Trooper

Discovery

Alderaan: 0 BBY
Death Star
Jess

Jess stood in one of the Death Star's main hangars. A Corellian freighter was being dragged on board by a tractor beam. The ship had appeared only moments before and had been chasing a TIE fighter. Jess glanced at Sorin to his side.

He was facing straight forward. Jess couldn't see his expression through his helmet, but he knew that grief would be there. The freighter touched down and the life support system hissed with steam as it refreshed. "Search the ship. Find the crew and bring them to me," an officer commanded. Their squad obeyed instantly.

All was quiet within the ship. Sorin and Jess turned down one of the hallways, letting the other two take a different one. "I don't see anyone," Sorin said. He moved on ahead. Jess paused and looked around.

His gaze landed on a floor panel that was slightly ajar. His eyes widened and he knelt down, silently sliding it back into place. Light reflected off someone else's eyes beneath the panel. Jess stood abruptly and ran towards Sorin.

"This side is clear!" One of the other troopers shouted.

"Come on. There's no one here." Jess led the way back to the others. A scanning crew had already arrived and were preparing to board the vessel as they disembarked. He grabbed Sorin's arm suddenly and pulled him over behind a TIE fighter.

"What're you doing?" Sorin gasped.

"I want to see who comes off that ship," Jess replied. "Keep quiet if you see anyone."

"But there was no one there. Why would you..." Sorin trailed off. "You're not really a stormtrooper, are you?"

"Later," Jess said. Sorin stared at him, but nodded. They crouched down and watched the ship.

The scanning crew returned shortly, or one of them, anyway. He banged the side of his helmet, signaling a bad transmitter. Jess narrowed his eyes as the second stormtrooper slunk off the ship. A Wookiee and two droids followed him.

"They weren't there before," Sorin whispered.

"Wait." The group disappeared into a control room. Jess kept watching the ship. After a few minutes, an old man appeared, wearing tan robes. He ducked out of sight within seconds.

"Who are they? We've got to follow them!" Sorin exclaimed.

"No, we can't. Come on." Jess stood and headed towards the nearest barracks. He poked his head in to make sure it was deserted before they entered. Jess pulled his helmet off at last. He'd worn it the entire time he'd been on the Death Star. It was a relief to take it off.

Sorin's eyes widened as he removed his own helmet. "You're a clone!" He stared at him closer. "No, you're General Jess, from the Rebellion?"

"Yes to both," Jess replied. "I need you to trust me."

Sorin groaned and scrubbed at his face. "Oh, no, this is bad. You're going to get me into so much trouble. I know it."

"I promise I won't. Sorin," Jess placed a hand on his shoulder. "Can I trust you not to turn me in?"

Sorin stared at him for a minute and sighed. "I'm going to regret this, but yes. What are you doing here?"

"I can't tell you my mission. If someone does find out that you knew I'm here, you'll be safer if you don't know anything."

"All right, but now what?"

"We have to find out who those people were and what they're doing here. Help them if we can," Jess replied.