Chapter 6:
Several hours later, Echobe brought the Starscream out of hyperspace a considerable distance from Mon calamari, a precaution to ensure that they were not being followed by Imperials. He waited awhile, and then continued onto Mon Calamari and landed at the same hangar he had left from.
A medical team was standing by after Echobe had radioed in of the situation. They took Makaashyya out and tended to her at the infirmary. Yaminul was taken out on a stretcher, and placed in the morgue to await a proper ceremony. Guards took Zav-Halis out and placed him in a cell. Mon Mothma was waiting for Echobe in the hangar, and she lowered her head in silence when she saw Yaminul's body taken off of the Starscream cocooned in sheets. Alliance personnel in the hangar lowered their heads as well when they realized who it was. Some cried. Many of them looked at Echobe with concern. The Wookiee was still covered in dried blood and looked weary from battle.
Echobe stood at attention when he stepped off the Starscream to approach Mon Mothma. The Alliance leader glided over to Echobe and greeted him. She told him she was sorry for the loss of Yaminul, that he would receive full honors, that Yaminul knew full well what it meant to be in the Alliance, and that all of their lives could be forfeit at any time, Yaminul knew. Echobe only nodded in acquiescence not wanting to think of it anymore. Echobe pulled the recorder, containing Zav-Halis' confession within its memory, out of his pocket so he could change the subject.
"I have a full confession from the Imperial. He only wished that he not be returned to the Empire for fear of being put to death."
Mon Mothma's response was cold.
"That's if he does not face death at our hands for his crimes."
Echobe shrugged.
"I want to end this, I don't care what happens to him" Echobe held the recorder up suggestively.
"Very well, let us go and make the final preparations."
Echobe followed Mon Mothma to a briefing room where several Alliance generals had gathered at her request. The Alliance generals went silent as Mon Mothma entered. She then beckoned for Echobe to stand before everyone. Several gasped when they saw the bloodstained Wookiee, but Echobe ignored them. Instead he started the briefing by bringing up Kashyyyk on a rotating holoscreen for all to see. Then he plugged the recording into the holo projector, and began the program. The confession of Zav-Halis narrated as the computer assumed the information and converted it to hologram. The holo-projector followed the motions as the spectral voice of Zav-Halis directed. Where the base was cloaked, how well armed it was, and when it de-cloaked for shipments. The program ended and Echobe shut off the holo-projector.
"I will need a squadron of fighters to assist me considering the armaments we are up against." Echobe spoke haltingly so that the computer could translate to everyone.
"I figure the best way to get close enough to the prison without alerting them to our presence is to hoist a drifting piece of rock. There is a small asteroid belt near Kashyyyk. We will ride the rock into the general location of the base, and with an EMP charge on the Starscream I will take out the cloaking device and the shields. The squadron will commence a frontal assault." As the robotic voice of the translator finished the generals cocked their eyebrows and shook their heads in disbelief. Mon Mothma was the only one who remained expressionless and unsurprised. Echobe ignored doubtful reactions from the generals and continued.
"I will take two teams with me inside the Starscream for the boarding party. As long as things are done quickly enough, and the squadron can keep any Imperials off of us, we will destroy the prison and hyperspace out of there before the Empire figures out what happened." Echobe paused, and went over the thought in his head, and committed himself to it.
"Otherwise, if all fails. I will order a retreat and detonate the Starscream to take out the prison." The generals broke out in a muted chorus of protest when the translation completed.
Mon Mothma halted the arguing with a raise of her hand.
"Echobe, I understand your…passion for this," one of the generals said carefully, "but we can't allow you to commit suicide. We need all the soldiers we can get and cannot allow you to throw your life away," he said. Echobe stepped forward.
"It's my choice to make. So many have died, are dying because of this. It finally has to end."
The generals each shook their heads in rejection.
"No, we cannot support this plan, I'm sorry," said one and stood from the table and walked out. The remaining generals stayed seated, their heads lowered as if to mourn for Echobe as if he was already dead. Echobe turned to Mon Mothma, her expression was sorrowful.
"Makaashyya must come with me," started Echobe.
"She must face trial now, Echobe," said Mon Mothma matter-of-factly.
"Without Makaashyya, once again, we would not have succeeded. I have kept my promises to return her each time. She must do this to redeem herself in her own eyes before she faces her death, or life imprisonment. Please, Mothma," Echobe pled, "This is almost over. Let me be done with this. One way or another this missions end for me with this last prison."
Mon Mothma raised an eyebrow, but shook her head in grudging acceptance.
"Gather your squadron." She said then left the room, the rest generals, shaking their heads, followed behind her leaving Echobe alone.
Echobe snatched the recording from the holo-projector and went to see Makaashyya under guard in the infirmary. She had just been released from the bacta tank. Her fur was damp but clean, catching the light of the sun streaming in through the window, revealing the red highlights in her fur as glowing, crimson streams. Her wound was healed from the bacta. She had her robe on, and was looking out of the window of the infirmary with her back to Echobe as he walked passed the Alliance guards.
"I hoped you would come," said Makaashyya before Echobe had even made a sound. Makaashyya turned around to face him. Her eyes reddened and glistening with tears. "I'm sorry for Yaminul. We couldn't have done it without him, he saved me."
Echobe didn't feel like thinking about his lost friend.
"Mon Mothma has agreed to allow you to come with me this final time before you face trial here." Echobe lowered his head. Makaashyya walked away from the window and approached him. She looked up into his eyes while he looked down on her.
"I could not ask for more. You have given me a piece of what I used to be before the darkside. You have redeemed me. I will face trial happily, and I will pay for my crimes. I will confess to everything I have done, and hope for forgiveness, but I will be happy knowing I have done at least something to make things right. Maybe you will be pardoned back home at the very least so you will be able to return to Kashyyyk."
Makaashyya looked past Echobe towards the future, his future, but she did not see herself in it. The gossamer image vanished as quickly as it revealed itself. Echobe just looked at her, unable to see such things. He nodded and held Makaashyya in his arms. Echobe stayed with her the rest of the day, sleeping by her side while she remained under guard.
**********
Echobe woke by Makaashyya's side. It was dark and she was sleeping soundly in his arms. Echobe stirred from the memory of the past day playing itself in his sleep as it often did. The loss of Yaminul, Makaashyya wounded, and the capture of the Imperial, but in his dream they did not escape. Echobe dreamt of the Starscream being turned to dust while the Imperial shuttle drifted along into open space like a ghost and free. After taking a few moments to ensure he was really awake and not dreaming, he slipped out from Makaashyya's embrace and sat up on the side of the bed holding his head in his hands for a moment and then moved his hair out of his eyes to look around.
Two Alliance guards fresh in rotation stood by the door. They saluted Echobe on his way out to the surprisingly quiet hallways, considering that in just mere hours a squadron would be leaving for Kashyyyk under the Wookiee's command. However, the hangar where the Starscream rested was entirely different. Droids and Alliance personnel were going this way and that, running diagnostics on ships, fixing missiles onto X-wings, and B-wings, and A-wings, and Y-wings, for the coming assault. Blue sparks shot out like falling stars from the craft as techs worked on them.
Echobe looked around as he went towards the surrounding water and found Bilebelch lying asleep by it. The rancor was slumped in a freshly dug hole, covered in mud. Echobe went to the sleeping rancor and stood by him. When Echobe put his hand on the sleeping giant, the creature stirred. His eyelids lifted back to reveal the beady eyes that were as black as space itself, but the spark of life contained within them was like a star that shone out of that darkness. Echobe stroked the creature's forehead as it growled softly in comfort. Echobe looked the rancor over. The multiple hits by blasters from the assault on the Executor had further carved his thick, armored hide, but did nothing to penetrate the soft tissue beneath.
Soon, Echobe thought, they will scar over with new armor.
Bilebelch thought nothing of it. The rancor did as Echobe asked, without question. Echobe felt guilty for using the creature in that way, but Echobe could feel the elation the rancor felt as it carried out Echobe's wishes.
Echobe spoke to the rancor's mind.
You ready to go again? Echobe's mind echoed, Ready to finish this? What we started back on Tatooine? The rancor lifted himself from the moist, sandy beach with his powerful arms, stood, and shook off the dirt from his hide, and let out a deep throaty growl. Echobe patted the rancor on his leg and that made Bilebelch dash into the lake to joyfully wash off the mud, and throw water all over anyone nearby, and drenching a droid that curiously got too close. Bilebelch attracted the usual bunch of stares, but the spectators quickly went back to their work, many shaking their heads. Echobe left the eager rancor to play a while longer, and went back to Makaashyya's room. She had woken, and had dressed in her cleaned, black robe. She looked one last time out of the window that faced over the lake and then turned to Echobe.
"You ready?" he asked solemnly. Makaashyya nodded.
Echobe turned to the guards and asked for Makaashyya's lightsaber, then handed it to Makaashyya who called it from Echobe's hand into her own with the force. She smiled playfully. Echobe pushed her, and they embraced, laughing happily as they walked out of Makaashyya's room in each other's arms.
They walked back to the hangar together. The Alliance soldiers were starting to do final checks on their ships by that time. Mon Mothma was there as well walking among them and lifting spirits. Makaashyya fell back behind Echobe as they approached. Mon Mothma nodded her approval, and wished him, and Makaashyya luck and to be careful, and assured Echobe that his requests for the EMP charge had been met. When Mon Mothma left the hangar, Echobe stood before those under his command and ordered them to listen up.
The Alliance pilots and soldiers quickly fell into line, and Echobe walked slowly and deliberately up and down the ranks. All of the Alliance pilots looked at Echobe with approval, but seemed to take no notice of Makaashyya standing some distance away. Echobe spoke with each individual squad leader about their objectives, and when he was satisfied that things were in order, Echobe raised his hand and signaled for everyone to board their ships. Droids were loaded into battle worn Alliance vessels, and engines roared to life. Bilebelch crawled his way into the Starscream, and Alliance soldiers filed in, well behind the rancor, and then lastly, Echobe walked beside Makaashyya to the Starscream. Echobe approached the platform, and took Makaashyya's hand, and squeezed it reassuringly.
The soldiers all saluted Echobe as he walked in. Echobe didn't allow Makaashyya to fall behind him again. He held her hand as they walked to the cockpit. L7 was already connected to the computer, and beeped in greeting as the two Wookiees entered. Echobe guided Makaashyya to the co-pilot's seat, the seat Burmar had once occupied. Echobe sat down in the pilot's seat. Two other Alliance soldiers were in the cockpit sitting at their stations, and two other soldiers scrambled to the turrets. The radio tower then hailed the Starscream.
"Starscream, take-off confirmed, you are clear for launch. Good luck."
A soldier sitting at communications responded.
"Starscream acknowledged, we are ready for take-off," and then he looked to Echobe with a smile and a thumbs-up.
Echobe brought the thrusters online, and retracted the landing skids. The Corellian freighter hovered for a moment, and then Echobe quickly spun it around and flew out of the hangar, and up into the upper atmosphere of the watery planet of Mon Calamari. Right behind the Starscream, by twos, the squadron followed. They flew in formation a short distance from the planet, and engaged the hyperdrive for the several hour-long passage to Kashyyyk. They talked casually amongst each other, doing double checks of hardware and systems as the automated travel commenced.
After engaging the hyperdrive Echobe got up from his seat and went back to the lounge where the Alliance soldiers had gathered. He walked and talked among them, making sure each of them were confident and ready, and also to spend a short time with Bilebelch incase Echobe's doubts became reality.
Echobe had always silently figured that of all the moments he faced death, he felt that his final mission, the final prison, would be the most likely to deliver. He only now wished that he didn't feel that way. Now that he had found some understanding, and a place in the galaxy, and possibly someone to share it with. He knew he wouldn't allow Makaashyya to face the death penalty, he told himself, even though he promised to bring Makaashyya back, he would give his own life, if he still had it after the mission, if only to give some leniency to Makaashyya. He shook the wandering thoughts from his head. How selfish he felt hoping that he would make it out alive, knowing that possibly many under his command would not, that they won't live to see their loved ones again. He remembered once again how much he hated death, but trying to justify deaths and his desire to evade that fate, he felt almost like Desco and how he had wanted revenge against Heth Finissum. How easily justification comes out of desire, Echobe knew. He gave one last reassuring pat on the head to Bilebelch. The animal growled in blissful ignorance.
If only I die, Echobe told himself, and the rest make it out safe all will be well.
Echobe walked slowly back to the cockpit past the soldiers who were talking, cleaning their rifles, checking radio communicators, grenades, or looking at photos they kept in one of the multiple pockets on their combat vests. They were all dressed the same. A padded combat helmet covering most of their head, brown leather vests held their equipment. Black pants, and thick black shoes. Some had E-11 blasters, some had T-21 rifles, all of them had a backup vibro-knife for the possible close up fighting as a last resort, they all carried a pistol, some carried two, the more zealous carried more than two, plus grenades and extra ammunition.
Echobe stopped for a moment and looked into the cockpit from the lounge. The hyperspace tunnel folded and embraced the ship. The three sitting at their stations in the cockpit were busy checking ship systems, save for Makaashyya. She was watching the tunnel outside through the thin sheet of transparisteel that separated them from the vacuum. Echobe wondered if she were enjoying the site, knowing that she would quite possibly never see it again after being locked up in a prison somewhere after facing trial. Echobe could not probe her mind nearly as well as Makaashyya could view other's, but he could sense a feeling of calm and happiness coming from her that he never felt before when they first met.
Echobe finally went to the cockpit to take his seat. He scrolled up Kashyyyk on the computer screen before him, and idly looked through the different forms of life. The Wookiee had almost forgotten the creatures he so loved and missed. He wondered what would have happened if he had stayed on Kashyyyk allowing Burmar go on alone. He wondered if Burmar would still been alive, if Desco, if the Alliance, and all of the survivors from the first prison, would still be alive if he had not agreed to go with Burmar in the first place. Echobe felt as if he had made a mess of things, that he failed them all, and for a moment he let those feelings permeate his being, but he pushed them back into the shadowed corner of his mind where they lurked and waited for the sustenance of doubt. Makaashyya looked away from the tunnel and to Echobe and smiled. She could feel his mind running and grabbed his hand briefly in reassurance. She then she continued looking outside at the tunnel with a smile on her face, holding Echobe's hand.
"What will you do when this is over?" Makaashyya asked after awhile.
Echobe was stumped. He never really thought of what could be next for him, nothing really solid, just a vague idea, a vague hope to be with the Wookiee girl. The completion of his mission was the culmination of all he had set out to do for his people and his parents. He had set his parents free and he would avenge them, and save others from sharing their fate. Echobe was unsure of what else he even could do, knowing he could never return home. Makaashyya looked at Echobe after listening to the doubt and confusion in his mind. Her red, burnt-orange eyes were overtaken with the compassion she had found once again, which did not mirror the darkside corrupted eyes. Echobe didn't see the taint of the darkside despite the physical corruption. He saw hope and love, and a sorrow that no longer fueled her hate.
"Don't give up on me," she said, and said nothing more the remainder of the trip. Echobe was unsure what to say, if he should say anything at all. He decided to keep silent.