Dusque, smirking at C-3PO’s version of the tale, chuckled when the R2 unit emitted an off-pitch squawk and the protocol droid stiffened into an offended stance. Her laughter caused her to wince again.
“Threepio,” Finn called out, “where’s your medcenter?”
The bronze droid broke away from what looked like the beginning of an argument with the R2 unit and pointed out where Finn should take Dusque. He then returned to his squabbling with the little droid. Dusque suspected they were great companions and probably carried on like that for hours at a time. The fact that many of the Rebel soldiers moved past them without interest seemed proof enough to her that her reasoning was sound.
Finn escorted Dusque around the complex. She was amazed at how much activity was going on, among not only human soldiers, but other species and droids, too. She couldn’t remember her lab ever being this active over anything. Compared to the Rebel base, her lab was passionless—that was the only word she could think of to describe it. The thought depressed her. As they passed by what seemed to be someone’s office, Finn paused and stuck his head in the door. The office occupant, a young man with hair as black as Finn’s and dressed in a pilot’s suit, waved to them.
“Wedge,” Finn greeted him, smiling hugely.
“Finn!” The man called Wedge started to rise.
“Hold on, buddy,” Finn said, raising one hand, palm out. “Let me get her to the medics and I’ll be back. We need to talk.”
Wedge nodded and sat back down behind his desk, as serious as he had been when they had first passed by. Dusque wondered how the Rebels managed to remain so focused and so dedicated. And then she wondered if most of them had someone like Tendau in their past, driving them on. More than likely, they all did, she mused.
“Here you go,” Finn said, ushering her into a tiny but well-stocked med room. A 2–1B droid stopped adjusting some equipment and glided over to them.
“How can I assist you?” it asked.
“I think I’ve got some cracked ribs,” Dusque told it. “Would you take a look?”
“Of course,” it replied. “Please sit down.” And it indicated a nearby bed.
“You’ll be okay?” Finn asked.
“Go ahead and catch up with your comrade,” she told him easily. “Everything’s fine now.” And with those words, she leaned back on the bed. The relief to be here, where she could be treated at last, was too much for her: her control started to splinter, and all the agony she was in was written on her face. Seeing that, Finn hesitated.
“I’ll only be a few minutes,” he assured her.
With closed eyes, Dusque waved him away. “I’ll be fine.” And he left.
While the droid passed a scanner over her ribs and back, Dusque studied the bustling base from her cot. Through the open doorway, she could see various personnel moving about, as well as C-3POs, binary loadlifters, and other draft droids. In the center of the hub stood a tiny woman. Dusque estimated that the petite, brown-haired whirlwind was a good head or so shorter than she was, but what the woman lacked in stature, she clearly made up for with drive.
As the 2–1B started to treat her broken ribs, Dusque could see that the woman appeared not only to be helping by carrying supplies, but also to be giving orders. It slowly became clear to Dusque that it was the woman who was in command at this base. She marveled at how that could be. Having spent her entire life in service to the Empire, she had never come across a woman who held any sort of rank even close to what she suspected this woman did. And she looked no older than Dusque.
Dusque felt something emotional inside herself shift. Surrounded by these Rebels, from the young sentry at the gate willing to die not out of fear of retribution from his superiors but for a dream, to the petite woman in white who commanded the respect of those around her, Dusque realized that theirs was a dream worth dying for. The words that Tendau had spoken to her in what seemed to be a lifetime ago on Rori crystallized for her.
When the time comes, you will see your path like a beacon before your eyes, he had told her, and she realized he was right. She had found her way.
“Your ribs are bruised, but not broken,” the 2–1B announced, interrupting her reverie. “I’m applying bactabandages to help speed the healing.”
Dusque breathed in a shallow sigh of relief and was surprised to find that it didn’t hurt. Whatever the 2–1B was doing to her ribs, it was certainly getting rid of the pain. As soon as the droid was finished with her treatment, she got up and moved about experimentally.
Finn returned looking grim, but his expression lightened when he saw that she was up and maneuvering around without pain. “How do you feel?” he asked her.
“Good as new,” she informed him. “Actually, better than new.”
He looked at her quizzically. Dusque decided she would share her epiphany with him, so he would truly know she had embraced his cause.
But he cut her off before she could start. “Good to hear. We need to go now and receive the rest of our orders,” he explained, his grim expression back. “We’re almost out of time.”
Realizing how serious he was, Dusque sobered up, as well. “Lead on,” she told him. She turned and thanked the med droid, then followed after Finn.
Together they wound their way around the labyrinth that was the base and made their way to the second floor. There, near what Dusque thought might be a large-style holoprojector, was the woman in white. There were a few others in the room, but most were busy, taking readings or communicating with other troops stationed elsewhere. The only other person in the room was a young man who looked only slightly older than the eager sentry by the gates.
With blond hair streaked by the sun, he was obviously someone who had spent his few years outdoors. He was dressed simply enough in a shirt and trousers, but a strange, cylindrical device swung from the belt at his hip. She didn’t recognize the technology, and that puzzled her, because she prided herself in knowing all the latest equipment. When she looked up, she realized that his sky-blue eyes were staring intensely at her. There was something ancient about those eyes, and she shivered, although she wasn’t cold. She broke away from his gaze when she heard the woman address Finn.
“I’m so glad you’re both here and safe,” the small woman said sincerely. Dusque thought her eyes looked warm and comforting. “When Han reported that you had been shot down, we feared the worst.”
“How is he?” Finn asked, and Dusque heard a hard tone in his question. The woman did, as well.
“Don’t worry, Finn,” she said, laying a comforting hand on his forearm. “Han’s fine. It was a near thing, but he and Chewie escaped the Imperial fighters. I don’t know how he does it,” she added with a chuckle, “but that bucket of bolts he calls a ship got him away again.” She was silent for a moment and Dusque thought she sensed more than just comradelike concern for the dashing pilot.
“I cannot say how glad I am that you are all right,” the woman continued, addressing Dusque.
“Thank you,” she replied and, after a brief hesitation, asked, “Who are you?”
The petite woman and Finn exchanged a short glance between them. “You didn’t tell her?” she asked Finn.
“No point in it until we got here,” he answered, “if we got here at all.”
“Finn and I have known each other for more years than I care to name. I am Leia Organa,” she introduced herself. “I’m sorry, I wish we had more time, but we don’t.”
“I understand,” Dusque replied. She thought that she knew the name from somewhere, but she wasn’t sure. “Can you still use me?” she asked. “Since the Empire executed my friend, I might no longer be in good standing with them. And all this will have been for nothing.”
Leia nodded. “We heard about what happened to Tendau. I’m sorry,” she added, and Dusque was touched by her sympathy. Leia was a military leader, but she clearly had not lost sight of her compassion, or the awareness that it was real people who perished, not numbers on a datapad.
&n
bsp; “We weren’t able to discover why a warrant was issued for him but, fortunately, none has been issued for you,” Leia went on.
“So her cover is still valid?” Finn asked.
“Yes,” Leia replied. She faced Dusque. “Because of your background in xenobiology and your title as an Imperial bioengineer, no one will question why you would explore such a relatively unpopulated planet. You can move about without arousing too much suspicion. That’s why we needed someone in your position, with your impressive abilities. No one less would do. And because of your personal history,” she continued, “I hoped that you would be willing to help us.”
Dusque was suddenly overwhelmed by the reality of the situation. Finn had said much the same thing to her when they had first met, but she had not understood; she had been unable to see past her own insecurities. Now, seeing the large number of people Leia commanded, she understood. If all the Princess had needed was a body or someone of moderate ability, she had ample supply right here in the hidden base. But Leia had asked for her. She was momentarily speechless.
“Judging by what it took for you to get here, I don’t think I’m wrong in my presumption,” Leia added.
The choice was truly before Dusque, and she knew her answer would change everything. It was a chance to make a real difference. And there would be no going back. For the first time in her life, Dusque felt no fear.
“I want to help,” she answered.
Leia studied her appraisingly, then nodded curtly. “Good,” she said without fanfare. “Your superiors don’t know where you are, do they?”
Dusque shook her head. “I didn’t report in because I didn’t want to give them any idea where I was, especially if there was a chance I might be wanted.”
“Safe thinking,” Leia said approvingly.
“And don’t worry,” Dusque added, flushed with pleasure at the compliment, “I haven’t been off their radar long enough for them to be concerned yet.”
Leia nodded. “That’s good. Now,” she said, all business again. “The list we need to recover is on Dantooine.”
Dusque heard Finn let out a deep breath and she wondered why he had been holding it the whole time. Probably afraid I was going to back out, she thought.
“We had a base there for some time,” Leia explained, “until someone betrayed us. Fortunately, we were able to evacuate the entire complex in under a day. In that haste, however, we were forced to abandon and destroy some supplies and information. This list of contacts and sympathizers was encoded into a holocron by several different agents, some of whom are no longer alive. No one person has ever known all the names in order to protect the contacts—this holocron is the only place all these names appear together. Several Rebels were able to hide the holocron within the ruins of an ancient Jedi temple for safekeeping just days before Alderaan was destroyed.” She paused, and a shadow crossed her face. “These are dark times for us.”
Dusque suddenly remembered where she had heard of Leia before. She was a former Senator—and Princess, if memory served—from Alderaan. Dusque looked at her thoughtfully. Here was a woman who had lost everything, faced overwhelming tragedy, and found the strength to continue and to persevere.
“We need to retrieve that list before the Empire does,” Leia continued after a moment’s silence. “We know now that the Empire is aware of the list and has sent agents after it. Time is of the essence.
“I want you two to find the holocron and bring it back to me here. If you aren’t able to return with it safely, then destroy it. Don’t even risk transmitting the information back to us. Better those named remain anonymous and alive than fall into the hands of the Empire.”
Dusque looked at Finn and then back at Leia. “We can do it,” she promised the petite powerhouse. “We won’t fail you.”
“There’s an exploration shuttle waiting for you at the other end of the base. There’s no more time,” Leia finished. “You need to leave now.”
As Dusque and Finn left the chamber, Leia quietly breathed, “May the Force be with you.”
When the two had left, Leia sighed deeply. She hoped that they would be successful. The holocron was a vital piece in the effort to overthrow the Emperor and restore freedom to the galaxy. If nothing else, the people represented on that list deserved their safety and their lives. But she also realized that she might have just sent another two people to their doom.
She turned and saw Luke. “Why were you so quiet?” she asked. He appeared deep in thought, and she moved closer to him and lay a delicate hand over his. “What is it? Do you sense something?” She found herself trembling slightly with concern. His burgeoning powers both frightened and intrigued her.
Luke had a faraway look in his eyes. When he finally spoke, it was as if from a great distance. “I don’t know exactly,” he said, “but I have a bad feeling about this.” And then he grew silent.
Leia wondered just what her newest recruit and one of her oldest allies were flying into.
TEN
The shuttle was waiting for them at the far end of the base. Finn had been strangely quiet on the way there, and Dusque wondered what he was so worried about.
“What is it?” she asked as they boarded the tiny ship.
Finn scrutinized her silently. The quiet was maddening. Dusque couldn’t understand his behavior.
“Please,” she entreated him, “tell me what you’re thinking.”
Whether it was the tone of her voice or the look in her eyes, it had the desired effect on Finn. He relented a little.
“I was just thinking about what you said back there, to Princess Leia … You meant it, didn’t you? About the Alliance, that is. This isn’t just for the Hammerhead anymore. You believe in this cause?”
While she winced inwardly again at his casual reference to Tendau, she excused his choice of words, realizing that with all the death he must see, he would have to desensitize himself to a certain extent to deal with it all. She decided he needed to hear her words again, as reassurance that she was with him all the way.
“When you first brought me into this, I wanted only revenge for Tendau,” she said. “You’re right. But after what I’ve seen and done, I realize that the Alliance is the right path. And I believe it here,” she finished, placing a hand over her heart. “Please trust me.”
Finn seemed to be struggling with something internally.
“Don’t you believe me?” she asked.
He swallowed hard. “I do now. I thought you just wanted to see blood spilled for your colleague, and I’ll admit I was willing to leverage your anger to get your help. But I did doubt that you believed in any of this, and I figured our mission was a one-time deal for you. Now, though …” He trailed away.
Without saying another word, he turned and busied himself with checking their supplies. Dusque smiled to herself, sure she understood his turmoil. Now she was the one who knew what to do and had a purpose equal to his. She guessed he was frightened by the implications. So she went to inventory some of the other equipment on board, and left him in peace.
The Rebel forces had supplied the small vessel well. There were fresh clothes, perfect for explorers and surveyors. Along with datapads, rudimentary camp supplies, and electrobinoculars, there was also a well-stocked medkit, along with portable stimpaks and plenty of small containers for samples. There was almost everything that Dusque would have asked for herself if she were on an actual mission to sample genetic material.
Finn had moved away from a workbench area and squatted on the floor, feeling the grooves of the floor panels. When his fingers caught on a release, he opened up the cover to reveal a cache of a different kind. He motioned for Dusque to come over. When she did, she whistled appreciatively.
There was a deadly array of blasters and short-range rifles, along with survival knives and a few other weapons. There was also an electronic lock breaker, comlinks, sensor tags, and even several thermal detonators. She looked at Finn and felt the gravity of what they were walking into.
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“If something happens,” he said, answering her unasked question, “we blow the list and everything else. Nothing left.”
Dusque found she didn’t have the words to answer him, so she nodded silently.
There was a whistle from the comm unit, and they turned in unison. Finn slid into the pilot’s seat and grabbed the headset. Dusque finished up the inventory and prepared herself for the flight.
“Go ahead,” she heard Finn say, but because he was using the headset, she couldn’t hear who was on the other end.
“Yes,” he answered, “we’re set to go now. There’ll be no further communications until we return with the item. Finn out.” And he pulled the headset off roughly.
He was tense, she thought, as she was. But she also wondered if he was a little unsure. Since the crash on the Mon Calamari’s vessel, Dusque had had a nagging doubt about his piloting skills. Maybe, she thought, he was having them now, too. She wondered how she could help.
She stuck her head in the cockpit. “You know, you don’t have to hide what’s being said anymore. I understand the risks, so don’t feel like you need to shield me.”
“We’re in the business of secrets,” he answered, “and so are you, now. ’Fraid you’re going to have to accept that. It’s almost time, so you’d better strap in.” With that, he turned his attention to the myriad switches and flashing lights that made up the control system. Dusque ducked back out and went to get settled in her seat.
“All set?” he called out after a minute.
“Just strapping in now,” she replied. She pulled the sturdy restraints over her shoulders and across her torso, locking them in tight.
“As soon as we’re out of the gravity well, feel free to come up,” he told her.
The shuttle shuddered a little as it rocketed through the atmosphere, and Dusque thought briefly that she was coming to hate space travel almost as much as C-3PO seemed to, judging from one of his many tales of anguish she hadn’t managed to tune out completely.
The Ruins of Dantooine Page 14
