Chapter 16

"Alright Zack," Buck said. "You're right, we can't give up; not after all we've risked and lost to save Ru' Bik."

Zack's mouth fell open. "I-I know I'm right but what made you change your mind all of a sudden?"

"I just told you." Buck said. "I thought about it last night and I realised you were right... partly anyways."

Kisto was standing in the corner with his arms crossed. "Well at least you guys agree on something," he said, "even though its on a suicidal mission," he whispered to himself.

"Now all we have to do is find a way onto the prison planet and spring out Ru' Bik." Zack said.

"Ekadi prison is difficult to get into." Kisto said. "Its a maximuim security prison and has some high class prisoners." Kisto said. "What you guys are talking about is near impossible."

"Anything is possible." Zack assured the Twi'Lek. "And this time, I think we'll have a better chance of success because they won't be expecting us."

"Your right about that," Kisto said. "Only fools try to break into Ekadi."

"Exactly... wait, did you just call us fools?" Zack said.

The door to the room opened and Dyna walked in. She was chewing on a biscuit-like snack. "Hey," she said launching some of crumbs into the air from her mouth.

"Dyan, you're still eating?" Buck said, outraged.

"Yeah, I have to catch up for yesterday." Dyna said.

"You missed one meal and yet you've already eaten to equivalent of three!" Buck said. "You're going to eat us out of all our rations."

"Rations? That's it!" Kisto said snapping his fingers which made everyone look at him. "We can sneak through Ekadi's defences by pretending to be a supply ship."

"We?" Buck asked raising an eyebrow.

Kisto smiled, "I guess I have a little foolishness in me as well. But if I'm going to join you guys, I have a condition."

"What?" Zack asked.

"Yeah, what is it?" Dyna said interjected before stuffing the rest of her snack into her mouth.

"I have a few friends and rebel allies on Ekadi." Kisto said. "So this mission cannot focus on one being but all of the prisoners on the planet."

"A full scale prison break?" Buck said rubbing his chin. "Okay."

"Good, then lets do this!" Kisto said pumping his fist in the air.

/

Saza knelt down on one knee before a hologram appeared in the middle of the room. The blue tint hologram bathed the dark room in a dim light. The virtual image of the Inquisitor looked down on Saza who had taken a knee.

"Grand Inquisitor," Saza greeted respectfully.

"Inquisitor Ripper, is there any reason why you are still on Ekadi?" The Inquisitor said. "All the prisoners have been processed so there is no longer a need for you to be there."

"Yes, I thought it prudent for me to stay because..." Saza took a moment to phrase her words, "I have a feeling that something is going to happen."

The Inquisitor sighed in frustration. "I don't want to give you any leeway but I guess I can make an exception this time." The Grand Inquisitor said, showing rows of jaggered teeth in his smile. "But I'll give you only five standard days and then you will have to leave Ekadi."

"As you wish, Grand Inquisitor." Saza said. The hologram withdrew, plunging the room in darkness.

/

"You want a schedule of all the ration ships heading to Ekadi?" A Rodan said through communication device.

"Yes, can you do it?" Kisto asked. He was alone in his ship, The Good Boy Express.

"Should be easy enough." The Rodan said. "But everyone's asking why you haven't returned to base."

"I thought I was in a rebellion organisation, not a military structure." Kisto said, looking annoyed. "Why do they want to keep tabs on me?"

"Come on, you know you're an important member of the rebellion." The Rodan said. "And anyways, we gave you a ship!"

"I knew I shouldn't have taken this ship." Kisto said bitterly. "Now I'm all attached to it."

"And what do you want to do with information on Ekadi's ration route anyway?"

Kisto smiled and leaned closer to the screen, "I'm planning on breaking all our comrades out."

"You're joking right," the Rodan said, giving a short laugh. When Kisto did not laugh along or say anything else, his face took on a more serious look. "Oh my goodness, you're serious." Kisto nodded. "Why are you doing this, Kisto? Is it because of what happened on Cirasso. There's nothing you cou..."

"It has nothing to do with that," Kisto interjected. "Look, I'm doing this because I see an opportunity to do it. Don't worry about me, okay?"

The Rodan sadly nodded.

"Now, if we're able to pull this off we'll need a safe place to retreat to. I have a few places in mind, I'll send the coordinates to you."

"Okay, good luck." The Rodan said before tuning off.

/

Zack was doing form 4 fighting sequences with his lightsaber on top of the roof of the Diversity. He had been doing this for hours, fighting through the exhaustion but his body could only take a little more of his intense training. He completed the last moves before he deactivated his lightsaber and rested on his slightly bent knees. Sweat was slowly dripping down his face while he tried to regain his breath and still his painfully beating heart.

He closed his eyes and saw flashes of him fighting Saza and then losing to her. That was followed by images of Lona when they were together and happy but those images were taken away only to be replaced by images of her death and her body lying there... lifeless...

"Haaa!" Zack screamed as he launched himself into the same sequence of moves. After half an hour later, he collapsed onto the floor.

He was drenched in sweat and could do nothing but stare up at the twinkling stars as he blinked some of the sweat away from his eyes. Dyna came into view and looked down at her master. "Hey," she said with a half full mouth.

"Why is it everytime I see you, you have something in your mouth?" Zack said as he got up to a sitting position.

Dyna shrugged before she sat beside him and broke off bar she was eating in half. She gave one piece to him and he accepted it gratefully. "I thought I'd watch you train, thinking maybe I'd learn something."

Zack sighed, "I know I haven't been training you lately. I'm sorry. I'm not being much of a teacher, huh?"

"It's okay. I understand." The Twi'Lek girl said. They kept quiet for several moments, silently looking at the large moon in the horizon sky. "I'm worried," Dyna quietly said, breaking the relative silence. "Sometimes... I wish that you and Buck didn't go. I don't want to lose anyone else."

Another short moment of silence stretched between them before Zack dispelled it. "You won't. We'll all come back and then we can get back to your Jedi lessons."

Dyna smiled at this as she continued to stare at the beautiful moon.

/

Canoe Ida had to jog to catch up to Saza who was walking through the prison hallways. "Inquisitor Ripper! Inquisitor Ripper!" Canoe said jogging to catch up. Once he did, she did not bother stopping.

"Yes Lieutenant Ida," Saza said.

Canoe walked up beside her. "Ma'am, I heard that we are to stay further here."

"At least your not deaf." Saza said.

"The men of our squad are asking why," Canoe said.

"Our squad?" Saza said. "It's my squad."

"Uhm... sorry, your squad." Canoe said.

"Did they elect you to ask me?" Saza asked.

"More or less," Canoe said.

Saza suddenly stopped and faced him. "So they know what I know."

Canoe raised his eyebrow, "What's that?"

"That you're my favourite," Saza smiled at Canoe's expression before continuing her walk. "Tell the squad that we'll be staying here for five standard days and then we'll leave."

"May I ask why?" Canoe said.

"I have a hunch that the rebels are coming." Saza said.

"Here?" Canoe sounded shocked. "Wait, do you think they'll try to rescue Ru' Bik?"

"Most likely," Saza said.

"But that doesn't make sense. He's... he's..."

"Not worth the risk?" Saza offered. "I agree." Saza stopped in front of a prison cell. "The man is a rebel sympathiser. He has given them credits and property but he knows nothing. We should know, we've broken him." Saza stared at the outline of a short humanoid lying in the corner.

Canoe instantly knew that it was Ru' Bik. However, his form was slumped, he looked exhausted and demoralised. "You have really broken him," Canoe whispered to himself.

"He has no valuable Rebel information, so I'm starting to believe that the crusade to free him is one fuelled by compassion or even love or something similar. But I definitely know that Buck Johnson is not doing this out of money or for the rebel cause." Saza walked away leaving Canoe to linger for a while, staring at Ru' Bik, a shadow of the Vultan he used to be.

Canoe then ran to join Saza. "Wait, you think that Bu... Corporal Johnson will try to free him again."

"He no longer holds a military position since his treasonous activities, Lieutenant Ida." Saza reminded him. "But yes, that is what I believe." Saza stopped, ensuring that he stopped too. "Remember when I said you could go far with me, Lieutenant Ida."

"Yes," Canoe said.

"And how highly do you value the Stormtroopers?" Saza asked.

"The Stromtroopers is all I have."

Saza smiled at this. "I will give you two big promotions after this whole thing on the condition that when Buck Johnson comes... you'll kill him."