-Tag-
Darin called Admiral Cress and myself to the med bay. Sadie was in the bacta-tank, and he was healing her using the Force while she was inside. I didn't even know Jedi could use the Force to heal, but I'd seen him visibly closing cuts on her arms when he first brought her in.
The Admiral had been pleasantly surprised to see that I was the Captain of the 603rd. I like to think it has something to do with my winning personality.
Outside the med bay, I noticed a small pile of Darin's clothes, such as the Jedi robes and such. Inside, he was sitting at his usual place, but he was wearing a black t-shirt, revealing his tattoo, and jeans, and he was clean shaven. He was nigh unrecognizable. As we walked in, I noticed something different about Darin. It had been a few days since Ryloth, but it had changed him. His eyes darted constantly, as if the whole galaxy was going to attack and he was trying to be ready for anything. I also thought I could see a hint of fear in his eyes. He hadn't left the planet without scars.
Calmly, as if he did this every day, he used the Force to light a match and throw it on the pile of clothes. I didn't question it. He's been a bit off recently. Admiral Cress was less than pleased that he was burning things on her nice floors. She did pride herself on having a very clean and orderly ship.
He put a device to his mouth and began to speak. "I am Darin Kravhenn. You guys know that recently, Fral Joren died on Ryloth." His voice boomed over the loudspeakers throughout the ship. He took a moment to calm his shaking voice and to collect his thoughts, then said "On Ryloth, I learned that there was a mole in the Order. Somebody who knew that Sadie was Fral's new padawan, somebody who had access to personal files, somebody who is really high up on the totem pole. As soldiers, we all took an oath to fight until the war was over. We fight to end the war. That is my goal, and I believe it is the goal of everyone else on this ship. Some of you know me, most of you don't. I am not someone who wants to force anybody into doing things against their will. Choice is important, and I've made mine. I am leaving the Order behind. I want to win this war. I want it to end as soon as possible. But that won't be possible if we have somebody way at the top who is leaking information to the Alliance. As long as that happens, our cause is doomed. I have thought about this for a long time, and there is no conceivable way to rid the Order of the mole if they're that high up without being accused of being a traitor and sentenced to death. It's a broken system. I am telling you what I am doing. Now, you must make the decision for yourself. I have had any method the Order can use to track us disabled or destroyed, so we are currently untraced. If you choose to stay with the Order, please arrive on landing pad 14 in two days so that you can be dropped off at Ryloth with a distress beacon and the Order will pick you up. But I am keeping the ship, and I am going to fight on my own terms. Thank you."
He turned off the device and looked at us expectantly.
"I'm in all the way, Sir," I said without a moment's hesitation.
He smiled and said "Thanks Tag. You can call me Darin if you'd like." He then looked at Admiral Cress. "What about you? First thoughts?"
"You're telling me to choose between a broken system I've known all my life and being a fugitive."
"More like a splinter group."
"Where will we get resources?"
"I'll figure something out."
"Why should I trust that you can do that? I know nothing about you."
He nodded. "You're right. Don't trust me. Trust Fral. Trust your gut. Deep down, you've made a decision. You're just afraid to say it."
"How do you know that?"
"The Force. Plus you're young, fresh out of the academy, and probably very eager to make a difference in the galaxy."
She looked at me. "Is he always like this?"
"Eh. Sometimes worse."
"Fine. I'm in. But ONLY because I don't want my brilliant military strategies shared with the Alliance."
He chuckled. "I look forward to seeing them in action."
-0000-
Than woke up, roaring from the immense pain as a hand pressed a damp cloth against his forehead.
"Shh. You need to rest."
He fell back down and let the pain overtake him as the world faded to black.