Anakin's Fortress - Book II (temporary cover)

Thirty-one - Ignoble

Success belongs to those who plan for it today.
Year 12

—————

Kat

"Where are we?" I ask Azadi. The rocky terrain has turned to plains but remains just as...empty. Desolate. Something is on the horizon, but it certainly isn't Capital City.

"This is a secret refugee camp for people displaced by the Empire."

My heart sinks.

"Why were they displaced?" He glances over at my quiet tone.

"Many reasons," he sighs. "When the Empire first came, they used our homes when there were no more rooms to rent."

"Why wouldn't they just stay on their ships?"

"They were establishing a base here."

"Yeah, but..." He looks at me, and I trail off.

He gives me a sad smile and nods. "Then, they made new rules. Broken rules meant imprisonment and often death. Any cry for fair or just treatment was met with brutality. People fled, some for their safety and some out of disgust. I did what I could to keep the Empire happy in hopes my people would not be punished further, but they were, little by little."

I sink against my chair, the same feeling I had when looking at the defender.

The machine is too big. Too powerful. Palpatine has created a behemoth.

We're silent as we approach the camp. There are run-down tents that are fading and degrading. Junk lines one edge, and I realize it's not just junk, it's a makeshift wall or fence. An old man stares right at us but does not smile, wave, or do anything but stare with his dark eyes. Two kids run across our path, but they're not laughing or playing like they were in Capital City.

Azadi keeps driving through to the other side, where the tents are more frequent but the people are scarce. Only moments after he stops the vehicle, a scream rings out. I jump in my seat and grip my blaster, but quickly realize that is a cry of pure agony.

"These are the sick tents."

I close my eyes and bow my head. He lets me, remaining quiet while I swallow my emotions of shame and despair.

"I'm sorry," I whisper.

"You didn't cause it."

"Why are you showing me this?" I ask, finally meeting his eyes.

"That crate you hid behind? It's full of medical supplies." I nod and reach for the handle.

"Let's get them what they need, then."

It takes us an hour. We start at one tent, dropping off clean supplies and medicine. Inside are three patients and only one of them is awake. All of them look jaundiced and close to death. Questions run through my head, but I keep them to myself.

In the third tent, I try to help a woman by getting her water. I drop it at her feet when something crawls out of the liquid. When I get her another, I watch the water pour and realize that wasn't a one-time event. The water is filthy, coming out brown and then almost clear, then brown again.

Once all the supplies have been given out, Azadi goes to talk to a healer and I sink to the sandy path next to his transport.

We visited nine tents. None of them were anything less than abhorrent.

"You alright?" I look up to see Azadi and realize I'm shaking.

"No." He nods slowly and, after a moment of thinking, slides to the ground beside me.