I am soooo sorry about the long wait. No, this hasn't been abandoned, I've
just been really busy. Of course, it didn't help that all my plot bunnies
took a synchronized vacation. This is the result of what little time I
have, so I apologize in advance for the shortness. Hopefully the next
chapter will be longer, but no guarantees. Next week is free for me so
far, so I might get it to you then.
Enjoy!
Chapter 3
Back at their ship, Corran rounded on Han. "What did you do that for?" he demanded. "They're going to kill him!"
Han looked at him without remorse. "No, they won't. Standard Imperial procedure these days. They don't shoot first and ask questions later anymore. Any suspected spies are taken in for questioning."
Corran bristled. "So they're going to torture him. Great. That really makes me feel better!"
Han opened his mouth to reply, but before he could Leia emerged from the ship. "Who's being tortured?" She demanded.
Han rolled his eyes. "Nobody! Obi-Wan got caught and Corran's panicking."
Leia frowned. "Well, if he's been caught, what are you doing standing here? Shouldn't you be going after him?" She turned to Corran. "And don't worry. They won't kill him. The Imperials here try to learn everything they can about their prisoners before resorting to torture or death threats."
"See? I told you!" Han growled.
Leia rounded on him. "And you! What are you doing just standing there?! Get busy rescuing him!"
____________________________________________________________________________ __________
Obi-Wan moaned softly as he returned to consciousness. Whatever he was laying on, it could not have been meant to serve as a bed. He kept his eyes closed, but that didn't stop sounds from filtering into his mind.
"-will he wake up?"
"Any time now, sir. There's no concussion, just mild bruising."
"Yes, Doctor. Now, if you would. I'd like to talk to the boy myself."
Imperial Intelligence Officer Etram Navcis watched the doctor leave, then turned back to the boy on the prison bunk. "I know you're awake."
The boy didn't move.
"Come now, boy, it's no use trying to pretend. Your eyes clenched and your breathing hitched. If you want me to believe you're asleep, don't be so obvious."
Slowly, the boy sat up.
"There, that's better. Now, what's your name?"
The boy studied him for a moment, considering. "Ben."
"Well, Ben, do you have a last name? And perhaps a reason for attacking Imperial troops after curfew?"
"My last name's Kenobi, and the other is none of your business."
Navcis considered. Kenobi. Better not to mention General Kenobi as a reason not to rebel. They might be related. "You wouldn't be thinking of joining the Rebellion, now would you?"
Ben looked away.
"How much do you know about what you're getting into?"
Ben glared fiercely at the officer. "Enough. I've heard stories."
"Oh, really? I suppose those would be stories about the glorious rebellion against the first Emperor and how much better life was afterward?"
"Something like that." Ben muttered.
"And of course, there's no mention of how corrupt that government is, and how much better life is under Emperor Durron, now is there?"
Ben snorted. "That's why he has the Jedi on his side, huh?" he growled sarcastically.
Navcis leaned back against the wall. "Ah, the Jedi. Once the protectors of the small. Now just meaningless rabble-rousers. They didn't tell you how terrible the Jedi have become, did they. One murdered six smugglers in cold blood, not counting the many Imperial citizens he killed as a fighter pilot. Corran Horn, I believe it was. He's not even the worst. However wonderful they once were, they've become bloodthirsty thrillseekers. I wouldn't wish a modern Jedi on my worst enemy."
Obi-Wan stared at the man, horrified. Corran, a murderer? What else hadn't they told him? Maybe that's why Jedi were allowed to be in the military - they didn't care how bloodthirsty they became!
Navcis smiled grimly. It was working. Now he just needed something to cement the idea in his brain. "The Rebellion even had a Jedi Chief of State when it overthrew the old Emperor. She was fine at getting what she wanted - just a little lightsaber waving, and anyone would do what she dictated. She wasn't against getting down and dirty with her troops, either. In the Battle of Endor, and most other battles, Leia Organa Solo killed just as many Imperial troops as her men did."
Leia, too? It was almost more than Obi-Wan could bear. Everything he'd been told had been a lie. His 'friends' were all cold-blooded killers!
"What about Rogue Squadron?" He heard himself whisper.
"Rogue Squadron? Don't even get me started. They defied all laws when they wanted something done. Ysanne Isard was set up as the legal government on Thyferra, and Rogue Squadron went rogue and assassinated her. The government didn't officially sanction their move, but they didn't try to stop it, either. Wedge Antilles was too popular, and what he wanted, he got."
Obi-Wan stared dully at the wall. /Where are you Qui-Gon? I don't know what to do!/ He pleaded silently.
Navcis smiled grimly. Perfect. "I'm terribly sorry, Ben. But don't worry. We won't let you be taken. And if any rebels do try to contact you, just alert us and we'll deal with them."
Obi-Wan nodded numbly, still staring at the wall.
Grinning, Navcis left.
____________________________________________________________________________ __________
Please review! Chapters come easier with encouragement!
Enjoy!
Chapter 3
Back at their ship, Corran rounded on Han. "What did you do that for?" he demanded. "They're going to kill him!"
Han looked at him without remorse. "No, they won't. Standard Imperial procedure these days. They don't shoot first and ask questions later anymore. Any suspected spies are taken in for questioning."
Corran bristled. "So they're going to torture him. Great. That really makes me feel better!"
Han opened his mouth to reply, but before he could Leia emerged from the ship. "Who's being tortured?" She demanded.
Han rolled his eyes. "Nobody! Obi-Wan got caught and Corran's panicking."
Leia frowned. "Well, if he's been caught, what are you doing standing here? Shouldn't you be going after him?" She turned to Corran. "And don't worry. They won't kill him. The Imperials here try to learn everything they can about their prisoners before resorting to torture or death threats."
"See? I told you!" Han growled.
Leia rounded on him. "And you! What are you doing just standing there?! Get busy rescuing him!"
____________________________________________________________________________ __________
Obi-Wan moaned softly as he returned to consciousness. Whatever he was laying on, it could not have been meant to serve as a bed. He kept his eyes closed, but that didn't stop sounds from filtering into his mind.
"-will he wake up?"
"Any time now, sir. There's no concussion, just mild bruising."
"Yes, Doctor. Now, if you would. I'd like to talk to the boy myself."
Imperial Intelligence Officer Etram Navcis watched the doctor leave, then turned back to the boy on the prison bunk. "I know you're awake."
The boy didn't move.
"Come now, boy, it's no use trying to pretend. Your eyes clenched and your breathing hitched. If you want me to believe you're asleep, don't be so obvious."
Slowly, the boy sat up.
"There, that's better. Now, what's your name?"
The boy studied him for a moment, considering. "Ben."
"Well, Ben, do you have a last name? And perhaps a reason for attacking Imperial troops after curfew?"
"My last name's Kenobi, and the other is none of your business."
Navcis considered. Kenobi. Better not to mention General Kenobi as a reason not to rebel. They might be related. "You wouldn't be thinking of joining the Rebellion, now would you?"
Ben looked away.
"How much do you know about what you're getting into?"
Ben glared fiercely at the officer. "Enough. I've heard stories."
"Oh, really? I suppose those would be stories about the glorious rebellion against the first Emperor and how much better life was afterward?"
"Something like that." Ben muttered.
"And of course, there's no mention of how corrupt that government is, and how much better life is under Emperor Durron, now is there?"
Ben snorted. "That's why he has the Jedi on his side, huh?" he growled sarcastically.
Navcis leaned back against the wall. "Ah, the Jedi. Once the protectors of the small. Now just meaningless rabble-rousers. They didn't tell you how terrible the Jedi have become, did they. One murdered six smugglers in cold blood, not counting the many Imperial citizens he killed as a fighter pilot. Corran Horn, I believe it was. He's not even the worst. However wonderful they once were, they've become bloodthirsty thrillseekers. I wouldn't wish a modern Jedi on my worst enemy."
Obi-Wan stared at the man, horrified. Corran, a murderer? What else hadn't they told him? Maybe that's why Jedi were allowed to be in the military - they didn't care how bloodthirsty they became!
Navcis smiled grimly. It was working. Now he just needed something to cement the idea in his brain. "The Rebellion even had a Jedi Chief of State when it overthrew the old Emperor. She was fine at getting what she wanted - just a little lightsaber waving, and anyone would do what she dictated. She wasn't against getting down and dirty with her troops, either. In the Battle of Endor, and most other battles, Leia Organa Solo killed just as many Imperial troops as her men did."
Leia, too? It was almost more than Obi-Wan could bear. Everything he'd been told had been a lie. His 'friends' were all cold-blooded killers!
"What about Rogue Squadron?" He heard himself whisper.
"Rogue Squadron? Don't even get me started. They defied all laws when they wanted something done. Ysanne Isard was set up as the legal government on Thyferra, and Rogue Squadron went rogue and assassinated her. The government didn't officially sanction their move, but they didn't try to stop it, either. Wedge Antilles was too popular, and what he wanted, he got."
Obi-Wan stared dully at the wall. /Where are you Qui-Gon? I don't know what to do!/ He pleaded silently.
Navcis smiled grimly. Perfect. "I'm terribly sorry, Ben. But don't worry. We won't let you be taken. And if any rebels do try to contact you, just alert us and we'll deal with them."
Obi-Wan nodded numbly, still staring at the wall.
Grinning, Navcis left.
____________________________________________________________________________ __________
Please review! Chapters come easier with encouragement!