Next chapter up. Enjoy.
As soon as we were docked, I quickly accessed the security terminal as one of Murrn's men attached the gas canister to the air vent. It wouldn't knock out everyone on the station, but everyone in and around the detention area would be out cold for at least an hour. That was more than enough time to get in and get out.
I deactivated all the security lockdowns between the hangar and the prisoner holding area, as well as sealed all access to the area from other sections of the station and deactivated all automated defensive weapons. The detention area was alarmingly close the the hanger bay. There had been talk of moving its location before I left the Republic, but fortunately, it seemed as though they had yet to make any changes. Stations such as this were always slow to change.
Once everything was set, I motioned for the commandos to follow me, as we made our way into the station. All of the team had been inoculated against the gas we used, so we had no difficulties in the corridors. I happily noted that there were several unconscious people in the halls as we progressed. The gas obviously worked like a charm. Fortunately, the gas would be dissipated enough to not render the prisoners unconscious once they entered the hallway. The cells themselves were on a separate ventilation system then the main rooms.
It only took a few minutes to locate our people, thanks to the schematics I had dug up from the computer..
I used my lightsaber to slice through the locking mechanisms. "Follow the Commander to the transport." I ordered, counting the people as they made their way out of the cells. In the final cell was Galien.
"Zanthia, what are you doing here?" He asked, obviously surprised by my presence on the rescue mission.
"Oh, you know, taking a stroll." I joked.
Galien rolled his eyes, but followed the other towards the hangar bay. Murrn ran up to me.
"Is that everyone?" He asked.
I nodded. "All twenty. Let's get outta here. I can sense that people are starting to notice the lockdowns, but they don't seem concerned yet. They must think it's all just a glitch from the upgrades they're running. It won't take long for them to figure out what's going on."
Murrn and I hurried along, making sure no one followed us. It was then that I sensed it. A presence I hadn't felt for years. He wasn't in the hangar bay yet, but he was close. He was also alone. I stopped in mid stride just outside the hanger and Murrn stopped too, concerned.
"What is it?" He asked.
A deep feeling of dread spread across me. "When everyone's on board, you leave. Whether I'm on or not."
Murrn continued to look at me with concern. "What do you mean. Why would you not be with us?"
"No time to explain. Once you're set, you go. Got it." I said. It wasn't a question.
Murrn nodded, but still looked distressed by my request, as we entered the hangar bay and our people began filing onto the ship. At first I thought we might just make it, but then the far door of the hangar opened and Master Jaric Kaedan entered, lightsaber already ignited. Somehow, he had managed to get past the gas. I shouldn't have been surprised.
"Get them outta here!" I ordered Murrn as I approached the Jedi Master. I had my weapons out, but not ignited. I needed to stall for time. I placed myself between him and the ship, just on the other side of the bulkhead which separates the airlock. I didn't even understand what he was doing on the station to begin with.
"I was hoping I was wrong about the presence I sensed." He said, his weapon still at his side. He wasn't going to attack me yet, but he was ready. He was the epitome of calm, though I knew he could snap into action in seconds.
"Sorry to disappoint you." I replied, keeping my position. My people were now all aboard the ship. I used the Force to bring up the forcefield between me and the ship, then opened the hangar doors and destroyed the control panel.
"You're commiting an act of war against the Republic by freeing Imperial prisoners."
I kept my eye contact. Of all the Jedi Masters on the council, I had always respected Kaedan the most. It was difficult to see the disapproval in his eyes. "Those people are not with the Empire. They're scientists. They were studying the Rakghoul plague, nowhere near any Republic installation. If anything, you committed an act of war against the Chiss Ascendancy by taking them captive. You might need to check your intel."
By this time the ship was starting the leave, but I could feel Master Kaedan's attempt to keep the ship in place. He was powerful enough to succeed, unless I did something more drastic.
I growled. "Damn it, Master Kaedan! Don't make me fight you."
"It's you making that choice, not I."
In an instant, he leapt at me. I ignited my weapons and deflected his blow. I was no match for Master Kaedan with a lightsaber, even with his focus half on keeping the ship in place. I knew this, but I needed to find a way to distract him enough to break his connection with the ship. It only needed a few seconds to get away. I battled him, doing my best to get as close to the forcefield as I could, without him knowing that was what I was doing. The Jedi Master was as much a challenging opponent as I remembered from my training.
Once we were close enough, I shutdown my lightsabers and charged him. Not ready for a non-weapon oriented assault, he was thrown off balance just enough for me to push both of us into the forcefield. The jolt knocked the wind out of me, but it also did what I hoped. Kaedan lost his connection long enough for the ship to leave the hangar.
I focused on trying to get a breath in as I felt the ship go into hyperspace...
To Be Continued...