I seven I

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Luthen had several emotions running through his face at once. He found it hard to decide whether to be upset at her naivety or at his own stupidity for not having told her about it much earlier. Of course, he knew why he hadn't. Because she didn't need to know. No one needed to know everything.

However, this was contradicted by the imperial ship that now hid the view.

'Incoming call' Kleya looked at the small green light flashing on the dashboard. She waited for Luthen to answer. After a moment, he nodded and pulled his hood over his face. She did the same and pressed the button. The well-known holographic figure appeared in the air immediately. His eyes were piercing, his jaw razor sharp. His hands were clasped behind his back. It was obvious he was having a good time, looking the horror in Mon's eyes.

'It's over, Senator' Tarkin said in a cool, hoarse voice. 'If you're through letting your comrades die one by one through your fault, please come aboard my ship. We have a lot to talk about'

Mon looked back at him, devastated.

'Otherwise, it would happen the same way, but by force. Protect your companions, be brave this time'

Luthen ended the call, pressing the button again, but the words continued to pound in her head. She opened her mouth.

'Don't even think about it' Luthen looked at her so hard that the words stuck in Mon's throat.

Cassian and Kleya both jumped to the dashboard. They tried to find an escape route, if there was one. The Senator watched them helplessly. She was not a soldier, not even a pilot.

'Just hear me out...'

'No' Luthen shouted at her, and they all winced. 'You still don't understand? Do you need another interrogation with the ISB to get it through your head?! The empire lets no one go! They're killing everyone! Whether you sacrifice yourself or not!

'No more blood can be spilled! Tarkin wants only me. If I could talk to him...'

'Forget those speeches' he caught her by the shoulder. 'The speeches, the deals, the negotiations! It's over! Longer than you'd think!'

Mon stood frozen. Luthen let her go and he also studied the routes. Cassian looked back at the senator and after a meaningfull glance, she slumped into one of the chairs.

'We are at war' Kleya stepped up to her and wiped the blood from Mon's face with her finger. 'Accept it'

'We are splitting up'

Luthen's voice got everyone's full attention.

'Kleya, you're with me, Cassian, you're taking the Senator to Chrellis with the spare boat. I'll meet you there in one rotation' he announced as he stomped on the tracker. 'Two boats are harder to follow than one. Let's hope they conclude that the senator is leaving on the main ship and they'll come after it. Until then, you get out of here! Get going before the fighters would arrive. If they release the tractor beam, only the main ship can get away'

Without hesitation, Cassian pulled Mon Mothma back onto the smaller ship and began to input the coordinates of the destination immediately. They dismounted from the main ship and watched as Luthen took up position on the opposite side.

A group of TIE fighters headed towards them.

'Power to the shields' Cassian shouted. Mon gasped and looked at the dashboard. It had over a thousand buttons, and the last time she had piloted anything had been ten years ago. And even then, she was only flying around the towers of Chandrila.

'That one, yes, with two below' he said, and she pressed the right panels. The first hits came and the machine shook with each one. Cassian manoeuvred them away, dodging the TIEs.

A stripe appeared on the display, then another, and another. The hyperspace jump data was loading, but not fast enough. Cassie didn't like that very much. Meanwhile, they watched as Luthen's ship suddenly burst into light speed.

Their ship took a huge hit from behind. They both hit the dashboard. Cassian cursed before looking at what had happened.

'Well, that's a problem'

'What?' hissed Mon between her teeth, after the panels squeezed the air from her lungs.

'The shield had been shot out back on Coruscant. Are you good with weapons? he looked at her. 'Or rather steer us?'

Mon couldn't have been more scared. None of them - she thought, but jumped into the pilot's seat without hesitation. Cassian ran to the guns. Mon dared not breathe. She gritted her teeth and steered for the Star Destroyer, eyes closed if that would have been possible. They flew so close, they almost grazed its surface. She pulled the ship up only when they were almost crashed into the other. For a moment, Cassian thought this would be the last picture he would see in this life.

Fortunately, a TIE fighter was not so lucky and exploded behind them. The lasers missed them here aswell, which also opened fire in the meantime.

'How do you know such tricks?' the man asked shocked.

'That's all I knew' she informed him. She gripped the handlebars frozen, trying not to think about the last time she had driven. Four more fighters followed. Three - she pointed out after Cassian shot one out. But then five more came.

Cassian was firing at them from the rear non-stop, but was getting tired of the situation. It's no use shooting these planes down, more will come. Whole swarms of them were heading their way. They won't last long this way.

'How's the charge?'

'Two more strips' Mon shouted, then she flew out of the chair after a huge hit. Smoke was lingering in the air. With great difficulty she pulled herself up into the chair. She couldn't see what had hit them, but she guessed the laser cannon of the lead ship.

'Cassian... I think...' she coughed when noticed, the dashboard was dead. The hyperdrive panel went dark and the engine doesn't hum underneath. 'It's all burnt out! Cassian!'

The man did not reply. The explosion left him unconscious in the cab.

'Cassian' Mon panicked. The ship then moved and headed straight for the star destroyer's hangar. The tractor beam slowly pulled them in.

'Damn it' she shouted in despair. She pressed every button, pounded on the panels with her fists, but all she could manage was to set one of the cables aflame. Finally, she collapsed along the wall. Her hands fell into her lap. There was nothing more she could do.

.

Tarkin could barely control the muscles on his face when the stormtroopers finally led her in. What a satisfying moment it was. What a defeated little bird she was. The once smug and confident senator. That pretty little creature. Now she was pale, covered with blood, her clothes were dirty and if Tarkin waved at the guards to let her go, she would probably fall at his feet. 'That's not a bad idea' he considered amused.

No one can shame him. Not in private, but certainly not in the Senate. How could this woman think she could walk away after that? Senators were killed for a lot less during the Clone Wars, even on the orders of Tarkin himself. Now, of course, even his order was not needed. Palpatine made it clear that if Mon Mothma's head did not leave her neck, everyone else's would. He has been waiting for this for so long – he sighed.

Tarkin was both fascinated by the naivety of these peace activists and infinitely irritated by it. And that rat who was with her in the ship... The ISB was extremely excited about him, so he'll hand him back there. He's a small player for him. What he wants to know is in Mon Mothma's head. And she'll tell him. Because Tarkin's have his methods. No one's ever said no to him.

'How lovely to see you again' he looked at the woman as she was finally stopped in front of him. She was held so tightly on either side by a stormtrooper that she could not move at all.

'She had this' one of the soldiers held out a ray gun. Tarkin took it and was satisfied that the tube was cold. Of course.

'You are not stupid. I could say, you're much smarter than many of your colleagues. Yet, the illusion of peace deprives you of knowing the rules of war. I'll tell you one of them' he said, stepping closer. 'Pick up a gun only when you're ready to use it' he smiled, then handed it back to the soldier.

Mon Mothma looked at him coldly. She cursed the moment a thousand times in her head, when she had taken Cassian's pistol and yet she could not pull the trigger when the soldiers had rushed at her. What would they have gained by shooting one of the six?

'You've attacked a ship, what had been not under surveillance' she said instead. 'Tell me, how much further are you sinking in crimes?'

'And why does the innocent flee?' he asked amused. 'I have no intention of welcoming a new guest on my ship at this late hour, you misunderstand me. All I want is information, Senator. Information I already suspect myself'

'In that case I wouldn't bother with them'

Tarkin's face tightened. He waved and the two soldiers stepped to the side. Mon Mothma fell at his feet, hissing in pain. For a short time he just watched.

'Cheeky and cynical. As always'

Mon looked up with a blank expression. The last of her strength had been consumed by flight and fear, but now that it was over, she was deadly exhausted. She couldn't think, she couldn't even be frightened anymore.

This made Tarkin incredibly annoyed.

'All right' he nodded, and they picked her up off the ground again. 'Cage number 34. She wanted this to happen' then he turned on his heel and walked to the window, not looking back.

The guards led her with long steps through the corridors, her feet barely touched the ground. They pushed her into the lift, which started to move immediately. They must have sinked at least three floors - she counted on the panel. When they stepped out, the picture changed slightly. That corridor was narrow and dark. Doorways lined the right side.

Suddenly, she was pushed into a small room. Instead of a door, a red laser wall blocked the exit. She saw the soldiers press another button and the green light next to the exit turned red. Then she was left alone.

She looked around. It was dark, nothing has changed. The whole room looked like a dark grey cube, with a bed-like flat thing on the left opposite and a small cabin on the right. She looked inside.

'Fine' she thought. At least she can have a shower. She walked over to the bed and sat down. Every part of her ached. Her head, her mouth, her arms, chest, stomach, even her legs, but she could not remember, why. The only reason she didn't throw up at this moment was because there has been nothing in her belly. She hadn't eaten in a day. And where's Cassian? - she thought, as leaned over the mattress unconsciously.

After all, it has been the longest day of her life.

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Guys, how did you like the first day of ETERNITY? ;*