Beyond the Borders: Unknown Regions Part 6
The Past: The Chimaera
"When the Engines are ready, which way do you suggest Captain?" Thrawn asked Ezra, wanting Ezra to use his abilities to guide them on the right path. Thrawn had seen it too often that those that used the Force seemed to know the best approach and course.
Closing his eyes, Ezra stretched out and after a few moments gave a slight smile. "To Starboard, I do not know why but it seems the right way for us to go."
"Then Starboard it is, Ensign Malakaa set the course and as soon as able Half Sub-Light Speed." Thrawn ordered as the Helmsman set the course and moved the Chimaera along the Cluster, several million kilometers from it. Ezra had already reported that it would take two weeks for Dillon to retrofit the Hyperdrive to functional level.
Five hours later; Ezra wearily made his way to his quarters, Lara was waiting. Opening the door, she followed him in. Throwing his hat across the room, he removed his boots and saw that she had removed her own cap and boots. But neatly put them in a corner.
"I think we should talk a little, I do not want to confuse you about what happened earlier." Lara said as she sat at the small table, indicating for him to sit and knowing he probably expected this chat. "I still want to be only your friend, one that you have sex with. I do care about you and we both know that it would never work between us. I am a career Imperial, I want to be a Captain someday in command of my own ship. Being romantically involved with a known Rebel Jedi could threaten that."
"I had a feeling about that." Ezra admitted as he gazed over at her, seeing her resolve. He did feel a little confused, especially about his own feelings for her. He liked and cared for her.
"Oh, we can still have a sexual relationship, but that is all it will be. That and being friends, comrades and confidants. Beyond that, it is not in the Sabacca Cards." Lara smiled and shrugged her shoulders. Taking his hands in hers. "Now how about dinner, I would like selection fifteen."
"Alright, I think I might try that one as well." Standing Ezra went to the food dispenser and returned with the two sealed meals, setting one in front of her and than sat to eat his own. When they both finished they chatted and after an hour Lara took his hand and led him to his Bedroom. After all she did still want to have sex with him.
The Present: The Second Hyperspace Jump
Sabine could not fathom how long that it was going to take, as she ran the calculations her eyes widened. It would take close to five hundred jumps and eleven months to reach the possible edge of the Nova Cluster. Even longer than eleven months, because they would have to find a place to refuel. Checking the scanners she knew that would not be a problem, she had detected a lot of ships in the area of the Cluster. Mining ships zipping around Asteroid Fields, collecting minerals and other resources. The problem that she did consider was in an isolated sectors like this one, Pirates, Smugglers and other Fringe types tended to also be operating. Sabine noticed that Ashoka did not seemed too worried about those problems. When Sabine asked her, she found out that Ashoka was more focused on that this far out from the Outer Rim and the Core, she could not watch any of the Holo-Entertainment.
The Past: The Engine Room
"You want the good news or the bad news first, Sir" Dillon asked Ezra as the older man leaned against a wall and indicated the Hyperspace Engine.
"Your choice." Ezra answered.
"Well the good news is we have installed the Pirated Hyperspace Engine and it seems to be working, now the bad news. The coolant system is not going to be able to cool it completely. Feena checked it, she thinks that at most we will only be able to go into Hyperspace for Thirty Two minutes forty one seconds at a time. Then we will have to shut down for one hour to cool it." Dillon said as he motioned to one of the Engineers at a station.
"This is the type of news that Grand Admiral Thrawn is going to love to hear from an Engineer." Ezra stated giving Dillon a wry smile.
"Nope, that is the Second Officers job. Sorry Sir." Dillon waved his hand and walked over to one of the Terminals.
"Thanks a lot Dillon." Ezra grumbled and made his way to the Bridge to make the devastating report. All they had gone through to procure the Hyperspace Engines and then install them and it was not going to work one hundred percent. Stepping close to Thrawn he whispered the bad news.
"That is not exactly information that I expected, but we shall endure. Ensign Folster recalculate how long will it take to circumvent the Cluster when we can only Hyperspace Jump Thirty Two minutes forty one seconds at a time with one hour to cool the Engine." Thrawn ordered as Folster started to run the Calculations on his station, rechecking the figures.
"Four years, Eight Months, Two Weeks and Four Days." Folster replied, suddenly the Bridge became deathly quiet. Sharp inhales of breath was all that Ezra could hear as they all thought about how long it would take.
Ezra did not know what to say as he too looked towards Thrawn, for a reaction any reaction other than his normal calm exterior.
"It seems Captain that are only hope is to find a narrowing along the way and then be able to Jump across that area. Otherwise we will have to use Lieutenant Drasko's recommendation and only jump within the designated time restrictions." Thrawn said as he gave a subtle hint for Ezra to join him in his office. Leaving the Bridge, Thrawn walked over to a food dispenser and ordered Tea. Handing a cup to Ezra. "This is not good, is it Captain? Even though it is not forty years it is still quite a long time."
"I believe we have more than enough Food, Fuel and other supplies. The problem is that it puts a real hardship on the crew. We cannot continue to have sixteen hour duty hours. Not for almost Five years. Right now Lieutenant Drasko and his Engineers are working Eighteen Hours a day." Ezra informed Thrawn.
"Modify the shifts back to twelve hours, that includes the Engineers." Thrawn ordered as he spun his chair around to face some of the Art within the room. "i would like your opinion on something that I have found interesting." Thrawn pointed to three of Sabine's art forms. "The first one, there was on my understanding was created before you joined the Rebels. See the unemotional lines and design. It has no real artistic flair to it. That one there." Thrawn pointed to another one. "Was made one year later, it has some of the same basic design but it has more detail and emotional context to it. The lines and forms flow together. The last one is even more so. Do you know what that means?" Thrawn asked as he spun around to face Ezra again.
"No, not really Sir." Ezra replied not really seeing the differences in the three. To him they looked the same.
"It means that you had an influence on her art. Mandalorians are not a verbally expressive people, they use subtle innuendos and careful clues to relay their intentions. It is the same with Sabine Wren's attention to you." Thrawn gave a wry smile as he saw that Ezra seemed to understand. "To that end, I believe that your relationship with Ensign Lara Marcell is not something that should continue. It has a potential for consequences that could be devastating."
Ezra looked at him with shock, he believed that his and Lara's relationship had been a secret. "How did you know?" He blurted out.
"Oh, it was not hard to see the non-visible clues. She was quiet alarmed when you led the attack on the Pirates and you both gave small glances at each other when you believed no one was watching. That told me all that I needed to know." Thrawn explained as he shook his head. "Even if it does take four to five years to circumvent the Cluster, I believe it would be in the best interest for morale that any interpersonal relationships between the Crew be frowned upon. We are not equipped for what could be the results."
Ezra knew what Thrawn was hinting around. The results from relationships could negatively cause problems, one of the major ones would be what if there was an accident and a pregnancy occurs. A Star Destroyer is no place to raise a child, even for Two or Three years. "So how do we prevent it, Lara and I have been sneaking around for quite awhile and I am sure others are doing the same."
"Monthly injections, I doubt either of us can police the crew and moderate any physical relationship. Not on a Ship this size, there are too many places that a couple could sneak off to." Thrawn advised. "That is all, See to that the shifts are modified."
Ezra left and frowned as he entered the Bridge. Thrawn was right, which was frustrating. Later he would have to tell Lara that they could be friends, comrades and nothing more. No more sex, it had a potential to become something that neither wanted or could have.
The Present: Fuel Depot Nova Cluster Mining Outpost
"Credits, Credits are needed to refuel your ship. We do not except anything other than Credits." The Bothan Fuel Manager stated as he shacked out his fur with aggravation.
"I am sure we can come up with something of value to pay for the Fuel." Ashoka suggested as she tried to convince the Bothan that neither she or Sabine had the Credits to purchase the amount needed.
"Like I said, Credits. Republic or Imperial it does not matter. Nothing else is excepted." The Bothan replied, then closed the small door of the counter.
"Well that could have gone better." Sabine said as she saw the defeated look on Ashoka's expression. "I have three Hundred Credits, how much do you have?"
"About two hundred, that will give us a third of what we need." Ashoka replied as she exhaled. Half was no where near enough for them to continue, the only other option they had was to return to known space and transmit a request to Sabine's mother to transfer some Credits to a nearby Banking System. Adding several months to the already long trip.
Glancing at a nearby Gambling House, Sabine smirked. "I have an idea, if you do not mind cheating a little."
"What do you mean, cheating a little?" Ashoka asked putting her hands on her hips, even though she was not officially a Jedi. She still believed in some of the mandates and the top one was not to use the Force to do something dishonest. They really might not have a choice though, Ashoka thought. Other than maybe spending a month getting some type of job. Doing that would then require they continue to pay the dock fees, so it would take a month to save enough to pay for the fuel. "Fine but only this time and only enough to pay for the fuel!"
Inside the Gambling House, Sabine led Ashoka to the Spinning Wheel. With Fifteen different symbols, a ball spun around the and fell into the the slot indicating the winning number. Then another ball spun around to land in the possible multiplier; one times, two times and five times. Pulling out Fifty Credits, Sabine looked at Ashoka and put the Credits on a Symbol. Meanwhile Ashoka touched the Force slightly and as the Ball clinked around the wheel she used her telekinetic power to put the first ball so that Sabine won, then into the multiplier. The Dealer Droid pushed Fifteen Hundred Credits towards Sabine.
"Ok, we are done." Ashoka stated, seeing the slight disagreement on Sabine's face. But she reluctantly followed Ashoka towards the door. Until Two Large Gamorreans and a Rodian stepped in front of them.
"Gentles, why leave so soon? Perhaps you would enjoy spending and gambling more?" The Rodian said as he gestured back inside the room to the various Games of Chance.
"No thank you." Sabine replied as she reached down to put the Credits away.
"I must insist." The Rodian said menacingly as he gestured for the two lumbering Gamorreans to make the Sabine and Ashoka back into the Gambling House. Both approached then stopped when Sabine pulled her blasters and pointed each one at each Gamorrean. "You will return or I will deem that you cheated!" The Rodian declared.
"You want to talk about cheating, how about the fact that the Wheel is rigged." Ashoka stated, she was not ready to divulge how she knew but she was ready. When she used the Force she had encountered some resistance from putting the ball into the slot, that was because the Droid had tried to use some type of device to move it out of the slot. Several others heard her claim and spun to listen. The Rodian glared at her, his long snot flipped about in anger.
"You will be silent!" He said loudly, signalling for two more large Gamorreans to come up behind the pair of women.
With a quick movement Ashoka pulled out her Lightsaber and ignited it. All for of the Gamorreans retreated back. "You are cheating! I came here to confirm it and I accuse you of cheating!" Ahoka said loudly so that everyone could hear her, even though it was a partial lie. Ashoka believed that in for one Credit might as well go the distance.
"You a Jedi?" One of the others in the room asked.
"Yes she is, he is cheating all of you. The Tables are rigged." Sabine replied and suddenly the whole room was in chaos, several dozens of patrons fell upon the Rodian and the Gamorreans in outrage. While everyone was fighting Ashoka deactivated her Lightsaber and grabbed Sabine's hand dodging fighting people bursting out the front of the Gambling House.
"We are never doing that again!" Ashoka said evenly as they walked up to the Fuel Manager's Counter.
"Agreed." Sabine stated as she looked back seeing that the local Enforcement Officers were converging onto the Gambling House.
The Past:
To Ezra's surprise, Lara agreed. After a lengthy discussion they both agreed that continuation of a Sexual relationship would eventually evolve into something that neither wanted or could have. Ezra was wanted by the Empire for being a Rebel and a Jedi, Lara wanted to be a career Imperial Officer. Not a good foundation for a long and lasting relationship. They could still be friends and comrades. "I would suggest that to ensure that neither of us are tempted, we no longer spend time alone in my room." Ezra said as Lara closed her eyes and nodded.
She had to agree to that, it would be too easy for them to fall back into having a sexual relationship. Mainly because she was attracted to him physically and it would be also too easy to eventually become emotionally attracted or attached as well. If she wanted to have that type of relationship she would have stayed on Bespin to be a Gas Farmer like her family and neighbors. "Friends and Comrades, only then." She thrust out her hand and he shook it.
Hyperspace Jumping for only about Thirty Minutes and then letting the Engines cool, definitely was taking time. Each time Ezra swore he could feel the heat from the Engines as they approached the now programmed automatic reduction to Sub-Light speeds. "So Dillon, any luck in increasing the time restraints?"
"No, the Coolant Systems still wont keep the Hyperdrive cool enough to go beyond the restraints. It is the Pirate Hyperdrives, the Chimaera is just too big for the Engines. They overheat and the system can't compensate." Dillon said as he made the report. "We did get the Sub-Light Engine repaired enough to function at Seventy Five Percent, so at least now the Chimaera at three quarters speed."
"That is something at least." Ezra admitted. "Now what is the Bad News?"
"You know me so well, Sir. We might and that is we might, have problems reducing speed or stopping immediately." Dillon advised as he shrugged her shoulders.
"Okay, why?" Ezra asked closing his eyes and waiting for Dillon to drop the other boot on the floor.
"We had to remove four of the six Reverse Thrusters for the parts to repair what we did on the Sub-Light Engines. So reducing speed or stopping might take a little longer." Dillon replied seeing Ezra shake his head negatively.
"You should have asked first, Dillon. I doubt Grand Admiral Thrawn would approve something like that." Ezra exhaled and almost could imagine Thrawn's response to this news.
"He ordered us to increase the Sub-Light Speed, this was the only way. Unless we find a Ship Load of replacement parts." Dillon explained then smiled.
"Fine I will tell him, he is not going to be happy." Ezra turned and left and wondered if he could resign his commission. Not that he was commissioned, it was more like drafted. Striding down the corridor he stumbled to a stop. He just felt something and it was close. Running the rest of the way he streaked by confused Crewmen and Officers. Rushing onto the Bridge. "Helmsman Full Stop, Now!" Ezra ordered as Thrawn glanced over at him with questions and concerns. "Trust me Sir."
As the ship slowly reduced speed and then just as slowly stopped, the whole crew and officers stared out the side viewport. Seeing another Star Destroyer, hovering besides them.