So, just to warn, some more OOC Jorgan in this Chapter. I'll explain it at the end.
Chapter Four: A new Squad?
Everything went according to plan, except, of course, when Novade discovered her teammates. They were standing around an Imperial transport shuttle, talking quietly, but that all of that ceased when Novade approached.
Tavus scowled. "Sergeant, I thought my orders were very clear. You're not supposed to be here."
The click of a blaster barrel cocking snapped through the air. With that click could almost be heard the snapping sound of Novade's broken heart. Wraith's quiet voice sounded from behind Novade. "I will take her."
Tavus held up a hand. "No, Wraith. The Sergeant deserves to know the truth." Tavus sighed deeply, saying, "I had hoped it would not have come to this. I harbor no ill will toward you. You're everything a warrior should be. But I'm afraid that the Republic no longer values her warriors, even the very best among them."
Novade felt her throat start to clog with unshed-tears. "You've fought the Empire for years. Do you really think it's better over there?"
"The Empire respects its warriors, Sergeant. The Republic's top officials, on the other hand, have decided to cast us aside. The truth is that no matter what they may say, the Republic Senate doesn't believe that it can win another war against the Empire. That makes you and I a threat. Every Havoc Squad victory fires up the people's imaginations, fills them with pride- which means that the bureaucrats can't afford to let us keep succeeding."
Novade fiercely shook her head, straight hair whipping around. "We can win, Tavus. We have to win. The Imperials must be defeated."
Tavus's eyes seemed to hold... pity? Why pity? "If only you'd been with us longer, Sergeant. then you would understand, maybe even come with us. The Republic abandoned us. During a mission on Ando Prime, they simply left us to die." The bitter anger in his voice died. "But I won't try to persuade you. Honestly, I hope you die with your ideals intact. The rest of us will never have that luxury."
"It's not too late, Tavus. You can still turn back." Now Novade could hear the chokes in her voice. She was going to start crying soon.
"Turn back to what?" Tavus spat with contempt, though not aimed at her. "A Republic that wants me dead and gone? I think not, Sergeant."
Fuse butted in, sounding smug and sure of himself now. "Oh, and by the way, good work finding the ZR-57 for us. We were starting to worry that the separatists, might, you know, waste our big present for the Empire."
"But thanks to you, we can now present the Empire with this magnificent tool of destruction," finished Needles in his creepy voice.
Novade smirked. "The Imperials won't be very impressed when they realize that the bomb is neutralized."
"A clever bluff, Sergeant, but it won't help you," Tavus laughed.
"We'd better get a move on, boss," Gearbox remarked quietly. "If we don't break atmo in the next few minutes, every gun in the sky will have a clear shot at us."
Nodding at his chief engineer, Tavus said, "Time we were off. Colonel Vorr?" he asked, calling to an Imperial team of three by the doors. "Please give the Sergeant the warrior's death she deserves."
Tears drawing trenches in her fur, Novade spat, "Go ahead and run. Some one's going to catch you eventually."
"It's been an honor serving with you, Sergeant. Goodbye."
Novade barely made it out of the volcano without passing out. She convinced one of the shuttle pilots to take her to Fort Garnik, and she caught an hour's worth of sleep as she made her way back. As she reached Fort Garnik, she realized that it was almost midnight. Treading tiredly to the Havoc Squad barracks, dry sobs were wrenched from Novade's body. The betrayal of Gearbox really hurt, he'd been so nice to her in the beginning. But personal problems aside, Novade realized how bad this was going to be for the Republic.
She trotted past the Male Havoc Barracks where now no one resided but Jorgan. The hum of a computer caught Novade's attention, but was it so peaceful, and she was so done, that it put her to sleep. The heavy thump of her body drew the only person who was in the room- who was, of course, Aric Jorgan. Padding out to see what the noise had been, Aric was shocked to see Sergeant Novade Moran unconscious outside his door. Jorgan gently touched her face. Damp, from tears. Her pulse was hesitant, sometimes erratic. She still had her gun and armor, so she must've just gotten in. Shock, exhaustion and sadness. Aric took a deep breath and did what any honorable man would do.
Jorgan carried Novade back to her room. Gingerly working his arms around her body and rifle, he was mildly surprised at how, even with her armor, light Novade was. She was very small, especially in her sleep. The Lieutenant carefully laid Novade into the only other made bed in the Female Barracks besides Wraith's. The sergeant had barely used it, due to the craziness going on. Jorgan looked almost curiously at Novade's face. As she'd been in his arms, her face had almost looked... content. Safe. As if she was semi-aware of everything happening to her. As his body warmth receded, though, her face began to look troubled. Aric gathered most of the blankets left in the room, never going near Wraith's bed. He laid them over Sergeant Novade, which calmed her a little, but only when his hands brushed over her did she truly looked peaceful.
Hesitantly standing by the bunk, Jorgan wondered whether he had the courage to do something he'd probably never get to do again. Finally, he decided that he did. Leaning down, Aric gently took Novade's head in his hands, pressing his dark lips first on her brow, then the soft pink lips of Sergeant Novade herself. Leaning back after a few seconds, Aric smirked a little at the sheer delight on Novade's unconscious face.
The ginger Cathar looked at her face intently, making note of the patterns in her fur. Smiling, he whispered, "Goodnight, Tiger," and returned silently towards his own bunk, sincerely hoping that Novade didn't remember any of that in the morning. If she did, it would be a lot harder to say good bye.
The next morning, Novade went in to the command centre to make her full report. As she entered the room, she was concerned that there was no one there but Jorgan and an unknown officer, and at all the righteous anger Aric was giving off.
"General, with all due respect, how can you do this? I've served with you in Infantry Command for years," Jorgan snarled as he paced back and forth.
The older man sighed. "That's enough, Jorgan. This wasn't my choice. But a defection this scale- someone has to swing, and the powers that be say it's you."
"What's going on here?" Novade looked distrustfully at the General.
Aric switched his glare to Novade, but he saw her, his anger dimmed a little. "Your squad full of traitors just destroyed my career, Sergeant. Command can't punish them, so they're burning me instead." Jorgan stopped pacing, then was irritably shifting his weight.
The older man looked her over. "You must be our last loyal Havoc member. I'm General Varn, Republic chief of operations on Ord Mantell. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. On behalf of the Republic and the people of Ord Mantell, I want to thank and congratulate you for your courageous actions in disabling the stolen ZR-57. Your heroic efforts have saved countless innocent lives. In recognition of your service, I hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant."
Novade looked guiltily at Jorgan, and with a hollow voice she said, "I'm honored."
"Now, Lieutenant," General Varn said, "As the last remaining member of Havoc Squad, the duty of rebuilding the Squad falls to you. Havoc is your command. To start off the process, I've assigned Sergeant Jorgan to be Havoc Squad's first new member."
"I'm glad to have you in the unit, Jorgan," Lieutenant Novade said, her face brightening.
"I'll take the Havoc patch and sergeant stripes if it means I get to grind them into Tavus's face before we kill him," Jorgan said bitterly.
General Varn saw the new Lieutenant's face fall a little, and decided to try comforting Jorgan himself. "This is the best I can do for you, Jorgan. You're a good man, and we need good people now more that ever. I don't know what Tavus is planning, but he knows the inner workings of our military better than anyone. The destruction he would cause is limitless."
Novade's face darkened. "I won't allow Tavus and the others to harm the Republic, sir."
"Just don't underestimate them, Lieutenant. Tavus and his followers won't be easy to take down. In any case, your work here is done. I've got a shuttle prepped- you're going to Coruscant for your next assignment."
He was satisfied as he saw the new Lieutenant's lips flick upward. "When you arrive, report to the head of SpecForce division, General Garza. She'll be giving you your orders from now on."
"Understood, sir," Aric Jorgan and Novade Moran chorused together.
General Varn smiled a little. "You'd best get to your shuttle. It's waiting at the landing bay. Lieutenant, Sergeant, you're dismissed. I hope we meet again."
To explain the OOC-ness of the next-to-last section:
The way I see it, Jorgan and Novade are both very fond of each other by this stage. To his knowledge, she'll be shipped off Ord Mantell the next day without him. He'll never be able express that fondness again, so he takes advantage of the situation. Now, since he is going with her in Havoc Squad, he'll try and distance himself, because apparently there's rules and regs about these sort of things. To be continued...