron said sarcastically.
"You seem quite familiar scum, I recognize that sass," she murmured. "From when I was on Tatooine, the wasteland". She stared and her eyes widened, "Eh-Ron!" she yelled in triumph, "Scum is a compliment for you. How could a low slicer like you reach the rank of Jedi?" Karah gave Eh-Ron a look of surprise and then glanced at Ecresi, confused. An Imperial Admiral knew Eh-Ron? Eh-Ron had been something of a criminal on Tatooine but not enough of one to get notice higher than the local police.
"Well, obviously not by back stabbing my way there like you did as I remember," Eh-Ron said with an edge in her voice.
"Looking for filth is my specialty," Ecresi said coldly.
Checked in the mirror lately? Thought Mischeia to Loki. Loki rolled her eyes in response.
"Looks like you failed to find any," Eh-Ron hissed at Ecresi.
"We'll just interrogate you first, and it will be my pleasure, we'll make sure it's memorable," then leaning closer she whispered, "If you thought the first torture I administered to you was bad you had better think again,". Eh-Ron's head snapped up, now under own power and spat in Ecresi's face. Ecresi took her blaster from its holster, throwing Eh-Ron back against a TIE. She aimed and Eh-Ron crumpled to the floor. Loki and Karah exchanged glances.
Well this is going to be fun, thought Loki.
Chap. 4
Loki, Mischeia and Karah sat on the cold floor of the cell with more than enough storm troopers outside. Eh-Ron was still not back from interrogation; it had already been too long for a normal session. What worried Karah the most was that she could only faintly feel Eh-Ron's presence through the Force. Loki and Mischeia showed their nervousness even more than Karah thought they wished to. As far as she knew they hadn't been through any sort of interrogation before, or any had any training with the drugs they used to get what they wanted out of you. Karah shivered at the thought, even the bravest Jedi knew interrogation was no pleasant ordeal. They lifted their heads as yet another scream was heard from down the hallway.
How could she know that admiral? Loki thought to herself. She had obviously known her well enough to insult her. The thought of her being dragged down the hall after being stunned was not going to be a fond memory.
The door hissed open and storm troopers came in and put electro-cuffs on their wrists. Karah, Loki and Mischeia were filed out and lead down the hallway. The screams grew louder as they came closer to the interrogation room. The door slid open and they saw Eh-Ron's limp form hanging from the interrogation table.
Eh-Ron lifted her head as her nerves quieted down enough to think. She saw Master Karah, Loki and Mischeia being led into the room. Eh-Ron's head lolled back to where it was, how she raised it she could only imagine. Again the pain raced through her nerves in the form of coldness. Eh-Ron screamed helplessly, no meditation could block this out. As the coldness left she saw Mischeia and Loki wince. Eh-Ron had only felt the pain of this machine under the direction of Ecresi once before, but had been lucky to escape. Ecresi had kept her promise; she had psychologically tortured her instead of physically.
The restraints that held Eh-Ron let go and she fell into a lifeless heap to the floor. Loki reached out to her friend but found no response. Admiral Ecresi Mourtier then walked in, the red uniform of admiral showing brightly against the white and grays of the room.
Eh-Ron! Are you all right? Asked Karah through telepathy. Eh-Ron was too weak to even move her head, much less give a reply. She groaned loudly as she received a sharp kick in the stomach and rolled over onto her back from the force of it. Eh-Ron looked up to see Ecresi's icy stare.
"Well Eh-Ron, we happen to have something you want. Very badly I think," She sneered as she lifted up a data card.
"Your history is on this data card. You could tell us what you know, or we could hook you back up to the interrogator" she hissed.
"I know you want this, just tell me what you know" she said, holding the data card out.
Eh-Ron knew she was lying. The old databanks with that information had been burned recently. She received another kick from Ecresi and cried out again.
Eh-Ron! Hold on! Pleaded Karah.
"Admiral-" she began.
"NO, stop don't tell that b---h any-" Eh-Ron stopped as a blaster was pressed to her skull.
"Insult me again Eh-Ron and I'll throw you to the sarlacc!" Ecresi yelled in a rage. Eh-Ron could feel her quivering with anger.
"Send those three back to the cell," she said motioning to Loki, Mischeia, and Eh-Ron, "Interrogate this one-"she said pointing to Karah.
Ecresi then walked over to Eh-Ron and injected her with a soporific drug. Eh-Ron struggled to keep consciousness and then fell into a dreamless sleep. Two stormtroopers came and began to pull Mischeia and Loki away. Loki resisted, looking back towards Karah.
"Go," said Karah quietly. Loki gave a short nod and allowed herself to be led away. Meanwhile a stormtrooper was taking Eh-Ron out the door.
"Can we go home now?" Mischeia asked darkly as they continued down the hallway.
"Mischeia, if you don't shut up the Imperials won't have to go through the trouble of killing you!" Loki said to Mischeia through clenched teeth. Mischeia rolled her eyes to the ceiling wondering just what she had gotten herself into.
Chapter IV
Eh-Ron moaned slightly, waking from the drug-induced sleep. She tried to pull herself up but only succeeded in twitching her back muscles. She looked up to see the worried eyes of Mischeia and Loki.
"Master Karah hasn't regained conciseness yet, she was just brought back from the interrogation," Loki said quietly. At that very moment they heard moan and curse from further into the darkness.
"That was definitely NOT a pleasant experience," moaned Karah. They then heard a scraping as Karah hit the floor after unsuccessfully trying to stand.
"Great, it had stun elements in it," muttered Karah. How could they escape if two of them were not even capable of standing?
At that moment Eh-Ron felt a presence, not evil but, familiar. She looked up to see a man. He leaned down to whisper; "You are a Kenobi, dear sister". Then he kneeled and said "Tell them what they want to know, Imperial," he said with a wink. He then faded away and she was left feeling stunned.
"Eh-Ron? Hello... Eh-Ron?" said Loki. Mischeia gave Eh-Ron a kick in the side, provoking a curse. It looked like she had gone into some sort of trance.
Imperial? Eh-Ron thought. He insulted me why that- Wait Imperial? That's it! The only way to escape death...
"Don't speak to me that way Jedi," she snapped at Loki. Karah sat up with a start. She couldn't have heard that.
"Eh-Ron?" she started feeling more than a bit worried.
"You left me in that interrogation to die! What type of Master lets her apprentice die a painful death?!" Eh-Ron yelled. Karah stopped for a moment to get her Coreillan temper under control.
"Eh-Ron, think of what-" she started.
"Maybe the dark side is a better choice than the Jedi scum," she sneered.
"Eh-Ron, what's the matter? Your safe now," assured Loki. But she could tell it was more than that, Eh-Ron wasn't acting. And if she was it was too good to tell.
"You left me to die! What type of friend leaves a friend to die? You had no thoughts at all to try and come rescue me? How lovely. Three pitiful excuses for what you call justice. You really are the scum you're called" she taunted. Loki stood up momentarily losing control of her temper. She reached for Eh-Ron and grabbed her by her tunic but she was thrown back by a Force push. She slammed into the wall and fell to the floor of the cell. She couldn't possibly be acting; there was far too much hate...
"Do not touch me filth," Eh-Ron snapped.
"Know you can never replay your decision," said Master Karah in a voice that did not seem to allow defiance.
"I don't need you to tell me that Jedi," Eh-Ron mocked. Eh-Ron pulled herself further in the darkness and than said quietly to herself, "Time to speak to Ecresi".