Thanks for reading along, Pitdroid and Violet76. :) I know I took Han pretty far OOC in the last chapter. Hopefully, this will explain why. One more chapter to go!
Han Solo couldn't stop remembering now. The images filling his mind churned his gut. In revulsion, he continued vomiting his stomach contents until there was nothing left.
It had been a normal day at the Academy. Hanford Solomon had just completed another training run on one of the simulators. Already, he had logged in twice as much flight time as anyone else in his class. He was looking forward to the morning's language immersion course, dreading Imperial history in the afternoon, when there was a knock on his door.
He palmed the door open to reveal Soontir Fel, another young pilot. "The Dean has called a mandatory meeting. Everyone has to report at once."
"Why?" In the brief time that Hanford had been at the Academy, the Dean had never directly addressed the students.
Fel shrugged. "Everyone's headed to the main assembly hall." Hanford followed his fellow trainee down the corridor.
Indeed, it appeared that the entire Academy was assembled, extra seats hastily arranged and squeezed together to accommodate such a large gathering. Hanford took a spot in the middle of the group. It gave him a good view of the podium, with the Dean waiting behind it. Beside the man stood an empty dais.
"Cadets," the Dean began when everyone had taken a seat. "An incident occurred on campus today that threatens the very integrity of the Academy. Obedience, discipline, and loyalty are the foundations of this institution. You are the future of the Imperial Navy. Your behavior must comply with the strictest guidelines set forth by the Emperor. Duplicity will not be tolerated."
Hanford shifted uncomfortably in the folding chair and wondered how long this little motivational speech was going to take.
"It has come to my attention that there are dissenters in our midst. Unlike you, my dutiful students, these traitors have no loyalty. They are brainwashed to disobey. We must stop them." He paused for effect. "They must be reprogrammed to behave. It is for their own safety."
With that, the Dean gestured toward the door. Two stormtroopers carried in a girl, one on either side of her, holding her up by the arms. She was tiny, wearing an ivory-colored dress with matching white boots. Despite her small size, she wasn't making it easy for the stormtroopers. She fought like a wampa, dark tresses flailing in all directions, snarling at the Dean. Kicking one of her captors in the groin, she yelled, "I hate you! Let me go!"
"This girl," the Dean said, "is a prime example of what can happen to a child without proper discipline and training." He cast a disparaging glance at his captive. "Despite her young age, she is both a traitor and a spy. She was found carrying anti-Imperial propaganda on campus. At the time of her arrest, she was speaking out against the Emperor and seeking to incite a riot."
A collective gasp arose from the group, followed by jeers and catcalls. Hanford was surprised by such anger toward the girl. She was barely into her teens, if that. The girl reminded him of himself at a younger age, tough and wary.
"Fortunately, a student alerted me to her plans. He is to be commended. She has shown no remorse for her actions. She must be made to understand the consequences of this treason." The Dean paused as the stormtroopers placed the girl on the dais. With the punch of a button, an energy shield surrounded her. She made the mistake of throwing a punch in the Dean's direction. Her resounding shriek echoed throughout the hall as she rubbed her fist, wincing in pain.
"That'll show her," the young man sitting next to Hanford said with a grin.
Another man nodded. "She needs to learn some respect."
Hanford found himself increasingly uncomfortable with this display. What was wrong with these people? She was just a child. Hanford thought back to his days aboard the pirate ship. It had never been his idea to be a pickpocket and a thief; Shrike had simply beat it into him. She's no different, he thought. Her parents raised her to be rebellious. Why not punish them?
As if the Dean could read his mind, the man continued, "Her father must also be taught a lesson. For next time, were she to be caught again, she will face execution. I have saved her from such a destiny." He paused for effect.
The energy shield vanished, and the girl lunged at the Dean. Her cry of pain was audible as a mild stun shot reached her from a curious-looking round floating droid moving toward the dais. Hanford squinted at the unit from his vantage point. Was there a needle attached to that thing?
"This device will ensure her compliance and complete her reprogramming. Now, Lelila, will you bow before the Emperor?"
"Never!" she shrieked. A thin flare of electricity shot out of the probe and crackled over her skin. Hanford was close enough to smell singed hair. He felt sick. The girl wailed and began to cry for her Daddy. The students around him snickered.
With a solemn nod to the assembly, the Dean added, "She must learn obedience. She shall serve her Master well."
"I will never serve the Emperor! Never!"
Hanford flinched as another flare hit the girl. He could well remember his beatings at the hands of Shrike. He had seen enough.
Slipping out of the meeting room, Hanford ran toward his quarters, feeling queasy. What had he gotten himself into? Was the promise of a warm bed and a steady paycheck worth this? But he knew the answer: he was young, uneducated, and untrained. He had no where else to go.
Thankfully, the corridors leading to the student quarters were empty, with everyone else at the meeting. Hanford threw himself onto his bed, cursing his weakness. His stomach roiled. Why hadn't he stood up for her? He was good with a blaster and she was only a child.
If it ever happens again, he promised himself, I won't stand by. No one will get tortured on my watch. But even as he whispered the words to himself, Hanford Solomon wondered. Do I have the courage to be that brave?
