Chapter 69:
Dan thought the questioning would never end. He felt as though Rieekan's pale blue eyes could see straight through him, searching for the truth. He answered as much as he felt was safe, and lied about the rest; Vader had told him what to say, and what the consequences would be if he betrayed them. It was enough to make his blood run cold.
"Kyo, are you listening?" Rieekan's voice penetrated his thoughts abruptly.
"Yessir," Dan replied hastily.
"Did you hear what Vader was planning?" the general repeated, patiently.
"It sounded like it was a recon mission. Vader wanted his apprentice to have experience with smoking out a base, and they wanted to learn if we were here." Dan lied, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Then how did Atrox and Leia manage to get captured?"
"They weren't expecting to be unable to use the Force," Dan explained. "But Vader decided to go ahead with the mission. I heard them arguing about it. He thought it would be a good training exercise for Atrox. Then you sprang your trap, and caught Atrox and Princess Leia, and Vader was hit by stray blaster fire. He was angry; I've never seen anything like it." He shivered involuntarily; that much was true. "That's how I was able to sneak out that night. They were busy with Vader and forgot to lock me up."
Rieekan appeared satisfied. "Very well, Dan. I don't want you leaving the base for awhile. In fact I think it's best if you keep near your quarters in case we need to ask you anything else."
"Yes sir. Thank you, sir," Dan said, relieved. He beat a hasty retreat, eager to get away from the general's penetrating gaze.
Airen Cracken was having a very bad day. He swore to himself that he would make Atrox pay for his crimes, personal and otherwise. He was on a heavy painkiller for his injury, and had been awake for about an hour when a stretcher was brought in. Concerned, he pushed himself upright to see who was being brought in, and why, and a flush of rage spread across his face. "What is he doing in here?" he spat, livid.
One of the techs glanced over at him. "He's got second-degree burns on his hands. His sister had him sedated and brought in when he refused treatment."
"That madman needs to be locked up where he can't harm himself or others ever again," Cracken muttered, darkly. "Kessel's too good for him."
As they prepared Atrox for bacta immersion, Pash Cracken walked into the medbay. He strode over to his father's bedside, and followed Airen's gaze over to the unconscious Sith Lord. His fingers curled into a fist, and he made his way towards the opposite bed. Two of the guards moved to intercept him, but he brushed past them to stand over Atrox.
"I'm sorry sir, you need to leave." A guard informed him, flatly, gently but firmly taking him by the shoulder. "No one's allowed contact with the prisoner."
Pash glared down at the unconscious figure for another moment, before turning and stalking back to his father's bedside, and talking with him quietly.
The preparations complete, Atrox was carried away for his bacta session, and placed under heavy sedation.
Dan paced back and forth in the barracks he shared with other members of the Alliance, his nervousness not allowing him to be still. Vader's orders, and his threats, burned in the back of his mind, giving him no peace.
Finally he grabbed his holdout blaster from his footlocker and headed for the detention area, his mind made up. As he did so, he noticed Atrox being carried on a stretcher into the high security cell block. Puzzled, he followed them in, and made note of the cell they placed him in.
One of the guards spotted him and called out, "Hey, kid, get the prisoner's clothes out of the locker over there, would you? The third on the left."
Dan obediently walked over to the locker and opened it. Inside were Atrox's boots, cloak, robes and utility belt, stripped of tools. His supplies had been tossed carelessly in the bottom of the locker, and as he gathered the clothes, he glimpsed a slender grey cylinder with dark markings among the jumble. Palming the item, he dropped it casually into the toe of one of the boots, and brought the pile of clothes into the cell.
"Leave the clothes over there," the guard instructed. "He can dress himself when he wakes up." Waving Dan out of the room, they sealed the door and posted themselves outside it. "Go on about your business, kid, you really shouldn't be in here."
Relieved, the young man headed back to his quarters to consider his next move.
Leia sat near her brother's cot, watching him. She had managed to get permission to be there when he awoke, provided guards were stationed inside the room for her safety. She froze as he stirred, and opened his eyes.
Atrox came awake slowly, still feeling the effects of the sedative. He opened his eyes, and immediately noticed Leia sitting by his bedside. Suddenly, after several moments his memory of what had happened came flooding back into him. His head slowly turned towards the two guards that were in the room with him and his sister. "Get out." He barked coldly at them, his speech somewhat slurred.
Leia glanced toward them. "Please," she said softly.
They hesitated, and looked at each other, then one finally said, "We'll be right outside the door if you need anything, Princess. Just call out."
"I will, thank you." When they were gone, she returned her attention to her brother. "How are you feeling?"
"You've got some nerve. I should place you in the force cage when we get back on our ship." He snarled, slowly turning to meet her eyes, his cold blue orbs staring directly into them. "Wait until my master finds out."
Leia met his gaze, evenly. "I did what I felt was best, in accordance with my promise, and my judgment. She leaned in closer, her voice barely audible. "Your precious mission depends on you being able to fight. You'll rot here if you can't use your hands. Is that what you want?"
His eyes glared back at her, accusingly. "And just what will you do when I decide to make my move? Stand and watch, or actually help? I don't need to be Force-sensitive to sense the conflict in you. You will tell me your intentions. Now." He whispered back, his voice barely audible.
Her expression turned icy. "I will not betray you, but neither will I take a life while on this mission. If you don't want what help I can offer, I can easily take it elsewhere." Her eyes flashed with a bitter amusement. "And don't tell me you'll kill me if I do, I've heard it all before, and I tire of threats."
"You're right. I won't kill you. However, I will make sure that you suffer. I don't care how my master would punish me." He growled back, before his voice turned barely audible. "Would you be willing to take a hostage, or somehow have Dan make it appear there are det packs throughout the base? We cannot leave without Antilles or the High Command."
She looked troubled. "I… I can't take hostages. The base…" she frowned, thinking. Finally, she slipped a hand into her belt and subtly dropped something into the pile of clothes at the foot of her bed. "Perhaps that will help," she said quietly, rising. "I don't think I should stay here any longer. They might grow suspicious."
Atrox tapped his sister's side. "Thank you Leia, you were right about my wounds." Atrox whispered, as he watched her get ready to leave his cell.
She raised an eyebrow at him, surprised by his admission, then nodded and left the room, the door sealing behind her.
When she was out of the room, Atrox slowly got to his feet, leaning on the cot for support as he adjusted. When he could walk steadily, he bent down and scooped up the heap on the floor, careful not to dislodge what Leia had dropped. He pulled out his robes, and drew them on, his eye catching a dull glint of metal wedged beneath the hem of his cloak. He secured the item in the hem of his hood with a smirk. That done, he reached for a boot, and felt a weight in the toe. Deceptively calm, he reached into it for a sock and felt the familiar coolness of his lightsaber. His hand still in the boot, he slipped the hilt up his sleeve, and pulled out the sock. As he finished dressing, he wrapped his cloak around him, drawing the hood over his face, and sat down in the center of the room in a meditative position. After several moments in that position, Atrox whispered, barely audible, a single word, "Master?"
There was a tiny click as the comlink came to life, and Vader's voice echoed in his ear, "Apprentice? What is your status?"
"They have me locked in a cell with nothing in it… earlier I was in a Force cage and managed to overload it when I forced my way out. Leia stunned me because of my refusal of treatment, so they immersed me in bacta. In my boot was my lightsaber and Leia gave me her comlink, my master." Atrox replied, his voice barely a whisper, calm and cold as ice. "Cracken attempted to get information from me before I… incapacitated him during his questioning, and Rieekan tried as well when I was in the force cage."
"Very good, apprentice. Have you discovered anything that will help us reach our objective?"
"Aside from ticking both Rieekan and Cracken off, I have not, my master." Atrox whispered back coldly.
"Get word to Dan, if you can. Find out the base's weaknesses. And see about discovering what would make the rebel leaders give themselves up… for the good of their people."
"Yes, master. However, there is nothing I can do until I am… greeted again, or until they allow Leia to see me again." Atrox responded, his voice a whisper.
"Keep me informed, apprentice," Vader commanded. "Your work so far has been most impressive."
"Thank you, my master." Atrox whispered, pride radiating throughout his being at his father's praise.
"We have managed to scout the perimeter of the base. The Rebellion seems to have doubled its guard since catching you, and all entrances are watched. There is… a small guard post on the northwest end of the base, which could be exploited if necessary, though we have been unable to determine where in the base it opens onto."
"Very good, milord." Atrox whispered, making a mental note to ask Dan about this guard post. "I will ask the boy about this, and will keep you informed, my master."
"See that you do. Vader out."
A few hours later, Atrox looked up to see Dan entering the cell with a tray of food. He glanced around, nervously, and whispered, "I volunteered for kitchen duty. Can't stay long, though."
Atrox glanced up at Dan's form, taking the tray of food from him and setting it down in front of him. "How have they been treating you?" Atrox whispered, keeping his voice low enough so it would not be detected on the security cameras.
"Well enough," Dan responded. "Asked me a few questions, that was all."
"My master has located a small guard post on the northwest end of the base. Do you know where it leads?" Atrox asked, his voice still too quiet for the security cameras to detect.
"Uh…" Dan frowned in concentration. "That comes out near the officers' quarters, I think. There's a small hangar over there, but I've never been in it."
"How many guards are stationed there?" Atrox demanded, his voice barely a whisper.
"I'm not sure," Dan admitted. "I can try to find out…"
"I need to inform my master. Make an educated guess, you can confirm it later." Atrox snapped as he nearly lost control of how loud his voice was.
"I don't think there would be more than three or four…" Dan muttered, backing away. "I better go before they wonder what I'm doing here."
Atrox closed his eyes and resumed his 'meditations'. "I expect to know more when you bring me my next meal, Kyo." Atrox muttered quietly, the warning clear.
Dan escaped the room as quickly as he dared, Atrox's quiet unspoken threat ringing in his ears.
After several moments had passed, Atrox once again began whispering quietly, just loud enough so that the comlink would pick him up. "I have information regarding the guard post and where it leads, my master."
"Speak, apprentice." Vader's voice hissed faintly in his ear.
"The boy claims that there should only be at most four guards in the post. That entrance leads to an area near the officer's quarters of the base, as well as a small hangar, my master." Atrox replied shortly.
"That is… most interesting. Have the boy find out when the members of the High Command retire for the evening; that may provide an opportunity."
"It will be done, my master. He should return soon to take away this… scrap." Atrox hissed coldly, plucking at the tray.
"Have him monitor the officer's quarters, and let me know what he finds out." The comlink fell silent with a slight click, leaving Atrox in silence once more.