12: Diabolic Scheme
"It is the considered opinion of the Intelligence staff that we should make efforts to build goodwill with Imperial citizens," Matsuyama recited. He stood nervously before the board of Moffs and Grand Moffs, clutching a sheaf of papers with both hands as if it were a life preserver. "We, um…"
"Just what does the Intelligence section have to do with that?" one of the board asked belligerently. "Shouldn't you spooks be doing your own job?"
"With—with respect, sir… the Intelligence department's job is to gather information and make recommendations based on it. We've found that anti-Imperial sentiment is on the rise, and with this Rebellion recruiting—"
"Well, what do you propose we do?" another cut in.
"We, uh, we could… lower taxes, or build public works… ah, release political prisoners—"
"Like KAORIN!" Grand Moff Kimura howled, standing bolt upright. "I think she'd be an excellent choice!" Everybody at the table turned in their seats and stared at him. Even Darth Nochichi, floating menacingly in his corner, seemed a little nonplussed. "Er… are there any other suggestions?"
"Princess Kaori would be the last one to release," an Admiral said, "She's one of the few civilians who know what we've done to Alderaan. If anything, we should execute her."
Kimura sat heavily, beating his fist against the table before him and hanging his head. "My sweet Kaorin…" he groaned softly, "I hoped to save you and instead I've doomed you." Matsuyama didn't quite know how to proceed. Was the Grand Moff actually crying? "In… in conclusion," he tried tentatively, but was immediately cut off.
"Actually, Kimura," Nochichi said, drifting forward, "Something of that nature could be arranged"
Kimura looked up, cautiously hopeful. "What did you have in mind?" the Admiral asked, steepling his fingers. Matsuyama quietly left the podium; his presentation was over.
"Have you had enough? HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH?" the remote roared.
Chiyo stood unsteadily, covered in bruises and bravely biting back tears. The lightsaber trembled in her grip, following the remote as it hissed back and forth. Another bolt lashed out and bit into her thigh. "Ow-haow!"
"Okay, that's enough," Sakaki said. Her voice was completely level, but, standing next to her, Kagura could see that watching the exercise pained her. "Here… I have something that should help."
Chiyo sniffled and looked over. "What's that?" Sakaki stepped around behind her and gently snugged a blindfold to her face. "But—how will this help? How can I block the shots if I can't see them?"
"You're not supposed to use your sight," Sakaki explained. "The point isn't to learn how to block blasters… you have to be able to feel them coming. This exercise is to help you get a deeper connection to the Force. When you're connected to the Force, you can…" she trailed off, then finished weakly. "You can… feel." Okay, so she didn't quite know how to explain it. Chiyo was smart—she'd find it for herself.
"Well, how would my eyes help me stop something that's traveling at the speed of light anyway? Okay," the girl agreed, "Let's do this."
"That's the spirit!" Kagura commended.
"Ready for some more?" the remote jeered.
It slid silently in a semicircle around her, then hissed over her head. She didn't move, but her pigtails seemed to twitch a little of their own accord. Damn, that's creepy! Kagura thought.
The blaster spoke and Chiyo effortlessly blocked it. Moving faster than it ever had before, the remote spun around her, spitting bolt after bolt-- and every single one of them found the azure blade barring their path. The blindfold, it seemed, had done the trick.
"Whoa…" Kagura said softly, "She's good."
"Frighteningly good," Sakaki agreed gravely. But then she smiled slightly. "I can only hope she'll hit a snag along the way or I'll be out of a job in no time!"
"Huh?"
"I was just a student myself. Sooner or later I'll have to send her to the one who taught Kenobi. He'll know what to do with her."
"Why didn't you go to him yourself?"
"I had to—"
"Holy cow! That's incredible!" Tomo suddenly cried, less than a foot behind them. Kagura jumped and went for her blaster, but Sakaki merely turned and regarded her calmly. "Can we help you?"
"Ahh, Yomi's just being a bitch," the Honorable Captain said dismissively. "She kicked me outta the ship because I dropped one of the plasma coils and…"
"You what?" Kagura looked at her, wide-eyed, "Aren't those dangerous?"
"Only if they break open…" Tomo turned her attention to Chiyo's practice. "Hey, can I give that a try?"
"What are you…" the soldier started, but Sakaki merely shrugged and said, "I don't see why not. Chiyo-chan, you can take a rest now."
Chiyo extinguished her lightsaber and undid the blindfold. As she walked unsteadily back towards her teacher, the remote called after her, "Yeah, you better hobble away!"
"Before anybody can ask," Sakaki said blandly, "No. It never shuts up. Tomo, you can use one of my lightsabers."
"You have more than one?" Chiyo asked.
"Master Kenobi taught me an archaic style," she explained. "This one is for my off hand." The weapon she handed to Tomo was about the same size as Chiyo's, but its shape suggested less of a curve to the blade. "Be careful with it."
Tomo hefted the saber, a crazed gleam coming into her eye. "Oh, you bet!"
Kagura and Chiyo backed away nervously as Sakaki tied the blindfold around the honorable captain's eyes. "Hey, c'mon!" the remote yelled. "Give me someone to shoot at, already! I'm losin' wood, here!"
"Okay…" Sakaki said when her new charge was ready. "Chiyo-chan, do you feel like a walk?"
"I'm sorry?" Chiyo snapped out of staring horrified.
"We should scout the area, look for provisions and see if anybody lives here. And I think a walk would do you good." It was difficult to see how she came to that conclusion; the poor girl was hardly standing.
"But… what about…?" Kagura faltered.
"You have fun with that," Sakaki called to Tomo as she and her student started towards the Red Spirit.
"Yeah!" Tomo cried, giving the amethyst lightsaber a few baseball bat-like swings, "I'm gonna smash this thing like it's a summer party! Let's go!"
The remote seemed to chuckle as it drifted up behind her…
Kaori's cell door opened once more but to her immense relief, it was not Kimura that came in. A young female officer, about her height and age, bearing a single hypodermic and a pair of cuffs. "Get up," she said, curt but with a tone of respect.
The Princess complied, looking at her captor oddly. There was something familiar about this woman, but she just couldn't place it. Short dark hair, blue eyes… but rack her brains as she might, she just couldn't recall who she was reminded of.
"What's this?" Kaori asked as the hypo pressed against her neck and injected with a sharp puff of air.
"Mild sedative," the officer replied. "They're not taking any chances after the guy you got with your chopsticks…"
A strange, giddy feeling spread through her. "How's he doing, anyway?"
"He's not paralyzed. Maybe you can sign his neck-brace."
An Imperial with a sense of humor? Hey, why not. The cuffs snapped across her wrists and she was lead out into the corridor. "Where are we going?" She was annoyed to note that her speech was a little slurred. Hopefully that would fade.
"Shuttle, that's all I know. Lord Nochichi is taking you with him on a business trip."
"A… business trip."
"Right." Now that her vision was blurred by the sedative, the woman looked even more familiar. It clicked suddenly; Kaori met her at one of the Rebellion bases! A quiet, unassuming girl. Your eyes would slide right over her and you wouldn't think twice about her. An expert in passing unnoticed.
What was her name? Damn… hiro? Something-hiro?
They stopped before a turbolift. "Here he comes," Chihiro (that was it!) said, indicating the row of numbers above the door. The car was swiftly approaching. "Well, good luck on your trip, Princess… and don't mess with your cuffs." Her eye twitched slightly. Was that a wink?
Before she could give it any more thought, the door hissed open to reveal the ebon menace of Darth Nochichi. She stepped into the lift with him unflinchingly and they immediately started streaking for the docking bay.
"I don't know if you think this will help," she said icily, "Ms. Sakaki will come to rescue me wherever you put me."
"That would be convenient."
Matsuyama leaned over the technician's shoulder and stared at his console intensely. "It went in?"
"It wasn't damaged in the injection," the tech said. "I think it's good."
"So we're tracking?"
"We're tracking."
The Intelligence officer stood straighter and turned to watch the shuttle and its fighter escort leap into hyperspace. "Perfect."
