VII

Motivation is the crux?

I know that I could have defeated the soporific gases in the grenades. I had no reason to!

I had no reason to or not to defeat myself!

I wake up in a gray temporary room. All semi-military--corrugated walls, a flimsy bunk, a humanoid on a metal stool staring at me, a sleepy-looking Wookiee standing beside him. A varicolored woven blanket has been thrown over most of my body, and none of my possessions have been moved. Only my lightsaber is lying across the room attached to the blue pooling contents of a glop grenade.

The soldier across the room is an elderly male with a DL-44 clenched in one hand across his lap. The Rebellion crest stitched in clashing colors in his arm possibly indicates that he does not often see combat. Weak enough. For the Wookiee, pressure points will be very useful.

I sit up, resisting a growl that vibrated down my throat. The old soldier switches his gun up at me.

He says, "There is a ring of trip mines around this building. If you escape us, you will die."

They do not underestimate me.

"We've wasted resources because we don't know what you are, barve. My name is Jasper. Are you an enemy of the faceless Imperial scum, or just a fancier version of 'em?"

It feels uncomfortable to act without command, in ways. It feels like the failure of balance, which is an old memory from a turbulent time.

I looked at the Rebel and evaluate how this capture may be the perfect opportunity. "I am Darth Vader's foe." Realize how true that is, and fear.

He does not believe me. "Why did you fall from the Star Destroyed?"

I give him as much as he needs, no more--so I must think about dampening the complications around you. Pride beats the specific events out of my closest ordering thoughts. "I wished to avoid Vader, without other notice." I wonder whether they analyzed my wounds at all. They would not tell of a single rough landing. "Set me up against an enemy. I will show your allies willingness."

"I'd like to set you up with a minder. But this'll be enough for a first report. Good day,"

The two turned and left.

Give me a minder. I almost laughed. The psychic Black Sun agent had been a particularly enjoyable death, especially because I hadn't known I could do that without trying.

I sit, conserve energy, and direct my hatred toward you, Vader. Maybe even toward Sidious.