Broken Codes

A Wrong Turn

Three technicians sat behind a large console. Les whipped out her blaster and stunned one. She grabbed onto the others through the Force and slammed their heads together. They crumpled atop the console. Les pushed them aside and set to work.

"I hope this worked," she sighed. She turned on her comm once more. "Manon, can you hear me?"

"Les, what's going on?"

"It was a trap. I'm trying to get out of here but there are stormtroopers everywhere. The whole prison is going into lockdown."

"Can you reach the ledge?"

"I don't know. I was headed that way but I got cut off." Les stiffened, hearing footsteps just outside the door. "Hang on." She turned the comm off and quickly rolled beneath the console.

The door hissed open and a few stormtroopers entered the room. An officer followed them in. "I thought I heard someone," one of the troopers said.

"Sir, the technicians."

The officer knelt over one of the fallen men. "She was here. Check the surrounding corridors. She can't have gotten far." Several troopers left the room. Only one remained with the officer. Les hunkered further beneath the console. "Has anyone located her companion?"

"No, Sir. No ships have appeared on our scanners and no one has reported seeing anyone besides the Jedi."

"Jedi? How do you know she's a Jedi? She could just be a rebel."

"A few of our troopers reported strange encounters with her. A few of them were almost strangled and not by physical means."

"Lord Vader has been informed?"

"Yes, Sir. The Director contacted him as soon as we knew she was here."

"Good. Come on." The officer disappeared from sight. "Let's find this Jedi scum." Les heard the door hiss shut.

She waited a few minutes before turning her comm on again. "Are you all right?" Manon asked.

"For now." Les thought for a moment. "Are there any hatches on the roof of the Spire? Maybe I could get out through them."

"Hang on." Manon was silent for a while.

The minutes seemed to drag on. Les flinched at every sound from the hallway beyond the room. The technicians were beginning to stir. Les stretched a hand towards them. With half a thought, she gripped their minds. Sleep, she commanded. They fell still once more.

"There are three hatches on the highest point," Manon's voice crackled over the comm.

"I'll come through one of them. Pick me up there." Les left her comm on and hooked it onto her belt. She poked her head out of the room and entered the hall when she saw no one there.

Les took off running towards the nearest lift. She sealed the door behind her and selected the highest level of the prison. "Warning. This is a restricted level," a robotic voice said. "Please insert your code cylinder for security clearance." A small hold opened in the control panel.

Les gritted her teeth and pried the panel off. She grabbed a few wires. The lift started moving and she replaced the panel with a sigh of relief. She grimaced as her head began to ache, suddenly. Les braced a hand against the wall. The lift shuddered to a halt.

Les jerked her head up, her eyes growing wide. "Manon, change of plans."

"What's happening?" Manon asked, her voice laced with concern.

"I think they know where I am." The lift door opened with a flurry of sparks. Les shielded herself from them. Several stormtroopers waited in the hallway before her. She raised her hands and swallowed. One trooper lifted his blaster. A stun blast hit her and she knew no more.

Corellia: 18 BBY
"Mythos"
Nakoa Sen

Nakoa sat on his bunk with Lesia's lightsaber in hand. He flipped it over, admiring the beauty in the design she'd chosen. He activated it and an icy blue light illuminated his room.

He stood cautiously. The weapon felt surprisingly heavy. It seemed to pull against his grip. He turned it off and it was light once more. Nakoa stiffened as a dull pain spread through his body.

He set the lightsaber down and leaned against a wall. Why does this keep happening? Nakoa wondered. This is so odd. Am I sick? He didn't feel sick. Besides, these pains kept coming at random.

Someone knocked on his door. Nakoa straightened and grabbed his helmet. The door opened a minute later, revealing Oni. She crossed her arms with a sigh. "Look, I'm sorry about what I said earlier."

Nakoa bit his lip and nodded. "I'm sorry too."

"No you're not." Oni stepped further into the room. "The truth is, you're right. I have been selfish. I let my own feelings blind me to yours. I know you've never felt that way for me. I just...I hoped it would change."

"Oni," Nakoa began. She held up a hand, silencing him.

"I'm sorry for how things turned out with Les, but I can't say I'm sorry for leaving her. Her presence put us and the Clan in danger. Maybe she did think she was protecting us by not telling us, but still. Suppose she had been discovered by the Empire? They wouldn't have believed us if we said we didn't know. Despite how much pain it's caused you..." Oni shook her head gently. "I'm not sorry for doing what I had to."

"I can't blame you for that," Nakoa replied. "But I can't forgive myself for letting you do it. I've been thinking."

"Oh boy."

"I have to find her, Oni. I just..." Nakoa's gaze flickered to her lightsaber. "I have to. This guilt and anger is killing me."

"I know." Oni put a hand on his shoulder. "I'll help you."

"You will?"

She nodded. "I have to try to make things up to you somehow. Where do you suppose we start looking?"

"Honestly, I have no idea. I wish there was a way to track her." He perked up. "Wait, that's it."

"What's it?"

Nakoa brushed out of the room with Oni hot on his heels. "Drystan told me that he's good at tracking things. Maybe there's a way he can help us find Les. Ketei might be able to help too."

"Good idea."

Nakoa grinned excitedly. We might actually find her! His face fell a moment later. She probably won't be too happy to see me. Still, I have to talk to her. I have to try to fix things. He closed the boarding ramp behind them and followed Oni back to the covert.