Chapter 6
Some hours later Wellen is in detention cell onboard Imperial Star Destroyer Emperor's Revenge. Thelea is standing on the bridge of the named ship. The crew seems not to be certain how to react to this Arkanian. They know that this woman was one of the Emperor's Fists. And now she serves that group of cowards who doesn't serve the Emperor, but some little Grand Admiral.
"Can I go and meet my wing mate?" Thelea asks from Commander Bral.
"Does it matter what I say? You would go anyway."
"Perhaps not. After all, I was a Fist. And I still am an officer of the Infiltrator Wing."
"IW is nothing. As is Emperor's Hammer. We are the true servants of the Emperor! You're nothing!"
Anger lits fire in Thelea's eyes. "Don't presume I wouldn't kill you on the spot. "Her voice is cold. Then she turns around and walks out of the bridge, leaving the whole bridge crew staring at the door closing behind her.
Thelea walks fast and she's filled with anger. "What an idiot! I wonder if these acknowledge the authority of Grand Admiral Ronin. Maybe I should bust Wellen out of here. He's safer with the Emperor's Hammer than with these who call themselves 'Imperials'."
She
walks towards the detention block, where's she's faced by a young
officer. "Ma'am, may I ask why you're here?"
"I'm
here to meet Wellen Carlan. You took him prisoner on Yinchorr.
"The Rebel?"
"Yes, him."
"Why?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why you're willing to meet him? He represents everything all of us, including you, should hate."
"Are you questioning my authority?"
"Umm... No, Ma'am, I'm not. Do you want escorts?" Thelea glances at him, so he continues. "Guess not. Block A, cell 2212. Here's the map-"
"I don't need one to find it." Then she walks towards the cell 2212 on cell block A.
She reaches the door and opens it and steps in. Door is left open. Wellen looks at her and then he charges at her screaming. "Traitor!"
She
grabs his arms. "Listen to me, Wellen. I'm getting you out of
here. Listen! You're not safe in here. But you have a chance among
the IW."
"Why should I trust you?" He struggles
trying to escape, but she's too strong.
"Because I care. I won't betray our friendship. Our friendship means a lot to me."
He calms down. "But you would betray the Empire? I thought you didn't want to do that..."
"I don't. But these shouldn't be called 'Imperials'." She grabs his right arm. "I'm sorry, but this is the only way. Play along, my friend." She drags him out from the cell and to the detention block control room, where she's face by the young officer she already met.
"Hold! Where are you taking this prisoner?"
"Cool it, kid. I'm taking him to my superiors at IW."
"Do you have transfer orders?"
"Who said I would need them?"
"But..."
"Silence! Contact my superior officer, if you've got something to add." Without giving the young officer a chance to reply, she takes Wellen to the elevator. And then the elevator door closes and she releases Wellen who retreats backwards towards the back wall of the lift.
"Stay away from me!" Wellen yells.
"Calm down, my friend. I'm taking you out of here."
"You already told me that, Thelea. But I'm not sure that I'll be safe among the IW..."
"Do you really want to stay here? Besides, I'll guarantee your safety."
Wellen is about to say something, but Thelea grabs his arm again, for the lift stopped at the hangar deck.
Thelea drags 'the resisting Rebel' to his A-wing and she jumps in to her Z-95.
Both take off simultaneously and are out of the hangar before the destroyer's crew has any time to react.
Both fly really fast and are beyond the destroyer's attractor beams reach in no time. And before the destroyer can launch some fighters the two are already in hyperspace.
They fly side by side in hyperspace until they suddenly are drawn back to the real space. Thelea studies her HUD and she sees an Interdictor Cruiser. "Wellen, do you see that?"
"Yes. One of yours?" His voice sounds a bit sarcastic.
"Determine that. It doesn't look like Imperial. Nor Republic. "She checks her HUD again. "Hold on, I know that signal. Blast! Or Whee!"
"What?"
"It is one of ours. It's Arkanian."
"What?"
"It comes from Arkania."
"Enemies or friends?"
"Arkanians are my people. They won't attack me." She swallows the following words, but Wellen can guess that they could attack him.
The cruiser hails both fighters. "Un identified fighters. This is Arkanian Interdictor Cruiser Dauntless. Identify yourselves, and state your destination and business."
"I'm Commander Thelea Jeth of the New Republic. I'm Arkanian. My wing mate is Lieutenant Commander Wellen Carlan of the New Republic. He's Corellian."
"Commander, we've been waiting for you."
"I should've known. Can we board?"
"Aren't you Imperial?" Thelea confirms this. "Your parents are onboard, and they want to know, why you identified yourself as a member of the NR."
"Officially I am a member on the NR. I just happen to Imperial as well. Can I meet my parents?"
"Denied. You can not board Dauntless, but you are allowed to board the command craft, Sunlord. It's the largest ship around."
"Thelea checks her HUD again and sees an enormous Arkanian Command Craft. She hails it. "Sunlord, this is Commander Thelea Jeth. May we, me and human, board?"
"Commander Jeth, You both may board Sunlord Wellcome aboard. You will be escorted to the bridgr. The Supreme Warlord will meet you there."
(To be continued)