"Stykron Ily?"
Ily took a deep breath and stepped forward. A droid greeted her outside of the shuttle. After a year on Coruscant, she was finally free. This was her chance to distance herself from the Rebellion. She handed her identification to the droid. The droid analyzed it carefully and Ily found herself holding her breath again.
"Access denied," the droid rumbled.
"What!" exclaimed Ily.
"The identification presented has not been updated," the droid continued.
"It was updated just two days ago by my dismissal officer! There's been a mistake," Ily argued.
"The access has been removed," the droid held her ID back.
Ily pushed it back into the droid's gray claw. "Reanazlye it."
"Is there a problem?" A shuttle guard asked as he walked over.
Ily suppressed the urge to roll her eyes as she caught sight of the rebellion badge on the front of his uniform. 'I'll never escape it.' "Yes, actually. Your droid here must be defective. I just had my dismissal two days ago. The data has been updated. I booked this flight promptly."
The guard took the card and ran it through his datapad. A slight amusing grin appeared on his face which annoyed Ily further. "It would seem the droid is correct. You've been denied access."
"By who?" Ily shot back and clenched her fist.
"The General. You're to report back to base," the guard handed the card the clear card back to Ily.
"I am not a part of the Rebellion. I think you misheard. I was dismissed. Two days ago." Ily refused to take the card.
"Not my problem," he whistled over his shoulder, catching the attention of two other shuttle guards. "Link! Glie! C'mere!"
Ily pocketed the card and backed away slowly. There was no way she was returning. They had their chance. She wasn't going back.
The two shuttle guards pushed through other departing Rebellion officers entering the shuttle. Ily had a short window of time. She reached for her blaster holster.
"I've got an escort for you two by the order of the General. This officer is to return to base," the man told his companions when they joined him. Just as they turned their attention to the young woman in front of them, Ily kicked the droid into the officer and sped off the opposite way she had entered. There were shouts of orders for her to halt, but she pushed onward. She shouldered through the crowd.
'I'm not going back. I'm not!' her thoughts screamed back at her. The desperation in her chest outweighed everything else. She saw the busy skies of Coruscant ahead through the glass doors. She reached out to push through when a sharp pain shot up her left leg causing her to crash upon the hard ground below. She cried out in pain and clutched her leg.
"Well, well," boots filled her vision. She winced and looked up to see the shuttle guard. "General won't like this one bit. I think you misheard me. You're to report back to base."
A Rodian guard stooped down to Ily and restrained her arms behind her back. She let her head droop forward in defeat.
Of course, the General gets what the General wants.
Anybody is accessible.
o0o
"Back so soon?" Wedge Antilles asked as Ily was ushered through the shielded doors.
Ily bit back the urge to curse and just grimaced. "You knew about this!"
Wedge held up his hands. "I knew nothing. Orders came through just this morning. I figured you would find out sooner or later."
The Rodian, whom Ily learned was the one called Link, jostled her forward. Ily threw her weight against him causing Link to struggle. Wedge observed the scene in amusement.
"I don't think you're doing yourself any favors, Stykron," said Wedge.
"I'm not a part of the Rebellion anymore. This is ridiculous! You approved the dismissal. How is this fair!" cried Ily. Her amber hair fell into her face as Link shoved her.
"I've got it from here," Wedge placed a hand on Link's shoulder. "You may go." The Rodian all but sighed in relief and nodded. Wedge nudged Ily gently.
"Why must you make everything so difficult?"
"Learned from the best," grumbled Ily.
"You did not learn this from me," Wedge guided her to the lifts.
"Oh, don't flatter yourself!" They stepped into the glass lift and Ily looked out among the lavender sky. She longed to be out there instead of back here. She could feel her soul-shattering in her chest as the lift rose to the highest levels.
"Try not to be combative. She isn't in the best of moods today," Wedge whispered into her ear.
"When is she ever?"
"Try to keep an open mind, Ily," said Wedge seriously.
They stepped in sync out of the lift and Wedge kept his hand gently placed on her shoulder to guide her. She silently thanked him for the support. He was one of the nicer commanding officers she'd ever had. He was laid back until he wasn't. They approached a white door accented with a singular gold Rebellion marker. Ily couldn't help to feel the utmost disdain for the symbol. Two guards stood outside and stepped forward when they saw Wedge with Ily.
"I see that she's been found," one of them spoke with a snarl.
"Easy, Jan. I've got it, thanks," said Wedge quickly. "Could you get the door?"
The guard gave a curt nod in response and reached for their datapad. The door whooshed open and Wedge ushered Ily through. Low-hanging banners were placed throughout the room. Most notably, Alderaan's banner hung above the General's holo-table. There were other people in the room as well. Ily felt her breath hitch in her throat and she stumbled. Wedge steadied her as the General stood and cleared her throat.
"Good evening, Officer Stykron. So glad you could finally join us," General Organa said with a stiff smile. It was not welcoming in the slightest.
"I-I've been dismissed. I shouldn't be here," stammered Ily.
"That has been reversed," General Organa waved her hand.
"But I don't want them to be," said Ily pathetically. "I chose not to have them repealed for a reason."
"Then you are aware of the consequences?" asked the General. "You committed several offenses."
"I am aware. I wanted out, ma'am," Ily said softly.
"That's time spent in confinement, Officer Stykron. You would rather face confinement than work off your debts?" The General rose a brow.
Ily hardly took note of the people in the room. At that moment, it felt like it was just Ily and the General. Even Wedge had disappeared.
"I would rather spend time there than fight any longer, ma'am," Ily shrugged.
"Well, you are as stubborn as they say," laughed Organa and she flipped through her datapad on her holo-table. "Unfortunately, that is something I cannot allow. You are needed here, Officer Stykron until your debts are repaid. That is your sentencing."
"Pardon?" sputtered Ily.
"You put your commanding officer into the Infirmary, Stykron. And yet that is hardly the least of your offenses. You should count your lucky stars that the Council didn't feel that you were committing any real war crimes here," Organa glanced up from her datapad.
"As if they have the right to decide what are war crimes," Ily muttered under her breath. Wedge sharply nudged her. Organa had caught it.
"You'll be serving additional reconnaissance work under Commander Skywalker. He is your commanding officer now until your sentence has been fulfilled," said General Organa bluntly.
Ily's heart hammered in her chest. Her head whipped around to her right to see the Jedi leaned against the pillar observing her closely. A bead of sweat trickled down the back of her neck and her hands felt slick in her restraints. A sickly feeling washed over her. "What if I object?"
"There are no objections, Officer Stykron," Organa sat back down and folded her hands.
"I could serve under Commander Antilles!" offered Ily.
"I am not taking any recruits, Stykron," Wedge cleared his throat.
"Despite your many risks, you are one of the best stealth officers we have. I have seen the data on your past recon missions. Commander Skywalker has had quite the run-ins with the remaining Imperial fleet. He will need the added protection," the General proceeded.
"As if a Jedi could need my help," glared Ily.
"If I may speak," Luke Skywalker spoke up. Even the sound of his voice caused Ily pain. He came to stand behind the General to face Ily fully. "I do not require added protection, that is true. But I need the help of a resourceful officer as a guide."
"Me? Your guide?" snorted Ily.
"Whatever title is necessary, I don't care. Until your sentence is fulfilled, you will not be dismissed," finalized General Organa. "You are to report to Commander Skywalker at 0600 hours. You may leave. Commander Antilles may escort you to your newest quarters."
Wedge nodded behind Ily and tugged her backward. Ily chanced one last glance at Commander Skywalker and found the same pensiveness from before. A bolt of fear fused itself with her heart.
Ily did not speak to Wedge until they were on the shuttle back to the main base. "I'll run."
"You won't," said Wedge.
"I will," Ily tried to sound convincing.
"You won't get far. The General won't let that happen. C'mon, Stykron. You know what happened last time," Wedge slid closer to her.
"I don't care. I'm not serving any sentence under a Jedi. Don't you see, Wedge? It's all the same. How are we any different?" questioned Ily. "War is war. I swore after Endor I wouldn't go back. What are we doing? How are we bettering the galaxy? Darth Vador had the same power Skywalker has, and you saw what he could do!"
"Luke isn't like that," swore Wedge.
"You don't know that," mumbled Ily.
"I do know that. Luke is a good friend of mine. I've known him since he was just a naive farmboy joining the cause," he said, a twinkle of remembrance could be found in his kind eyes.
"He should have stayed home then," Ily looked out of the shuttle window and found the same longing was still there.
Anywhere was better than here. She stood by this.
o0o
0600 arrived quicker than Ily had anticipated. She had spent the night hardly sleeping and planning any sort of escape. All plans gained no fruition as she concluded that it was impossible. Maybe she could lose the Jedi on one of the missions? Maybe she could leave then? Ily dressed into her rebel uniform and clipped on her blaster holster. She stopped by the weaponry to pick up her assigned gear for the day. She packed it away carefully and stepped out of the base and into the X-wing hanger. There she saw Commander Skywalker waiting for her with his astromech. He was swarmed by passing pilots who ogled at him in awe. He didn't seem phased by the attention. Ily gulped and clenched her fists tightly. She strode over to the Jedi and tried to keep her expression passive, but he had sensed her uncomfortable presence.
"Officer Stykron," he greeted her.
"Commander," she said stiffly.
"Did you rest well?" he asked her kindly.
"No," Ily answered honestly.
He smiled softly. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"What exactly do you need me for today?" Ily asked impatiently.
"We are headed to Vetine. There is something that I need there," Skywalker answered her.
"What?"
He did not answer her this time. Instead, he motioned for her to follow him. She sighed and adjusted her pack strap. She kept a distance between them until they reached his ship. Ily debated fleeing the scene entirely. Everything in her was on high alert. The entrance to the ship felt slightly cold.
"Don't be afraid," he said gently.
Ily looked up at him in surprise. "I'm...not."
He did not drop his gentle demeanor. She felt intimidated by it. She didn't like it. He frightened her.
A/N: I didn't need to write this, but my current Star Wars fanfiction needs a reboot. In Time will be left up for now. It is on permanent hiatus. It is filled with grammar mistakes and inconsistencies. I wasn't happy with it. This will be the new In Time. Life went on and I am older now. I want to give it the piece it deserves. This will be slow writing as I am finishing up my Harry Potter fic that I've been working on just as long.