There was no time for greetings. "Get Tallen!" Caeben yelled above the alarm. "We've got to get outta here!"
Arra turned away and returned holding the limp Rebel in his arms. -He is newly returned from interrogation and unable to walk,- he roared.
"Give him one of these!" Caeben tossed a vial of stim-pills to the Wookiee. "We don't have any time!"
In moments Kyell was on his feet outside the window, shaken and pale but aware and ready. Arra slipped out the hole and the three refugees fled. As they ran Caeben handed each of his companions a blaster, wielding the laser blade himself. They would need them soon enough.
Sure enough, a G2RD guard droid barred their way, summoned by the wailing alarms. Caeben did not pause his flight as he made two quick thrusts through the machine, precisely where Jae had indicated. A centimeter off in any direction, and the laser blade would have rebounded off impenetrable armor. Instead the blade found its mark, sliding through metal, wire, and plastic. The droid fell over with a whimper as they raced on.
In another heart-pounding minute they reached the gate. Kyell and Caeben stopped short, almost sliding on the dew-wet grass. The gate was shut, a squad of stormtroopers waiting beyond it. And above the klaxon they heard another group of Imperial soldiers pounding up behind them.
Arra was not in the least deterred. Without pausing he tore the massive gate from its hinges and with a Wookiee roar threw it on the squad outside, crushing most. Kyell quickly picked off survivors with his blaster, then spun around and assisted Arra in laying down rear guard fire while Caeben zipped through the gate, then yelled for them to follow.
Most of the stormtroopers behind them were down now. The two escapees whirled and ran, following the Sylelian into the dark night streets of Rismyne.
Caeben Matock led them down the street and through several tortuous turnings and backtracks, always in the shadows. For half an hour they pursued a twisted escape route, endeavoring to throw off any pursuit. It was grueling for all three, but especially Kyell, weakened by the brutal treatment he'd received from his Imperial captors.
"Almost there," Caeben gasped. They could still hear the screaming of alarms in the distance.
Down another alley and through a back door, across an open patch of 'crete, up an open entry ramp, and they were inside the Sylel Wind. The moment they were aboard the ship lifted off on repulsorlift power. Caeben ran up the companionway to the cockpit, the others at his heels.
The stim-pill was beginning to wear off, and Kyell was several steps behind the others when they reached the cockpit. Jae was standing, having just vacated his seat for Caeben to take over.
The boy barely had time to turn around and catch a glimpse of Kyell's face before he was pulled into a fiercely joyful embrace.
"Jae!"
"Kyell, oh Kyell!"
The Wind was starting into atmospheric turbulence. "Get into restraints," Caeben said tensely. "It might be a rough ride."
The Tallens did so quickly, joy subsiding into anxiousness. They weren't out of it yet. And sure enough, ten minutes later they were out of the atmosphere and in a trap.
X
Mynan Shelpion had been awakened by the alarms at the neighboring prison and garrison and quickly pulled his corpulent body out of bed, grabbing his robe of draki moth silk. What in the seven moons of Alanda—!
Shelpion sat at his desk and switched on his compad. "Captain Anlessic, what is the meaning of this racket?"
The trooper captain snapped a hasty salute. "Prison break in progress, sir. Two criminals have escaped."
The governor scowled. "Which criminals, captain?"
"Kyell Tallen and Arramylian the Wookiee, sir."
Shelpion cursed loudly and filthily, then calmed. "Bring them back. We'll make examples of them."
"Yes, sir."
The search progressed, or rather, didn't progress. Governor Shelpion dressed in his usual expensive tailored uniform and came over to supervise, and Anlessic realized that his neck was in the noose. If the fugitives were not captured, and soon, the captain would be demoted—or worse. Shelpion's cold hazel eyes held no mercy.
At last an aide brought Anlessic a report, and he took it straight to Shelpion. "News, sir."
"What?" the governor ground out.
"A launch from a docking pit in Rismyne, sir. The Sylel Wind, the ship the Wookiee mentioned in interrogation."
"Send out the TIEs and order them to herd it toward the moon. Have the moon base power up tractors." A mirthless smile crossed Shelpion's pudgy face. "They're as good as ours."
He settled back in his chair to await news of his prey's capture.