Thank you to you all who have been kind enough to leave feedback. I hope that you continue to enjoy the story.

All previous disclaimers apply…

Dark Times - Chapter One:

Network

Part six

For the second time in just over two weeks, rescue teams were scouring ruined and burning buildings. Men and droids were carrying dead and injured beings from the huge pit their homes had fallen into; the dead to join growing rows laid upon the ground, the injured to waiting emergency vehicles, to be stabilised and whisked away to the nearest medical centres. Fires were burning intensely in several areas throwing up a pall of black smoke, casting out the stench of charred building materials, burning fuels and flesh.

Major Ayrn watched the activity from his speeder, the canopy closed, the air filters on so it was only clean air he breathed. His thin face was strained with worry and he ran his gloved hands nervously through his hair.

They had found the body of the General's teenage son just over an hour before, and Ayrn's thoughts alternated between hoping that his superior was also dead, to hoping he would be found alive, to knowing that he would be the one held accountable for this mess.

The comlink in the speeder crackled to life. "We've found the General, Sir."

"Thank you," Ayrn responded tightly, his mouth suddenly growing dry. He left the vehicle striding toward the bank of waiting ambulances, passing the rows of the dead. He spotted the General immediately, shouting and arguing with his helpers as they attempted to assist him. His hair and beard were thick with dust, matted with blood that streamed from a head wound. He was batting away the hand of a female rescue worker as she tried to cover the wound.

"Find my son!" Mahkren was barking, he grabbed the dressing from the emergency worker, placed it on his own head and glared at her. "My son?"

"Sir!" Ayrn greeted with a mixture of trepidation and relief. Apart from the head wound the General looked relatively unscathed.

Mahkren looked his way, his mouth turning down in fury and distaste. "Major, you have failed in your duty to find the Rebel and this is the result. I ought to..."

"You were the one who initially forbade me to search here, Sir," Ayrn threw back at him, surprised at his own courage, or stupidity. "You cannot blame this totally on me."

Surprise at the retort flared in the General's eyes, then anger. "Ayrn, you..."

"Your son is dead, Sir," Ayrn told him abruptly, immediately feeling relief that attention was diverted from him, but regret as the large man before him suddenly shrank with grief.

"Where is he?" the General asked, quietly.

Ayrn stood to the side giving Mahkren a clear view of the bodies lying on the ground. The man stood and pushed him aside as he stumbled forward, and the Major watched coldly as Mahkren fell to his knees beside one prone figure. He walked slowly to the General's back, glancing at the dead youth. He was eighteen, dark haired like his father had been, smooth skinned. The back of his head was smashed opened and blood and brain matter leaked, his night attire torn and charred.

"The medics say he was killed in his sleep," Ayrn noted.

"That's supposed to make me feel better about this?" Mahkren questioned dryly, calmly despite his heaving emotions, his compressed anguish. He gazed at his dead son, at the blood on the ground around his head. Then he looked up at the Major. "Have you found El'lana?"

"Yes, Sir. She was found near two troopers. All dead."

"It was her, Ayrn." He spoke quietly, stroking his son's thick hair, ignoring the gore gathering on his hand. "She brought the Rebel into my house."

Ayrn looked toward the rubble of the General's home. "Then he may still be in there," he stated hopefully.

Mahkren shook his head. "No, he's gone. I found where she hid him in the sub-basement, just before the explosion. But he was gone."

Ayrn's mind raced. Just before the explosion? The Rebel was gone. The troopers were still being deployed at the time, running into the General's home and those surrounding it - using all exits. The Esplanade itself had been cordoned off and no one had been allowed in or out during the exercise. But the Rebel had escaped, before the explosion. How had he got past the stormtroopers? Sub-basement, meant a stairway...

Sub-basement meant under ground level and all the buildings in the immediate area had sank into a void. The captured doctor had told the truth about the Rebel's hiding place! He had told the truth and he and Rhovan had laughed dismissing the comments as stubbornness, as delaying tactics. Perhaps then Doctor Yian knew more.

"I want you to find that Rebel bastard, Major. I want you to find him, and I want him to suffer for this." Mahkren told him, softly, the calm words venomous.

"He will, Sir,"" Ayrn confirmed, for him. "I give you my word."

Mahkren glared up at him. "I will take more than your word if you should fail me, Major," he warned.

Ayrn balked at the threat, then pushed away his fear. "I will not fail you, General." He already knew exactly where to restart the search. He saluted his superior and turned on his heels, striding back to his speeder, leaving Mahkren to grieve alone among the debris and the dead.

Taln heaved himself out of the hole in the ground and stood on the cool concrete floor of the basement storeroom. He was surrounded by crates, boxes and barrels. A low hum came from the giant freezer compartment at the far end of the room. At this early hour of the morning he knew the diner would not yet be open and he would have time to clean up and change before taking a table and waiting for Dade. A public meeting would be risky for them both but it was important that he see Dade face to face to discuss what options they had left. Another private meeting was out of the question so soon after his last visit to Dade's apartment and sending a transmission was impossible. It was standard practise to frequent identified friendly public eateries on a rotating basis - this week it was Saa-Raa's.

His boot heels clicked on the floor as he crossed the room toward the door then jumped as it swung open and a large figure entered.

"Taln!" the Gran exclaimed, its three eyes blinking furiously. "You're safe! I was worried, when the Esplanade blew..."

He trailed off, craning his neck to look beyond the man at the hole in the ground. "You... haven't brought him here have you?" he questioned anxiously. "I agreed to let the Network use my place, but not to harbour any..."

"Relax Saa-Raa," Taln told him. "He's not here. I need a shower and change of clothes," he explained quickly, not wanting to get into a discussion with the creature. "Has there been word from Dade yet?"

Saa-Raa shook his head - a human habit he had picked up. "No, nothing," he said then gestured to the back of the storage room. "You'll find some human clothes back there. You can use the public facilities to wash - but lock the door. I'll be opening up soon to serve breakfasts."

"That sounds great," Taln enthused, as his stomach grumbled. "You could rustle me up some," he suggested raking through the crates Saa-Raa had indicated. He gathered up a clean shirt and pants and followed the Gran up into the cafe itself. He disappeared into the bathrooms as Saa-Raa fired up the cooking facilities.

Rhovan's mood was ugly as he waited for Ayrn to arrive. He had been heading home when the news of the explosion at the Imperial Esplanade had broken, and so he had turned back, took the elevator back down to maximum security and had waited in his office for prisoners to arrive. He had seen very little of his own home, his own comforts since the Rebel raid, had been spending most of his time questioning the suspects Ayrn's searches had brought to him. None of them were Resistance, many of them just citizens who had objected to the way the searches had been carried out, and most of them Rhovan had ordered to be released. It was good policy to show leniency, as well as ruthlessness, to the general populace as without balance respect for the authorities could not truly exist. It was an area where he and Mahkren did not agree.

He reclined into his chair and placed his feet on the computer terminal before him. He had been looking forward to getting home, had been looking forward to stripping out of his stark uniform, to taking a hot shower and getting some decent sleep. But, as yet, there were no sign of any prisoners, and he had been about to try leaving again when he received a quick transmission from Ayrn that they needed to speak to the doctor again. His mood had further deteriorated; no shower, no sleep, only further torment of a broken man.

He stood up as the call came through that Ayrn had arrived. Tugging his tunic down, he walked stiffly from his private chamber. "This had better be worth it," he warned falling into step with the Major, heading for the cell corridor.

Ayrn was animated, eyes bright with excitement and agitation. "It was the General's house the Resistance used," he babbled. "The General survived, but his son was killed and..."

"What?" Rhovan exclaimed in horror, in disbelief at the teenager's death. "How's Mahkren taking it?"

They stopped by a cell door. "As a father would," Ayrn told him, succinctly. Then he smiled thinly. "I wouldn't relish being that pilot once he's in custody."

Rhovan, reaching to palm open the cell door, hesitated at this, at the tone used to express the words. "Once he's in custody his fate is in my hands, Ayrn. Even the General cannot argue with that. I've let you in with the doctor as his information has aided you with the search." There was a warning along with the words." However, with the Rebel, policies dictate that..."

Ayrn chuckled humourlessly. "Lighten up, no-one's going to step on your precious territory, but I suspect the General will wish to dictate his final punishment. Once your job is done, of course."

"You sound convinced we'll get him?"

"I know where he is," Ayrn shared with a conspiratorial whisper. "I just need the doctor to confirm it for me and to tell me how to get in." He bent forward in front of Rhovan and opened the door himself, stepping down first into the close, fetid atmosphere of the holding cell.

Taln placed his sixth tumbler of hot beverage on the counter of the diner and shifted his buttocks on the stool. He glanced up at the holo-player in the corner watching the newscaster spew more rhetoric propaganda. He sighed, covered his glass with his hand as Saa-Raa passed by with a new pitcher, and shook his head. Anymore of the sickly sweet tea and he'd be violently sick.

Despite being late afternoon the diner was still moderately busy and Taln hoped that enough people had come and gone for it not to be noticed that he had remained in place for the whole of the morning and into the afternoon. He would have to move soon, take a walk for a while before returning. That might mean that he could miss Dade, but remaining too long in the same place would be too dangerous. He had already sat for far longer than was wise.

Saa-Raa passed again, paused and whispered. "Imperial Company," before moving on.

A quiet fell over the diner as the door opened and conversations waned as the customers noted the newcomer wearing a black Imperial uniform and a much hated insignia. Taln didn't turned around as the man took up the stool next to him. Saa-Raa reluctantly approached again. "How may I serve you, Sir?" There was barely disguised disgust in the Gran's voice.

The man glanced at the menu above and behind the serving counter. "Just a hot spache, leave out the herbs."

"As you wish, Sir," Saa-Raa bowed minutely. He hated all this man represented but remained courteous, not wishing unwanted attention. He moved away to attend to the order.

Taln took another sip from his glass.

"They got to the doctor..." The Imperial spoke softly, as conversations began again. He was looking directly ahead, over the counter watching the Gran work.

"I figured as much," Taln responded, looking down into his drink. "How's he doin'?"

"He'll be dead soon. Rhovan's going to have a private chat with him."

"It's too bad he's waited until after the doc had spilled his guts," Taln observed, dryly. "So, now what?"

They paused as Saa-Raa placed the man's drink down, waited until the Gran had responded to the call from another customer.

"The tunnels are compromised. Ayrn's deploying troopers and seeker droids as we speak. Where's the Rebel?"

"The main hide, for now. We'll have to move him on though, it won't take them long to reach him."

"No, Taln. It's time to take Isla's advice. Leave his body where they can find him." There was regret in the smooth voice.

Taln chilled. "Dade, I...I think..."

"Don't call me that in public," the soldier warned, tightly.

Taln shook his head. "I'm sorry. I just think we should give the boy a chance. Luke's..." He stopped knowing he'd slipped again by mentioning the youth's name.

Dade glanced around, caught Taln's eye, then stared forward again. He took a sip from his cup. "The Doc told us he called himself 'Luke'," he whispered, with sorrow. "You like him," he noted.

"Yes."

There was an audible sigh. "It's gone too far, Taln. For the good of the Resistance, for his own good. It has to end now. Too many people have died." Dade's expression was final, fixed.

"Then why kill one more?"

"Because it will end with him. We can go quiet, rebuild as was done before." Taln was silent, took another sip. Dade could feel his reluctance. "I can get someone else to do it, if you can't. But the pilot must die."

"No," Taln said quickly, horrified at the thought of a stranger placing a pistol at the boy's head, picturing Luke's fear and confusion. He wondered if Luke would be able to sense his betrayal before it happened, if the youth was sitting now, contemplating 'something' happening again.

"I'll do it." He felt he owed Luke that much. Taln took some coins from his pocket and tossed them onto the counter paying from his drinks. Without looking at his commander, he headed for the back door, toward the public facilities, then cut to the left and entered the store room heading back to the tunnels.

Luke screwed the pill bottle shut and washed down his medicine with a mouthful of water. He shoved the bottle into the pocket of his pants then leaned back against the dry wall of the hide. Since Taln had left, the quiet and silence of the place had seemed to grow, seemed to expand and get bigger as each hour had passed. It was an uncomfortable feeling; sitting alone in an empty maze of catacombs several metres under a bustling city and being totally reliant on one person. Coupled with that was the sense of still not being safe, still being under threat of discovery. His adrenaline levels had dropped but not completely dissipated. However, considering what had happened within the past day it wasn't entirely surprising that he was still somewhat unnerved.

He had tried to shake off the feelings, tried to settle his mind and focus on other things. He had tried to sleep, but only dozed fitfully. He had tried to do the exercises the doc had shown him, but the escape through the tunnels had left him sore, and after only a few minutes he'd had to give up as the muscles around his back wrenched, tearing a cry of pain from him. He'd returned to the mattress and, using the wall for support, he'd slid down to sit. His ankle hurt, his ribs were aching again, and the pins and needles were back in his legs. He fervently hoped that he had not done himself any lasting damage.

He absently scratched at his side where the back brace irritated and rubbed his skin, wondering how long he had been here, how long he would have to remain here. He didn't like it, didn't want to be here and, if truth be told, the loneliness scared him. He lifted the water canister placed it to his lips again and paused as a sound sliced quietly through the silence.

It was high-pitched, electronic, repetitive, and it was getting louder, getting closer! Droid noise! A seeker!

He reached for the blaster Taln had given him and, gripping it tightly, he stared apprehensively at the door waiting for it to glide open and...

Footsteps! Muffled voices! Luke's heart drummed in his chest, as he realised he'd left the lantern on and he prayed that the door was totally sealed and there were no spaces for dribbles of light to betray him in the tunnels beyond. He listened and waited for them to pass - or to burst in - fighting down his fright, his consternation.

Then it grew quiet, silent once more and Luke began to relax as he lowered the blaster.

"Flyby."

He almost yelled with shock at the whisper, almost swung the blaster up and pulled off a shot before sense prevailed at the recognised code word. The door swung open and Taln entered looking nervous and agitated.

"There's someone in the..." Luke began needlessly.

"Troopers. Seekers," Taln told him quickly, almost absently. "We need to get out of here before more arrive. Give me the blaster, I'll help you up."

Luke handed his gun over, gave his hand to Taln who guided him to his feet. "Where're we going?" he asked as they entered the tunnels.

"Another temporary hide, further from here," Taln's tone was tight, brief and Luke didn't probe further, unsettled further by his protector's abrupt manner. Things seemed to be twisting out of their control and into the hands of the searching Imperials. Luke didn't think he had ever been so utterly at the mercy of fate, it was a feeling of helplessness he didn't like.

They walked in total darkness, in silence, Luke clinging onto Taln for support. They cautiously made their way through the tunnels, pulling into alcoves or corners at the sounds, and at the lights, of droids and troopers. Taln helped him up a level of steps. Then he stopped suddenly at a tunnel junction.

"We'll rest here."

Luke sank gratefully to his knees, trying to catch his breath, fighting each new flare of pain as it burned through the painkillers he had taken and grated along his spinal column and into his limbs. Taln moved behind him and switched on a flashlight. Luke glanced around, frowning as he realised they had forgotten their gear in their rush to vacate the hide.

"We...need to go back," he gasped, grimaced at another wave of pain. "We forgot..."

He stopped as he noticed Taln still held his blaster, as he noticed Taln's own gun was still in its holster, as he noticed they were at a junction of a main tunnel way. He looked at Taln, who turned his eyes away.

Taln hadn't brought his bag of clothes and medicines because he wasn't going to need it.

"Shit…" Luke breathed, fear punching in with his sudden understanding of the situation. Fear and fury. "Shit!" He looked around wildly, looking for something, looking for a way out, seeing none. "You're going to kill me? You brought me here to shoot me, so they could find me?"

Taln shifted uneasily, gripped the blaster tightly, angry at himself for hesitating, angry that he'd given Luke time to gain an insight into what was about to happen, and sorry that he still had to go ahead with Dade's order. He glanced at the boy on his knees before him, raised the gun to Luke's head. "I'm sorry."