Day 3, apology. Kallus takes Zeb captive after Bahryn, just as he said he would.
Agent Kallus has made a grave mistake.
He thought Admiral Konstentine would listen to him, would spare Zeb based on his word alone. Zeb may be a rebel, but he saved Kallus' life on Bahryn. That alone deserves some amount of mercy.
He realizes too late that the Admiral doesn't think the same. They've already started torturing Zeb for answers, demanding the names of his fellow rebels and their potential bases.
Kallus avoids the holding cells at all costs. It does little to stop his nightmares. Dreams of being in that room with the Lasat. He can hear them so clearly, the screams Zeb releases to each electrical shock. He hears the way Zeb begs for him to do something.
After a week, Kallus catches himself walking toward Zeb's cell. He doesn't make it there, his paranoia getting the better of him. He ends up walking back to the bridge instead, sweat dropping down his collar. What was he thinking?
But then Kallus does it again. He heads toward Zeb's cell with no intention at all, as if his feet have a mind of their own. He gets a little further but not far enough.
The third time, he stops in front of the heavy durasteel door, staring into the window at the injured Lasat. Kallus carefully holds his emotions back, doesn't dare feel for him, before he leaves again.
Now, Kallus knows he's lost it this time.
He went to the cell, only to find Zeb missing. Then, as panic surged through him, taking over any and all Imperial training he had, Kallus marched right to the interrogation cell.
He doesn't know what he's doing when he excuses the stormtroopers of their duty, or when he shoos the interrogator out. All he knows is that he can't keep doing this.
"Kallus?" Zeb's been drugged, clearly. He slouches from where he's held up by thick cuffs. Kallus makes quick work of them, then pulls Zeb's arm over his shoulder.
Kallus ignores the surprised chuckle Zeb lets out as they begin to move. "Oh, gettin' real close, are we? Didn't know ya liked me like that."
He's drugged, Kallus reminds himself. Drugged on truth serum.
"Hurry up!" Kallus hisses to him, attempting to be quiet. "I'm getting you out of here."
Zeb, to his credit, stumbles along well enough. They get through the halls at a surprisingly quick pace. Thankfully, the escape pods aren't far.
"Didn't think you'd come." Zeb's breath is hot against Kallus' ear. It sends shivers down his spine. "Knew there was good in ya."
Not enough. A good person would've ran to Zeb's aid immediately. A good person would've seen the Empire's lies before destroying Lasan. Zeb wouldn't be bruised and heated if Kallus were a good person.
"Here." Kallus pulls Zeb into the nearest escape pod. He sets the Lasat down and moves to pull away, but a purple arm keeps him in place. "What-"
"You smell good." Zeb pulls him closer, rubbing that flat nose into Kallus' neck. Heat spreads across the agent's face. "Like toast."
Kallus stops his attempts to pull away. "Toast?"
"Yeah. I like toast. 'S crunchy and warm. Sabine's got some good fruit jam for it too. 'S spicy and…stuff."
This is a waste of time. Kallus finally pulls out of Zeb's hold and silences any protests with a finger against his purple lips. "I have to send you out before they realize you're gone. Now shut up and sit tight. We'll be jumping to Coruscant soon, so that beacon better work."
If he could, Kallus would've contacted the Ghost before of all this. Instead, he just has to hope they get to the pod first. And that Zeb doesn't crash on some other moon and get himself killed in his drugged state.
Great, now Kallus is worrying again.
Stepping out of the pod, Kallus closes the hatch firmly. His finger hovers over the launch button. "Goodbye, Garazeb." He presses it before Zeb can get out of his seat.
Kallus watches the pod grow smaller and smaller until the star destroyer jumps into hyperspace.
"I'm sorry."
