Star Wars: Wanderers

Chapter Four

ISB research base
Location unknown
10 days after the Battle of Yavin

They were back. Again. Couldn't they just let her sleep?

It was always the same. They would come in and ask her questions. When she refused to answer, they caused her pain. Then there was a brief respite, and they would be back, with a different kind of pain, but the same questions. It was always the same questions.

She didn't even listen to them anymore. She shut them out, tried to ignore the pain, to think of the one fact that sustained her through it all.

They could not find it, because it was not the answer to any of their questions. But it burned away within her, like a candle in the night. My son is alive. He is safe, out of enemy hands. They cannot harm him.

The sound of the door closing reached her ears. She cringed instinctively, already expecting the pain. But there was no pain this time. Only silence.

Slowly she sat up and turned around, if for no other reason than to look her tormentor in the eyes. She'd been broken almost beyond repair, but she still had that seed of defiance within her, nourished and sustained by the knowledge of her son's freedom.

Kastner smiled. "Good day, Deputy Commandant."

She said nothing in return. At first, she'd always lash out with a scathing retort, but she'd learned that pain would come whether she spoke or not.

Kastner continued, "I have a wonderful surprise for you. Someone whom you care about very much is coming here soon. When he comes, we will hurt him- unless..." He holds up a finger. "Unless you tell us where your son and the other rebels are." This was slightly disingenuous of him, for the Battle of Yavin had revealed the present location of the rebel base, although he had no doubt the rebels were already fleeing. But new rumors had reached his ears, of Princess Leia Organa and her escape from the Death Star. One of her saviors bore the name Solo. He had never had any concrete proof that Solo's husband or son had any knowledge of her rebel activities. But now things were coming to a head. All would be revealed...

"Sir!" A private burst through the door, ignoring Eliza's frightened gasp and Kastner's annoyed look. "But Jasper Solo has escaped! The rebels attacked Sullust and they lost him in the-"

Kastner slapped the private across the face with all his strength. "Shut up!" he snarled. "You couldn't have requested to speak to me in private?"

"I- i'm s-sorry, sir I-" the private backed into the hallway, growing more terrified by the minute. Kastner herded him out, slamming the door behind him. The door was soundproof, so the private's screams did not reach Eliza's ears.

She wouldn't have listened anyway. The thought was coursing through her now, giving her new life and new hope.

He's alive! My husband is alive and he's coming for me!

There was one thing that confused her, though. Kastner had said 'your son and the other rebels,' implying that Han had actually joined the rebels. But that didn't make any sense. If he'd gone to the Academy, she had planned to slowly bring him into their inner circle, train him as a spy for the Rebellion. But that hasn't happened, and Han was flying free through the galaxy. So how had he become a rebel?

She lay awake for a long time, thinking of the men she loved, before slowly drifting into an uneasy sleep, the only sleep she ever knew anymore.