CHAPTER NINE
SUN CRUISER BRIDGE
Warden Exivy approaches Warden Exi on the bridge. Warden Exi has put on the bracelets he took from Marae earlier. Warden Exivy still has Rey's lightsaber attached to her belt. She unhooks it and hands it to Warden Exi to examine.
Warden Exi: "Girl caught interest."
Warden Exivy: "The report from Jakku made mention of strange abilities of knowing from where things had come. I was curious if she had the key the master has long sought."
Warden Exi: "….."
Warden Exivy: "She is gifted with force sight; though she is unable to control it."
Warden Exi: "She waste then. I say kill."
He clips the lightsaber he had been examining onto his own belt next to his own.
Warden Exivy: "I believe in our Supreme Leader's personal philosophy." (She traces the unique symbol on her uniform) "Unlike you."
Warden Exi: "Worthless feelings only cloud actions."
Warden Exivy: (softly yet firmly) "To you perhaps." (pause—normal tone) "To me, her life is still meaningful."
Warden Exi: (contempt towards her hopeful attitude) "Destroyer left the system. Droid gone. We failed!"
Warden Exivy: (calmly) "Captain Solo and Imperial Hand Solfel will not leave behind one they deem as an ally. They will try to rescue her."
Warden Exi: (growing eagerness) "All not lost. Capture an imperial hand and Captain Solo, Supreme Leader may lessen punishment."
Warden Exivy nods to show her agreement: "The Hand and Solo working together will certainly be unconventional. We must be cautious or pride will rob us of our victory before the battle has begun."
COCKPIT OF THE MILLENNIUM FALCON
The Falcon is alone in empty space with no planets or nearby stars. Han, Finn, and Loreanna enter the cockpit. Chewie is already strapped in entering data into the navigation computer. Han steps up and sits in the pilot chair. He straps himself into it.
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: "Are you going to tell us now about this incredible way of approaching a Sun Cruiser undetected?"
Han: "Cruiser sensors are designed to pick up anything the size of a life pod traveling slower than lightspeed, so we drop out of lightspeed after we're past their sensors and dock at a hanger airlock"
Finn: "Isn't that dangerous? I mean Sal was saying something about how jumps had to be carefully calculated or you could end up in the middle of a star."
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: "Ahh..that's why you wanted the probe droid. It can get right next to the ship undetected and send us the best possible coordinates."
Finn: "You can do that?"
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: "Probes are designed to gather information without being noticed. Of course even with exact coordinates, pulling that short of a jump is extremely dangerous. Only those crazy enough or confident of their own skill would dare to do it."
Han: (good humor) "So which am I?"
Loreanna smirks back and doesn't answer as she straps herself into a seat. Finn follows her example.
Chewie looks up from his calculations and growls that they are ready. Han pulls back on the hyperspace lever.
HALF A LIGHT YEAR IN SPACE FROM TAKODANA
The Falcon disappears.
COCKPIT OF THE FALCON
Han is carefully watching the nav-computer count down. A light flashes and he pushes up on the hyperspace lever in sync with the beep.
OUTER SPACE NEAR TAKODANA'S MOON
The Falcon emerges directly under the Sun Cruiser (similar to what Anakin did in the Clone Wars). The ship dives suddenly but not too far from the cruiser to avoid crashing into a sensory dish. The Falcon slows as it returns to flying directly under the cruiser until it reaches the edge. The Falcon turns on its side. The docking clip on top of the (The hatch way Lando uses in Episode V) Falcon locks onto an access point on the Sun Cruiser.
Sun Cruisers have two large hanger areas: One for military ships and the other for civilian or supply ships. The military hanger is closer to the back of the ship and the entry point is open access like on Star Destroyers. The supply hanger is closer to the front where most of the crew and living (mess hall, physical training area, etc.) quarters are located. Hanger bay doors on the side of the cruiser can open and up to twenty large supply ships can fit at once or for smaller deliveries, ships can dock at one of the half-dozen entry points.
COCKPIT OF THE MILLENNIUM FALCON
Han: (to Loreanna) "So am I crazy or confident in my own skills?"
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: "Let's say Captain that if you brought us any closer, we'd by flying down hallways."
Han: "Maybe next time"
He looks at Finn: "You ready?"
Finn: (quickly) "Yeah…all I have to do is lead you though some maintenance ducts. Not that difficult."
Loreanna, Han, and Chewie all look at each other.
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel reaches out and puts her hand on Finn's arm: "What Captain Solo meant is are you ready to go against your own?"
Finn swallows, pulls his lips in and lets go, breaths deeply, and then looks Loreanna straight in the eyes: "Yes, I'm ready."
Then he looks out the viewport: (firmly) "We're coming for you Rey."
REY'S CELL
Rey is lying down on the bunk. She suddenly sits up and scans the room as if looking for the source of a sound. Seeing nothing, she reaches up for her locket, but it's not there. Her hand clenches over where the locket should be. She unclenches her fist slowly and reaches up to feel her own face. Across the room is a semi-reflective surface that is reflecting her own face back at her just Like Warden Exivy.
INSIDE THE SUN CRUISER MAINENANCE DUCTS
Finn followed by Loreanna and then Han crawl through a semi-dark small maintenance duct. Each of them is wearing a small hidden earpiece/comlink. Loreanna and Han are wearing the bubble bags. They are approaching another intersection when Loreanna suddenly reaches out and grabs Finn's ankle. He stops without a sound.
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: (through a hidden earpiece in Finn's ear) "There's someone ahead."
Finn (whisper into his earpiece) "Acknowledged."
The three wait in silence in the semi-dark. Sounds of another person moving become noticeably and a few minutes later, a person crosses an intersection about thirty feet ahead of them. The person doesn't notice Finn of the others. They wait. The sounds disappear. Finally Loreanna give the all clear.
Finn: (into his earpiece low normal voice) "It's freaky how you do that."
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: (into her earpiece low normal voice) "Take it as proof that I can handle the next step."
Finn. "…."
The three continue crawling. After a bit, Finn finds what he wants and opens the hatchway into a janitors' closet. The three drop down into the closet.
Finn: "The physical training area is across the hallway. Second door down. She likes to use the last sparring room. Then there's a terminal in the physical training area control room. "
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel nods: "I'll meet you outside the detention center." She hands over her bubble bag to Finn and her blaster to Han.
She moves to leave, but Han stops her by putting a hand on her shoulder.
Han: "Be careful."
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: "Relax, I can handle almost anyone."
Han: "Almost is the key work your handfullness."
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: "….."
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: "You'd better go. I don't sense anyone nearby."
Han lets go. He and Finn climb back into the maintenance duct and close the hatchway. Loreanna waits until the sound disappears.
Loreanna: (soft voice) "You be careful too"
She turns and leaves the closet.
PHYSICAL TRAINING AREA ON THE SUN CRUISER
Loreanna walks boldly and confidently through the physical training area as if she belongs there. There are a couple dozen or so droid trainers helping crew members. Most of the crew members have orange or yellow strips on their pants. There are a few with other colors. Four people are inside a dome with four times that number of red spheres bouncing around. One person gets hit by a red sphere and it sticks to his clothing. Other crew members are in a pit trying to escape as various sections of the wall poke out for several seconds before disappearing back into the wall. Others are walking on heavier or lighter artificial gravity tracks. Loreanna keeps walking until she gets to the sparring rooms. There are five of them and each is closed off to the rest of the area though each room has a viewport (window). The back walls of the sparring room have the same slide out storage areas as the interrogation room. Inside the last room, is Captain Phasma. She's sparring without weapons in full armor with a sparring droid. Loreanna watches the battle noting how Phasma moves. The match ends quickly when Phasma ducks underneath the sparring bots arms and give an undercut so powerful it knocks off the droid's head. The droid deactivates. Loreanna reaches into her belt and pulls out the voice adaptor and a jamming stick. She puts the voice adaptor in a pouch after activating it around her neck and holds the jamming stick in her hand.
A jamming stick is a seven inch rod with a sphere on one end that jams all frequencies within a 15 meter radius.
Loreanna pushes the button to open the door and walks into the room. Captain Phasma turns and looks at her.
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: "Captain Phasma."
Captain Phasma: (looks at her uniform) "You are not First Order."
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: "I am Imperial Hand Solfel."
Captain Phasma: "Ahh, you're here for your friend." She looks at the jamming stick: "Jamming both our communications isn't necessary."
Loreanna pulls out a tube of sticky sap from her belt and puts some of the pink paste on the bottom of the jamming rod. She returns the tube to her belt. Then she jumps towards the wall. Her foot connects first and she pushes herself higher and sticks the jamming rod above the viewport at an angle that it can't be seen from outside. She spins as she comes back down so that she lands in a crouch facing Captain Phasma.
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: "Your opinion on what is necessary may change when you are losing."
Captain Phasma: "….."
Captain Phasma attacks first with a right hook. Loreanna dodges to her own right. The hook is a feint. Captain Phasma puts her weight on her right foot and kicks out with her left leg. Loreanna already in motion kicks off from the ground and dives sideways over Phasma's leg. Loreanna's hands hits the ground. She dives into a roll and comes up on her feet facing Phasma. She smiles. Phasma tilts her head slightly before gesturing Loreanna to come. Loreanna runs up and ducks underneath Phasma's arm and strikes upwards with the same uppercut Phasma used earlier on the droid. Phasma steps back and grabs Loreanna's arm below the wrist. Loreanna turns as she jumps and drives her elbow into the underside of Phasma's helmet. Phasma takes a step back, but doesn't let go of Loreanna's arm. Loreanna lands back on the ground and delivers a solid whack to Phasma's arm with her other hand. Phasma releases her. The two separate. Phasma dashes forward low. Loreanna leaps high in the air to avoid her and twists as she comes down to land on her feet facing Phasma. Phasma has already turned around and kicked out with her right leg. With no time to move, Loreanna throws her arms up side by side as a shield and takes the kick. She's forced back against the wall. Phasma charges with a punch. Loreanna ducks Phasma's fist that slams against the wall and rolls out of reach. Phasma holds her wrist as she slightly flexes her hand. There's a slight indent on the wall from her punch. Phasma touches a point on her upper arm before she launches herself toward Loreanna and attacks by kicking out. Loreanna jumps back and upward. She lands feet on the wall. She pushes herself off the wall and tackles Phasma directly with her hands open. As her palms hit Phasma's armor, energy burst out from Loreanna's gloves. The shock blast Phasma and Loreanna back away from each other. Phasma slams hard into the ground. Loreanna is thrown into the air. She does a backflip and lands on her feet. Loreanna rushes over to Phasma who is gasping both from the shock and the impact.
Captain Phasma: (gasping) "Shock gauntlets…it seems the Imperial hands play dirty."
Loreanna smiles as she pulls out a stun device. She drives the end underneath Phasma's helmet. Phasma's body goes stiff and then relaxes as she falls unconscious. Loreanna turns the right arm of Phasma's armor to reveal the hidden thin blade Phasma had activated after hitting the wall that was ready to pop out and swing into Phasma's waiting hand.
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: "I always play as fair as my opponents."
Shock gauntlets deliver an electric shock with every strike. Loreanna's shock gauntlets are smaller and less noticeable than the standard shock gauntlets because instead of relying on a power source for the energy, her gauntlets draw the energy from the static buildup of electricity in her own body. The result is that her gauntlets take a long time to charge and the strikes aren't as powerful, but the sheer surprise factor more than makes up for the disadvantages in Loreanna's mind.
SUPPLY ROOM ON THE SUN CRUISER
A vent in the ceiling over an armor supply room carefully swings open. Finn carefully lowers his head and looks around double checking that no one else is in the room. His head disappears and soon his feet emerge. He drops to the ground and walks over to the rack with the trooper armor pieces on it. Han very carefully drops down as well.
Finn: (low voice) "What size are you? A 15-hand or maybe 16-hand?"
Han: "How should I know what size I am in your system?"
Finn looks chagrin: "We'll try a 14-hand."
He holds up a piece of armor against Han. Then discards it as too small. He tries another size and discards that as well. The third one looks like it will fit.
Finn: "Well, put it on."
Han: "What now?"
Finn: "I don't have a way to lug it through the ducts and there won't be a place as roomy as this."
Han mutters, but removes the bubble bag and starts to put on the armor.
PHYSICAL TRAINING AREA ON THE SUN CRUISER.
Loreanna dressed as Captain Phasma slowly spreads some of the pink paste she used earlier on the jamming rod onto the inside edge of one of the slide out storage compartment. Inside the compartment, a woman's bound covered feet are visible. Loreanna closes the compartment. After a couple of seconds, she punches the button to open the door. The gears whirl and the door shudders a fraction of a bit, but the paste holds the compartment shut. Nodding in satisfaction, Loreanna puts on the helmet and walks out of the room. She heads straight for the control room and enters straight through the open doorway. One human woman dressed in gray with a dark blue stripe on her pants is sitting at a control board. On the other side of the room, is the terminal. The woman nods to Captain Phasma, but doesn't rise or salute her. As Loreanna walks by, her eyes sweep the control board. Finally, she sees what she wanted to find. Taking a seat at the terminal, she keys for entry. As the system loads, Loreanna reaches out with the Force and slightly lifts the dial cap off the machine. Then she turns the actual dial before replacing the cap so that it looks like there aren't any problems. Suddenly out on the gravity track, runners are slammed into the ground as the artificial gravity increases. Warning lights flash across the control board. The female technician scans her board, but all dials indicate all should be well. She grabs a tool bag from under the desk and runs towards the gravity generators. Loreanna takes out her slicer card and gets into the terminal. She begins looking up information as she slices her way deeper into the system. She pulls out a date bit from her belt and slides it into the bit reader. Once the information loads, she returns the date bit to her belt and activates her comlink.
Finn: (via comlink) "Acknowledged?"
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: (in Captain Phasma's voice) "Your assessment of the situation was accurate."
Finn: (background) "Whoa that's eerie."
Han: (via comlink) "So they are expecting us. Where's Rey?"
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: (in Captain Phasma's voice) "The item is where it's expected to be."
Han: (via comlink) "They're being cautious. That means we'll have to forego the plan to falsify orders to transfer Rey out and go with the alternative. Do you think they already know we're here?"
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: (in Captain Phasma's voice) "Unlikely. I would not count on that to continue."
Han: "Then we'd better move. Finish what's needed and meet us at the rendezvous point."
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: (in Captain Phasma's voice) "Acknowledged."
She resumes her work on the terminal.
SUN CRUISER BRIDGE
A junior alien officer approaches the Wardens. Warden Exi is standing erect while Warden Exivy is sitting on the floor in a meditation pose.
The junior alien officer has a gargoyle like face and skin texture/color. It's voice is male.
This is a new species from the Unknown Region. They are nocturnal by habit, but can adapt. They live about 150 years and the oldest and greatest of their clans have wings. Anyone younger than 120 doesn't have wings. They are hunters by nature and instinct and they hunt anyway possible—the youngest generation has keenly taken to scanning and other tracking/finding tools. Other than vocals, there is no physical difference between males and females.
Junior Officer: (disappointed since he wishes to find the prey) "Scans indicate that there has been no sign of the Falcon or any other ship."
Warden Exi looks at Warden Exivy. When she says nothing, he waves off the junior officer.
Warden Exi: "Scan again."
HALLWAY OUTSIDE THE TURBOLIFT THAT LEADS TO THE DETENTION AREA
As Loreanna (dressed as Captain Phasma) heads towards the turbolift, she stops and knocks gently on a supply room door. The door slides open and Han and Finn step into the hallway. Han is dressed as a First Order Trooper. Finn's hands are bound behind him. Neither is wearing a bubble bag. Han is also not wearing his iconic blaster. Loreanna takes her place behind the captured deserter. The three enter the turbolift.
INSIDE THE TURBOLIFT
There's silence. Then Finn speaks.
Finn: "So if they're expecting us, isn't this us walking into a trap?"
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel (Phasma's voice) "It's only a trap if we can't escape."
The turbolift comes to a stop and the door opens. There's a short hallway with no closets or doors except for the doors into the detention center at the end of the blank hallway.
SUN CRUISER DETENTION BLOCK FOYER
The door to the detention block foyer slides open. Finn followed by Loreanna (dressed as Captain Phasma) and Han (dressed as a First Order trooper) walk into the room. As they enter, both of the guards stand more at attention even as they hold their blasters in a relaxed ready to fire position as Order dictates.
Guard B: (awe and genuine surprise) "Captain Phasma, we weren't expecting you to escort the prisoner yourself."
As the only trooper to earn the right to wear entirely silver armor, Captain Phasma is well respected and rarely seen doing common tasks.
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: (Phasma's voice extra chilly) "Deserters get particular attention." (normal voice) "You will of course ensure that he is unable to mock our Order a second time."
Both guards slap a fist over their heart to acknowledge the responsibility. Then one comes around with the voice analyzer. He holds it out to Captain Phasma.
Guard C: (very respectful) "Captain Phasma, your code please."
Loreanna steps away from Finn and towards the analyzer.
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: (Captain Phasma's voice) "I am Captain Phasma. Recognition code 74276."
The light on the analyzer flashes green. Loreanna returns to her position behind Finn. Han steps out and speaks into the analyzer.
Han: "I am MN-4261. Recognition code 76561."
The light flashes green. Han also returns to stand behind Finn. Guard B still behind the desk enters his command code into the terminal. The door to the detention block opens. The guard with the analyzer returns the analyzer to the control desk and picks up a data pad.
Guard C: "Cell 16. It's very secure Captain."
He shows the code for the cell to Captain Phasma. Phasma nods once she has it memorized. Then he pushes a button and shows them the code that will allow them to exit the detention block for the next hour. Han gently shoves Finn forward and the three enter the detention block.
SUN CRUISER DETENTION BLOCK
The door to the detention block closes. The three walk towards cell 16. Once they round a corner and are out of sight of the main door, they halt. Han releases Finn's bindings. Loreanna takes a breath to calm herself and then stretches out to the Force.
REY'S CELL
Rey turns her head towards the door. She stands up and presses her ear against the surface.
SUN CRUISER DETENTION BLOCK
Loreanna locates Rey and starts walking. The others follow. Loreanna stops in front of cell 26 and draws a sharp breath.
Han: "Problem?"
Loreanna points to the lock that has a key pad, but no card access.
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel: (Phasma's voice) "I can't slice that lock."
Finn: "I'm sorry. I didn't know the locks were like this."
Loreanna holds up her hand to forestall any further apology.
Rey (muffled by the door) "Finn?"
Finn: "Rey! Don't worry. We'll get you out." (to Loreanna and Han) "Don't you have some tool to cut or blast the door?"
Loreanna turns towards Finn, but whatever she was about to say is left unsaid as Rey speaks.
Rey: (muffled slightly by the door) "The code is 182415."
The three look at each other. Finn is clearly surprised. Loreanna realizing how Rey may have gotten the code steps forward and enters it. The door slides open. Rey steps out. Her body goes tight as she sees the First Order troopers. She pulls back her arm to fight. Finn steps between her and the others.
Finn: (quickly) "It's Captain Solo and the Imperial Hand."
Han and Loreanna remove their helmets. Rey relaxes. A look of great relief and joy.
Rey: (touched and surprised) "You came for me?"
Han smiles.
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel (Phasma's voice-bluntly) "Don't feel relieved until we're off this ship."
Rey jolts in surprise at hearing Loreanna's eerie voice.
Imperial Hand Loreanna Solfel puts the helmet back on her head: (Phasma's voice) "And the next part depends on you."
SUN CRUISER BRIDGE
The same junior officer again approaches the Wardens. Warden Exi shifts his attention towards the young man while Warden Exivy continues meditating.
Junior Officer: (more disappointed) "Scans still indicate that there has been no sign any ship."
Warden Exi: (looking at Warden Exivy) "You miscalculated"
There's a moment of silence.
Warden Exivy: (reaching out to the Force-without turning her head) "On the contrary, they are already here."
