Star Wars: The Last of the Jedi, Volume 5 (8 page)

“Don’t forget I was a spy,” Oryon said. “I can program the shipboard computer to randomly change our registry number every few minutes. They’ll never get a fix on
us. Eventually they’ll figure it out, but we just need a little time.”

“Good,” Solace said. “Now we have to plan our boarding.”

She bent over the files again, quickly scanning the information.

“It could work,” she murmured. She looked over her shoulder at Oryon and Trever. “We have to take the chance.”

“What chance?” Trever asked. When Solace looked at him like that, he began to feel nervous. The look said,
Are you up for this?

“There’s an Imperial judicial team—an attorney, a judge, and a law clerk—scheduled to board at the Penumbra Spaceport,” Solace said. “They’re to conduct
the trial of Roan and Dona. If we went directly to the ship, we could fly right into the cargo hold. We could pose as the team and get aboard.”

“Wouldn’t the real team contact the ship when the ship never showed up for them?” Oryon asked.

“We’d have a couple of hours. We could free Roan and Dona and control the ship,” Solace said. “This idea is so new that Roan and Dona are the only prisoners. It’s
mostly staffed by droids.”

“Yeah, a new model of security droids,” Trever pointed out. “The ones with dual laser cannons.”

“Not so easy,” Oryon said.

“I didn’t say it was easy,” Solace said. “But it’s our only chance.”

Trever stirred nervously as Solace guided the ship to a landing hangar inside the Imperial ship. He had no idea what a law clerk actually did, or how a law clerk would speak or
act. He had no doubt that a law clerk would be smarter than he was. Maybe it would be a good idea to keep his mouth shut.

Oryon spoke to him in a soft voice. “The trick is to believe you are what you say you are.”

“That’s some trick.”

Solace activated the ramp and turned to them. “Just follow my lead,” she said.

They walked down the ramp. An Imperial officer waited for them.

Solace nodded at him shortly. “I am Judge Bellican. This is Attorney Tomay Alcorn and clerk Sam Weller.”

“First Officer Dicken. Follow me.”

The officer led them to the cockpit. The captain sat in the control post. He stood as they came in and Officer Dicken introduced them. “We understood that you’d meet us at the
spaceport,” Captain Tran said.

“Change in plan,” Solace said. “There are compelling reasons to speed up the trial.”

“I’d like to see the prisoners,” Oryon said.

“They’re in lockdown. The trial will begin in five minutes.”

“That does not give me enough time to prepare a case—” Oryon said. The plan had been for them to release Roan and Dona as soon as they could.

He was interrupted by the captain, who gave him a sharp glance. “But these are standing orders for the ship. All prisoners will be tried immediately upon the arrival of the legal team. The
point of this new system is speed and efficiency. I understand you’ve already prepared the case.”

“Of course, but there are always last-minute details.…”

“I was fully briefed by Senator Sauro. I expect you were as well.”

“Yes,” Solace said quickly.

“Then a droid will see you to the courtroom. First Officer Dicken and I will act as witnesses for the official record.”

There was nothing to do but nod. Solace and the others left the cockpit and followed a protocol droid into the hallway.

“What are we going to do?” Trever hissed.

“Exactly what we’re supposed to,” Solace said. “We’re going to try Roan and Dona.”

The courtroom was a small conference room with no chairs for spectators. Why would there be? The trials were designed to be conducted in secret, with the prisoners escorted as
quickly as possible to prison. Stormtroopers and security droids were lined up against one wall, no doubt to keep any possible agitation from turning into violence.

Solace sat in the judge’s chair, on a slightly raised platform at one end of the room. She quickly familiarized herself with the controls. “I have the capability to activate the
droids,” she whispered to the others. “That should come in handy.”

Two tables faced the judge, and Trever and Oryon took their places at one of them.

Captain Tran and First Officer Dicken hurried in, followed by a law droid, who took its place at the other table.

The captain and the first officer stood at the back. Obviously they didn’t think this would take long.

“Let’s hurry this along,” the captain said. “We’ve got to finish this and make it to the Nunce system to pick up a load of prisoners. My job is to fill up the ship,
and the sooner I do it, the sooner I get a better commission.”

Roan and Dona were led into the courtroom by guard droids. Trever looked at them carefully for signs of mistreatment. Dona looked thin and tired, but Roan walked in, his head high. He saw Trever
and gave a small start, not visible to the officers. Then his face was impassive again.

“This trial will come to order,” Solace said, hitting an electronic gavel that emitted a soft
bong
.

Roan and Dona sat at the table with the law droid.

“Roan Lands and Dona Telamark, you have been accused of conspiracy against the government of Bellassa and plotting to assassinate the Imperial advisor to the government of Bellassa. How do
you plead?”

“Guilty,” the droid said.

“Wait a minute,” Roan said. “This hunk of junk doesn’t speak for us. We requested a lawyer.”

“I am a court-appointed attorney, sir,” the law droid said, swiveling its head.

“This is outrageous. Under rules of the Galactic Senate, we have the right to choose our own counsel.”

“I must correct you, sir,” the droid said. “The Emperor has suspended that right in Senate Act three-two-one, point seven, when it comes to traitors of the Galactic
Empire.”

“But I haven’t yet been proven a traitor of the Empire,” Roan pointed out.

“Yes, but we have the right to try you as one.”

“If you are, indeed, my attorney, then I have the right to fire you,” Roan said. “I’ll handle our case.”

The droid’s head swiveled faster, its sensors flashing. “There is no precedent for this. I must do a more extensive search of my memory banks.”

“Don’t bother,” Solace said. “The accused has a point. I recognize his right to fire you.”

The law droid’s sensors blinked frantically. “Objection!”

“On what grounds?”

“On the grounds that it violates the procedural microchip!”

“Overruled. Let us proceed.”

“What’s going on here?” Captain Tran asked.

“I’m sorry, Captain, you are a witness to this proceeding, not a participant,” Solace said. “I accept Roan Lands as attorney. How do you plead?”

“Not guilty.”

“Let’s get this show into the space lane,” the captain muttered. “I have things to do.”

Solace nodded to Roan. “Proceed with the prosecution.”

Roan stood. “Before we begin, I make the motion to dismiss the case, your honor. This case was built on illegal surveillance. Under the rules of the Bellassan Senate, an order from a
security court judge must be obtained. This was never done.”

The droid’s sensors blinked. “Objection! The Emperor has suspended the need to obtain an order to run surveillance on any citizen of any world in the galaxy for any
reason.”

“True,” said Solace. “But the Galactic Senate has not ratified the decision.”

“But it hasn’t been asked to consider it,” the droid protested. “The Emperor doesn’t need permission.”

“Nevertheless, I feel this is a gray area,” Solace countered.

“This is contrary to the information in my pro-cedural memory banks,” the droid said. “Highly irregular…overheating circuits. I must be repaired immediately!” It
quickly bolted from the room.

Captain Tran stamped his foot. “Gray area!” he exclaimed, exasperated. “There are no gray areas in the Galactic Empire! The Emperor has done away with gray areas! That was the
problem with the Republic!”

“May I remind you to keep quiet, Captain?” Solace asked. “Political speeches are out of order in the courtroom.”

Oryon stood. “We recognize the prisoner’s legal point. Upon careful review of the case, your honor, I respectfully submit that the charges against the accused be dropped.”

“This is outrageous!” the captain blustered.

“I am the judge,” Solace said. She hit the gavel gong. “Case dismissed! Furthermore, I charge you, Captain Tran, and your first officer Dicken with obstruction of
justice—and mutiny.”

“Mutiny!”

“Mutiny, sir, for interfering with an Imperial court case.” Solace pressed the security droid button. She pointed to the stormtroopers. “Take them to lockdown.”

The captain reached for his blaster, but Oryon was there in less than a moment. He pressed his own blaster against the captain’s temple. “I’d rethink what you were about to
do.”

“But you have no right!”

“When we walked on board, we gained that right. We represent justice in the Empire,” Solace answered. “Surrender your weapons.”

Captain Tran and First Officer Dicken handed over their blasters to Oryon.

The security droids and stormtroopers began to march them from the courtroom. “You’ll be hearing about this,” the captain said to Solace and the group. “You’re all
going to wind up in an Imperial prison!”

“Looks like that’s where you’re headed!” Trever called.

As soon as they were out of the room, Dona slumped at the table in relief, but Roan laughed. “Thanks for the save.”

“We’re not safe yet,” Solace said, leaping to her feet and taking off her judicial robe. “We’re going to have to take the ship.”

“Let’s go,” Roan said. “Anybody have a blaster?”

Oryon tossed him one of the three blasters.

Dona stood. Color had flooded her face, bringing her strength and vitality back. “Who are you people?”

“Wait, let me guess. Friends of Ferus?” Roan asked.

“Good friends,” Oryon said. “I am Oryon, and this is Solace. You already know Trever. Ferus is safe, but we’ll tell you about him later.”

“I’m willing to take over an Imperial cruiser,” Roan said. “No problem. But aren’t we about to meet a bunch of enraged droids? And we’re only five?”

“And one of us is a bad shot,” Dona put in.

“We got the schematics of the ship,” Solace said. “It runs with a light crew. Most of the droids are kept in the hold. They’re only there in case of attack. If we can
take control of the cockpit, we can lock down the hold.”

“How many will be in the cockpit?”

“About three officers and twenty droids,” Solace said. “It won’t be a problem.”

“Did she just say it’s not a problem?” Roan turned to Oryon.

“Trust me,” Solace said.

They strode out into the hallway. Solace took the lead.

They hadn’t gone very far before a protocol droid met up with them. “Crew awaiting captain’s orders,” it said.

“The captain has been arrested,” Solace said. “I am in charge.”

“That’s a violation of authority,” the droid said. “I’ll have to summon—”

In a flash, Solace moved forward, lightsaber in hand, and sliced his head off.

“Oh, dear,” the disembodied head said.

With an expert slice, Solace disabled its control panel even as she continued to race down the hall.

“Ah, now I get it,” Roan said. “Ferus found his Jedi.”

They raced down the hallway, following Solace to the cockpit. Trever was impressed at how quickly Roan integrated himself in the group. He moved to Solace’s right, letting Oryon cover her
left. Dona stayed behind with Trever. The five of them  weren’t exactly an elite attack group, but Trever had no doubt they would win.

Solace activated the doors of the cockpit and charged in, lightsaber in hand. The new security droids began to fire their laser cannons, raising their forearms. Fire pinged through the cockpit
in streaks of energy. Trever dropped and rolled.

In less than a minute, Solace had sliced through three droids and somersaulted in the air to knock down another before burying her lightsaber in its control panel. Then she reversed to take down
four droids standing guard. Oryon and Roan took care of the rest.

The cockpit was now filled with smoking droids and fused metal, and Solace had her lightsaber pointed at the chest of the officer in charge. “You don’t want to push me, do
you?” she asked. She wasn’t even breathing hard.

“What do you want?” he asked.

“We’ll give you safe passage to a spaceport. All crew must depart. We’ll leave you with your lives if you leave us with the ship.”

The officer shared a glance with his crew. “I’m not dying for this ship. I agree.”

Oryon sprang to the controls. Roan held his blaster on the three Imperial officers as he settled into a chair and crossed his legs. “I’m going to enjoy this ride,” he said.