by Jude Watson
Ferus waved a hand in the air. “I love the rhythm of the party line. Just say the lies loud enough and long enough and put a drumbeat behind it, and the next thing you know, everyone is singing the same tune.”
“The truth is that—”
“The truth,” Ferus said quietly, “is that the Republic is now an Empire, and power is consolidated in the hands of one man. He will do anything to keep it, anything to make it grow, and you are his lackey.”
“This isn’t a debate. As you say, it’s been fun, Ferus Olin. But if you aren’t going to cooperate—”
“You have ways to make me talk? Let me think. Torture is still against the bylaws of the Senate. Last time I heard.”
“Then you’re wrong. The Senate approved the Emperor’s call for more freedom in how he handles enemies. In times such as these, extreme measures can be called for.”
And so the Senators continued to give the Emperor anything he wanted, Ferus thought. He was changing the galaxy, breaking the covenants the Senate was founded on, and they were voting yes to it. The Sith was clever. Always he acted with the “approval” of a Senate that could not say no.
“I’m sending you to a prison world where no one goes. And if you don’t reveal the name of the Jedi you know are alive, you will be executed for crimes against the Empire. Do you think anyone will care? They’ve already forgotten your name on Bellassa.”
“Well, I never call, I never write...”
“I’m talking to a dead man,” Malorum said. “And it’s time for my lunch.”
With the same indifference he’d shown throughout the interview, Malorum turned and walked out.
As soon as Solace had landed the ship in its parking place tucked under the cavern wall, Trever vaulted forward and slapped his hand on the cockpit canopy release. Even as it opened, he clambered out over her.
“You left him! You just left him!” he shouted. “It’s your fault they caught him!”
“He gave himself up, Trever,” Solace said, jumping off the ship and landing lightly next to him. “There was nothing I could do. He left me no other choice.”
“Jedi don’t leave Jedi!” Trever felt his fury take him over. “But you do, don’t you? Twice that I know about. You don’t know anything about loyalty!”
Solace stood, impassive. He couldn’t tell if she was angry. She didn’t seem angry. He wanted her to be angry, he wanted to fight.
“My choices are not your business,” she said.
“Ferus is my business,” Trever said. “He’s my friend.”
“We’ll find him,” Solace said. “Wherever they take him, we’ll find him.”
Trever heard her words as though from a distance. They didn’t make sense for a moment. “What?”
“I said we’ll find him. I won’t stop until we do. This isn’t over. But first we need supplies and information. I have to—”
Solace suddenly stopped. She appeared to be listening, but there was nothing to hear.
“Solace, what—”
She turned and ran, silently and swiftly, along the catwalks. She made a leap so impossible that Trever knew it was Force-assisted, vaulting over the catwalks to gain time.
He ran after her, his feet pounding up the stairs. He was halfway to the settlement when he heard it. Blaster fire. Screams.
A bloodied Keets appeared above. Suddenly he was hit from behind and tumbled off the catwalk. He landed at Trever’s feet, his body twisted, blood pooling from a wound.
Solace’s assistant, Donal, ran toward the edge of the catwalk.
“We’re under attack!” he screamed.
Solace was right, Trever thought. This isn’t nearly over.
He readied himself for the fight....
