Twist of Darkness - Chapter 23

"Admiral, the Home Two reports that they should be able to get their generators back up and running with some minor repairs."

Ackbar turned, listening as the young man went on, "Her hyperdrive engines haven't been damaged and once they get them back online, with a little jiggery-pokery and some help from us, they can route power through the ship directly from the hyperdrive engines via her sublight system. That means that they can give you a tractor beam that will be seventy-five percent of normal capacity..."

Ackbar blinked, taking in the information.

Captain Tienna Bieebenn had also turned to listen and now gave the young Lieutenant one of her infrequent smiles, "That means that we shouldn't have too much of a problem with a double jump manoeuvre..."

"She still won't be able to jump far because of the temporary shielding on her bow..." the Lieutenant cautioned.

"But it will be enough," Ackbar concluded. "How long before we are ready to jump?"

"It'll be at least six hours, Admiral," the Lieutenant told him.

"Then we have six hours to rescue as many of the casualties from the forward section of the Home Two as we can. What about the containment field?"

"The generators are already being loaded onto a cargo ship," Tienna confirmed. "It should be ready to launch very shortly... We should have the generators deployed and running within the next thirty minutes."

Ackbar nodded, knowing that his people were working as fast as they could. There was no point in trying to push them. They couldn't afford mistakes now. "Good work, Captain," he told her simply, then ordered, "Let me know as soon as the generators are operational."

~*~

Lori Enilra jumped and swore softly as the comm unit beside her crackled into life.

"Omega Flight, Omega Flight, this is the Emergency Bridge..."

Wondering what was going on now, Lori stood up and keyed the switch, "Bridge, this is Flight Enilra, go ahead."

"Flight," the voice told her, "the Home Two is secure. We're bringing Omega back in for refuel..."

Lori blinked. "Say again?"

"The Home Two is secure," the voice repeated. "We're bringing Omega back in for refuel..."

"That might take a while," Lori warned, her mind already working out the logistics, "All my techs are busy elsewhere..."

"Well pull them off any jobs they can be spared from, Flight," the voice told her. "We're going to be sticking around here for at least the next six hours. We need those X-wings refuelled and back out as soon as possible."

Lori swore softly again then asked, "How long until the first fighters come inbound?"

"As soon as you're ready for them..."

Lori pulled a face, telling him, "Copied, Bridge... I'll get back to you..."

Turning away from the comm unit, she surveyed the hangar, almost deserted of personnel. Even the Deck Officer was off on other duties, handing out rations to the engineers working throughout the ship.

Grinning, Lori shrugged her shoulders then hit the large, green button to the left of the comm unit, sending the klaxon out ship-wide.

Ary was already on his feet before the klaxon warbled a second time. Andi froze, looking up at him. "It can't be..."

Almost as if they had heard him, a voice echoed down the corridor from the tannoy, "Attention! Attention! All Omega hangar personnel who can be spared report to the hangar deck immediately! I say again, all Omega hangar personnel who can be spared, report to the hangar deck immediately! The ship is secure and we have ships inbound!"

Ary hesitated. "Go!" Andi told him. "I'll finish here!"

Nodding, Ary turned, running for the hangar.

~*~

Triona Elyob frowned as her Artoo unit mewled at her, dropping data onto the screen. Still frowning, she asked, "How long has it been running high?"

The Artoo unit dropped more data onto the screen and Triona sighed, "Okay, shut it down." Then she keyed the mike, "Knight Four, this is Knight Twelve. My lower port engine temperature's running high; I'm having to close it down..."

Hobbie groaned, asking, "Anything else seem amiss?"

Checking the data, Triona told him, "No... Just the engine warning..."

"Copied," Hobbie replied, suddenly realising that, of all things, he couldn't remember what Knight Twelve's name was. "Do what you need to, then head back towards the cruisers," he told her. "You can't do any good out here with one engine out."

"Hold up, Knight Twelve," Kirixchi Kenobi told her. "I'll swing round and have a look..."

"Copied that..." Triona confirmed. "And," she continued, checking the data, "the engine shut down is complete."

Kirixchi circled Triona's fighter, frowning, zooming her tactical display in on some small drops of fluid that were drifting away from the X-wing towards Pryatt. "Knight Twelve, looks from here like you're losing coolant..."

Triona swore softly, stifling the small flutter of panic in the pit of her stomach. She wasn't familiar enough with the X-wing fighter to know how serious a coolant leak was. And none of the data she was looking at indicated any loss. "There's nothing showing up here," she told Kenobi.

"You're definitely venting fluid," Kirxchi confirmed.

"Close down both port engines, Knight Twelve," Hobbie's voice told her. "Better safe than sorry."

"Copied, Knight Four," Triona replied, running through the spool-down sequence for the second engine and muttering about her bad luck.

A small tremor rippled through the fighter just before the engine shut down and a warning bell chimed softly for a moment before silencing itself.

"Artoo? What's going on?" Triona asked the panic beginning to flutter in her stomach again.

The droid burbled and beeped at her, giving her the information. "What?" she replied, not quite believing what she was reading, "Artoo, are you sure?"

"Knight Twelve," Kirixchi warned, "I got a jump warning off of you... You okay there?"

"Negative..." Triona told the Lieutenant, punching through the data. "There was a slight vibration as the engine shut down. According to this data, the hyperdrive tried to kick in..."

Stomach churning, Dav listened to his wife's explanation. If the hyperdrive engaged in only one engine then Triona's ship could rip itself apart... She needed to get out of there and she needed to get out of there now!

"Sounds like the coolant's screwing with the engine sensors..." Kirixchi suggested.

"Might be a fault with the engine control unit..." Hobbie put in, knowing that if it was, there was almost nothing she could do to rectify the problem. Unless...

"Close your S-foils, Knight Twelve," he suggested. "The change in aspect might kick it back into synch. Wait until they've locked before you try to move again. Lieutenant Kenobi, shadow her back to the cruisers!"

Please let it work! Please let it work, Dav willed as Hobbie continued, "Knight Leader, we have a malfunction on Knight Twelve's fighter. I'm sending her back towards you."

"Copied, Knight Four," Xen acknowledged then advised, "The Home Two is secured and they're clearing the decks for us to refuel. Knight Twelve, route straight in to the hangar and land. Let the tech crew look your fighter over, Triona, and be ready to go as soon as they've okayed it."

"Copied, Knight Leader," Triona replied, starting to relax a little as her S-foils closed and the indicators turned green, showing that the foils were locked.

"I'm right behind you," Kirixchi reassured, riding off her port wing, following her in towards the cruisers.

"Hobbie," Xen went on, "Lainy and I are on our way to take up Triona and Kenobi's position. Once the Home Two is ready for us, you and Keeve refuel and we'll take it from there."

~*~

Martellon's eyes never left the Rebel Commander as the two officers manhandled her back against the wall and held her in place, the binders snapping back into position around her wrists. The men moved away from her and she collapsed against the restraints.

It had been most amusing watching her fight the two guards as the doors to the Emperor's suite had closed behind them. She had fought like a trapped animal, almost breaking free. Only his mastery of the Force had subdued her... And the little display of wilfulness had only drained her of what little strength she had left after the audience with Palpatine.

Her smart reply to the Emperor had miscarried. He had pounced on her indiscretion and laid her bare, leaving her weak and vulnerable.

Palpatine's words echoed in Martellon's mind. The Commander can be enticed to say more than just her name, rank and service number...

He had promised the Emperor that he would have her broken by the end of the day. In her present state, however, he mused, he would break her even sooner...

He smiled. That was going to be a pleasure.

Walking slowly towards her, he indicated with a sharp nod of his head that the two guards were dismissed.

They both saluted, moving past the Fleet Commander and disappearing up the steps. The door slid closed behind them again, leaving him alone with the Rebel X-wing Commander.

He reached for her, slipping an arm round her waist and drawing her effortlessly back to her feet. "I believe," he began softly, "We were discussing the location of your Father, of Mothma and the rest of the Rebel Command staff before we were interrupted..."

Supporting her weight using one arm, he lifted his other hand, gently tilting her face up with a finger below her chin. She dragged her eyes open, looking at him. Even now, despite the fear, there was a spark of defiance in her eyes.

Her insurgence thrilled him as much as it irritated him. Perhaps not just as close as he had thought, he considered, but breaking her would be even sweeter now... Especially as he had something to use against her, something he had not suspected before her reaction to the Emperor's comment about Mon Mothma and her Father.

He leant closer, his cheek almost touching hers, his voice dripping concern as he murmured softly, "You have suffered enough, Commander... Help me take away your pain..."

He pulled back a little, looking into her eyes. "Let me help you..." he cajoled gently. "All I need is a name... Give me the location of the Rebel Fleet and I can help you..."

For a long moment she looked up at him, breath coming in short, pained gasps. Then she turned her head away, closing her eyes.

Martellon smiled, coldly. "As you wish, my dear..."

Arm still round her waist, trapping her against the cell wall with his body, he closed his fist slowly, manipulated the Force.

Pain surged through her, robbing her of the ability to even breathe. It expanded, wrapping itself around her in waves. She arched against it, arms pulled tight against the restraints as she screamed silently.

Then, as abruptly as it had begun, the pain disappeared.

Martellon held her almost tenderly as she collapsed against him, her head falling against his shoulder. Gasping for breath, she moaned softly, a tremor sweeping through her.

"You see, my dear?" he soothed gently, caressing her hair.

Voice full of concern, he went on, "You have withstood so much. Far more, I must admit, than I would have given you credit for... Tell me where Mon Mothma is and the pain will stop..."

From somewhere deep inside, Kaz found the strength to stand up. She lifted her head, trying to pull away from him. Swallowing hard, she found her voice, telling him, "Commander... Kazlyn Hawkspar... Rebel... Alliance Forces... Service number..."

The pain ripped through her again, driving her against Martellon as she arched against it, her legs giving way. Martellon held her, watching the agony warp her features. He let her endure it a little longer this time and when he released her she was trembling as she collapsed against him, a sheen of sweat glistening on her face.

Kaz moaned softly, gasping for breath, only partially aware that Martellon was still holding her. Eyes half closed, she drifted on a haze of semi-darkness. He was talking to her again, asking her about Mon Mothma. She shook her head, whimpering softly, "No...."

Not yet... She had to hold on a little longer...

The defiance slammed another surge of agony through her. Almost like a living being, it gnawed at her, wrapping around her as it ripped her apart, sniggering at her, promising only agonising darkness. She could hear someone screaming and knew it was her own voice she heard.

The pain faded, snapping the detachment, bringing her back to reality. She moaned softly, unable to stop her muscles trembling in the after-images of the agony. He was talking to her again and she concentrated hard, knowing that it was imperative that she listened to his questions.

The restraints around her wrists snapped open, her arms falling to her sides. Bewildered by this turn of events, she dragged her eyes open.

Martellon sank to his knees on the floor, cradling her against him, cooing soft encouragement to her. He lifted his hand, gently pushing the damp strands of hair off her forehead.

"You have suffered enough, Commander," he enticed gently. "Tell me what I need to know."

Kaz closed her eyes, trying to gather what was left of her strength. The quiet voice of reason within her knew that she was finished, that she wouldn't be able to hold out much longer.

Martellon sensed the subtle shift. Now was the time to use his trump card. "Lainy will not think any less of you..."

He heard her breath hitch at the name.

"Lainy will understand that you need to stop the pain..." he pushed. "Just as she understood why you stepped into the path of the blaster shot to save her... Lainy would want you to save yourself now..."

Hawkspar's eyes fluttered open and she looked up at him.

"You have always put your Squadron first, Commander," he pressed, sensing victory. "Now you must think of yourself. You have done enough. Tell me what I need to know. Where are Mon Mothma and the rest of the Rebel Alliance Command staff?"

He watched her face as she made a small noise, her breath hitching in her throat. Her eyes closed, but her lips moved, trying to form a word.

Lainy... I'm sorry...Give Dad my love...

For another, brief moment, Kaz could have sworn that Lainy was there with her, just as she had before when she had been alone. She even felt Lainy's cool hand squeeze her own...

Martellon looked round, ready to snarl at whoever had just come into the cell. To his surprise there was no one, there was only Kazlyn and himself...

He had a fleeting impression of Lainy Kal'Ten standing beside him...

Then it was gone.

Quirking an eyebrow, intrigued by the occurrence, filing it for later review, Martellon turned his attention back to the woman cradled in his arms. "Let's try again, shall we?" he murmured to her. "Where is Mon Mothma?"

The Rebel Commander dragged her eyes open, looking up at him. Incredibly the spark of defiance had returned. "Commander," she rasped, her breath still coming in rapid, painful gasps, "Kazlyn... Hawkspar... Rebel..."

Martellon quashed her words with pain, his fist closing slowly again, a ghost of a smile on his lips as he closed his eyes and manipulated the Force around her and through her. He let her endure the agony for even longer this time, only stopping when he sensed her heart flutter and begin to fail.

He released her and she collapsed against him, sobbing for breath.

"What is the location of the Rebel Fleet, Commander?" he asked softly.

For a long, disbelieving moment, he thought she was going to defy him again. Then, so softly he almost didn't hear the word, she said, "Hoth..."

He said nothing, waiting for her to continue. She licked her lips, turning her head, swallowing. "Mon Mothma... was on... Hoth..."

~*~

Lainy Kal'Ten closed her eyes, shaking her head, trying to rid herself of the sense of foreboding that had settled round her again. Half of her attention was on what she was doing, but the other half was on an image that kept playing over in her mind, an image she couldn't shake: of Martellon standing in front of her in the hangar, the blaster in his hand, that repulsive smirk on his face...

But the image wasn't right, because it wasn't Lauran he was holding with a gun to his head, it was Kaz...

Kaz was looking at her, and Lainy heard her voice, quite clearly, in her head.

... I'm sorry...Give Dad my love...

Lainy swallowed, fighting back emotion, flipping her visor up and running her hand over her face. She was stressed... She was under a lot of pressure... It was all in her imagination...

The hiss of static in her earpiece pulled her abruptly back to the job at hand as a voice announced, "Knight Leader, Home Two is ready to refuel you. All other ships, prepare for docking. Your hangars will be allocated as soon as they become available. Ships with medical supplies will be given the priority."

Aboard the Raszial Haven, Captain Queie looked at the three pilots who were standing in front of him. Then he nodded, assuring them, "I'll see what I can do."

Waiting until Knight Leader had confirmed the refuel and dispatched the first two X-wings towards the Home Two, he keyed the mike, "Home Two, Home Two, this is the Raszial Haven..."

"Raszial Haven," the Home Two replied, "Go ahead."

"I appreciate that you want to give the medical ships priority, but I have three X-wings jockeys here, tasked to join Omega Squadron. They're mighty impatient to get to their ships and join the fray. We don't need a hangar bay: the Haven can dock with you. And once we've dropped off our passengers, we'll back off again and wait our turn..."

"Copied, Haven," the Home Two replied, "Hold position and standby..."

"Copied and holding," Queie confirmed then looked at the pilots, throwing them a small smile, "Now we wait and see."

"Thanks, Captain," Mason told him. "It's much appreciated.."

"Not a problem," Queie smiled. "Personally I'd feel better with three more fighter pilots out there watching my six."

"Raszial Haven," the Home Two announced, interrupting Mason's reply, "route toward docking bay eight... Starboard astern..."

Queie grinned, confirming, "Docking bay eight, starboard astern, Home Two."

He turned back to the three pilots as his helm officer powered up and guided the Haven in towards the Home Two. "Fly straight and true," he told them. "And may the Force be with you..."

Then he turned to the officer who had brought the three pilots to him, ordering, "Micah, take our guests up to the docking bay..."

Arla followed the Haven officer, anticipation and trepidation surging through her. She was eager to get back into the cockpit of the X-wing. She never felt more at home than she did when she was in the fighter, but now she was going to be flying with people whose names were as well known to her as Skywalker and Organa. And she didn't want to let them down.

Beside her, Mason felt the familiar itching in his fingers that he always got before he climbed into an X-wing. This time was different though. He'd never been thrown in at the deep end in the middle of a situation.

He swallowed, rubbing his face, suddenly wanting a drink. He hadn't had one for hours, and with this rumble going on it could be hours more before he had the chance for another swig.

Sighing, he mentally pulled himself together. Give it a half hour or so and he would be too busy to worry about it...

Now that she was actually doing something, Ruala's nerves were no longer jangling. Oddly, even though she wanted to throw up, a calm was settling around her. She was scared but at the same time she was relieved to be doing something.

It was almost like being back at home... Hours of nothing happening then the sudden scramble for your ship to go and save some unprepared idiot who had decided they could climb Mount Arrannarr wearing some flimsy robes over a sunsuit and sandals...

The story was always the same... "But it was such a nice day when I started out..."

Ruala smiled wryly, asking herself silently, "Where would you rather be, Ruala?"

There was only one possible answer.

There was nothing left for her back home... Omega Squadron was her home now.

~*~

Kirixchi Kenobi checked her tactical display, watching the two Omega X-wings moving in to refuel ahead of her and Knight Twelve as she escorted the limping fighter back to the Mon Cal cruiser. A warning chime pulled her attention back to Knight Twelve's fighter. She frowned, silencing the alarm.

Triona swore, feeling the slight vibration that shuddered through the X-wing. She checked the computer display then frowned, squinting to try to see it. Stupid thing was definitely fragged. She couldn't make out the writing on the screen...

"Knight Twelve..." Kirixchi cautioned, "I got a hyperspace warning..."

Triona heard the other voice, but it sounded as if they were on the far side of the galaxy. She lifted her hand, touching the flight helmet just over the earpiece, "There's nothing showing up..."

Kirixchi swore softly, getting a sudden sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Knight Twelve's voice was slurred, almost as if she was drunk.

Dav had heard it too. He swung his fighter round, but Triona and the new pilot were blocked from his view by the bulk of the Home One. Dav keyed the transmit switch, demanding, "Triona? Triona, can you hear me?"

Triona frowned. Course I can hear you, stupid man, she thought. Only she couldn't make her fingers work to key the mike. Strange...

Then another voice was breaking through, ordering, "Knight One Three, cut the chat! Kenobi, what's going on?"

"I'm going in closer to take a look!"

Going in to take a closer look? At what? Me?

Kirixchi manoeuvred her fighter carefully, knowing that something was definitely wrong inside the other X-wing and wanting to avoid any collision if the fighter did something untoward. She zoomed in on her tactical display, swearing again at what she saw. "Knight, Twelve, Knight Twelve, do you copy?"

Nothing...

"Knight Twelve, do you copy?"

Nothing...

"Boss!" she warned Xen, "Knight Twelve's slumped in the cockpit and unresponsive..."

Stomach doing flips, worry clawing at him, Dav keyed the mike again. Triona was in trouble and there was nothing he could do except, "Triona! Bang out! Eject! Eject!"

"Knight One Three, shut up!" Xen ordered, realising now why Kaz Hawkspar was so against pilots getting involved. "And maintain your position!" she added before going on, "Home Two, Home Two we have a pilot down! I say again we have a pilot down!"

"Copied, Knight leader," the Home Two replied. "We've been monitoring the situation... Standby."

Standby, Dav thought. Stand by? Triona was maybe dying in that damned fighter and all they could say was standby?

"Lieutenant Kenobi," another voice ordered, "Move astern of Knight Twelve's X-wing. We'll catch her in a tractor beam and bring her aboard the Home One."

"Copied!" Kirixchi replied, hitting the throttles and surging away from the crippled X-wing.

Riding just ahead of Dav, Sha Aegis turned, trying to see the other pilot. He keyed his mike, telling Dav quietly, "Take it easy, my friend... She's in good hands..."

Xen ignored the transmission, knowing that Aegis was trying to keep Dav calm. From this position she couldn't see what was going on with the crippled fighter and she sympathised with Dav, knowing that he would be just as blind to what was happening as she was. They had a job to do, though, and she would be damned if she was going to let good order and discipline disintegrate simply because two of her pilots happened to be married...

Kirixchi pulled her fighter round once she knew that she had put enough distance between her and Knight Twelve's X-wing not to jeopardise the rescue attempt. She watched as the fighter suddenly slowed to a halt, then slowly began to move towards the huge bulk of the Mon Cal cruiser. Satisfied that the Home One had everything in hand, she keyed her mike, telling the Omega Boss, "Knight Leader, Knight Twelve's on her way." Then she asked, "Where do you need me?"

Xen considered for a moment then told her, "Head in to refuel, Lieutenant. Standby for your orders."

"Copied," Kirixchi confirmed, turning her fighter towards the Home Two. "Heading in now."

~*~

Martellon smiled, "You see, my dear," he told her, voice soothing and understanding, "how much easier it is when you co-operate?"

He had lifted her off the floor and carried her to the raised sleeping platform, laying her down gently, knowing that the simple act combined with his change in tactics would keep her off balance. "However," he continued, pushing the long strands of damp hair away from her face, "Mon Mothma was on Hoth isn't good enough. I need to know where she is now..."

Kazlyn hesitated, a small frown brushing across her forehead. Martellon sighed, like a disappointed father, giving her a reminder of what she would endure if she continued her defiance. He left her sobbing for breath, her voice rasping in her throat as she gave him the information.

"I don't know... No one does... She left with the... Princess Leia... when... when Echo Base was... attacked... The Falcon hasn't... hasn't been seen since..."

Martellon processed this information. He had no idea what this Falcon was, but he could check the database. "What were the Rebel losses on Hoth?"

Kaz swallowed, trying to separate fact from fiction. Instinct told her not to hide the extent of the Rebel Alliance losses but to exaggerate them a little.

Swallowing hard, she began, "We're not sure... Information is... scarce... but... at least... sixty percent of the... ground troops died... or were left behind... as was most of the equipment... Two transports never... never made it off the ground... Four more were... subsequently lost..."

Martellon pursed his lips, remembering his first encounter with Omega Squadron. "The Richlo's Rest?"

She nodded.

Martellon turned, walking across to retrieve a carton of water from the concealed dispenser on the far wall. Walking back to her, he snapped the lid open, sliding a hand beneath her head, lifting her slightly to let her sip from the carton. Allowing her to have enough, but not too much, he lowered her back onto the platform.

"Where was the Falcon heading?" he asked.

Kaz turned her head away but supplied, "We don't know... Never appeared at the... rendezvous point..."

"Where was the rendezvous point?"

"Don't know...Was never given it..."

"Your father is also on the Falcon?"

She shook her head, "No..."

"Mon Mothma's aides were with her?" he pushed.

Kazlyn shook her head, "No... Mon Mothma and the... Princess Leia were alone..."

"Where were her advisors?"

"I don't know..."

"Where is your father?"

"Don't know..."

A wave of pain hit her and she cried out, but even as she screamed, she knew that it was only a pale imitation of what she had endured before, a sharp reminder of the torture he could inflict. Martellon smiled coldly, accusing, "I don't believe you, my dear..."

"I don't know," she choked. "I don't know..."

He released her. "Where was the rendezvous point?"

"I don't know..."

"What is the location of the Cruiser Home Two?"

"Don't know..."

The pain hit her again, this time full force. She screamed, arching against it as it ripped through her. Then she collapsed, sobbing for breath as it faded. Martellon caressed her face with the back of his fingers. "Let's try that again, shall we, my dear?" he purred. "What is the location of the Mon Calamari Cruiser Home Two?"

"I don't know..." she sobbed. "I don't know... Haven't been... on her... for... over a week...."

"Why?" Martellon demanded.

"The mission..." she told him. "To Coruscant..."

"What was the objective of the mission?" Martellon pushed.

"Retrieve and extract... my contact..."

"How were you to extract him? Where is the ship that was to take you off of Coruscant?"

"Don't know..." she told him, bracing herself for another wave of pain. "I had to... to call them... on a discrete... frequency..."

"Who was your contact?"

"You killed him..."

The pain swept through her, leaving her trembling and fighting to breathe. Martellon smiled, telling her gently, "I asked who the contact was, not what had happened to him, my dear..."

"An engineer... The man who... who was arrested... with me..." she confirmed.

"Griss Tinnan," Martellon supplied, having already checked the man's identity.

It was a statement, not a question but Kaz shook her head, telling him, "Wasn't told... his... name...."

Martellon switched track, trying to confuse her, wanting to confirm her story. "Where is Mon Mothma?"

"No one... knows..." Kaz lied easily. "She's with... the Princess... Leia..."

"And your father!" Martellon accused, softly.

Kaz shook her head, "No... Mon Mothma...was with Princess Leia..."

Martellon smiled, saying nothing more. Hawkspar was exhausted and close to collapse. If he pushed her any more he was running the risk of her mind fragmenting or her heart giving out.

He was well aware that if he left her now and let her rest, she would resist the questioning when he returned. Now that she had been broken, however, any resistance would be fleeting and easily quashed...

"Good, my dear," he purred finally. "Very good... Rest now and we shall continue this little conversation later..."

Later... After he had checked some facts then delivered the information to Palpatine.

~*~

Orise jogged across the hangar towards Lori Enilra, knowing that the Flight wasn't going to be happy with what she had to tell her. The Omega Squadron Flight Engineer didn't like anyone but her people touching any of Omega's X-wings.

Hobbie Gee-Em was just reaching the bottom rung of the ladder and stepping onto the hangar floor as Orise reached Enilra. "Flight?"

Lori turned, asking, "More incoming?"

Orise shook her head, telling her, "The Aryad X-wing is still inbound... but Knight Twelve's being tractored into the Home One..."

The Flight frowned, asking, "Did she lose power completely?"

Orise shook her head, supplying, "The Aryad fighter that was escorting her in got an imminent hyperspace jump alert off of Elyob's fighter. When Elyob was warned her reply was slurred... The Aryad pilot went in for a closer look and she was slumped in the seat. They weren't able to raise her... We couldn't spare the power for a tractor beam so the Home One's taken her aboard..."

Lori's mind was racing, running through memories of every malfunction she had ever witnessed or heard of on an Incom T-65. She sighed, rubbing her hands over her face. "Tell the Home One that it's probably one of two things. Either the cockpit is flooded with fumes from the coolant leak or the main computer is malfunctioning. If it's a CCU malfunction then it's either pumping in gasses instead of venting them, or it's stopped the oxygen flow completely on the life support..."

Orise nodded, "Copied..."

"Keep me up to date with Elyob's condition?" Lori asked.

The Deck Officer nodded, "Of course..."

Lori watched her go, her mind still mulling over the possible causes of the malfunction on Triona Elyob's X-wing... A Knight down, she thought bitterly. And with half my people still on other duties, I've got to leave it to the Home One...

Mood dark, she turned back to the job at hand, sending a silent prayer to whatever deity was listening that Triona Elyob would be okay.

~*~

"We're outrunning it," Chezz told Poom-Bar.

She nodded, telling him, "The shuttle's handling easier... The turbulence is easing off too..." She glanced at him, asking, "How are you doing?"

"Fine," he lied.

"Pants on fire..." she muttered softly.

He looked at her, "Eh?"

"Nothing," she chuckled. "I was just thinking of an old children's rhyme: liar, liar, pants on fire..."

Chezz sighed, shaking his head, admitting, "Think I've fragged my back..."

"How bad's the pain?" Catterin pushed, glancing at him.

"I've had worse..." Chezz tried.

Catterin sniffed the air, commenting, "Now I smell poodoo burning..." She looked over at the weather screen, ignoring Chezz's protests, then asked, "Do you know how to fly this thing?"

"Ummm..." Normally he would have given it a damned good go, but right now and in this sort of turbulence he wasn't sure.

"Can you at least keep her straight and level?" she pushed.

"That I can do," Chezz confirmed.

"Good! You have control!" she told him, letting go of the controls to undo her restraints. "Don't break her! And don't fragging crash her! And I'll get you something for the pain."