A/N: Again huge thanks to Mariko Duknic who read all 7 chapters up to know and still wants to know how the story continues ^_^ Um… I don't believe it myself but that's everything I have to say at the moment… Must be my muse taking a little vacation from the story… I hope she's back when I want to go on writing…
Chapter Eight
This time it was Coreena who waited anxiously before a superior's office. While she was standing there at relax, she saw Saron Kenzy approaching her. She sneered. "Coming to gloat, lieutenant?" Kenzy tilted her head a little.
"No, to wish you luck. You gonna need it with Zifra… maybe you even make it out alive…"
"Oh, thank you very much. Very moral-raising." Kenzy patted her shoulder lightly.
"Believe me, the whole squadron is with you in this moment. And we all only wish the best to you." Coreena grinned humorless.
"Yeah, go tell it to a stormtrooper." At this Kenzy rolled her eyes.
"No, really. They don't want you to get fired, they start to like you…" The door of Zifra's office opened and lieutenant Gandor Te'sillekk from Silver Cat Squadron emerged. He just gave her a sympathetic look and hurried down the corridor. Then a sharp voice from inside the door called: "Captain Coreena Mallan!" After a last look at Kenzy and a rearrangement of her pressure suit and hair Coreena entered the office with as much self-confidence she could offer at the moment. She snapped to attention before the man behind the desk and saluted.
"Captain Coreena Mallan, reporting as ordered." The man nodded.
"At ease." He sifted through some data cards lying before him on the desk and stopped as he obviously got the right one, pushing it into his data-pad.
"Hm… let's see. Captain Coreena Mallan, born on Alderaan – my condolences, captain – served with Claw Squadron, the Yellow Aces, Ghorman Squadron and Green Squadron… That's quite a lot for only three years of service. I wonder for what you got your promotions. Obeying orders properly was clearly not one of the reasons. So…" He looked up again and folded his hands over the data-pad. "I suppose, you know what you are here for?" She nodded.
"Yes, sir." He began to sift again.
"Do you have to say anything to this?" She swallowed before she answered, then dug out her most confident voice.
"Yes, sir. I have strong evidence that the general commanding the battle group where those two ships who attacked us belonged to is responsible for the main part of the captures the Alliance had to suffer over the last three or four months. This man has to be stopped or we will lose more personnel, and we can't afford any loses. So I believed that we or the Intelligence that is need more information about this battle group which was accomplished with capturing the Bloodshed." Zifra looked up again, this time his eyes were filled with something that was slyness mixed with real detest.
"You are saying, you wanted to risk my ship to accomplish a personal mission?" She shook her head, still trying to look poised.
"No, sir. I wanted to show you the importance of the matter and the competence of your fighter squadrons. And if I may remind you: The ships being mostly in the danger zone where the fighters, not the frigate."
"You want me to add impertinence to the reproach of insubordination?"
"Sir, you don't understand it. While we are discussing here, Chesfer might be torturing one or even more of fellow Rebels. We have to do something!" This was too much. She had crossed the border and she realized it in the same moments his eyes literally targeted her.
"But not with my ship and my crew and my fighter squadrons! Any more remark like this will get you kicked out here for good. Now leave this office at once or I will personally throw you out of here!" Coreena Mallan recognized a fit of rage when she saw one and this threatened to become one of the worst she had ever seen. Throwing him a quick salute she turned on her heel and was out of his office in less than one second.
Lochlin knocked at her door, but got no response. He tried it again. After the third approach he began to worry. "Captain? Is everything okay? I know you are in there, your light's on. Come on, Cap…" He knocked again and this time the door slid open. A groggy looking Coreena Mallan in a lose-fitting sweater and track pant stood behind it and tried to ban her tousled hair from her face. "What the hell is it?" He could feel his face go red.
"Oh… um… captain… I'm sorry to disturb you but you really had me worried here, not answering my knocks…" To be honest she had scared the living bantha-poodoo out of him.
"Sorry, lieutenant… I just didn't hear it… Now, why'd you come?" He shoved his hands in his pockets, just to do anything against this growing uneasiness.
"I just… I just wanted to ask how it went with Zifra. I recall Randy saying something like "She looked like the death goddess of Gyndine when she stormed past me…", he said. A smile crept over her face and lit up her sleepy eyes a bit.
"He said that?" Lochlin laughed.
"Yes…" And then she realized they couldn't have a serious talk "between door and floor".
"Oh… Marcus… I'm sorry… Please come in, will you?" At first he only realized she had called him by his first name, and only after several more seconds he noticed she had been inviting him in. Somewhat reluctantly he stepped in and looked around a little helplessly when the door closed. She gestured toward the only chair in the room and said: "Please take a seat. I hope you don't mind if I take the bed again." He only shook his head and saw her sit down with crossed legs on the upper bunk. She took the blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders, pulling out her hair and laying it over her shoulder in a thick twisted plaid. She looked so much younger now.
"So… what exactly happened?" She shrugged.
"He made a nice comment on my career so far, asked me if I had something to say on the case – which I had but he couldn't foresee that, reminded me what I did to his ship, didn't listen to what I had to say about Chesfer, threatened to fire me if I ever said anything more about this guy and then throw me out of his office." The nonchalance of her voice was betraying her real feelings, and he somehow could sense it.
"And what do you think is he going to do now?" Again she shrugged but he could see the anger already building up in her eyes.
"Dunno. File a complaint 'bout my behavior, apply for my transfer or even discharge… but with all this fuss about this death star thing and Alderaan he won't have that much success at the moment and I can only hope he will listen to me the next time I'm meeting him." She leaned her head back. "I'm gonna have so much fun with this guy. If he lets me stay, that is. Force, this is tiring me more than a fight, you can imagine this?"
"Well, being dressed down is surely more exhausting than dressing others down." She could see where he was aiming at.
"Hey, compared to what he did my talk with Kenzy was chit-chat, okay?" He snorted lightly.
"Oh, and you didn't happen to have that "chit-chat" with her because of the same reason you were "dressed down" by Zifra?"
"Hey, she was placing herself and her ship in danger for a lost cause…"
"And placing us in danger is better, yes?" He didn't like this. What had started out as a casual talk between CO and XO seemed to evolve in a downright fight.
"Zifra wasn't concerned about us, he was concerned about his ship and his authority. We didn't mean anything to him as do the prisoners. He didn't even want to hear what evidence I had and what the sources were. With taking the initiative I wanted to show him what we were capable of but the truth is he is not interested the least in us pilots. He just wants to keep his ship out of trouble by any means. We will be running until the end of times and all the women in Chesfer's hands will die unnoticed and will be forgotten if we don't do anything. I… I just feel so helpless. I wish we were an independent unit so we could just quit our assignment here and look for a new home but we are chained to this ship and Kesra and all the others will have to suffer because of this. Don't you understand me at least?" Her passionate little speech didn't change all of his mind but he surely could understand her action now a little better. And to be honest… he had been happy to finally be able to do more than just scratching the shield of some Impship and then scoop away like a coward.
"Well… a little, yes." She looked away, drawing her knees toward her and circling them with her arms.
"And what does the rest of the squadron think?" He smiled.
"They were happy to blow something up at last. And they are eager to do some more blowing up." Coreena looked at him again, giving him a half-smile.
"Moral's diminished a bit though, I take it?"
"Because of Tie, you think? I think they haven't quite realized he's gone because he was a quiet one, never drawing too much attention to him. And if everything is going to happen at all his death will strengthen their will to fight back. What's concerning me more is that we have ten pilots but only nine ships. If Flann's is repairable, that is. What are we going to do about this?"
She yawned and stretched almost delightfully, then said: "Lieutenant Te'sillekk from Silver Cat Squad told me they lost three pilots but could rescue one X-Wing they don't need at the moment. I think the time being until Kara's fit to fly again should be enough for a quick repainting and some repairs. Speaking of Kara… how is she?" He leaned his chin on the back of the chair.
"Stable, they told me. But one of her knee joints needs to be replaced. They said it's a common problem with bacta allergy. Hopefully Kara or Deraani won't have too much severe crashes or they will consist more of mechanic than organic parts sooner or later." She nodded.
"What about Flann?"
"Got a mild concussion and some minor burns on his hands. One night in sick bay and he's up and happy again. And what about you, captain?" She hadn't expected this question. Sure she had noted that he cared about her, maybe even more than just an XO caring about his CO, but she clearly didn't look that beaten up, now did she?
"I'm fine, lieutenant. Really." He grinned.
"Yeah, sure and I'm the Emperor's son. Zifra's little lecture did more to you than you want to admit. I've seen this look in my own eyes, cap." If it was possible she seemed to tighten even more.
"Look, lieutenant… It's just… I so much want to help, I want to fight. Alderaan didn't do anything against the Empire except speaking and writing and look what it got them. We should have stood up so much earlier. We had the power to do it, we were honored and trusted all over the galaxy, we had charismatic leaders… You know… I once met Leia Organa when she was like 16 or something. My mother had arranged the meeting and I could speak to her for a little while. She seemed so much older than me, so much more responsible. I don't know what would have happened if we had had weapons but we surely wouldn't have let the Death Star blow us out of space so easily."
"The Death Star's been destroyed some hours ago, if that's any consolation, cap. It won't harm any more planets.", he said almost calmingly.
"Yeah, I heard that, too. Great thing Antilles and that Skywalker kid did but it's not the ultimate victory. The Empire's still there and wreaking havoc on this galaxy and it's driving me crazy." She lay down and propped her head up on her right arm. He thought she looked like she was going to fall asleep any minute.
"I understand it, captain. But don't let this become something personal. Don't turn this into your personal revenge quest. Your squadron deserves more than just to be the instrument of your wrath. And it would be a waste of their and your capabilities. Sure Chesfer needs to be stopped but always think of the price. Don't let it rise too high, you might find yourself not being able to pay it. Captain?" Her head way lying on the pillow, her eyes were closed and her breathing was regular. She had visibly fallen asleep. He stood up. "Obviously I'm not much of a speaker." Almost tentatively he took a step forward and was standing with his face approximately 30 centimeters away from her. He lifted his hand and was about to caress her cheek when his senses finally kicked in and he almost forced his hand down. So instead of touching her he just whispered: "Ignore what I said before. We will get them, whatever it costs." At that she stirred lightly and her blanket half fell down. Careful not to wake her he took it and covered her ever so lightly.
A smile crept over her face and she mumbled in her sleep: "G'dnight, mum." I'm so sorry for you. Retreating to the door he whispered tenderly: "Good night and pleasant dreams to you, captain."
This time she was not going away so easy. She just knew it. When the door opened and the storm troopers came in, followed by Chesfer, Kesra's stomach seemed to collapse. She just prayed he wouldn't pick her, but luck was against her. Again. She didn't even look up this time. She closed her large black eyes and began to recite hunter songs and poems from her people. Last time it had helped a bit and she hadn't given away anything in the short time she had been conscious.
After what seemed a small eternity, she was thrown into the windowless half-lit room she had come to fear from the last time. The only thing in there coming close to furniture was something like a table with straps on it but in truth was a moveable plate where prisoners were strapped on. And yes, the procedure began as an assistant of Chesfer's was punching a button and the plate moved into an upright position. She was strapped there, but she didn't flinch like last time. It had gotten her a nasty slap by one of the ordnances. When they were ready the slight humming of several repulsor-lifts filled her sensitive ears. The torture droid. Then, when everything was settled, Chesfer entered the room. He didn't take his time, but went directly up to her and stopped right in front of her. She hadn't lifted up her head but she saw his black flawless shining boots and the sight made her almost vomit. It had been boots like these who had kicked her consciousness out of her when they had "welcomed" her aboard the Hunter.
"So… I hope you will be a little more cooperative now than the last time." Kesra lifted her head finally. Chesfer's face looked self-conscious and cold as always. "And if not… you haven't get to know what these precious little thing can do by far, animal." He smiled a predator's smile toward the torture droid who hung motionless in the air right behind him. "Well, let's start with an easy question… Are there any rebel bases in this sector?" Although she knew which tortures this would produce she remained silent. As Chesfer gestured for the droid behind him, the thing came up and painfully slow made its way toward her, the injection needle's tip glistening in the dim light. Kesra closed her eyes. Not truth serum, not truth serum, not… "truth serum…" Her eyes flew open. She hadn't said anything, had she? "Ah it's working already. Take a note on this, lieutenant, that might be useful for later interrogations. Well, if she's making it through this one, that is. Anyway… will you answer my question now?" Nonononononono…
"Ye….Ye… Ye…" He grinned and touched his chin briefly. "I take that as yes. Now… are there an rebel bases in this sector?" Intel Briefings… think of Intel briefings…
"Keh… keh ashu…jema… kashuty… keh ashu…" The grin faltered.
"What rubbish are you throwing at me, you animal?" Someone from behind cleared his throat and said: "Uh, sir… This is supposed to be its "language"… uh… I try to find a translation…" Chesfer turned around to Kesra again. "You answer my question now!" The Rodian again went into battle against herself, and this time she was a hair's breadth away from breaking down.
"Y… Y… Yanush… Y… Yanush… eqai… atut…" It earned her a slap from Chesfer and another injection from the droid. She thought it had been truth serum again, but was taught otherwise when an unbearable pain spread through her body from her left arm. She let out an anguished cry and starred wild-eyed at Chesfer. "Oh, yes, my precious pet, this was something really brilliant. The chemical which was injected into your body shut down your endorphin production, meaning your pain sensors can't stop sending information to your body and it enhanced their sensitivity. This is just great, isn't it?" Through the excruciating pain still pulsing through her body Kesra only understand few words but she had noticed what the chemicals did nonetheless. "Now lets start a real interrogation."
Running. She was just running. This felt better than even beating the dummy. Or Blenwell. Saron didn't know how long she had been using the treat mill for now, only knew she felt better with every kilometer she let behind her. She didn't notice the room's door open until the person who entered addressed her. "You know, this thing's not your own." Frowning she stopped and looked at the grinning face of Deraani Kar'Esta. Lifting an eyebrow she just said: "Huh?" Deraani laughed.
"Must have been this runner's high thing they were talking about 'couple of years ago. I was just asking you in a very politely manner that I intend to use this thing myself." Now it was Kenzy's time to grin.
"Sorry, I've mistaken your remark for being something of a declaration about the ownership of it." Deraani smiled again and said down on one of the weight-lifting benches.
"May I ask you a question, lieutenant?" Kenzy left the treat mill and walked up to the Devaronian.
"Yeah, well, if it's nothing personal…" Deraani cleared her throat.
"Actually it was a personal question… but if you hadn't planned to answer one anyway…" Kenzy sat down beside Deraani. Despite the dislike she had for people who liked to spread gossip faster than a Hutt executed his rivals, the older Kar'Esta sister had something to her that made her liked by a broad variety of people.
"Well… nobody can hide anything very long from you so just ask. You would have found out about whatever you are going to ask, anyway." The woman displayed a certain grin that made her look real devilish.
"Okay… well… all of us have been wondering what you did before joining Starfighter command. It's quite obvious you didn't start your service with it. So… what was it?" Kenzy considered answering something like "Sorry, that's classified." for a moment but that would be lying to a comrade, and she had her principles.
"I was a commando officer. Most of my work is classified, so I can't tell much. And I would prefer it if you don't prey on this anymore." Deraani looked at the lieutenant and saw something in her eyes that convinced even her – Liberty's gossip queen extraordinaire – that it was better to left some things untold.
"Lieutenant… whatever happened to you in your commando time… it's time you should let it behind. And you should start mixing up with the squadron more, become a real member. It does nobody good if you keep detaching yourself from people. Maybe people would like you more if you gave them more opportunities to get to know you better…"
"If you haven't noticed until now, flight officer, I don't care about people liking me or not. All I want to do is my job and nothing else. As far everything else is concerned, just leave me alone. Don't bother me, and I won't bother you." With that she stood up again, gathered her things and went out of the room. Deraani Kar'Esta just smiled. She had found a real challenge here.