Author's Note: All right, I'm back. After three months in hiatus, I'll be trying to write up chapters every week or so from this point on. I just haven't had the motivation to move the story anywhere, on top of the fact that I didn't know where I wanted to take this. I've decided on a path, and hopefully everyone who reads this will enjoy it. If not, try anyway ;). Now, on with the story. This chapter is a bit short, but it is necessary for later on.
Also, I'm looking for another beta reader for double checking my work. If you are interested, you need to know the English language well (knowing the difference between your, you're you, as well as they're, their, and there is a start.) If you are interested, please contact me via email.
Out of the fire.
Stephen Phuge looked around his small, dark cell. Though he was tired of looking at the same monochrome steel walls for a week now, the thought of melting the door or a wall open with a turbo-laser barrage helped to ease his frustration.
That, and it kept him from thinking back to the battle at Rakata. Revan always managed to somehow escape his revenge... first at the raiding party that captured him in the first place, then when he tried to have him executed for his war crimes. Of course, those damned Jedi had other ideas.
Oh, how he loathed the Jedi. The mere thought of them made his eye twitch with rage.
Alright... sitting here doing nothing will get you nowhere, you need to figure out a way to escape and find out where Revan is. Then take a star-fighter and wipe that traitor from the face of the galaxy...
Of course, it didn't help that he was in magnetic wrist-locks.
He stood up, and walked over to the force door. The same old plain gray plasteel corridor met his eyes. The other cells filled with 'traitors' like himself, mercenaries working against the Republic, thugs, and the assorted 'political' prisoners.
Slamming the wrist-locks did nothing since the shock conducted through the copper reinforced construction. He cursed under his breath and looked up to the holocam situated in the back of his cell.
After a staring contest, which did nothing but amuse the operator at the other end, Phuge looked up to the familiar tap-tap of boots walking down the hallway to the cell-block. He moved into the field as much as he could and strained to look out and see who it was.
The man he most expected had come around to visit him; Grand Admiral Jatt Terrano. He and the Admiral were constantly at odds when it came to tactics and how things should be done, and the only reason Phuge hadn't been discharged from the navy was because of his high success rate in combat. He might have been reckless at times, and unorthodox, but his methods worked. The other three Grand Admirals had vetoed Terranos' attempt at dismissing Stephen.
"Well well... have to come to gloat, or have you and the other top brass finally had some sense put into you?" Stephen leaned back against the cell wall and noticed the other two female attendants with the Grand Admiral.
Jatt rolled his eyes, and stopped in front of the cell door. His attendants placed a new set of overalls, and a plate of food in front of the door. He looked to the side and nodded, and one of them palmed the open switch. A cannon suddenly emerged from the ceiling right in front of the cell, and the force field was released.
"We'll be moving you to a more secure location to make the trial faster. This is your lucky day, the Vigilant is in dock, and her new captain isn't due for another two days. We'll be passing it by on the way, so you can say one last goodbye to your commission." Terrano smirked, but the wheel of a plan began to form in Phuge's head.
After replacing his overalls and eating the full plate in his cell, Phuge waited for the security detail that would take him and the Admiral to his new, "improved" prison. They didn't have to wait long, as ten heavily armed guards began to come down the hallway just a minute after he was done his meal.
"Get up, and let's go." Jatt looked to Stephen as the guards assembled in a twin line formation. The barrier was removed once more, and the stun cannons all began to actively seek him out, waiting for any sign of resistance. He gave none as he was walked out of the corridor and another corridor.
"So..." Stephen looked to Jatt, "What are you trying to charge me with?"
Jatt looked to the former Captain and raised a curious brow, "Try? The evidence speaks for itself. You managed an act that raised so much hell there won't be much of a trial to go to. They have you charged with attempted man-slaughter, attempted assassination, attempted destruction of civilian property, insubordination, conspiracy, and last, but not least, treason."
Stephen had to smile as he walked between the lines of armed guards, "Sounds to me like you have all your charges covered. So, where is this wonderful new cell of mine?"
Jatt walked up to the elevator to the to the top of the Coruscant facility, and dialed in the access code to the door. "You'll find out once we are there..."
Stephen showed no outward sign of his frustration as they led him onto the platform. The doors closed, and soon they were rapidly heading for the roof of the prison complex to the landing pad.
Once there, the light of the Coruscanti sun shone into his eyes as a section of the roof retracted to accommodate the elevator platform. The high speed armored Navy transport stood stiffly on one of the nearby landing pads.
No one said a word as Stephen was led into the back of the transport, and the doors opened. He went first, then his guard, then finally, the Grand Admiral.
Stephen sat down on one of the only seats with a view outside. The grime of the prison roof began to swirl as the repulsor-lifts pushed the craft into the air. After a brief whine, they were off.
The less-then-spectacular scenery soon gave way to the massive -yet beautiful in its own right- shipyards sector. Dozen of Corvettes and hundreds of fighters were docked here, constantly taking off and landing for their routine patrols. The war was costly, but the remnants of the Republic fleet were stationed at Coruscant for repairs after the costly Battle for the Star Forge.
After another few moments of silence, Jatt stood up and walked over to one of the windows on the craft. He pointed out towards just a bit outwards and down, "There she is. Your former ship is just out there, I decided to take this detour to let you see her one last time before you were put away for the rest of your life."
Stephen nearly sighed at his superior, but he stood up and moved to the window as well. He gave a small salute through the window as they pass the ship; at least, as well as could be expected.
Suddenly, the ship jerked to the side, as if hit by a turbo-laser bolt. The guards sprang to their feet, and surrounded Stephen.
A second later, one of the guards pulled out a blaster and shot the Grand Admiral in the head, rendering him unconscious.
Stephen turned around just in time to see the display, and then blinked as one of the other in the guard came up to him and released his cuffs.
He stood there for a second before he realized what was going on: he was being broken out of jail.
He rubbed his wrists gently before yet another guard came up to him and gave him a bag full of equipment, "This is a jailbreak. We have contacted your crew, and informed them of what actually transpired. They have decided to mutiny against the Republic and take you back as their Captain. This bag has all the equipment and information you'll need to to get to your ship and bypass the security net. We will be joining you."
As Stephen stood there, absorbing the situation, the squad began to suit up themselves, "Get your repulsor belt on. This is the only way we can get to your ship without raising suspicion over a course change. They won't be able to notice us with these belts, they have a cloaking field and repulsor generator."
Stephen only nodded, and opened the bag to see its contents. A couple datapads, a flight suit, drop-belt, and a commlink. Stephen nodded, and began to strip right there. Being in the military, you learn to forego your modesty.
Just as they were about to pass the ship, everyone was suited up. A second later, the guards yelled "Clear" up to the cockpit, and suddenly, the back doors opened. Each of the former guards began to jump from the shuttle until only Stephen was left.
After a few moment to activate the belt and prepare, Stephen joined them, descending rapidly away from the shuttle and using the repulsor controls to steer his way towards his ship.
As he neared the squad of mutineers, he yelled over the wind, "Why are you doing this?"
They all looked to him and smiled, but the leader saluted him, "It's not everyday someone has the guts to stand up against the top brass and do what is right. We want Revan to pay just as much as you do."
Stephen could only nod as he descended towards the Vigilant.
