[Last Of The Jedi] - 04(8)

Keets shook his head. “Poor Curran. He was just a kid.”

“We’ll get out,” Solace said. “We can get to my transport. It’s not far -” She broke off suddenly. “Wait.”

It took them a few seconds longer, but they heard it - the whirring sound of an air speeder. They took refuge behind the wreckage, ducking in back of it as the silver craft zoomed over their heads and made a precarious landing on a partially collapsed catwalk directly over their heads.

“Malorum,” Solace breathed.

The commander of the stormtroopers hurried forward, trying to look purposeful despite the fact that he was picking his way carefully. It was clear he didn’t quite trust the buckled catwalk.

They could hear the voices overhead echoing off the cavern walls. “Report,” Malorum snapped.

“Over half our force has been lost -“

“I don’t care about your losses. Where are the rebels?”

“We wiped out the community, sir. Including the Erased we were tracking.”

“And the one called Solace?”

“Dead, sir.”

“Show me the body.”

Solace let out a breath.

“She … fell, Inquisitor Malorum. Into the sea.”

“Did you see her fall?”

“Yes sir.”

“Did you see her drown?”

“I saw her go into the water…”

“Get some lights down there!” Malorum roared. “I want a body!”

Within moments, powerful halo lights began to sweep the dark water.

“We’ve got to swim for it, and fast,” Solace whispered. “Underwater. Oryon, you take Trever and I’ll take Keets.” She handed out Aquata breathers to Keets and Trever. Oryon had one of his own.

“Nobody has to take me,” Keets protested, but it was clear that he needed help.

“Don’t argue - it gets on my nerves,” Solace said, hooking an arm around his chest. “Ready?”

Oryon hooked an arm around Trever. “Ready.”

Taking a deep breath, they slipped beneath the surface as the lights crisscrossed the water. More and more lights appeared, penetrating the water, and Trever couldn’t see how they would escape. Solace swam deeper, her powerful legs kicking. Suddenly blaster fire ripped into the water ahead of them. Something exploded behind them. The stormtroopers were shooting into the water randomly, probably on Malorum’s orders. And they were sending down explosive devices as well.

It was impossible, Trever thought, twisting through the cold water with Oryon. The water was so cold he could barely feel his feet or hands. He knew his body was failing him. Solace continued to stroke ahead, but he could feel Oryon tiring. Even a Bothan couldn’t keep up with a Jedi. And there were too many lights now to get to Solace’s ship without being seen.

He didn’t know how he found the strength to go on, but watching Solace’s strength somehow helped him. When she felt them flagging, she swam behind them and hooked a line onto Oryon’s belt, then swam forward, Keets now on her back, his eyes closed. With immense effort, she pulled all of them through the water.

When they finally surfaced, they were far from the scaffolding where the stormtroopers were searching. They could see the lights play on the water far down the tunnel.

Solace stared back at the demolished community.

“I’m sorry,” Oryon said.

“It’s all right,” Solace said. “Nothing lasts. I prepared for this day. If I hadn’t been away, I could have gotten them all out. I had a plan … but they had a spy. It was Duro. My trusted assistant. It had to be. They got to him - offered him money, threatened him - and he agreed to betray us. He was the only one except me who knew about the warning system. He must have turned it off.”

“I’m afraid you’re right,” Oryon said. “I saw Duro being given a speeder to escape in.”

Solace’s mouth tightened as she stared down at the smoke and fire. She turned back to them, her face now expressionless. “So you see, it was my mistake that killed them. I trusted him.”

“There is always a reason to have only two to share information,” Oryon pointed out. “Any more and you greatly increase the risk of betrayal. It’s a first rule of a resistance. Information isn’t shared.”

“I know. I chose the wrong person to trust.”

“Traitors exist everywhere.”

Solace made an impatient move, reluctant to keep the discussion going.

“Keets, are you conscious?”

“Of course I’m conscious,” he growled. “Would I miss all the fun?”

“Can you make it a little farther? You all will have to swim on your own for about twenty meters. I have a duplicate ship hidden underwater, but I have to get there alone. My last resort. I guess we’ve reached it.”