The New Adventures of Nomi Darklighter

Chapter 90 - Sabotage

Despite a few setbacks, the construction of the hidden base progressed slowly but surely. Occasionally there were power blackouts, the cause of which nobody could find out.

Salla Zend cursed as the light in her small quarters went out. It was the fourth time this week. She lit her flashlight and walked out of her quarters. There she met Nomi, who was also standing outside her quarters, using her lightsaber as a flashlight. The whole sector was dark, except for the dimly lit place where Salla and Nomi were standing.
"I'm beginning to think there's a saboteur in our cell, commander," the former smuggler said grimly.
The Jedi Master shook her head. She was still not used to being called a commander, even by friends.
"That can't be, Salla. All the members of the cell are handpicked. I don't want to believe there's a traitor in our ranks."
"Handpicked? How many of those on base do you really know? Some of those invited have sent their offspring or other relatives. Can you really trust them?"
Nomi looked at the dark-skinned woman with the unruly hair.
"I have to trust them. We need all the support we can get."
"Support yes, but not at any cost, commander," said Salla. "We need to look for the source of these constant energy drains."
Nomi nodded thoughtfully.
"You're right, Salla. It's just luck so far that it wasn't the magcon field or the atmosphere generator."
"Have you ever been deeper in the cave than the perimeter of our base?" Asked the woman Nomi. "If you're sure we don't have a traitor in our ranks, the source of the problems could be deep in the cave."
The Jedi frowned.
"Then we should go and see if we can find the cause. Do you have your blaster with you?"
Salla nodded her head and pointed to the holstered weapon dangling from her belt.
"Of course, commander," she replied, accompanied by a broad smile that showed off her white teeth.
"Then let's go."

Together, they made their way to the perimeter of the base.
Salla Zend brought up the rear, while Nomi led the way, illuminating the dark tunnels with her lightsaber. On the way, they met members of the Resistance who were repairing the damage. One of them showed the two women the damaged cables and turned to Nomi.
"You see, commander, something has gnawed at the cables."
The Jedi Master examined the cables carefully in the dim light.
"You're right, the cables aren't cut. It looks like an animal has chewed on them."
She made room so that Salla could take a look too.
"You're right. There are bite marks..." said the dark-skinned woman. "Commander, we don't have a traitor, but we definitely have a big problem."
Nomi nodded her head.
"Then let's find out who has developed an appetite for our cables."

The two women left the repair team and continued on their way deeper into the cave. Nothing was visible in the dim light of the flashlight and lightsaber.
"What do you think we'll find, Salla?" asked Nomi as she cautiously moved forward.
"Something that likes to chew cables," the woman giggled as she walked by her side. "We'll see when we get there."
They continued on their way in silence. Nomi reached out with the Force and sensed that some life forms were ahead of them. She also sensed that they were hungry. It wasn't comforting at all to know this. What if these life forms weren't just relying on power cables?
"We should be careful, Salla," the commander said quietly, moving forward slowly.
Salla took the flashlight in her other hand and drew her blaster, setting it to stun.
"Okay, let's see who the saboteur of our efforts is," she said with a wide grin, baring her teeth in the eerie light caused by Nomi's lightsaber.
As they walked on, they were greeted by a disgusting stench. Both women wrinkled their noses.
"I bet we just found their toilet, commander."
Nomi nodded her head and raised her lightsaber to light up the ceiling of the cave, sensing the life forms there. She cursed as she saw the creatures clinging to the walls and ceiling.
"Sithspawn! There we have our saboteurs - mynocks."
Salla made a face as she looked at the winged creatures that inhabited this part of the cave.
"Mynocks ... our problem is bigger than I thought. If we don't get rid of them, they'll chew on all our cables. That would mean the end of our base here. So, what are you going to do about these vermin?"
She looked at the commander expectantly.
"I have no idea." My scouts haven't told me that the asteroid isn't uninhabited. We're the invaders, not them, because they were living here before we came."
"That's all well and good, but they're endangering our base, commander," Salla countered, while the mynocks began to flap their wings because they felt disturbed by the light.
Nomi sighed.
"We have to kill them. They followed their instincts after discovering our cables as a welcome opportunity. But we can't let them jeopardize our operation, Salla."
The former smuggler frowned.
"Are you kidding me, Nomi?" She asked, dropping all formality and addressing her friend as she had done all those years before.
Nomi gave her a serious look.
"No, this is no joke, my friend, we have no other choice."
She looked to the mynocks, drew her blaster and set it to kill.

Nomi had always valued life in any form, but now she had to take life to protect the people under her command. In her mind, she begged the mynocks for forgiveness, then began firing with cold precision. Salla shrugged, set her blaster to kill as well and fired. It didn't take long for them to take out the whole bunch of mynocks. The Jedi sighed, holstered her blaster and looked at the carnage.
"That's it. The base is safe now, I hope."
Salla nodded her head.
"Let's go back, Nomi, and I suggest you send someone to clean up the cadavers."
"Yes, that might be best. I'll take care of it," Nomi said with a sad undertone as she turned her back to the pile of dead mynocks.

Followed by Salla Zend, she walked back to the Resistance base. The Jedi Master was pretty sure it would take her a while to come to terms with what she was being forced to do. But it was for the greater good.