"–and then she blew up the perimeter and swung with an energy staff, Javo said," Prisa was reenacting how the new lodgers her mother had taken in on the farm had been rescued. "Daaaaaad."
Prisa whined, feeling her father was not paying attention to her story. Lee had been able to call home every month during his reparational service in the NRF, but as time passed, Prisa was beginning to fear that her father would never come home. She frowned and sat back in her chair looking away from the hologram camera.
"Sorry Prisa. You were saying the what?" Lee asked. He was glad to see his daughter filled with excitement about adventures. It reminded him of how he and Lenore were when Riv would tell them about his journeys throughout the galaxy before he came to Lothal. He rubbed his temples trying to relieve the tension of a bad night's sleep away. He refocused to listen closely but his mind was clouded with dread of what his next assignment was going to be.
"The Deliverer," she repeated with annoyance. "That's how Javo and his son made it here. They were trapped on a slave freighter until they were liberated!"
"Liberated huh? By the way, that weapon this 'Deliverer' was carrying is called a force pike," Lee grinned. Prisa turned back to the call with a huge smile on her face knowing he had been listening all along.
"Dad," Prisa said solemnly, "are you ok?"
"I'm fine, just tired," Lee answered, hoping to calm his daughter's worries. "I think I've got a leave coming up in a few months. Maybe you and your mother can meet me halfway."
"Maybe," Prisa replied unconvinced by his answer. Prisa was truly a Tersu. She had a keen sense of intuition sprinkled with a dash of sass. "When are you coming home?"
"I don't know," Lee wanted to be honest even if it was difficult. He could see the disappointment in her eyes through the hologram. "Don't worry about me, Prisa. I'm doing what needs to be done to secure our future. I'm counting on you to keep an eye out for it."
"I am," Prisa confirmed. "Mom's taking in more lodgers and they're helping with the crops. But some of them don't even know how to adjust a Moisture Vapor Filter!"
"That's because some have never been on a farm before. Have some patience with them. They've been through a lot. In time, they'll learn, especially with your help," Lee gently reminded her. "And your mother? How is she?"
"Ask her, she's right here," Prisa said as she watched her mother enter the room. Rya shook her head hoping to avoid the call. She hadn't much to say to her estranged husband since his sentencing on Chandrila. But she did not allow her personal feelings to get in the way of him keeping a good relationship with Prisa. She did everything she could to make sure the two could speak and see one another when he was on leave. As for her, she wasn't sure if there was anything left between them other than a child. "Mom, come on."
"It's alright Prisa. She must be busy," Lee acknowledged.
"I'm here," Rya stepped into the call. "I'm fine. We're all doing fine."
"Good, glad to hear it," Lee said. Prisa looked at each of her parents and sighed. She wished the two could figure out whatever it was between them.
"I'm gonna go. Javo said he was going to tell us the rest of his rescue story today," Prisa fibbed. She already knew the end of the tale but she wanted to give her parents a chance to be alone.
"Say goodbye to your father first," Rya instructed.
"Bye Dad," Prisa waved.
"See you later my strong girl," Lee replied as she disappeared out of the frame. He looked at Rya. She looked well. She had put on some much needed weight, her clothes had been mended, and her hair neatly styled. "You look good."
"Wish I could say the same for you," she said with concern. Lee looked much older and tired for his age. His face wrinkled and the bags under his eyes had darkened. The life of a soldier was catching up with him. She wished he'd let his obsession of securing his childhood go. If he was home, perhaps they could figure out their problems and be happy once more. But for now she could only stand her ground and raise their daughter for the both of them. "You need to take care of yourself if you're ever gonna make it home."
"Will you have me?" Lee ventured optimistically.
"You're still Prisa's father," Rya replied, avoiding the real question Lee had wanted an answer to for the past year.
"That's not what I asked," Lee clarified. Rya smiled. It was a Tersu trait to be relentless and stubborn, especially when it came to something they truly believed in.
"I know," she admitted. Before she could expand on her answer she saw Jules step into the background of the call.
"Lee, Commander Monn wants to chat," Jules alerted reluctantly. She waved hello to Rya who simply nodded in return.
Jules was not adapting well in the NRF any longer. She had lost her commander title and was a mere private no. She had gained a reputation of being defiant, unpredictable, and unfiltered. Her friendship with Lee was also deteriorating as he was tired of trying to reason with her. Since Hosian, neither of them had talked much other than about their assignments.
"I'm sorry, I've gotta run," Lee said. "I'll call you as soon as I can about my next leave."
"Be careful," Rya replied.
"Always." he winked and cut the transmission. He sighed and stood.
"How are they?" Jules asked.
"Managing," Lee said. "What's with the summons?"
"Special assignment hopefully," she replied.
"I don't see how you can get any joy from this," Lee followed Jules to the Commander's office.
"Roy, Tersu," Commander Monn greeted. "Thanks for reporting on such short notice."
"Did we have a choice?" Lee teased. He knew the commander well. Vez Moon had been a soldier on the Hosian Base and had taken charge of the squadron during the fire. He was promoted to Commander for his quick thinking and action during the incident. But the change in rank created an awkward situation among the former captain and commander.
"No, but I believe in acknowledging effort and communicating gratitude will keep up morale and efficiency," Monn smiled. "How's Rya and the little one? Prisa was it?"
"Yes. Not so little any more," Lee laughed, appreciating the inquiry.
"Can we cut the chit chat and get to the assignment?" Jules impatiently asked.
"Always on task as I remember Roy," Monn remarked and projected a hologram of four individuals in stormtrooper uniforms painted like old Clone troopers from the Old Republic. "This is Unit-56, a renegade group of Imperial Stormtroopers. They've been hitting armory after armory throughout the mid and outer rims."
"Are they afraid of the Core?" Jules smirked.
"Harillo Rathos, Imperial callsign TK-249, is their lead. Son to a General aboard the Executor; brother was a pilot in Black Squadron," the Commander enlarged the image of a dark complected man with piercing dark eyes. "We haven't confirmed a motive but we deduce it might be in connection to this member, Rol Gwyer, Imperial callsign TK-888, an enlistee from Alderaan."
"An Alderaanian? Some people have no decency," Jules said with disgust.
"The squad seems to have gone rogue after the Disaster," the Commander informed his two former superiors. "Starting with infiltrating military bases, imperial and republic, taking whatever can fetch a price."
"So they're mercenaries," Lee concluded.
"Looks can be deceiving," the Commander disagreed. He felt there was something more to Unit 56's story and he for one was more understanding and forgiving of former imperial soldiers if they were cooperative. "Headquarters believes this particular unit may have vital information on former Moff circles. Therefore they're recommending them as candidates for the New Republic Rehabilitation Program. Note there have been a few casualties wherever they've struck, so proceed with caution."
"Don't kill or be killed is a tricky tactic within bureaucracy," Lee snarked. He saw how hypocritical the New Republic actually was when it came to handling criminals and delivering justice.
"And the other two bucketheads?" Jules asked.
"Civa Margar, TK-454, the sharp shooter, and Besa Corros, TK-345, the engineer. Their fifth member, TK-932, I have no information on at this time. Oddly enough the chain code was marked decreased and history wiped just a few days ago from a remote location. I'm not entirely sure it is a legitimate entry."
"Perhaps a falling out?" Lee suggested.
"Perhaps,"the Commander said unconvinced.
"So bring in the Imps but don't kill them, but if they try to kill us, try to stay alive, am I getting that right?" Jules asked as sarcastically as possible.
"Yes Roy, we want them alive, but not at the expense of our soldiers. Tersu I'll leave that to your discretion," Monn clarified. Lee nodded as he watched Jules roll her eyes.
"Can't promise anything," Jules muttered.
"You're a soldier Roy. Not a bounty hunter. You have a duty to follow orders and help the New Republic do everything it can to keep the galaxy safe and peaceful."
"Clearly you've forgotten what it's like out there, Commander," Jules saluted. "Orders may be orders but in the heat of it, it comes down to who is willing to do what must be done."
"Which is why you have lost everything you've worked so hard for," Commander Monn shot back. He was right. Jules knew how to survive at all costs, but she never figured out how to adapt to New Republic life. She repositioned her stances and took a deep breath heeding the Commander's words.
"Are we dismissed?" She asked.
"Report to Hanger 6. Your crew and transport are waiting for you with the necessary equipment and coordinates."
"Where we headed?" Lee asked.
"Gascon, now move along," Monn revealed and dismissed them. As Jules left the room Monn called out, "Lee, keep her in check."
"If only I could," Lee admitted and rushed after Jules who was determined to follow through with the mission as planned to prove Vez Monn wrong.
"Hurry up!" Besa yelled over the sounding Imperial Base alarm as her unit quickly moved cases of weaponry toward their speeder van.
"It would go faster if you helped," Rol commented on Besa's lack of participation in the heavy lifting.
"I'm covering you nerfherders, remember?" Besa sassed. "NRF might show up any minute."
"We wouldn't have to hurry if you didn't trip the alarm," Civa snapped with a case in hand.
"Enough," Harillo yelled as he held two cases. "Move out before we have company."
"Too late," Civa said as blaster fire shot their way.
PEW! PEW!
"Great," Besa said and fired back. "Well our escape route is a no go. Now what?!"
"We can cut down the droid lift and go out the back way," Rol suggested as he leaned against the wall avoiding the oncoming fire.
"Sounds good to me," Civa said and tossed a smoke bomb out toward the New Republic Force soldiers.
"Now!," Harillo commanded as he fired through the smoke waiting for his unit to clear the tunnel. He ran after them and slid through a small vent opening in the bottom of the hallway and landed in the garbage compactor. He stood up in the garbage and removed his helmet. He spat out the water that he had gotten into his mouth nearly vomiting. "I thought you said this was a droid lift?!"
"I was wrong, ok?" Rol snapped. Rol was the most even tempted of the bunch, for him to lose his cool surprised Harillo. Rol removed his helmet as well and shook it free of trash and recomposed himself. "At least we're out of the line of fire."
"Won't be long until they figure out we've down here," Besa said, picking off soiled paper from Civa's shoulder guards.
"Won't matter if the compactor activates," Civa half joked.
"Rol see if you can hot wire the doors," Harillo said, shaking his arms to get the rest of the loose garbage off his armor.
"Sure would be easier if Lenore were here," Rol muttered.
"Would you quit whining about Lenore?," Civa groaned. "She's been gone since before Alderaan and isn't coming back."
"Or she's dead," Besa added.
"Oh my god, enough you chatty gungans," Harillo yelled.
Rol pried loose the face covering of the control panel and found the wires that controlled the doors. Cutting and crossing them quickly he created a small spark that opened the doors to a dozen NRF officers wielding their blasters. Unit 56 exchanged looks knowing there was no use in firing their way out. They laid down their weapons and raised their arms.
"How convenient to find you in the garbage compactor," Jules growled.
"Clever," Harillo sassed unfazed by the insult. He had been called a lot of names during his Imperial Service and many more during the Civil War. One New Republic Private was not going to get a rise out of him.
"Unit 56, you're under arrest by order of the New Republic," Lee said, stepping in front of Jules who was gripping her blaster trigger tightly. "Exit slowly in single file."
"Why? To make it easier to shoot us?" Civa remarked.
"I could gun you down a mile away, Imp," Jules replied.
"Prove it,"Besa mocked. "Let us run out of the base and put your sharp shooting skills to the test."
"You wouldn't make it out of the hallway," Jules threatened.
"Quiet!" Lee yelled. He could tell this could easily get out of hand. He forcibly pushed the end of Jules blaster to the floor. "No one's shooting anyone as long as you comply."
"Compliance ought to be easy for you bucketheads," Jules said. Lee turned and gave her a disapproving look. She reluctantly relaxed her stance and motioned for Unit 56 to step toward them. "Put them in one of the holding cells for now. Tersu and I will call for further orders. What?"
"I don't need this right now," Lee warned. "You keep it in check or we're gonna have a problem."
"Sure thing Tersu," Jules said and bumped her shoulder hard into Lee as she followed Unit-56 ominously whistling the Imperial Army's marching song.
"Finally got through to Commander Monn. Word from the command base is to send the weapons to the armory where they'll be processed and dismantled by Gascon authorities. They're being given the metals as payment for assisting the New Republic," Lee returned to the holding cell center. Jules was examining her fingernails and half listening to his news.
"I can't stand diplomats." Jules groaned. She directed the other soldiers to prepare the weapons for transport. "They've gone too soft on all these Imps, especially the renegade ones."
"I hear you," Lee said, looking over at Unit-56. "But remember many of them joined the alliance during the war. Others just went on their own path, which I'm assuming from the painted plasticade these nerf herders thought was a good idea."
"Or maybe they just didn't want to stand out. Have you gone soft as well, Tersu?" she asked, sneering at him. "You used to be ruthless during the war. Any buckethead that crossed your path was as good as dead."
"The war's over Jules. Things have changed," Lee said, exhausted by the topic. "We're the New Republic now, rules must be followed."
"Like how you followed them on Hosian?" Jules reminded him of his mistake that had led to the base fire that landed them in their current situation. "If you did we wouldn't be in this mess. Lucky for you your wife worked some of that politician magic."
"That's not entirely true," Lee replied as he grew annoyed by Jules's tone.
"Oh right, is she still your wife?" Jules cruelly teased. "You've been away from Lothal for a while now. Do you think she'll wait or take Denz up on his offer finally?"
Lee slammed his fist on the wall. Jules froze. Lee was angry. She had hit a nerve. He was tired and homesick. He missed his wife and most of all he missed his daughter. He grunted and turned his attention to processing Unit-56's file. Jules sighed and leaned against the computer Lee was working on. She knew she had crossed a line with him, but apologizing was never something that came easy for Jules.
"Did I ever tell you about the time I ejected a buckethead out in mid space with the trash?" Jules said loudly so Unit-56 could hear.
"Once I believe," Lee reluctantly acknowledged, trying to focus on the task at hand. "I'll make sure that local officials are ready to receive the inventory."
"Sound good Tersu," Jules said as she darkly grinned at Unit-56. She turned to Lee and rested her hand on his shoulder. "Hey Lee….I was only teasing."
"You've always had a strange sense of humor Jules, but now I think you're truly lost. I'm gonna call the Commander and let him know we'll transfer the prisoners to Chandrila in the morning." Lee shrugged her hand off. Lee was at his end with her. If Jules was determined to take down all in her path of vengeance Lee was going to have to be the one to stop her. He just hoped it wouldn't come to that. Shaking his head free of the negative thought. He finished processing the file and removed his data stick with the files backed up. As he looked up he saw Harillo Rathos staring at him "What are you looking at?"
With that Lee left to call the Commander back, leaving Jules alone with the prisoners. He had a feeling she would for once follow orders. He made his way down to the communication center to call Commander Monn. As he sat down to start the call a loud explosion sounded.
BANG!
He stood as soldiers rushed past the communications room toward the front of the base. He joined them to see a chain of explosions continuing to go off around the entrance. As New Republic soldiers scrambled to secure the perimeter Lee had a feeling the explosions were a distraction. Someone was here for Unit 56. He pulled out his monoculars and scanned the ground level to see a small figure dressed in black stormtrooper armor with commander strips racing toward the back entrance of the base.
"Is that a force pike?, he thought as he remembered Prisa's story of the Deliverer.