CHAPTER SEVEN: ENTER GENERAL TANDIN

TANDIN

I'm shaking in my boots.

"You mean to tell me," King Dendup repeats. "That Steela Gerrera has escaped?"

I gulp back terror. "Yes, my lord. And her cellmate." I reply, looking down at my boots.

I am done for…

Dendup exhales.

"Find her." He orders. "Bring her back alive. I have to contact other members of the Lazarus Project."

I almost faint with relief. "By your command."

"And Tandin." Dendup continues. "This had better be completed quickly. For your sake."

Something bitter rises in my throat, and it's all I can do not to run out of the room.

Find Steela Gerrera. It's not that difficult, Tandin. Only about as hard as finding a snowman on Tatooine! If that girl knows how to do one thing, it's hide. I'm just glad I didn't tell Dendup that I know who the cellmate is. When we have the Gerreras and the Bonteris running the same race, I start to get déjà vu.

I take a deep, cleansing breath, and cling to a crazy hope.

Steela Gerrera has something of mine. Let's hope that will help me find her.

…..

I remember when Dendup first brought me to the hospital under the palace.

"You clearly have many questions." He said when the elevator opened. "Ask them."

"My lord, what is this place?"

He stepped out of the elevator. "Tandin, have you read the Bible?"

The Bible is an old religious book from some ancient, long-forgotten race. Many still read it to learn about the lives of one of their most influential figures. I've flipped through the book, but I'm far from an expert.

"A little, sire."

"Are you familiar with the story of Lazarus?"

"I can't say I am, my lord."

Dendup led me down a hallway buzzing with medical droids. "The story goes that a man named Lazarus died. Four days later, their Jesus arrived at his hometown and asked to be taken to the tomb. He opened the tomb and called for Lazarus and the man walked out, resurrected."

"An interesting story, sire." I replied when the pause became a bit awkward.

"Yes, and one that the followers of Jesus greatly honor. And that is why it can be used to our advantage. Tell me, General. How do you think the people would respond if there was a Lazarus in their midst?" I didn't answer. Dendup didn't seem to notice. "How would they react if someone they knew, someone they looked up to, had apparently risen from the dead?"

Oh my goodness, where is he going with this?

Dendup paused at a half-open door. I could hear the sounds of a heart monitor inside.

"Do you know, Tandin?"

"I can't say I do, sire."

"Well, you soon will." And with that, he knocked on the door and pushed it open.

"Miss Gerrera. How are you today?"

Steela Gerrera looked like heck. Her hair was uncombed and tangled from sleep, her skin was pale, eyes dull, and it looked like she'd lost weight, but she was alive.

"Tandin?" She squeaked, trying to raise herself on arms lined by intravenous drips.

"Steela?" I asked in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

Steela shook her head. "I don't know, Tandin. I just don't know."

She sounded so pathetic, like a child who'd lost her mother in Malagan Market. I approached her and sat on the edge of her bed, taking her hand and repeating the words I gave to a lost child.

"It's alright. We'll get this figured out."

"Yes," Dendup said, coming to Steela's other side. "Now, child. How are you feeling this morning?"

Steela shot him a glare, eyes bloodshot. "Like you care," she snarled.

Dendup clucked his tongue and rubbed the young woman's shoulder. "Oh I do, darling. Especially considering your condition."

"Condition?" I asked.

Steela shook her head. "It's nothing." She mutters.

"Hardly nothing," Dendup continued. "Miss Gerrera is in renal failure."

"Your kidneys?" I asked Steela once I remember what 'renal failure' means.

Steela took a few huffing breaths. "It-It's all under control, Tandin."

"Don't exert yourself, child." Dendup cooed, rubbing her back. "You're right, it is all under control. But let me do the talking. You just relax."

"No!" She tried to pull away, but she was just too weak.

Dendup smiled and brought her closer.

"As I was saying, Tandin: Miss Gerrera's kidneys have been seriously damaged. She needs a transplant. And according to your medical records, you are a genetic match."

"Don't listen to him!" Steela implored. "Tandin, run! Get out of here and tell the people what's happening."

Yes, I need to tell people she's alive. But what good is it if she dies of kidney failure?

Dendup flagged down a passing medical droid, letting Steela go. "The patient is getting a bit flustered. She needs some more medication."

"Shh," I soothed, grabbing Steela and pulling her into a hug as the droid injected something into her IV. "It's all right. I'll take care of it."

"Don't listen to him." She whispered. "He's not telling you everything."

"Oh, my dear…" I comforted her the only way I could think: by holding her in my arms as if she was my own child. Rocking her back and forth. She continued to speak, but I wasn't listening. I held on to her even after she fell asleep.

"Are you ready, General?" Dendup asked when I finally laid her down.

"Yes, my lord."

This was my master plan: get the kidney to Steela, walk out of the palace like nothing was wrong, and then run to Saw and tell him what I'd seen.

But when I woke up from surgery, I realized that Dendup was six steps ahead of me.

"The transplant was a success." He announced. "Miss Gerrera is resting."

"Good," I said, leaning back in my own hospital bed.

"Oh, and General?" Dendup continued. "You will tell no one of what you've seen here."

I swallowed hard. Dendup's eyes narrowed. "General?"

"I'm sorry sire, it's just the medication." I lied.

"Maybe I should order the dosage reduced, then." He mused. "Need I tell you that if anyone were to learn of Miss Gerrera's continued existence, there is irrefutable proof of your involvement?"

My blood turned to slush as my head raced with an awful question.

Steela probably has received many other organs and tissues. Why would Dendup use my kidney, instead of getting one off the donor list?

The answer is simple: All anyone has to do is look at Steela's kidney to know I was involved in the Lazarus Project.

It was a ploy. A ploy to keep me firmly under control.

And I hate him for it.

…

But as I pace through the hallway, the Force smiles down on me.

A horrifically perfect girl about Steela's age storms through the door.

"You!" She sniffs, pointing at me. "You have to help me."

"Excuse me, but who are you?" I ask, trying not to shrink away at the sight of her color-changing hair and rainbow tears.

"My name is Velvet Sparkles Kitty Giggles Rainbow Sprinkles Gerrera!" She doesn't repeat it when I ask her to. Apparently, she's just too awesome to do that. Instead, she launches into her rant.

"They can't just kick me out! I'm a Mary Sue! Everyone has to bow down and serve me!" She pouts for one second, then decides she doesn't look pretty and blinks eyes the color of flawless emeralds (I shudder) at me.

"You're a militiaman." She orders. "You have to arrest my brother and sister. Steela and Saw Gerrera."

Now, let's get one thing clear: I can't stand Mary Sues. I was actually the one who ordered that Velvet Sparkles be sent away because she was so awful. But, if you are careful, you can twist a Mary Sue to serve your own purposes.

"Yes, Velvet Sparkles, I would be happy to help you…"

SAW

Hero emerges from her bedroom, wearing her uniform.

"All right," she says. "I'm heading out. There's food in the fridge, try not to eat all of it. Pull the curtains, watch TV, and try to make it look like nobody's home. I get off work at four. Oh, and Lux? Give me your house keys."

Lux's fingers tense around his keys. "Why do you need them?"

"Because," Hero replies. "You need clothes, toothbrushes, shampoo, all that stuff. And you can't leave here, not with Dendup looking for you. So I'm going to get them for you."

Lux shrugs and tosses her his keys. "You sure nobody's going to notice?"

"Trust me." She points to all of us. "If I see one blaster mark in this joint, you're going up the river. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am." Sierra says meekly.

Hero breaks out a show-stopping smile that's probably used to garner tips. "Great. See you all at four!" she says, and goes out the door.

"Holy crap." I announce when she's gone.

"What a girl." Hutch says dreamily.

"What should we do?" Lux muses. "Want to play cards?"

"I actually have an idea." Sierra says. "Steela. Can you tell us anything else about the Lazarus Project? Does anyone else know what's going on?"

Steela nods. "I listened whenever I could. There's at least one other Lazarus."

"Who is it?" Lux asks.

"I don't know. All I know is they brought in someone who messed up the project." Steela replies. "He was trying to make the Lazarus hate the Jedi, but it all blew up. Apparently, he gave the Lazarus a sick Jedi as a prisoner, and the Lazarus took pity on her. And there was something about "wife," and "Senate" and that part of the project was probably going to heck unless they did some serious damage control."

I can see out of the corner of my eye that both Lux and Sierra have become incredibly closed-mouthed. I raise an eyebrow. "Lux and Sierra?"

"It's nothing." Lux replies.

"Spill the beans." Steela orders.

"What beans? You know everything about me." Sierra says sardonically.

"Spill 'em." I shoot back.

Lux rolls his eyes. "It sounds like Tandin."

I call complete bull, but Steela sighs. "Well, I can confirm that Tandin knows."

I almost fall out of my chair. "Tandin what?"

Steela looks down "Tandin knows what's going on. Dendup brought him down when I was still in the hospital."

"What? Why didn't he tell me?" I demand. "I see him every day at work. We talk about everything."

"He's been blackmailed." Steela replies. "Dendup brought Tandin down to donate a kidney. All anyone has to do is crack me open to prove that Tandin's been involved in a major crime."

"Hold on," Hutch says. "If Tandin knows you're still alive, and he's being blackmailed, it is possible that he'd come looking for us? And he might know where you are?"

The shock on Steela's face is a good enough answer.

"Why would Tandin come here?" Lux asks. "He only knows Hero to wave at."

"You know, I'm not sure all of you realize what danger we've put Hero in." Hutch snaps. "She was the witness. If we get caught, she's deader than any of us."

And then, there's a knock on the door.

Everyone freezes.

"Hide!" Steela hisses, and dives behind the couch.

Hutch goes for the broom closet.

Sierra squeezes herself into the cupboard below the kitchen sink.

Lux covers himself up with Hero's laundry.

I join Steela behind the couch as someone forces the door.

"Hello?" Tandin calls out. The sound of his footfalls resonate through the apartment, getting closer and closer.

"You know, Saw," Tandin says, ever closer. "When you're escaping, it's best to follow all traffic laws. Did you know that each of the red lights you ran was equipped with a camera? All we had to do was follow the path."

Steela looks at me and mimes slitting her throat.

"Also," Tandin continues, "Everyone knows to check behind the couch."

And with that, a hand tattooed with a lyre reaches down and grabs Steela's arm.

"Let go!" She yells, pulling away. I jump up to pop Tandin in the face, but he steps away, still holding my sister.

"Cut it out, Steela." He orders. "I rocked you to sleep. The least you can do is hold still so I don't damage my one remaining kidney."

"That was your choice, General." I snarl, grabbing Steela's other arm. "Not hers."

"My choice? Please. If I'd refused, Dendup would have taken it anyway." Tandin scoffs, and releases Steela. "Contrary to your belief, I'm not here to turn you over to Dendup. I'm here to help you."

"Why should I believe you?" Steela demands.

Tandin takes a deep breath. "I have several reasons, Miss Gerrera. For starters, I actually do care about that kidney in your back, and if Dendup kills you it would go to waste."

At that, he opens the broom closet to reveal Hutch.

"Two, Dendup has turned me into a puppet just like Rash." He yanks open the cupboard and pulls Sierra out from under the sink. "And three, I fought alongside you. Saw helped me see the error of my ways. But now, you all are unorganized. You're making silly mistakes, such as recklessly driving the getaway car in an area where there are stoplight cameras."

"He got a pity license." Steela explains, jerking her head toward me.

"Hey!"

"Well, you did. I've never heard of anyone else passing the driver's test even though you ran over a mailbox."

"Ahem!" Tandin interrupts, "At any rate, it was a mistake that would have cost you all your lives." And at that, he brushes the laundry off of Lux. "Nice try, young man. But painfully obvious."

"I thought it was creative." Lux replies, working a kink out of his neck.

"Right. You also thought joining Death Watch was a good idea." Sierra shoots back.

"Will you two just stop it, please?" Hutch begs.

"At any rate," Tandin continues. "This place isn't safe anymore. You need to find somewhere else to hide, and you need to go now."

"Where? We're out of places." Lux laments.

Tandin sighs, and holds out a key ring.

"It's the second key, Saw. I can't believe I'm doing this."

(A/N: Thank you to Kasai 1214, starwarshobbitfics, Dragonfan47, and StarwarsRulz for your reviews. I actually had two questions asked this time, so I'm going to answer them here.

StarwarsRulz: "With how AU this is, does Lux have a crush on Ahsoka? And does she still have a crush on Lux?" The answer is yes to both. But because of all the craziness going on, they are not exactly on each other's priority lists right now.

Dragonfan47: "Is Ahsoka coming in soon?" Since all the chapters are prewritten, I can undoubtedly answer that she and the cast of "While Others Followed Orders" will be arriving. But there are a few more shenanigans for our rebels to get up to first.

Did anyone have thoughts about this chapter, and the return of General Tandin? Not quite as wacky as last chapter, but trust me…I'll make up for it. Please drop a review, they are always welcome. Flames, on the other hand, are only good for lighting matches.)