Kyle Katarn: The Rise & Fall
Book 1: Rise of a Hero
Chapter 18: Ice & Fire
Author's Note: I imagine "just flying the ship" doesn't sound so bad to Jan anymore, especially after what happened in the last mission. Now, we'll get to see what her efforts netted.
"Katarn to Moldy Crow."
In the forward cockpit, Jan reluctantly pulled one of her hands free of the coat. It was getting colder by the minute. She half-expected to see icicles to start forming on the controls. White clouds formed in front of her with every breath. She flipped the comm switch to "Receive".
"Go ahead, Kyle."
There was no response.
"Kyle, this is Jan. Go ahead."
Still no response.
"Kyle, unless you have something to say, I…"
The sound of grunting issued from the speaker, then… "Sorry, Jan, had a bit of a problem for a moment."
"Are you all right?" she asked
"Funny you should ask that, " Kyle replied.
Despite the cold, Jan felt a stab of fear. This ice world they had landed on was Imperial controlled.
"Yes or no, Katarn," she said, trying to keep the concern out of her voice, "are you all right?"
"Well," Kyle said, "remember when I said I wouldn't need those ice cleats?"
"Yes..?" Jan said, waiting for him to continue.
"It turns out I needed them."
Jan rolled her eyes. She had nearly begged Kyle to take the cleats. They were lightweight and attached right to his boots. But, rather than just listen to her, Kyle expressed concern they would slow him down.
"Where are you?"
"About a kilometer from the base," Kyle said, "near a set of ice shelves."
"I'm on my way, " Jan said with a touch of annoyance coming through. She shook her head while beginning the power up sequence to bring the Crow's engines online. One good thing about this, she reasoned, was that powering up meant she could activate the cabin heaters.
"Good," he said, "And Jan?"
"Yes, Kyle?"
"I don't mean to rush you, but I'm kind of hanging from one of these ice shelves facing about a ten kilometer drop."
Jan's eyes widened as she heard this. Without a word, she rushed through the remainder of the power up. However, the heaters needed time to warm the engines, which were covered in ice. But, she couldn't wait. Bypassing the computer, Jan manually fed fuel to the engines and activated the start sequence. The ship shuddered as the engines attempted to fire. There was a cough from the rear of the ship, but nothing else.
Fighting the desire to curse aloud, Jan hit the ignition switch again. This time, the cough was louder, but that was all. Panic began to grip her. If Kyle was in the shape she thought she was, she had to get the Crow off the ground now. But, pushing the engines this way could burn out the drive completely. Okay, Jan, she thought forcing herself to stay calm. Give it one more try and if that doesn't work, you'll have to let the engines power up normally. And Kyle will just have to hold on. She reached for the ignition switch once more and flipped it.
A much louder cough, almost explosive, shook the Crow, and still nothing. Great, Jan thought, throwing up her hands in frustration. Just great. She reached for the comm to tell Kyle when a loud BOOM sounded from the back of the ship. The engine power gauges swung up and Jan heard the roar of the ion drive coming on-line. It hiccupped once, then steadied.
All right! Jan thought, reaching for the throttle, a wide smile on her face.
Some Distance Away, the Ice Shelf
Kyle readjusted his grip for what seemed like the thousandth time and tried to ignore the increasing ache in his hands and arms. Seems like I've been here before, he thought, remembering his predicament on Anoat while locating Moff Rebus. "I should have listened to Jan," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. This mission had seemed comparatively simple compared to Jan's exploits on Cal-Seti and his efforts to save Madine.
All he and Jan had to do was infiltrate the Imperial base here on Anteevy and destroy a manufacturing plant that was using smuggled Phirk metal to create Dark Troopers. Along with usual arsenal, Kyle had added a grenade launcher. It was perfect for firing thermal detonators over long distances. He also carried three sequencer charges, which when attached to the base's power conduits, would create a feedback loop destroying the base.
Jan's usual expert flying had enabled them to land without being detected and aside from encountering a half dozen or so stormtroopers Kyle had encountered little opposition. As he neared the base, Kyle spotted a conveyor belt responsible for moving the Phirk metal from incoming ships into the base.
He had spotted what looked like an entrance into the base about a kilometer away and was making his way there when he encountered the ice. Anteevy was an ice world, but so far Kyle had encountered only mildly deep snow. But the field of ice he stepped onto was smooth and very slippery. Just ahead was a large chasm he had to span using the grapnel.
But upon stepping onto the ice, his feet went out from under him and Kyle found himself sliding forward. He tried to slow his slide, but the smooth ice provided no handholds. Before he could draw the grapnel, his feet went over the edge of the shelf and he felt himself begin to fall.
Twisting, he managed to get a grip on the edge of the shelf and had hung there, nothing below except a ten-kilometer drop onto more ice. And I doubt hitting that will be very comfortable, he thought. Fortunately, he had one asset. Before leaving the Crow, Jan had affixed the mike of Kyle's transmitter to the collar of his shirt. This way, all he had to do was touch the device with his chin to activate it. Now, if Jan could get here in time.
Just then, Kyle detected a familiar roar above the sound of the wind gently blowing onto him. He looked up and saw the Crow approaching, the telltale blue glow from its engines clearly visible. It was still an ugly ship, but right now the Crow was like an angel to Kyle, coming to save him.
In the cockpit, Jan glanced about, trying to spot him. The locator signal said he was very close, but she couldn't see him. She dropped lower, turning left and right, but still no Kyle.
His smiled began to fade as Kyle realized Jan couldn't see him. And clinging to the ice shelf, there was no way he could signal her. Silently, he pleaded. C'mon Jan, I'm right here. You've got to see me. I'm right here.
In the cockpit, Jan heard something, a sound like someone calling her name. She checked the comm, but there was no new signal from Kyle. I must be hearing things, she thought, trying to re-focus on her search for Kyle.
There it was again. Someone had definitely called her name. Maybe the comm readings were wrong.
She keyed the "Transmit" button. "Kyle, this is Jan. I'm nearby, but I can't see you."
She waited a moment. "Kyle, I'm here. Can you hear me?"
The speaker crackled. "Jan," said Kyle, his voice betraying the pain he was feeling.
"Kyle! I hear you. Where are you?"
"Check your starboard side. I can see you."
Jan looked out the right side of the Crow. She could see the ice shelf, and where it dropped off. But there was no….
Then, in the unbroken field of white and glittering ice, she saw it. A small black dot; just below her. Feeding power to the repulsors, Jan lowered the ship, watching, as the dot got bigger, resolving into the form of Kyle Katarn.
She couldn't help but smile as she realized it was him! But her smile quickly faded as she saw the danger he was in. She increased the descent rate.
Kyle had begun to lose hope. Jan could hear him and he could see the ship, but she couldn't see him. Then, as fresh pain crashed into his senses, Kyle saw the Crow's nose angle down and the ship move towards him. He smiled faintly. Jan was coming.
Drawing closer, her eyes widened in fear as saw Kyle clinging to the ice shelf. How he been able to hold on this long was a miracle in itself. But now, she had to approach him carefully. Come in from above, and the backwash from the repulsors could blow him right off the shelf. Instead, Jan dove down and under him.
Kyle watched as the Crow accelerated, moving past him. Looking down, he could see the ship rising towards him; Jan's face a mask of concern. Just then, his grip gave out and he fell.
Jan was bringing the Crow up towards him slowly when she saw him lose his grip. And from the angle, he was going to fall right past her. Thinking fast, Jan spun the ship around so the wings and tail surfaces appeared just as Kyle's body struck the hull. He hit about midway on the left wing. Working the controls, Jan dipped the right wing, raising the left. Kyle's body rolled, coming to rest against the rear hull. Holding the ship in that awkward position, Jan fed power to the repulsors, bringing the Crow clear of the ice shelf.
Moving slowly, she flew the ship towards a flat snow-covered plain. Dropping down, Jan leveled the wings and touched down, the landing skids sinking a few inches into the soft snow. Before the cockpit was even fully open, Jan scrambled down and ran to the left wing. Kyle's prone form lay there, unmoving. Pulling herself onto the wing, Jan knelt beside him. His eyes were closed, his skin almost ashen. She couldn't tell if he was breathing or not. He's going to freeze to death if I don't get him inside the ship, she thought.
But how to do it? Jan was in good shape, but Kyle was at least a hundred pounds heavier than she. The answer came as she surveyed the area around them. Moving to his feet, Jan gave Kyle's body a shove. The snow and ice encrusted on the wing acted like a natural slide and he easily slipped off the wing, dropping onto the snow.
The impact didn't help, Jan realized, but she was left with few other choices. With Kyle on the ground now, Jan grabbed his feet again, grunting with the effort as she dragged him towards the cockpit, leaning him up against it. But try as she might, she could find no way to lift him into the cockpit. The wind, until now, bringing a constant, but gentle breeze, began to pick up. Jan glanced behind and saw the sky was beginning to darken. Looks like a storm, she thought. Well, isn't that just perfect. She gazed at Kyle's unconscious form. Snow and ice was already beginning to collect on him. We need shelter, Jan thought, but I can't get him into the ship.
It was then she remembered a report from one of the Rebel's many scattered bases. This report has come from Hoth. Evidently, two Rebels had gotten trapped outside the base during a snowstorm and were able to use one of the emergency shelters to survive the night until help could arrive. The Crow did have an emergency shelter in the equipment bay, but where best to set it up. Then, as she glanced at the ship, Jan smiled as the answer came to her. It took nearly an hour with the ever-increasing wind and blow creating numerous problems, but Jan finally finished. She gazed at her handiwork with a satisfied look.
Directly under the main wing spar, Jan had put up the shelter, using an external power connection to get juice from the Crow's reactor to power a number of small heaters. She then went to retrieve Kyle. The portable oxygen mask and breathing tank she had put on him were coated with ice, but still working. Lowering him onto the ground, she dragged him into the shelter, sealing the doors as soon as they were both safely inside.
Moments later, the light from outside ceased as the snowstorm struck. Wind blasted against the shelter's walls, making it creak and groan. But positioned under the ship as they were, the snow and ice couldn't get in as easily.
She turned her attention to Kyle, who was lying close nearby. Emergency shelters were models of efficiency, but not much on space. She leaned close, trying to tell if Kyle was breathing. His chest rose and fell as the oxygen mask pumped air into him. Jan had also given him a shot designed to stimulate his heart and lungs but it couldn't breathe for him.
Removing the oxygen mask, Jan leaned close. "C'mon, Kyle. Breathe. Let me know you're still here."
His skin was still ashen, no color in his face at all. She waited, but nothing. Putting the oxygen mask back on, Jan let it give Kyle a few more puffs of air, then pulled it off again.
"C'mon, Katarn, you're too tough to give up now. Breathe."
There was a flicker of movement in her peripheral vision. Had she seen his chest rise?
"Breathe, Katarn," she said in a commanding tone.
As if on cue, Jan saw Kyle's chest rise as he took in a breath. Not a large one, but there it was just the same. She smiled down at him.
"Good, Kyle, good. Now give me another one."
He exhaled, then with chest rising, took in another breath. His breathing was shallow, but he was doing it on his own.
As Kyle took in a third breath, there was a sudden explosive coughing. His body jerked, as his throat worked. Jan's smiled disappeared, replaced by concern as he attempted to replace the oxygen mask. But Kyle coughed again, his body flailing so that he couldn't get it on. Jan feared the coughing would do damage to his insides. She had to get him calm. The medkit had a sedative in it, but was Kyle in the shape to take it?
But, with one last series of hard coughs, Kyle inhaled deeply, then exhaled, his jerky movements subsiding. He lay back down, and Jan could see his chest rising and falling again. His breathing was still shallow, but more regular now. She checked his vitals, drawing some comfort from the readings. His heartbeat was slow, but the beats were regular and getting stronger.
She decided against a second shot, then reached for the heater control. She increased the temperature in the shelter, hoping it would help. However, she had to be careful. Get the shelter too warm and it might melt the snow around them. Should that happen, the freezing water would soak the shelter and turn into ice. If that happened, the walls would crack like glass.
She undid the buckles on the heavy coat Kyle wore, opening it to allow the heat to enter his body. She also removed his gloves and boots. All these items would create a barrier, preventing the heat from getting into him.
With that done, Jan made a check of the supplies she had retrieved from the Crow. The heaters were all up and running. And the Crow's reactor had more than enough to keep them going for several days. The med kit and emergency rations, along with a pair of sleeping bags and heavy blankets concluded her inventory.
It seemed that she had everything they would need. Now, all she had to do was monitor Kyle's condition and hope the snowstorm ended soon.
"Sounds like it was a close one."
"It sure was, Father. I remember falling towards the ship, hitting the hull and then nothing for a long time."
"But you accomplished the mission?"
"Oh yes," Kyle said, nodding. He picked up the steaming cup in front of him and carefully sipped the contents. "Thanks to Jan, I was able to infiltrate the base and set the charges. You should've sent the fireball."
Morgan Katarn smiled at his son. The pair sat in the kitchen of their home on Sulon, sharing cups of hot tea.
"Father?"
"Yes, Kyle?"
"I'm glad I'm home. I've missed you."
Stepping over, Morgan squeezed his son's shoulder. "And I've missed you too, Kyle."
Father and son smiled at each other, their looks saying more than words ever could.
Kyle started to speak again, then stopped as he noticed the air in front of him cloud slightly. He took in another breath and, as he exhaled, he could see his breath.
He looked up at his Father, who still smiling down at him. Clouds formed in front of his mouth too.
"Father, something's wrong."
But Morgan Katarn didn't answer.
Suddenly, the temperature seemed to drop and Kyle gave an involuntary shudder.
This made no sense. Sulon was a planet of temperate climate. The first time Kyle had ever seen snow was in a school video talking about the planet's northern and southern poles.
"Father?"
No response, only the steady smile from him.
Kyle tried to move, but his legs and arms wouldn't respond. He noticed the colors around him beginning to fade, turning white, then gray and fading to black.
"Father!"
Planet AnteevyNine Hours Later
Kyle's eyes snapped open as he called out. His heart beat a trip hammer inside his chest and for a moment, not knowing where he was, he almost panicked. No, he thought, I won't do this. I'm won't be afraid. Just gotta find a point of reference.
He looked this way and that, letting the sights, sounds and smells enter his perception. Of course! The ice shelf! He was falling towards the Crow, and then everything had gone black. He took a breath and tried to move. His bruised and battered body responded with pain. When that had faded, Kyle knew one thing for sure; he wasn't dead. But where was he? Jan must have rescued him, but where was she?
With these questions and other racing through his mind, Kyle became aware of another presence, a weight pressing against him. Turning his head, he fought down an exclamation of surprise. Curled up next to him, one arm lying across his chest was Jan. Her eyes were closed and her steady breathing told him she was asleep. But what in the name of Xendor's minions was going on? he thought.
Part of him wanted to get up and run away, but another part wanted to him to stay right there, maybe forever. Okay, Katarn, get a hold of yourself. There's got to be a reasonable explanation for this. As his eyes cast about some more, Kyle realized that in addition to Jan's presence, he was wrapped tightly in a thermal blanket. Something must have happened to me, he surmised. He opened his mouth and tried to speak. But his throat was dry and his first attempt was little better than a croak.
He tried again, managing a whisper.
"Jan"
Working his tongue inside his mouth, Kyle worked enough spit to get this throat to work.
"Jan," he said, louder this time.
She stirred, emitting a sound somewhere between a groan and a purr. Her eyes opened slowly, still unfocused. To Kyle's relief, she pulled her arm off of him, stretching out as she awoke. Blinking away sleep, her eyes focused and she saw Kyle staring at her. To say they both felt awkward at that moment was the grossest of understatements.
"Hi," Kyle managed.
"H… Hi," Jan replied.
"Listen, I…" Kyle began to say.
"Okay, see what…" Jan said at the same time.
They both stopped talking.
Boy, Kyle thought, her eyes sure are pretty. Wait a minute; where did that come from?
They both tried to speak again, running over each other's words.
"You first," Kyle said.
Jan nodded. "You were unconscious after falling onto the ship. I landed and got you into the emergency shelter just as a snowstorm hit."
Kyle also nodded. "I remember falling towards the ship. It was close though."
"Definitely," Jan said, then with her free hand, smacked Kyle in the chest.
"Ow!" he cried, "what was that for?"
"For making me think you were going to die again," Jan said, angrily, "I don't need this grief, Katarn." She smacked him again.
"Ow! Hey listen, Jan. You weren't the one hanging for nearly an hour while wondering what would happen next."
"If you'd listened to me in the first place and taken the ice cleats, it wouldn't have happened."
"Okay, fine!" Kyle said, returning her anger, "You're right. You always are, Jan. Guess I can't think for myself any more! One wonder why you bothered rescuing me in the first place!"
Instantly, he regretted saying this. Jan was right. If he had taken the cleats, he probably wouldn't have fallen. It was his foolish pride getting in the way.
Jan's mouth hung open and her eyes widened in surprise, shock and hurt. Moving quickly, not saying a word, she kicked at shelter's seal, opening it and sliding outside. A breath of cold wind seeped inside, harsh white light reflecting off the snow and ice outside.
Kyle turned his face to the ceiling of the shelter and threw an arm across his eyes. Stupid! Why did he say that thing to her? She sure didn't deserve it. A fresh wave of guilt hit Kyle as he realized why Jan had been lying so close to him. He had fallen several meters to the ship, having been exposed to the elements for nearly an hour, and then had fallen unconscious. He would have died had it not been for Jan's expert care of him, bringing his body temperature back up to normal. She had lain close to him to share her body heat, to help him.
I am such an idiot. No wonder Jan was angry with me, she thought I might die. Who else but a friend or a partner would care so much?
Okay, Katarn, time to own up and make this right. With Jan gone, he was able to move enough to throw the thermal blanket off of him. Beneath it, he wore only his pants. He was bare-chested, and his boots sat in one corner of the small space. Jan had done this, removed his clothes so the thermal blanket and her body heat could warm him directly.
Each new realization brought a fresh stab of guilt. He owed her his life, again. Grabbing his clothes, lying in a neat pile by one of the heaters, Kyle twisted this way and that in the confined space, dressing. Last came the heavy parka and gloves. He gave himself a final check, then looked towards the shelter's opening. He couldn't delay any longer. Taking a deep breath, he slid outside and stood up. Bright sunshine stabbed into his eyes and Kyle slid a pair of goggles into place. They would protect his eyes while allowing him to see normally. As he stood up, fresh pain came as the top of his head struck the underside of the Moldy Crow.
Kyle shut his eyes against the pain, waiting for it to subside. Looking behind him, he saw that Jan had ingeniously placed the shelter directly under the Crow, using the ship's bulk to protect them from the storm. A survey of the shelter and the ship showed it had been a bad one. Icicles dangled from nearly every inch of the Crow's hull. The landing skids were buried to almost half their length in snow and the hull had assumed a nearly uniform white-gray color. Carefully, stepping out from under the ship, Kyle saw Jan a few yards ahead, leaning against the ship's nose, one arm against the hull. He started towards her. He had no idea what to say, sorry didn't seem nearly enough.
He was almost to the cockpit when Jan raised a fist and struck the hull, a hollow bong issuing from the metal. There was a mini-avalanche as some of the encrusted snow fell off the hull. She turned round, head down, not facing him.
"We still have a mission to accomplish," she said flatly, "can you continue?"
It was a legitimate question, but part of him bristled just the same. No other knew better than she if he could finish the mission or not. But the last thing he needed to do now was saying something that would antagonize her further.
"I suppose so," he said.
"I need a yes or no, Katarn. Not a maybe."
Don't say anything, he thought. Despite what had just happened, he owed her a straight answer.
"Yes, I can continue."
"Good," she said, reaching into cockpit. From it, she withdrew Kyle's weapons and equipment. Wordlessly, she held them out.
Stepping forward, Kyle accepted the devices, strapping the weapons belt to his waist and placing the grapnel, his locator device and comlink in the pockets of the jacket.
"Jan, I…" he began.
She held up a hand to stop him. "Take care of the mission first. When you come back, we'll talk."
Kyle nodded, understanding what Jan had said. He turned round and jogged away from her.
"You'd better come back, Katarn," Jan said quietly as he moved away, a single tear sliding down her cheek.
Fortunately, Jan's landing spot was less than mile from the ice shelf. And this time, he had the ice cleats. Still, his first step was a careful one. With the grapnel secured into a patch of ground and thumb over the trigger, Kyle lowered his right foot onto the ice. The cleats bit into the ice, providing a solid footing. Kyle put more of his weight down, eventually standing with both feet planted firmly on the ice. The ice was still dangerous, but with the cleats, he could at least move in relative safety.
Walking towards the lip of the shelf, he saw the spot where he had fallen before. Shivering at the remembrance of it, Kyle refocused his attention on the opposite side of the shelf. The gap was a wide one, but narrowed slightly a few feet to his left. In fact, it narrowed enough that he thought he might be able to jump it.
Yeah, and next year I'll enter the Galactic Olympics on Decatur Seven. Bringing the grapnel up, Kyle aimed and fired. The hook shot forward; crossing the gap and imbedding itself in the shelf opposite him. He retracted the slack in the line, then pulled on it to test the hold. The hook remained firm. He got ready to use the grapnel to swing across when looked at the gap again. It was awfully narrow. This is not a good idea, Katarn, Jan's voice said in his mind. But the grapnel was firmly in place, so why not?
Smiling, he backed away several steps, then leaned forward making sure his footing was secure. Pushing off, he ran at top speed towards the gap. As his feet touched the lip, Kyle pushed off, leaping as high and far as he could. He sailed across the gap, watching as the opposite side came closer. He began to drop and before he could wonder if he was close enough, his feet struck the lip of the opposite shelf, momentum carrying him forward. He stumbled, feet sliding out from under him.
Not again! But this time, the slide was taking him away from the shelf. Suddenly, the grapnel line went taut, and Kyle felt his arms pulled above and behind his head. He twisted, turning his body so his arms were out in front of him. Acting just like a rubber band, the line slacked, pulling him forward, back towards the lip of the shelf.
Oh c'mon! This cannot happen twice! He tried letting go of the grapnel, but his momentum was still carrying him forward. A sudden thought came to him. Twisting over onto his back again, Kyle raised his boots then drove them into the ice. The cleats dug into the ice, sending chips flying. He slid forward a bit more, then stopped abruptly.
It suddenly occurred to Kyle that he wasn't breathing. Reflexively, he took in a deep breath and exhaled in noisy relief. He also realized that his head was hanging down slightly. Turning to his left, his eyes went wide as he realized his head was hanging off of the ice shelf. Okay, he thought, that was way too close.
Using the cleats, he pulled himself forward until his head was resting on the ice. He rose shakily to his feet, the shock of coming so close to another fall running through him. The grapnel lay nearby, but Kyle decided he'd wait until later to retrieve it. The prospect of getting close to the shelf to remove was a bit uncomfortable at that moment.
He took a couple more deep breaths to steady himself, then giving his equipment a quick check, moved towards the small cave he had seen several hours earlier. The ice gave way to snow, crunching under his boots as he got closer to the dark split in the wall of ice ahead. Getting closer, Kyle could see the split was not just a cave, but also an entranceway. Stepping up to it, he let gasped in astonishment. The opening had been carved out of the ice. A set of steps had been cut as well, leading upward and to the left out of sight. The ice here was blue-black indicating that it hadn't seen the light of day in a long time.
Stepping into the passageway, Kyle brought out his blaster and made sure the missile launcher was ready as well. The briefing indicated that testing of Dark Troopers might be going on in the base, but it was unconfirmed. Still, he wanted to be prepared. He walked slowly up the passage, blaster leading, following its contours until it ended in a room carved out of the same blue-black ice.
But no stormtroopers greeted his entrance. This is too easy, Kyle thought, Imperial security should be better than this. He began to explore the room, hearing the sound of water splashing. On the opposite of the room, a cut in the wall, allowed a waterfall of icy water to drop down onto the ground, forming a river that lead out of the room. He checked, but could find no other exits. Kyle glanced at the water and screwed up his face. He was already plenty cold. The idea of getting into that frigid water was not appealing, to say the least. Okay, he thought, just remember to keep your face above and breathe regularly. Sitting down on the ice floor, Kyle slowly lowered himself into the water.
It was cold, colder than anything he had ever experienced. I can't stay in here too long, he reasoned. An unexpectedly swift current grabbed a hold of him just as he lowered his chest into the water. He was drawn forward, focusing on controlling his breathing and conserving his energy. The current pulled him through a second chamber of ice, then turned to the left, light beginning to filter in from outside.
His teeth began to chatter and he fought the urge to get out of the river right then and there. It was so cold. The river turned and dropped down into another channel. He felt himself descend with the river. The current continue to carry him ahead, beginning to strengthen now. Kyle's mind registered this fact just as the river turned again. The ice over his head vanished as he was carried back outside. The sunlight, while nearly blinding, was welcome after being in the dark. But where was the river heading?
As his eyes adjusted to the bright glare, Kyle could see the river heading towards some kind of structure ahead. But as he got closer, he felt a stab of fear upon seeing the river was coming to an end, a steep drop off approaching. Kyle had no idea how far the drop off was and no desire to find out.
He cast about, looking for something, anything to get him out of the water. To his left, he spotted a small ledge of ice. He grabbed for it, but his hands slipped on the slick ice. His gloves were partially soaked and beginning to freeze. Kyle grabbed for the ledge again. Again he slipped. He looked forward; the drop off was approaching fast.
With a grunt, he heaved his whole body forward and upward, practically exploding from the water as he launched himself towards the shelf. His chest struck the ice and Kyle pushed kicked and pulled, trying to propel himself further onto the ice. The water tugged at his feet, but with a last kick, he slid onto the ice coming to a rest in the middle of the outcropping of ice. He lay there on the ice, getting his breath back. How he wished he could lay here for a while, rest. No! His mind screamed at him. You rest here and you'll never get up again. Already, Kyle could feel a strange warmth in his limbs. It encouraged him to rest, maybe to take a nap. No! Do this and you die!
Kyle forced his eyes, which were beginning to close, open. He pushed himself onto his hands and knees, grimacing at the pain and cold that the effort brought. But as long as he could still feel both, he was alive and would stay so. C'mon Kyle, get up!
With a cry, he forced himself to stand. Ice caked in the joints of his parka and snow pants cracked and fell away. His muscles screamed at him to stop, but he knew this was the right thing to do; he had to keep moving. Taking several deep breaths, Kyle felt his racing heart begin to return to a more normal rhythm. He closed his eyes for a moment, willing himself to focus on the mission.
Opening his eyes again, Kyle saw the ice shelf he stood upon. It extended for a few feet, then abruptly ended. To his right, the river continued it course over the drop off. He could see now the drop off extended down for nearly ten feet. The fall wouldn't have killed him, but it sure woulda hurt.
He also saw the structure he had seen from the river. Ice coated metal formed a tower of sorts and from it ran a conveyor belt. On the belt were objects. Stepping closer to the edge of the ice, Kyle could see the objects were pieces of Phirk metal. It's the materials conveyor leading into the base! Despite the cold and the pain he felt, Kyle felt a surge of joy. He had found the base!
Now, all that remained was to get inside, set the charges and get gone. Unfortunately, the ice he stood on ended several feet short of the conveyor belt. It would have been good to have the grapnel, but Kyle wasn't going to let that stop him. He backed up, pushed off and vaulted across the gap.
His left foot struck the edge of the conveyor and he fell flat onto it, his breath exploding out in a whoosh. Fresh pain bloomed in chest and stomach, but he was forced to ignore it. The conveyor belt was moving and he had to be ready. Rolling onto his back, Kyle sat up on the belt and drew his pistol. The belt carried him forward and around a left-hand turn. A right-hand turn lead to a long straightaway.
Well, he thought, this isn't so bad. He had begun to relax and lowered his weapon when the straightaway ended in another left turn. As he came around the corner, Kyle spied another structure, two tall block-like houses and an overhead roof. He was just starting to pass the first blockhouse when he saw an open part of the structure and inside, two stormtroopers and an Imperial officer.
Lieutenant Yalt Devsk tried not to shiver in the cold. Of all the places he could have been assigned in all of the Empire, his superiors had chosen this godforsaken hellhole. They could have at least let me say goodbye to Marista, he thought. But then again, she was a general's daughter and since they had continued to date even after her father had forbade it, Devsk was lucky he hadn't been drummed out of the service.
Besides, he thought, they can only keep me here so long. I… His train of thought cut off as Yalt realized that the conveyor belt passing nearby had a strange object. He saw the object move, realizing it was a person just as a blaster bolt hit the stormtrooper standing next to him. The man went down, and Yalt frantically reached for his blaster as the intruder, now running against the belt's direction of travel, fired again.
Kyle noted with satisfaction the first stormtrooper falling. But the other had his blaster out and the officer was scrambling for his. On his feet now, Kyle ran a few steps against the belt's forward travel, bringing the opening back into view just as a shot from the remaining trooper hit him in the chest.
"Good shooting, trooper!" Devsk cried, seeing the intruder fall. This couldn't be better, he thought. Capture of a Rebel prisoner will be my ticket off this rock. But that thought was cut off as the stormtrooper pointed and cried, "Sir!"