Chapter 27

When I awoke, I saw a ceiling going by above me. I lifted my head to see I was strapped to a floating gurney surrounded by a squad of stormtroopers. The masked face of one looked down at me. I heard an audible click as if an external speaker were being toggled on. It said: "Sir, the prisoner is regaining consciousness sooner than expected. The stun blast in the tractor beam wasn't enough."

A voice from the front of the column said: "Take care of it trooper." I had no time to think as the trooper pointed his blaster rifle at me, flipped a thumb switch and fired. The last thing I saw was a blue flash.

When I awoke the second time, the press of cold metal against my skin and a hissing sound were the first sensations. As I woke up, I used the Force to cleanse my body of the stimulant that had just been administered as well as the last effects of the stun blast. I no longer felt the restraint straps on me so I sat up on the sickbay bed I lay on.

A man of medium height and build came in trailed by a younger man. Both wore the same gray uniform. The only noticeable difference besides their age, was the fewer rank squares on the younger one's uniform. I read the older man's insignia as that of a full Captain. The younger one was a senior grade Lieutenant.

The Captain stood before me and said: "You are a prisoner of the Galactic Empire. Cooperate with us by telling me where to find the rest of your pitiful band of traitors and you may get life imprisonment versus a death sentence." In a flippant tone I said: "I suppose repatriation is out of the question?" The only answer I received was a backhand blow from the Captain. I felt it coming in the Force, rolled with the strike and banished the sting.

I looked the man in his eyes and saw the anger and fear. Radiating from him most though was ambition. Cold, calculating ambition. I was possessed of two minds at that moment. I could either play along or bend his mind to my will and practically take command of the ship myself but I quickly discarded that idea. I could gently alter a thought pattern or two, but not an entire Star Destroyer crew.

The Captain raised his hand to strike me again when his Lieutenant caught his hand and said: "He's trying to anger you sir so that you'll underestimate him." The Captain listened and lowered his hand as he turned his head to face me again and said: "Nice try scum." Turning to the security detachment he said: "Make him bleed a little. Don't break anything major, but make him suffer for a time then take him to solitary detention. Then we'll see if time with no contact other than minimal food and water loosens his tongue."

The beatings were ferocious without being overly sadistic. Jedi I may be but I am still human. I still feel pain and I still bleed. The stormtroopers were efficient in their beating to say the least. They didn't break any major bones as they had been ordered not to, but they did bruise and bloody me otherwise.

I could have fought them all down but I only knew that it would go worse for me if I did so I absorbed everything they hit me with and the Force started healing the internal injuries almost as soon as they had been given but it still taxed my internal resources immensely.

They left me be for two days and beat me again then two more and beat me still again. Food and water, just enough to keep me alive was slid into my solitary cell twice a day. The cell couldn't have been larger than nine foot square with a large vaulted ceiling to maximize feelings of loneliness as well as minimal refresher facilities.

Other than the beatings, I found the room peaceful instead of terrorizing. I stretched out in the Force and felt the minds of countless men and women everywhere. It was very much like walking through the walls, but then, what are walls to the eyes of the Force?

I refocused my senses on myself for a moment, and then to the bond I shared with my wife. I followed the bond beyond the walls, the ship. Even beyond the void of space itself. Searching, for that one mind, that one place in the entire galaxy that I could reach. When I found it, I felt Gabrielle's emotional pain. She thought I was as good as dead since the navicomp in my ship had erased itself when the tractor beam had grabbed me.

I also felt the comforting presence of her friend and CO, Teeyara Bree. If Gabrielle would only clear her mind, she would feel my touch but in her current state, there was only pain. I felt tears roll down my cheeks as her despair became my own. I regained my control and withdrew my presence. As I did, I caught a picture of the new base planet. The planet had ten continents and seven moons. More than that, I couldn't tell.

I sent a short message through our bond: "My dearest Gabrielle. I love you and we will be together again." As I finished withdrawing, I caught a fragment of hope . . . then despair. She must've thought the message was from beyond the physical plane, from the eternal oneness of the Force.

I returned to my own mind and then began my search of the ship anew. Tapping into my long-term memory with the Force, I found the schematics of the Imperial Class Star Destroyer. Superimposing that schematic over my Force vision, I began to plot my course of escape. Every corridor I needed to cross, every access-way I would need. Soon, I was ready. I knew the opportunity to escape would present itself sooner or later. I just had to be patient.

Every day was like the one before. I had lost any track of time other than food, water and beatings. On one such day, the guards hauled me out of the cell, beat me less thoroughly than usual and took me to an interview room. The Captain was there with his Lieutenant. The stormtroopers waited by the door as I slowly picked myself up off the deck to face the two imperial officers.

On the table in front of the Captain was my Muramasa sword in its scabbard and my lightsaber. The Captain picked up my lightsaber first and said: "Judging by the markings on this and on the real sword here, you obviously made this yourself. You are fortunate that we are on a deep space mission or you would be on your way to Imperial Center and an interview with his highness the Emperor himself. Here I thought that the Jedi were extinct. Obviously, we missed a Master somewhere who in turn taught you."

The Captain continued speaking as he put down my lightsaber. "If you give us the name of your Master and where he taught you, I think I might be able to persuade the Emperor to spare you for his own cadre of Dark Jedi. What do you say?" My voice was weaker than usual because I had not used it lately as I said: "I say no. That's what I say."

The Captain shrugged and said: "It is of no matter. I can keep you alive easily enough until we are in a holonet range again. I have to say though; this is a weapon I can admire." He picked up my Muramasa, unsheathed it and gave it a few test swings. Incredibly, through the Force, I felt a strange surge of emotion. It wasn't quite anger or outrage, more like a sense of bitter resentment. The strangest part of all was that it came from my Muramasa!

The sword wasn't sentient. I would have felt that immediately upon my awakening in the Force but it did have some kind of spirit of its own. And right now, it was very unhappy that its acknowledged master, me, wasn't holding it. I said: "You might want to put that down Captain. I don't think you can handle it." The Captain said: "Don't presume to tell me what I can or can't handle. I think I'll keep this as a memento. It's much too fine a blade to be held by a filthy traitor like you."

I said: "So be it. I warned you." The Captain's face grew angry as he took up my sword and left the interview room saying: "Break him however you choose Lieutenant. I have a ship to command."

After the Captain left, his Lieutenant said: "Guards . . . leave us for now. I'll call for you when I'm done." The stormtroopers left the room like the disciplined soldiers they were. After they left, the Lieutenant sat down and sighed: "I thought that pile of bantha poodoo would never leave."

Seeing the slightly confused look on my haggard and bruised face, he said: "There are no listening devices in this room. You're free to speak your mind." I turned my attention to this man and felt the same cold, calculating ambition radiating from him as when I first saw his Captain. When I realized that I had been mistaken earlier about whom the ambition came from I smiled and said: "You have something in mind. Something which you think I can help you with. I can sense it as clearly as I sense the contempt which you hold your commanding officer in."

The Lieutenant quietly clapped his hands together a few times and said: "Very good my esteemed Jedi opponent. I have always wondered if the stories of Jedi intuition were accurate. Now I see that they are. Yes, you can and will help me." I crossed my sore arms and said: "I'm listening but I won't become your personal Jedi assassin like your Emperor would turn me into."

He smiled and said: "Nothing so blunt!" Summoning my waning energy, I snatched the blaster from his holster with the Force and pointed it at his face. To his credit, he didn't even flinch. Instead, he said: "I'm calling your bluff Jedi. You won't kill me in cold blood. The Jedi never had the stomach for such occasional necessity. One of the many reasons, they are for the most part, extinct."

I lowered his blaster and slid it across the table to him as I said: "I wouldn't call it a lack of fortitude as much as a waste of energy. What can I possibly help you with?" The Lieutenant said: "You can help me most by escaping." I raised an eyebrow in disbelief as I asked a truly universal question: "What's the catch?"

The younger man laughed and said: "The only catch is that you must leave within the next 96 hours. The Captain dispatched a messenger droid. It will have sent its message by now and then we will be in holonet range and after being informed of your existence, the Emperor will send his enforcer, Darth Vader to come for you. I've seen reports of him and his handiwork. He is a Dark Lord of the Sith, whatever that is and if he gets his hands on you, you probably won't live to see the Emperor or if you do, you will be made to destroy anything and everyone you love. I saw the wedding band on your hand when you were first captured and even I, Imperial though I am, and enemies though we may be, wouldn't want to see a man kill his own wife."

I asked: "How does my escaping help you though?" He said: "Computer records are easily sliced and replaced. It will look like the Captain didn't take you seriously. It will also look like the Captain thought he had broken you and thought you would roll over meekly. Lord Vader is as quick to punish as praise and his punishments range from demotion to death. The records will have been altered to say I stressed caution and watchfulness with regard to you. They will also say that he ignored me. The Captain will be gone and I will be raised in his place."

The Lieutenant finished with: "What will it be Jedi? A 50-50 chance at escape or a certain death?" I considered for a moment that he could be setting me up for a very big fall. That he would betray me and claim my capture for himself was a thought I entertained but I could sense no deception from him. Either that or I was weaker than I thought from my captivity. Either way he would win. I might win my freedom or lose my life. Even though I trust the Force implicitly, I would still prefer living or dying on my terms instead of the doubtful mercy of a Sith Lord. I said: "What do you want done?"

The Lieutenant's eyes practically glowed as he said: "Excellent. Though I can't help you overtly, I will make it easier in what ways I can. Escape, cause a little damage if you must and then go. If you help me now, perhaps someday I will be able to help you." He slid a piece of flimsiplast to me. He said: "Memorize this frequency. It is my own personal message cache. That flimsiplast will disintegrate 15 seconds after you open it."

I picked up the piece of writing material, opened it, and memorized the numbers inside with a Force-assisted command. When it ignited, I opened my hand to let the ash fall to the floor. I said: "Why are you helping me?" He said: "Maybe someday, when this war is over, we can meet somewhere and I'll tell you. For now, you must go." He called out: "Guards, return him to his cell. He isn't ready to speak yet. Prepare a level one interrogation droid for tomorrow. That will break him for certain."

When I was returned to my cell, there was a field ration waiting for me. Though field rations were far from my favorite food, they were designed with maximum energy content when it would be needed so I ate it with no complaint. After I was done, I suddenly wished for a shower but of course no such luxury was provided in solitary confinement.

I had been left in my flight suit which was now more than a little tattered and bloodstained. Again, to increase feelings of despair and to increase my willingness to work a deal. I guess I had worked a deal but since it didn't require outright deception or betrayal, my conscious was silent. I slept then with nothing else to do.

I awoke in what was the middle of ship's night. The door to my cell was open. As stealthily as I could, I went to the security office. None of the stations was manned yet there was a video image on all of the screens of me still sleeping in my cell. I went over to the safe and placed my hand over the small panel of buttons. Using the Force, I sensed the last combination entered. I tapped in: 8-3-1-1 and was relieved when the door unlocked.

Opening it, I knew I was looking at the Lieutenant's influence. Inside were my lightsaber, a hand blaster with a spare power pack and one in the weapon itself, and my wedding band. I gently slid my ring back on and was surprised to see that my fingers were a little thinner than when I had last been aware of it. I kissed the band anyway and resolved to be kissing the bearer of my ring's mate as soon as I could.

The field ration had helped replenish some of my energy so I used the Force to scan the immediate area. Finding no one in the immediate area, which I found strange on a ship of this size, I left the detention block and keeping to the shadows of the night-cycle, made my way to a technical access tube nearby. During my 'vision-quest' I had found the system of access tubes for both human and droid technicians that allowed access to almost all of the ships' systems and compartments for repairs or upgrades.

Reviewing the schematic in my minds' eye, I found my first objective, an auxiliary armory. I sensed two minds inside the armory. They were bored and tired. Taking the blaster from where I had tucked it into my flightsuit, I made sure to switch it to stun. Opening the hatch from the inside of the wall certainly got their attention but it didn't matter as I stunned both of the watchstanders. They hit the deck and were still. Going to the door that led to the main passageway, I sensed several minds go by. Night shifters all of them, they went about their business as usual until I sensed there was a clearing.

Taking stock of my surroundings, I grabbed two pair of binders and secured them around the wrists of the now sleeping men. Opening the door, I levitated the stunned guards behind me as I found a gear locker. Opening that, I saw there was enough room for the two men. Floating them both into the locker, I stunned them again to make sure they wouldn't wake up anytime soon. Locking the door behind me, I went back into the armory and found what I needed.

I put together a bandolier strap of proton grenades that could be set for time or proximity detonation. The crate that I had taken my grenades from still had many more. I moved the crate to center of the armory took one of the spheres and set the timer for fifteen minutes and put it back in the crate. Leaving through the same access door I entered, I slunk through the tubes until I found my next objective, the main computer core.

It had taken maybe ten minutes to get to the core when I felt more than heard a dull thump through the deck plates. I said to myself in time to the alarms that had gone off throughout the ship: "Great. I just had to pick the one grenade in the crate with a bad timer on it. Blasted civilian contractors!"

I moved into the core and stunned several technicians. I said to myself: "No time for subtlety." With this thought in mind I Force levitated them to the door in a rather ignominious pile. Taking two grenades from the bandolier, I quickly removed the fuses that would cause them to detonate. Even though they wouldn't explode, they would still light up as if they would. Stepping into the main hallway through a small sub-room just prior to the main core entrance I saw several surprised stormtroopers, technicians and a few officers in the hall. I threw one grenade down each hallway.

The way everyone scattered at the sight of the bruised and tattered figure standing in the hall with a bandolier of explosives on his person as he threw two such devices down a hall was beyond classic. I heard voices from either side of me yell out simultaneously: "Grenade!" You'd think that there had been an abandon ship order given or something. Stepping back into the core, I Force pushed the techs into the hallway and closed the door behind me.

Taking up my lightsaber, I slashed the locking mechanism. Putting my lightsaber back inside my flight suit, I hurriedly started planting my remaining grenades all around the core. Before I could get clear of the core, the door sparked brightly and opened. A fire team of four stormtroopers surged through the now open door.

In a surprising show of fire discipline, they fired at me in near unison. I had grabbed my lightsaber the moment the door opened and deflected two bolts into the ceiling and the other two back at the imperials. The two in the front rank fell back with holes in their chests. By this time I had closed to melee range. I lunged forward and impaled one through the heart and withdrew my blade in time to take the arm off of the other stormtrooper as he attempted to club me with his weapon.

He ran out of the room clutching at his stump. I went to the outside door and slashed that lock as well and then returned to the core and out the access door I came in. Getting to my ship in the docking bay would be the easiest part. Coming to the down-access tube, I stepped into the air and freefell towards the bottom. As I fell, I slowed my descent with the Force and activated the detonator to the grenades in the core.

Far above me, the sound of an explosion and smoke could be seen. I came to the bottom as the lights suddenly went out all over the ship until an auxiliary computer core could be brought online. The red emergency lights gave the hallway I had entered from the access tube an almost surreal appearance.

Coming to the flight deck, I could see technicians and stormtroopers running to their emergency stations everywhere. Two stormtroopers stood guard over my ship, an island of peace amid the organized chaos of the flight deck. Even though my escape had to have been advertised by now, I could sense that the focus of the search was several decks above me.

One of the guards suddenly looked up at Warbler's head spinning around from his perch in the socket aboard my ship. I saw him shake his fist at Warbler and yell something which caused his partner to turn away from my vicinity. Taking the initiative, I used my Burst of Speed ability and elbow-smashed the trooper in the back as he said something to Warbler again.

The stormtrooper, caught by surprise flew forward and slammed into the side of my ship from the waist up, fell down and was still. Before the other stormtrooper could lift his weapon at me, I had my lightsaber lit and pointing into his face. I said: "Think about it soldier." The stormtrooper was frozen a moment, then dropped his weapon and put his hands up.

Overlaying my voice with the Force I asked: "Is there a homing device on my ship?" The Stormtrooper stood there and in a dazed voice said: "There was but it was removed for maintenance earlier today." I said: "Thank you soldier. Now, pick up your weapon, walk over to the wall and stun yourself." In the same voice as before, he said: "I'm going to pick up my weapon now, walk over to the wall and stun myself."

Doing as I had gently Force suggested, I watched him as he picked up his blaster, walked over to the wall and stunned himself. Climbing up the ladder, I said: "Warbler, quick-start the engines and prepare to run. We're going home now." Warbler said: "Yes sir," with a great deal of enthusiasm. The engines came up to full as I engaged the repulsorlifts and went to float over the atmospheric containment shield. I knew what I was about to do was risky but I needed to give the imperials other things to occupy themselves with besides my escape.

Opening my S-foils and making sure I was in cyclic fire, I spun on my horizontal axis and strafed the entire landing bay area for two rotations, slowly. Closing my S-foils, I then oriented my ship nose first at the shield, sent all power to my engines and rear shields and goosed the throttle to full in one motion.

The sudden increase in G-force was a welcome sensation as I flew out of the Destroyer's belly. As I flew, I executed a microjump to help confound any pursuit. After I emerged from hyperspace, I plotted out five more microjumps in random directions to further discourage pursuit.

After emerging from my last microjump, I focused in the Force as I had Warbler access his charts looking for a planet with ten continents and seven moons. The module that had been installed prior to evacuation with the location of our new base may have been erased when the tractor beam locked onto me, but the basic charts were still intact.

Warbler found the planet as the Force told me that was where I had to go. Plotting my course, I jumped to hyperspace and home.

Chapter 28

After we were safe in hyperspace, everything started to catch up with me. My injuries were starting to ache all over. I had barely any energy left. The jump took several hours while Warbler took a moment to catch me up. I had been in captivity for three weeks. I was still bruised and cut since the Force focused on healing the worst of the internal injuries while I was being held instead of healing everything.

I was also dirty and had three weeks of beard going. I tried to sleep but the aches from my injuries kept me awake. Ten hours later, I emerged from hyperspace to see the planet from Gabrielle's mind in front of me. Before I could even transmit a hail, four X-wings almost pounced on me.

Warbler screeched: "Target lock, we're being painted!" I activated a wide-band frequency and said: "Lieutenant Commander Ronin Jayks reporting. Don't fire." A voice I recognized as Dutch Hadley's came over the comlink: "Commander! We thought you were dead! Follow us in!" I managed to croak: "Gladly. Tell Milady I'm . . . tell her . . . I'm . . . Warbler, take over," was all I could manage as a wave of dizziness hit me. Warbler took the controls and said: "Stay with me Ronin. Stay with me! Stay with me or Lady Gabrielle will have my dome on a platter!" I managed: "Warbler, I think that's the first time you haven't called me 'sir' since we met." Warbler said: "You've been the best organic partner I've had. I can't let you cease function now." I smiled: "Thanks . . . I think."

Warbler took us in to a perfect landing. I barely managed to get out of my ship as I saw my wife running towards me. I held my arms out to her when my legs gave out. As I fell forward, the last thing I remembered hearing was: "MEDIC!"

I awoke not knowing where I was and in pain. I felt myself floating, suspended somehow in a viscous, sticky fluid. I thrashed in the stuff momentarily when I realized I could still breathe thanks to the respirator mask over my nose and mouth as pinkish soft light seemed to filter in from every direction. I felt an injection and began to focus the Force to clear the drug out of my system when I felt Gabrielle's voice soft as a feather caress our bond as she said: "My Knight, don't fight it. Let it go." I stopped fighting and let the darkness engulf me again.

When next I awoke, I could see, sort of, through the stuff I was in. I could barely see Gabrielle on the other side of a wall of some kind. She held three fingers up and mouthed: "Three more days my Knight." I smiled weakly as I felt another injection in my arm. I let it run its course and fell asleep again almost instantly.

When I awakened this time, all the pain was gone. I saw a muted white light coming from above as I kicked towards it and broke the surface to see other people waiting there to help me. I must have fallen asleep again as their hands closed on my arms and body.

When consciousness returned to me this time, I was in a normal bed looking at the ceiling. I ran my hand over my face to feel that my mustache/goatee combo had been restored from my three week beard and I again wore a military short haircut. I felt the bed rise up so that I was in a sitting position and saw Gabrielle standing there. As soon as I was fully upright, Gabrielle practically jumped into my arms and kissed me passionately. I returned the kiss unrestrained.

When we broke for air, I was given a rude surprise. Gabrielle's slap caught me across the cheek full strength. I felt my head rock with the impact. I looked back to her about to ask what that was for when I saw the answer writ large upon her face. The tears poured from her eyes along with her pain.

She fell into my arms again and sobbed on my shoulder. All I could think to do was to hold her to me whispering: "Shhh, shhh Milady. I'm here." I gently stroked the back of her head and held her. She cried out: "Don't you ever, ever do that to me again! I was so sure I'd lost you. The Force couldn't give me any closure; the Bothan Spynet was silent on any captures. I felt lost."

I held her until she was done crying. When the 2-1-B came in it said: "You are now well enough to be discharged sir." I had to know so I asked: "How long was I under?" The medical droid looked on and said: "Sir, you were suffering from borderline malnutrition, and dehydration. Also, you had extensive abrasions and contusions. Finally there were indications of several smaller broken bones. Mostly in the hands and feet, and there were also signs of two broken ribs that had healed recently. Bacta immersion was the recommended course of action and you have been in and out of the tank for five days as per the recommended treatment."

I said: "You did say I could go home?" The medical droid said: "Yes sir. Your treatment is complete. I would recommend bed rest for the rest of the day and a regimen of gradual exercise to loosen your muscle groups and restore your range of motion and flexibility. You will also be on a special diet for the rest of the month to replenish the muscle mass that was lost."

I looked at my wife and saw the hungry look in her eyes. I said: "Thank you for your help Doctor. I don't think bed rest will be a problem. Don't take this the wrong way, but I hope I don't see you again anytime soon." The droid said: "No offense taken, Lieutenant Commander Jayks, and by the way, Lieutenant Commander Shase-Jayks, all conjugal functions should be conducted with care or your husband will be in my sickbay again." Gabrielle blushed and said: "Not to worry Doctor. I won't break him or anything."

I got dressed in a clean uniform that was prepared for me and walked out of sickbay stiffly with my arm around Gabrielle's waist. I saw Wedge coming down the corridor towards us. He looked as if he wanted to speak to me but I gently shook my head. He nodded just as gently and passed my wife and I in the corridor saying nothing more than: "Good to see you on your feet again Ronin."

When we got to our new quarters, I saw my lightsaber on the table by the door just like the last home we had. I looked around to see the amount of space we had. It was huge! Our new quarters were comprised of a total of seven rooms. A master bedroom, kitchen area, two smaller bedrooms, a combined bath/shower room, a storage closet and the central living area that served all other purposes of socializing, dining, and entertainment.

Gently taking my hand, Gabrielle led me to our bedroom. When she opened the door I could see candles everywhere as she closed the door behind us. The love we made that night was some of the most satisfying I have ever experienced.

The next day when I awoke, Gabrielle was spooning me as I thought about what I had been through. Gabrielle stirred as I did. She reluctantly let go of me and stretched. I looked over to her still sleepy face and wondered, not for the first time, how I had been so fortunate to be graced with this beautiful woman as my wife and life-partner. In a soft sing-song tone I said: "Good morning beautiful. How was your night?"

She smiled at me and accepted the kiss I gave her with one of her own. She said: "More satisfying than I ever thought possible. Yours?" I said: "I feel exactly the same way Milady." We snuggled together for another hour then got up and took a long hot shower.

After our shower, we had a large breakfast and sat down in the main living area in a matching set of robes. I asked: "What do you have planned today?" She took up a datapad from the center table, turned it on and looked it over. She said: "Just squadron level stuff. How about you?" I said: "You know the regulations. I need to see my CO, and make appointments with Medical and Psychological. Once those are accomplished, I can go back on active duty."

Gabrielle nodded her head and then got up to get dressed. I stayed where I was for a little while longer. Her arms encircled my neck from behind and kissed me soundly on the cheek and said: "I have to go now. Just remember I love you." I caressed the side of her face and gave her a kiss of my own on her cheek and said: "I love you too Milady." Taking her arms from around my neck, she left our quarters to answer the call of duty.

Duty was calling me as well. I sent a message to Wedge requesting a meeting at his earliest convenience and was surprised when he answered my request saying he would clear his schedule for me. Getting dressed in my own uniform, I picked up my lightsaber from the table and was out the door inside of thirty minutes.