Chapter 11 – It Begins
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Kyp Durron looked directly into the eyes of Shaizla Kand Shai. Shaizla's head was perfectly still, unblinking. Kyp glanced down at the amphistaff and grinned.
"Nice job, Mister Morden," Kyp said to Morden as he pushed the lifeless head over on the table.
The recently removed head of the Yuuzhan Vong warrior rolled back and forth on the table, and finally came to rest. Kyp picked up the two sections of the amphistaff and laughed as they fell limp in his hands.
"So, we have a deal?" Morden asked.
"Yeah, I have all the proof I will need of your associates' abilities. What did you want again?"
"Sheridan."
"You want the Captain?"
"Yes."
"I'll see what I can do. It won't be easy, but I think I can do it."
"Thank you Master Durron."
Morden walked out of the room. Kyp looked down at the Vong head and smacked it across the room. He breathed deeply and closed his eyes.
*Can I really hand over the Captain to Morden and his associates, why do they want him? Is it worth the life of one man I barely know, to save a whole galaxy? I have to; they can even get us home, without any Vong in our way. I'll do it tonight.*
Kyp sighed and turned on BabCom, and began watching some broadcast from Twentieth Century Earth. It had a very fake looking capital starship, with an enormous crew for its size. And they didn't even have fighters, just capital ships. The main character was always forgetting his lines, and then inflecting them weirdly. And the weapons appeared to totally suck.
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"Hello Master Durron, how can I help you?"
Kyp looked Sheridan in the eyes and waved his hand.
"You will come with me."
"Hey Kyp you mind if I come with you?"
"Not at all, Captain," Kyp said with a smile.
He led Sheridan down to the docking bays.
"You will go past customs, unseen, and board the ship on the other side. You will obey everything the crew tells you."
"I'm gonna go get on a ship right now, it was nice talking with you Master Durron," Sheridan said right before he snuck past customs and boarded the ship. Kyp sighed and turned around.
"It's done. We are going home, and the war will be over."
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"Has anybody seen John?"
"No Ambassador Delenn, I haven't seen him in a few hours, why?"
"He never came home tonight."
Zack tapped the console in front of him and paged the Captain.
Nothing.
"C and C to Captain Sheridan, are you there?"
"I'm starting to get worried, Mr. Allen."
"Me too. C and C to Captain John Sheridan, are you there?"
Silence.
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He looked up as he felt the ship wrench. It was taking off. He looked over at his date. She tapped her wrist-link, but only got static. They had thought it would be better if they kept their relationship secret for a while, until things cooled down, and had snuck aboard the ship so nobody would see them.
Then he looked out the porthole and saw the station rapidly shrinking away.
"Susan, I think we are in a little bit of trouble," he said as he stood up and stretched.
"Yeah, tell me about it, I was only supposed to leave my post for a few hours. What is the Captain going to say when I don't come back in a little while?"
"They are opening the jump gate. I hope this Morden fellow doesn't go very far."
"What did you say, Jacen? Morden!? I hope it's not The Morden. The guy who works for the shadows."
"What are the chances of him actually getting onboard Babylon 5, let alone bringing a ship registered in his name."
"Yeah, you are probably right. Maybe we should go talk to him and explain things."
Jacen walked up to the front of the cargo area in which they had been hiding, and opened the door. Suddenly he stopped where he was going. He felt the darkside right in front of him. It was very concentrated.
"Hold up Susan, I'll be right back."
"But, Jace..."
"I can't put you in danger, now go hide behind those crates again."
"Alright, but you be careful."
Jacen reached down and grabbed his lightsaber. Gripping it in his palm he slowly worked along the corridor. Then he saw it. In a small room, he saw a man, tied up in a chair. He was bleeding all over his face and he appeared to be unconscious. Jacen looked around and snuck into the room. He lifted the man's head up and gasped.
"Hello, Knight Solo," a voice behind him said.
Whirling around, Jacen saw the voice's face. He glared at it and ignited his lightsaber.
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"Wake up, Knight Solo!" a voice commanded him.
Jacen opened his eyes and noticed he was tied up next to the other man. He struggled in the chair, but couldn't get out. He reached out into the force, but found he couldn't reach it. He licked his dry lips and tasted blood on them. He looked up at the source of the voice and growled at him.
"What are planning to do to us?" Jacen asked the man.
"My associates are going to ask you a few questions."
"OH YEAH!? Well, I'd like to ask them a few things as well."
"Oh, you will get your chance, soon enough."
There was a shimmer in the air and a large black spider-like creature materialized. It began to chirp, a small box on the table began speaking. Jacen figured it was a translator.
"What do you want?" the box said.
"I want to get out of here and go home."
"What are you doing here?"
Jacen stalled, not knowing whether they knew about Susan yet.
"I saw Sheridan board the ship, and decided to follow him."
"You lie, where is she?"
"I don't know what you are talking about, I came here alone."
"You lie again, where is Commander Susan Ivanova, we know you were here with her."
Jacen gulped. *I guess they found out about her, but couldn't find her.*
"He said, he came here alone, let him go, it's me you want," the man next to him said.
"No Captain, I won't let you sacrifice yourself for me."
"It's my job as commanding officer..."
"Be silent Sheridan, we are not talking with you; you will get your turn later," the translator interrupted.
Sheridan was suddenly blown backwards across the room and into the wall. The door shut as the other man left. The creature chirped and its many eyes began glowing momentarily. Jacen gulped as it stepped closer to him.