The Renegade: Episode IV: Vindication

Chapter 31: Remembrance

Lenore was handcuffed in the back of a transport vehicle. She knew Lee most likely did his best but either ran out of time or couldn't face her. She was oddly calm knowing she was going to a labor camp. She had made peace with the outcome once before when she decided to help Lee and his crew of rebels. At least she wasn't a slave facing unknown creatures across the galaxy everyday again. She knew she'd be able to handle the hard labor. Suddenly the vehicle stopped.

"This one," a man in an unmarked uniform said as he opened the back of the vehicle. Three guards who were clearly not part of the New Republic entered and hauled Lenore to her feet. "You'll soon see what real justice is, Imp."

"I doubt that," Lenore said as they yanked her out of the vehicle and made her walk toward another. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"You should," the guard said and was then hit by blaster fire. He fell to the floor. Lenore dropped quickly to the ground. The guards returned the fire.

As she laid low she thought to herself, Guess my luck hasn't ran out yet.

The guards fell one by one alongside their companion. Lenore had her hands over her head and was reluctant to look up at who was approaching her.

"Time to go commander," It was Harillo in his newly painted uniform. She looked up and saw him reach out his hand to help her up. There standing in front of her was her whole unit in uniform. They had repainted their armor to match hers. R3 rolled in quickly and zapped the restrains on her wrist.

"Nice to see you all again," Lenore said, getting up and patting R3 on the head.

"Hate to break up the reunion but we need to get moving," Rol said. Lenore nodded and followed Unit 56 and R3 to the Spitfire.

Lenore jumped into the pilot seat and Harillo sat in the co-pilot seat. It was as though no time had passed between them.

"You know how to fly this thing?" Harillo joked.

"Sure," Lenore said, firing up the engines and heading out toward space. "Forwards, backwards, left, right, up, down."

"Backwards? Is that even possible?" Civa asked.

"She's being sarcastic, dimwit," Besa said.

"I see you two haven't changed," Lenore smiled.

There was so much she wanted to ask and catch up on but that was all cut shot when the Spitfire was hit. R3 tooted and began to beep at Lenore.

"I see them!" Lenore said and turned swiftly as three New Republic ships tailed her.

"Thought you said you knew how to fly this thing?" Harillo commented.

"I don't need your commentary right now Rillo." Lenore snapped.

"Everything's come full circle. Once we were chasing the rebels now they're chasing us." Civa added.

"Why is it you get philosophical whenever we're in a spot?" Besa scolded.

"Enough!" Lenore yelled and rolled the ship to avoid getting hit again. "Besa take the top guns, Civa take the lower. Rillo fire up the shields. Rol get back to the control room with R3 and see what you can do with that hyperdrive. Can't have it short circuit on us when we make the jump to lightspeed."

"Look at you Commander," Harillo teased. Lenore shot him a side glance full of annoyance.

"One more comment from you I'll let R3 fly." Lenore was joking, but she was not used to all the snarky remarks from her unit anymore. She had grown accustomed to the quiet and she wasn't sure how sharp everyone's skills were on a ship. They were, after all, trained for ground force. "Hey hey hey! Don't use live fire. You want to add murder to the list of things to be arrested for if we get caught."