Star Wars: Wanderers

Chapter Seven

ISB research facility
Location unknown
4 ABY

Kastner stared at Colonel Finch in astonishment. "What do you mean, the rebels won?"

"I mean they won, sir." Finch's gaze was unflinching, his voice level, but there was a fearful light in his eyes that gave his superior an overwhelming sense of dread. "Rumors are flying of the second Death Star's destruction, and the word is that the Emperor and Vader are both dead at Luke Skywalker's hand."

"Rumors!" Kastner latched onto the word like a drowning man. "You mean you don't know this for certain!"

"It's certain, all right," insisted Finch, normally one never to contradict his superiors, but this was an important matter. "Operation Cinder has begun. I know for a fact that the Emperor planned to execute it in the unlikely eventuality he met his demise."

"How is it that you manage to know everything before I d-"

The base shook with one, two, three loud booms. Both men simultaneously looked up, even though they could see nothing through the ceiling. The walls vibrated as X-wings could be heard swooping in overhead.

"They're here," said Kastner in numb shock. "The rebels are here!"

"How unfortunate." Finch's voice had suddenly taken on a different timber. It now sounded less calm and more... menacing.

Kastner looked at him sharply and found himself staring down the business end of a blaster. "What do you think you're doing, you lunatic?" he snarled. "I'll have you arrested for-"

"Insubordination, Commander?" The colonel laughed bitterly. "We're not in charge anymore, Andris. The rebels are. It's up to them to decide what's to be done with us, and I for one am not going to remain on the losing side. Now hands up."

"This is ridic-"

"I said hands up!"

"Drop your weapon!" a female voice interrupted their standoff, her tone commanding and regal. They both turned to see a slim, petite blonde of roughly thirty dressed in rebel guerrilla garb, which for some reason had long, wide sleeves that concealed her hands and forearms. Before her floated a bright orange lightsaber, its blade humming with energy.

"If you insist. I'll have you noted for resisting arrest," she stated when Finch failed to obey her command. The blaster flew from his hand of its own accord and slid into a gap on the woman's belt. "Now hands up, both of you."

Kastner and Finch numbly obeyed, wondering what on this godforsaken planet was going to happen to them now.

"This base is now under the control of the New Republic." The woman paused slightly before speaking the last two words, as if to savor them. She smiled, a rare, genuine smile that for once almost reached her eyes. "You have the honor of being in the custody of the Hands of Liberty. While my men secure the base, you will grant me access to your computer so that I may examine your prisoner roster." She waved her right sleeve across their faces (her hand could not be seen, although it must have made some sort of motion) as she spoke the last part of the sentence.

The two men reacted to this gesture quite differently. While Kastner was confused and irritated (and a little afraid, though he refused to admit this to himself), Finch's eyes became unfocused, and he mechanically replied, "I will grant you access to our computer so that you may examine our prisoner roster."

"Finch, what are you doing?" Kastner snapped angrily. "Don't listen to her!"

"Don't listen to the woman who has a lightsaber at your necks? That's a clever one." The woman was amused. Then her face suddenly grew serious, and she spoke sharply. "I know this is one of the ISB bases used to punish traitors and torture rebels. I know that you have one prisoner in particular, who fits both of the above categories, depending on your point of view. I know you have her here. And you will tell me where she is. You will take me to Eliza Solo."

Before either of the men had time to register what she had just said, the communicator on her belt beeped. "Captain Tilden!" Jasper sounded like a man who had been through hell and was just told he'd reached the pearly gates. "I've found her!" Between sobs, he managed to clarify. "I've found my wife!"

"Solo!" Kastner was furious. "The bastard escaped right under our noses and now he's-"

He stopped abruptly as the lightsaber whipped toward him and stopped within an inch of his throat. "You will not say another word, erstwhile Commander," Captain Tilden said quietly. Somehow this was more terrifying that the sharp voice she had previously used. "I know of your role in this tragedy. You do not deserve to call yourself a human being. You deserve death, and would it were my place to give it to you, but the killing of an unarmed prisoner in cold blood is not the Jedi way, nor would the New Republic have it be so. You and your friend the colonel will stand trial along with other Imperial prisoners of war, and your crimes judged by a jury of your peers."

Two pairs of handcuffs flew from her belt and onto Kastner's and Finch's wrists. Tilden's lightsaber floated so it was now behind the two men, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

"Now you will follow me." Captain Tilden turned about and strode from the room, her sleeves billowing. As they did so, Kastner caught a glimpse of two bare, battered stumps where her hands had been. He emitted an audible gasp. The captain turned and regarded him exasperatedly.

"Well, Commander? We haven't got all day."

Kastner gulped, nodded feebly, and stumbled after her, Colonel Finch following in his wake.