Chapter 23: Facing The Inquisitor
The half dozen troops milling around the entrance to the power trench were more interested in discussing the peculiar disturbance in the detention block than in paying attention to their present boring duty. So engrossed were they in speculation as to the cause of the trouble that they falied to notice the fey wraith behid them. It moved from shadow to shadow like a night stalking narglatch, freezing when one of the troopers seemed to turn slightly in its direction, moving on again is if walking on air.
Several minutes later one of the troopers frowned inside his armor, turning to where he though he had sensed a movement near the opening to the main passageway. There was nothing but an undefinable something which the ghost-like Kenobi had left behind. Acutely uncomfortable yet understandably unwilling to confess to hallucinations, the trooper turned back to the more prosiac conversation of his fellows.
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As the shuttle from the Vengeance docked, it was greeted by a small contingent of stormtroopers and a nervous looking adjutant. When Inquisitor Jerec walked down the opened hatch, the adjutant stepped forward. "Welcome to the Death Star, sir. Admiral Motti sends his regards, but it seems we have a.. slight problem."
Jerec turned his sightless eyes to 'stare' directly at the little man, making him even more nervous. "There's been an escape, hasnt there?" he said with a knowing grin.
The adjutant swallowed hard, and nodded. "We're under full alert even now. There's no where for them to go."
Jerec turned to take in the surrounding docking bay, reaching out with his abilities. "Did you know you also have... one... no two. possibly three Jedi aboard your precious station?"
The adjutant looked back at his stormtroopers for a moment. "I.. I wasnt informed, sir."
"Of course you wouldnt be." Jerec said with a sinister grin. "Excuse me." Then he turned to leave the docking bay, heading into the main hallway. "Do you require an escort sir?" The adjutant asked tentatively.
"No, thank you." Jerec said, then left the thoroughly confused adjutant in his wake.
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The heroes reached the end of an empty hallway. It dead-ended before a large window which overlooked a hanger, giving them a sweeping, tantalizing view of the Millinnium Falcon just below. "There's my baby." Solo said with a grin.
Pulling out her comlink and looking around them with increasing nervousness, Leia spoke into the pickup. "See Threepio... do you copy?"
There was a threatening pause, then, "I read you, sir. We had to abandon the region around the office."
"Are all three of you safe?"
"For the moment, though I'm not sanguine about my old age. We're in the main hanger, across from the ship."
Leia looked toward th ebay window in surprise. "I can't see you across the bay - we must be right above you. Stand by. We'll join you as soon as we can." She clicked off, smiling suddenly at Threepio's reference to his 'old age' Sometimes the tall droid was more human than people.
"Wonder if the old man was able to knock out the tractor." Solo was muttering as he surveyed the scene below. A dozen or so troopers were moving in and out of the freighter. "Getting back to the ships going to be like flying through the five Fire Rings of Fornax."
Luke and his parents looked down at the small freighter. Luke turned to stare in surprise at Solo. "You came here in that wreck? You're braver than I thought."
At once praised and insulted, Solo wasnt sure how to react. But then Davin stepped forward. "She may not look like much, sir, but shes got it where it counts." Solo smiled at the stormtrooper and made up his mind. From now on, Trooper was a friend. Bail Organa looked to his wife, and then back to Han. "It doesnt matter what type of ship it is, as long as its able to get us out of here."
Perched on Chewbacca's back, little Het pointed down the hall. "Someone comes!" he squeeked. Rounding the corner was a black clad man, his long cloak edged in red symbols. The most disturbing thing about the man was his eyes.. or lack thereof. All he had was a thin black band that covered where his eyes should have been. He also had thin edged tattoos that came from the edge of his mouth. "Greetings my friends." He said slowly, and then he ignited his red colored lightsaber. Bail pushed his wife behind him, Luke took a defensive formation, while Han, Chewie, Leia and Davin all aimed weapons. Master It'kla stepped forward and ignited his lightsaber. The blind man smiled. "Do you really think you were going to escape so easily?"
"Do not fire." Master It'kla warned his friends. "He will only reflect the blasts back at you. I will handle this. Go, get back to the ship." As the group started to back away, the Inquisitor smiled at them. "Don't go far. I will be along to fetch you shortly."
He laughed sinisterly as he charged Master It'kla, who expertly blocked the opening blow. The group of escapees ran down the other direction of the T-junction, listening to the lightsaber battle behind them. Finally Luke stopped. "I cant leave Master It'kla behind!"
Bail looked at his son, and knew it was true. Solo looked concerned, while Davin looked to Leia for directions. "You heard the jedi! We gotta get back to the ship!" Han protested.
Leia looked at the prince, and took a deep breath. "I'll go back." but Davin and Het both shook their heads. "Not without us you arent."
Solo smacked his head against the wall. "FINE! Here's the plan!"
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Master Ylenic It'kla of Caamasi, was a pacifist who always preferred negotiating over fighting, though he was armed with a green-bladed lightsaber in case a fight was inevitable. He was one of the few members of his species to ever become a jedi. He now faced his greatest challenge as he faced the dreaded Inquisitor Jerec. The Inquisitor only smiled as they tested each others abilities. Jerec grinned and continued to taunt the jedi. "So, Caamasi. It must gall you to have to face me. You, a species of pacifists and pathetic bootlickers. How it must have harmed your delicate sense of peace when you saw Alderaan destroyed." Master It'kla blocked a series of blows, stepping back and taking a Sokan stance. "You must be a practitioner of Dun Moch. I will not lose concentration. You will fail in your efforts to distract me." Jerec sighed. "I know, its just difficult to break old habits." He stepped forward and struck low at Master It'kla's ankles. Instead of jumping up, the Jedi slapped his lightsaber down and locked his blade atop Jerecs. "But it seemed that I was able to distract you." the Caamasi said softly.
"What?" Jerec said... and then a huge Wookie fist impacted the back of his head. So stealthily did the huge Wookie approach, that all of Jerec's attention had been on Master It'kla. Unconscious before he hit the ground, Jerec's lightsaber rolled away from his grasp. Little Het jumped down from Chewbacca's back, and scooped the weapon from the ground. "Please, give that to me, my little friend." Master It'kla said. The jawa looked at the Caamasi, and clutched the lightsaber to his chest, but Leia stood behind them and crossed her arms. "Give it up, Het." The Little jawa sighed, and handed the lightsaber over reluctantly. "You'll get your own eventually, Het." Leia said, picking him up. "Come on, we gotta get out of here." Behind them Han and the others waited. Bail approached It'kla and clasped his shoulder. "Are you all right, old friend?" The Caamasi nodded. "None the worse for wear. Thank you for your assistance, my friends." Solo nodded and waved down the hall. "Come on! We're almost to the ship!" The Wookie growled something at Solo, but his partner fairly flouresced with confidence. "Of course I can find the ship from here - Corellians cant get lost!" There came another growl, slightly accusing this time. Solo shrugged. "Dellalt doesnt count. They stole the Falcon, remember? Besides, I was drunk."