"Padawan's Gambit."


A.K.A "12 Angry Clones."

Written and Directed by:
Paul Burton.
Fiction by: Paul Burton and (mostly) Anthony Hummerston.
STARRING:

Karnov,   Jimmi,   Niall,   Rojic,    Ta'alan,  Mama
And special guest stars:
Hen3ry , Joe-9T, Trio and 'Blinkie.'
as the droids.
AND
Storm Cutter, a shipping crate that passes as their ship.

+ + ++ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

The forces of the Republic trade victories and defeats across the outer rim worlds. Enemy plots create an atmosphere of mistrust and the tensions of prolonged war bring disharmony.

Jedi Master MASARI JUNN, defeated in his attempt to capture the key planet of Qa’Dara has brought charges of insubordination and mutiny against marine Colonel CASTOR D’ESTRELLA after the Colonel led a daring rescue mission alongside Commander KIMA VENN to rescue Jedi Knights NIALL KILLIAN and KARNOV whose forces had become cut off deep behind enemy lines.

The grateful Jedi and their comrades must now fight a new enemy to free their friends, setting Padawan against Master.

Mama is scraping the carbon scoring off her guns and smoking a fat death-stick.

“The only things I can do on autopilot. – Apart from flying the ship that is.” She says to Niall who has been watching for some time.

“But you had an early night!” Niall protests, “As I recall you went to your cabin at eight o’clock.”

“I was up all night.”

“Sorry to hear that. A broken night’s sleep makes me feel like a zombie in the morning too….”

“Jules came back just before you did – hence the early night and not getting much sleep.”

The credit drops. “Ahhhh….” Niall says, seeing the alternative explanation.

“I’m so glad I can delete the last thirty seconds of that conversation.” Joe-9T says.

“Okay. So why are you cleaning your guns?” He pauses. “Actually, didn’t we do this scene just a little while ago?”

They check their scripts. Sure enough, they’ve done this scene a little while ago.

“Thought so.”

“Hmm….I’m guessing some kind of writer’s block.” Niall says, climbing the fourth wall, and waving to those on the other side. A lone writer waves back feebly, and gives an apologetic shrug.

Niall and Mama decide to go with the original script after all.

“Okay. So why are you cleaning your guns?”

“I’m not cleaning them anymore, I’m polishing Hen3ry.”

“Okay. Skip that part….Why are you polishing Hen3ry?”

“Coz he’s dirty. –And I want him to look at his best at the upcoming trial.”

They avoid the obvious gag about dirty droids.

“Trial?” Karnov asks, coming into the mess area.

“The trial of the colonel. –Actually it’s a court-martial.”

“Oh yeah.” Karnov says, “The one where Master Junn ordered us into battle, and rescinded the order without telling anyone….Then ordered the colonel not to pick us up off the battlefield.”

“There’s more to it than that, but in a nutshell, yes.”

“I heard that he was thinking of being his own QC.” Karnov says.

“Apart from having no ‘Q’ – I observe the maxim that a man who represents himself has a fool for a lawyer.” Niall tells her.

Karnov thinks. Then she says, “I could represent him.”

Niall and Mama exchange glances. In a silent second they do a mental ‘rock-paper-scissors.’ Mama loses. Niall adds, “He’d still have a fool as a lawyer….”

“No he wouldn’t.” Karnov protests, missing the joke at her expense.

“I rest my case.” Niall says smugly, and walks out.

Rojic flaps in. Then, with a quivering of wingtips, hangs there, hovering within his own downdraft. The others can sense the downdraft with their noses, and proceed outside.

“Junn’s orders,” Rojic says to them, “The court martial will convene at ten o’clock sharp tomorrow.”

“Just a night to consider a plea.” Mama says, thinking it over.

“I think it’s beyond doubt that he contravened orders….However, the recall and the execution of the battle plan are in question. –I’d consider eight to ten years quite lenient….”

“Eight years!”

“Minimum….Actually in a time of war, it might be commuted to…. execution by firing squad.”

“Commuted? That’s not right, surely.”

Niall brings them to order. “We can get into the hearing in the visitor’s gallery. If we care an iota about the colonel, best get a good night’s rest.”

“Yes mother…”

“I need to keep the council in the picture.” Karnov insists. She walks back up the ramp and goes to the holo. The others give her some privacy. When the call is finished, they reconvene. “What did the council have to say?”

Karnov slumps into a chair. “Basically, ‘your own instincts must you trust’ was the only sensible – though unhelpful message.”

Niall is quick to pick up on the mangled syntax.

“Tried mind, least at you never.” He says, without thinking.

Karnov scratches her head. “Eh?”

“Never mind. At least you tried.” Niall says, rearranging the words.

“Oh….”

There is a respectful silence. Then a shout form Mama makes them jump. “Hey who retuned the holo? Can someone get it back on Radio Ord Mantell?”

Joe-9T stays alert all night. In the morning he reports that Kory and Oona were summoned into a debriefing at six a.m. They leave their meeting with only moments to go before the court Martial.

Our heroes shuffle in and take up positions. At ten o’clock sharp, the proceedings begin.

The colonel sits formally at a table. With him is a Judge advocate, Ad Skobra.

“I looked him up.” Whispers Rojic.

“-And?”

“He’s the best lawyer the Republic could appoint at short notice.”

“I hope he has some good credentials.”

“He's an officer in the signals division. -But I think he witnessed a will signing once, for his brother-in-law.”

Niall instils some insight with his usual upbeat response. “We are so humped!”

The Colonel sits impassively at a table. His advocate looks nervous. Opposite them are the presiding officers, Admiral Kardashila, looking calm –for a Frozian, along with General Tebka, a Mon Calamari who can’t help staring at Karnov. Next to Tekba is Master Masari Junn, grinning wolfishly. “He looks like a Nexu given free run of the Orokeet pen.” Mama whispers to Karnov, who is still trying to remember what a wolf is.

General Tebka

The Judge Advocate General reads out the formal introductions, officiates at the hearing and proceeds with the charges.

“Count one. Insubordination. Colonel D’Estrella questioned orders of his superior during the course of the battle.”

“Count two. Mutiny. – Colonel D’Estrella directly disobeyed an order, leading to an unsanctioned operation.”

Mama whispers under her breath. “Count three….And pray.”

Joe-9T’s sentence length estimate jumps up by several degrees as the charges are read to the court.

Rojic flaps his wings in a steady beat. It is important that he be there, but that doesn’t stop him from catching up on his beauty sleep. Fortunately like many avian creatures, he can selectively turn off parts of his brain in turn, this resting all of it while maintaining flight, and looking as though he is awake. Bearing this in mind, his account of the proceedings are slightly hazy. – Here are the most pertinent parts:

“Insubordination.” D’Estrella’s council, Ad Skobra counters, “I put it to the commanders that it is an officer’s duty to question orders, to find counter solutions.”

“That is true,” Junn agrees. “-Though the colonel had plenty of opportunity to discuss the plan of battle at his briefing. Once the enemy is engaged, there is little room for changing.”

“What about unexpected circumstances, such as difficult terrain, poor weather, sudden reinforcements…?” Skobra ventures.

“Most of these are factored in. – In this case, the plan was as simple as it was sound. – To capture and hold the bridges on the route to our objective.”

“But the enemy were considerably better equipped than was foreseen?”

“A little, yes, but not beyond our estimates.”

Skobra pauses for a moment. “Is it not true that your forces suffered heavy initial losses?”

“Again, yes, but not beyond what was predicted. There are always unknowable variables, but the objectives were achievable.”

Tekba asks a question. “Do we have a recording of the briefings.”

“We do. –They show quite plainly the colonel’s objections. –We can call witnesses from those present at the briefing if you’d like anything clarified….”

The colonel shakes his head. Skobra is grave. “It is on record. We concede that there is nothing to be gained nor lost by picking over the holos word for word, action for action.”

Kardashila speaks up. “Let the briefing records stand, at this point uncontested.”

Ad Skobra argues another technical point. Rojic’s attention wavers again.

In the gallery, Karnov and Niall are paying close attention. “They’ve got him there. – There is no way he can wriggle out of this one. – The plan is the plan. However dumb or otherwise it might seem, you question it once, and then keep quiet. – Arguing the finer points with your superior –and in front of the other officers is bad form….”

“They’ve got him there. I guess.”

“What’s the penalty?”

“Somewhere between a month and three months on reduced pay. – Possibly some punishment time….And a mark on his record.”

“So serious, but not career or life threatening?”

“Well, it might harm his career….After all, he’s known as a bit of a maverick.”

“A maverick that gets the job done.”

“True, but if you slip up, or go beyond your remit, they’ll still come down hard on you.”

“Shh!” Jimmi puts fingers to lips. “Here comes the big one….”

“We move on to the second charge, that of mutiny.”

Skobra holds up a hand. “A short recess?”

Junn looks cross at the delay, but Kardashilan nods assent. “Ten minutes. Not a second longer.” The presiding officers rise, the others follow suit.

The colonel looks pained. He gives Skobra a glance. Skobra in turn looks slightly apologetic. In the gallery, Mama sums up, “He’s just a junior solicitor. – D’Estrella can’t really dispute the insubordination – so he’s just going to face the music, plead guilty and take the rap….. But if the mutiny charge sticks, he’s looking at many years in the slammer.”

“We can’t let that happen.” Niall agrees.

“I don’t know if we have the means to prevent it.”

“I could….” Karnov waves a hand in the ‘old Jedi mind trick’ way.

“Yeah, and if they catch you at it, they’ll order a mistrial, and have you up for contempt of court, perverting the course of a court martial in session and a dozen other charges.”

“I’d go up to eleven on you….” Joe-9T says, without adding “Years.” He twists at an imaginary dial on his forehead….

They shuffle off quietly for a swift round of Bantha milks.

“Anyone going to wake Rojic up?”

“Nah…Leave him there. It’s hot in the room, and I like positioning him so that his wings keep me cool.”

Joe-9T is quizzical. “How can you tell he’s asleep?”

“’Coz he’s not stuffing his face and making snide comments every two minutes.”

“I see…”

“Okay folks, time for round two…” Jimmi prompts, finishing the milk in one long draught.

Karnov thinks hard. Her head hurts. “I might not be able to influence things, but I can put a rocket up that amateur idiot of a lawyer.

Niall says, “When you talk with an idiot, make sure he isn’t doing the same.”

Karnov doesn’t catch the barbed comment. “Eh? What?”

“Be careful!” Niall warns. Karnov isn’t subtle, but she has a quiet word with Skobra.

“How long have you been practicing law?” Karnov asks. Before Skobra can answer, Joe-9T chimes in, “Practice is right!”

Karnov shushes the droid. “Only we noticed you’re rather nervous out there.”

“I am. –Truth is, I’m only the duty lawyer. By day I’m a signals officer.”

Karnov tries to instil some backbone into the man. “Okay. Repeat after me….I’m a good lawyer. I know my stuff. I will imagine the officers sitting naked if it helps….”

Skobra isn’t sure. “Okay….General….Eeew!” Niall rolls his eyes.

“You can do this. You are not on trial.” Karnov reassures the man. Slowly her words penetrate. Skobra beams at her. “Okay. I can do this.”

“Good!”

“I’ll be watching your career with interest!” Karnov tells him. This time the rest of the crew get the creeps and shuffle back to the hearing.

Back in the gallery, Joe-9T is relaying a précis of the case to a handy latecomer, identified as ‘Extra #3’ in the credits. The summary is an aid for the hard of learning.

“So in summation, the colonel disagreed with the battle plan. He argued in front of the general. He’s pleading guilty, the punishment is a few months on reduced pay. The battle went according to plan and the Republic forces were taking heavy losses, but had the objective in sight. As they were about to break through, Master Junn ordered a withdrawal. Seeing a unit cut off from the retreat, the colonel questioned the order, then proposed a rescue. This was refused. The general tells him ‘no’ unequivocally. –On record and on holo. The colonel then appropriated personnel and equipment to stage a rescue.”

The extra cannot elevate his position by saying a line, so he gives a grin and a thumbs up.

By this time, down below, Master Junn is a bit more animated. As soon as everyone is settled, he stands. “It would appear that new evidence has come to light.”

The others confer. Kardashila finally nods. “We’ll allow it.”

Junn steps forward with a holo. He starts it up and sits back down.

The colonel’s form shimmers into view. In the holo, he is outlining the battle plan to an unseen recipient. “Objectives are to secure these routes by land, leading to the spaceport, in order to build a bridgehead and secure the area.”

“And you’ll direct troops to the western flank?” The unseen form asks.

“I will endeavour to swing the battle that way, to facilitate your armies.”

By this time the colonel can stand no more. “That’s a lie! A fabrication! -What outrage is this?”

Skobra screams “Objection!”

Jimmi senses the faintest flicker cross Junn’s face, but isn’t sure. As Junn stands to calm the room, Jimmi tries to ascertain whether there is some sinister motive in the Jedi master’s intent. Jimmi concentrates, but Junn is giving nothing away. “Either he’s blocking me, or there’s nothing to detect….” Jimmi assumes.

By this time, Kardashilan has ordered the court be cleared. “We will reconvene when calm returns!” The court is in stunned silence for a second or two. As soon as Kardashila has left the room, flanked by the other officers, the court erupts again in dozens of voices all asking questions at once.

+++++

Outside the courtroom, Mama starts issuing orders. “Joe, fetch a copy of that holo. Everyone else back to Storm Cutter on the double.”

“Where are we going?”

“Nowhere in the galaxy, but somewhere we can work in peace.”

“I’m guessing that you suspect that the holo is a forgery?” Niall asks.

“I think it’s genuine.” Karnov chimes in. The others staring at her make her retract that comment. “Actually, It probably is a forgery….” She says, back-pedalling furiously.

They hustle aboard. “Got it!” Joe-9T says, bounding up the ramp and dropping a holo-transmitter on the table.

“Good. We’ll get our best men on the job.” Niall says, taking command.

Mama and Karnov look at one another and give a casual shrug. Joe-9T and the other droids communicate the same thing to one another in binary and in microseconds.

Niall looks around. “Where’s Ta’alan?”

“Off Twi’lekking.”

There is a moment’s pause.

“Actually can you use Twi’lek as a verb?”

“I think he can.” Rojic chimes in, making a rude gesture.

“So that leaves me as the best man….” Niall concludes.

“When I get married, I’ll bear that in mind.” Mama says.

“-But you’re already married.”

“Okay….When I get married again.”

“This is not getting the colonel off the hook!” Niall says in such a authoritative voice that the others jump.

They all sigh. “I guess there’s nothing for it. We’ll have to let Rojic at the holo.”

“Oh Rojic….We’ve got something for you…..”

“I suppose that it’s work.” Rojic grumbles.

“Or pain….If you prefer.” Niall says, staring at him.

“Okay!” Rojic snatches up the holo and disappears into his workshop.

Rojic has some theories. The others join him after a while and pitch their own.

“It’s been doctored.”

Rojic dismisses this. “No. It’s genuine.”

“Okay….Then it has been spliced together from different conversations.”

“Nope. All present and correct. Contiguity and continuity are fine.”

“An actor playing the colonel’s part?”

“Nope. The voice print matches.”

“Date stamps?”

“All okay.”

They run the holo through several more times.

“Nothing.”

“Maybe we’re just not seeing it.” Jimmi says, having not ‘seen’ any of it in the first place.

“Okay….So check the details, the backgrounds, the positions of the protagonists. The readouts on the displays….” This they do, picking over each detail with dogged precision.

“He’s got us. We can’t even get an image from a reflection of the mirror in the bathroom….From the flat with the scale of the fake snake….”

“What are you on about?”

“We’re running out of time.” Karnov says.

“You played it at half speed?”

“Quarter, half. –Even double and triple.”

“It’s his voice?”

“Yup. Cross-checked it with other holos and recorded speech. All legit.”

“We’re missing something.”

“Yeah.” Joe-9T says, without emotion. “He’s guilty.”

They fall silent. Niall puts a hand on Rojic’s shoulder. “Take it apart. Frame by frame. Pixel by pixel. Examine everything.”

“Use the droids too.” Mama urges.

“Okay. But I tell you it’s useless. This is water-tight. –And not in a good way.”

The others troop out to give Rojic room to work and think. He sets about the task of analysing every last nuance.

Some hours later, Rojic has drawn a blank. “I can’t find anything wrong. It’s a fake, but it’s so good that it passes for genuine.”

“And hearsay evidence won’t be accepted by the court martial.”

“Nope. Our friend the colonel is looking at a good long stretch. Around the neck area. Best start baking cakes with blasters inside.”

Jimmi is quiet. “Run it again. One more time.”

Rojic plays back the holo. He knows every word, every gesture, every subtlety.

Jimmi stops it halfway. “There!”

“Where?”

“There!”

“What?”

“Run it once more. Enhance….Enhance….Pull back, Wait a minute, Go right.... Stop ... Give me a hard copy right there. ....”

Rojic boggles. “You can’t get a hardcopy of a man’s voice.”

“No you can’t fake a voice. But listen….Not to the words. To the inflection.”

They run it again. The voice on the holo says, “I will endeavour to swing the battle that way, to facilitate your armies.”

“It sounds the same.”

“But the inflection is wrong. –Notice the slight monotone. –It’s subtle. Almost too subtle. Like someone reading subtitles, not speaking from the heart.”

Niall brings them up sharp. “I understand what Jimmi is saying….Though it’s really difficult to convey on paper.”

Jimmi is dismissive. “Whatever! We have it! We’re listening to a fake. A cleverly staged fake. That’s the colonel alright. That’s obviously him in the room saying something, but he’s under a spell or a trance, or….”

“Or an impostor is imitating his voice!” Karnov yelps.

“Get your stuff. Contact Kardashilan. Get to the courtroom and lets blow this thing sky high….See who comes down with the pieces!”

Niall checks the time. “We have a little more breathing space. I expect that as its well past noon, the court martial will be in recess for lunch. – Probably reconvene around three or so.”

“And?”

“And that gives us time to do some snooping. Rojic. Now we have the ‘fake’ we need to tap into the command HQ to find the original broadcast. There may be some archiving system or something that we can slice into.”

“When you mean ‘we’ you mean me?”

“Yes….”

“I can’t do it.” Rojic states for the record.

“What?”

“I can’t do it. I need someone on the inside.”

The others look at one another. “We’ll be clocked for sure. The military has that command building sewn up every which way.”

“No inside man, no outside Toydarian.”

“Pip!”

“Not now Hen3ry.”

“Pip! Pip!”

“Not now….Hen3ry....How would you like to do some undercover work?”

“Bloop!”

Never mind that. We need you to trundle up to the command building and punch a hole in the security systems. Your icebreaking will allow Rojic to remotely reconnoitre.”

Some time later, Hen3ry traverses the plaza and goes up a service ramp at the HQ. The Republic military have not been based here long, and there are holes in the security. Jimmi and Karnov scouted the building out earlier on the pretext of taking an afternoon constitutional. Some tense moments later, Hen3ry pings Rojic with the all-clear. Between them they penetrate the security. A few lucky breaks come their way, and with Karnov and Jimmi on lookout, Rojic manages to tap into the holo-recordings. The original file is missing however, but with a clever half-rollback manoeuvre Rojic manages to extract the encoded file. Some minutes later he runs it through a decryption algorythm and recalls the others to Storm Cutter. By this time they have had the recall to the court martial, so have scant minutes to review the footage.

“Spin on to the most familiar bit.” Mama says, Rojic does so.

“I will endeavour to swing the battle that way, to facilitate your armies.”

“There!” Niall indicates.

“All I see is the colonel saying the words to the enemy droids.”

“Okay, now overlay it with the copy from the room, synch it up…..And….”

The colonel says the words again. In the courtroom copy he is telling it to a holo of a droid. The colonel is as real as can be. In the security video he can be seen less distinctly. There is something wrong with the features too. “Now we can see that the colonel is in fact a cunningly disguised actor! Presumably the face isn't right, hence the turned back. The voice is almost perfect, but it is an impression rather than the real thing!”

Rojic puts a hand up to high five everyone, but they are so delighted at his handiwork, they completely ignore him and run down the ramp.

They make the court martial just in time. They try to catch the colonel’s eye, but he has his head in his hands. –possibly his whole career also. all three senior officers look grim. The rest of the assembled faces reflect this. Rojic flaps down to Skobra and tells him that the holo is a fake. As the hearing reconvenes, the colonel and Skobra are in deep discussion. The court observers start talking in whispers that amplify to a hubbub which become a din. Kardshilan shushes them, but isn’t heard. Words such as ‘treason’ and ‘execution’ are on many people’s lips. Admiral Kardashilan tries to regain order once more. She is pipped at the post by Mama who yells in her most authoritarian voice, “Silence in court!” Like an off switch, everything goes quiet. Ad Skobra takes this opportunity to steer the court martial his way.

“I believe we can cast doubt on the authenticity of the holo presented before the recess. I call on my expert witness. Mister Rojic please.”

Rojic gives his account of his investigation.

“At first I assumed a guilty verdict, backed up with the evidence before the hearing, but latterly after some persuasion, I assumed difference matting, which is generally used with moving objects since it can be used to remove a background that is not moving. Then, this background can be changed to a different background. The difference matting works by removing the background before the moving subject even enters the scene, but after the scene is set and the composition balanced for a second actor to appear matted behind, to the side or even in front of the first. So, the holo could have been edited by manipulating a static background, with a soundtrack of the accused talking over a semi- matted actor’s voice, thus filling in the parts missing…..Over the matt.”

On seeing several pairs of eyes glazing over, Skobra interrupts. “We belive the holo to be a clever fake. If the colonel might say these words on the datapad…. Skobra hands over the device. The colonel says, ““I will endeavour to swing the battle that way, to facilitate your armies.”

“Now practice the line, but say it without reading it.”

The colonel complies.

“Your point being?” Junn asks, pouring scorn on Skobra’s demonstration.

“My point is that the same man, the same words, but different inflection. Might we hear that piece of the holo again?”

They duly play the holo again. Skobra stands and addresses the court. “The colonel was coerced into saying the words for the holo. – We…” He points to the Storm Cutter crew, “Have managed to piece together a working hypothesis. –Please play exhibit two – The same conversation with the same datestamp – taken from a recorder in the room.”

There is a ripple around the room.

The second holo is played.

Karnov assists. “Now we filtered out some of the syllables. You can hear the strange intonation.…And now we add them back in....But the difference is now rather obvious.” She beams at the gallery. “A cleverly disguised impostor. Perfect in appearance, but the voice training would take months to master.”

“This evidence is a fabrication!” Junn objects.

Tebka and Kardashilan disagree. “The original holo only came to light a few hours ago. To fabricate a rebuttal in such short time, would be impossible.”

Junn protests. Kardashilan turns to him, raising a hand for silence.

“I rule that this court martial be dismissed with prejudice.“ She says, “The charges are dropped. The colonel did overstep his mark questioning his superior officer. In addition, had his rescue mission been a failure, the consequences would be very grave indeed. Let every officer here take note. For now, the colonel is acquitted. The case is dismissed!”

Everyone rises to their feet. The hubub starts again. Colonel D’Estrella and Ad Skobra shake hands. Junn has an angry expression on his face. “I demand the colonel resign his commission!”

“Stand down master.” Karnov says, soothingly.

“I will not! I demand a word with General Kardashilan! Immediately!”

“Leave the admiral alone.” Niall says, echoing Karnov’s soothing tone.

“Or what?” Junn demands.

“Or face the consequences.” Karnov says. Stepping between Junn and Kardashilan.

“Stand aside Karnov!”

“Not until you explain.”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“I don’t need to understand.” Karnov says, smooth as silk, “But I need to know the truth.”

“You couldn’t handle the truth!” Junn explodes.

“Try me.”

Junn changes tack. “Get back to your swamp! Take your treacherous friend and go!”

“I am not going anywhere, master.”

“Then I will go!” Junn says, starting to push past.

“I must insist that you stay, master. It would be irresponsible to leave your post.”

“I am your superior officer!” Junn roars at her. “Guards!”

Several men shuffle forward. They start to escort Junn along a wide corridor. Karnov and the crew follow. “It is against the Jedi code to show anger.” Niall reminds Junn.

“Back off. I’m still your commander.”

“We will not back down….” Niall starts to say.

“This is between me and my Padawan!” Junn screeches at Niall.

“Then I request that you come with me.”

“I will not take orders from my subordinate!” Junn yells, quickening the pace.

“I insist!” Karnov insists.

Junn stops. “In which case, as you will not back down, I resign my commission.”

There is a second’s silence. Everyone stops. The rowing stops. Junn is seething with rage.

Niall’s quick brain seizes the initiative. “Guards, escort this man somewhere secure. I cannot allow a civilian….” He lets the word sink in for a second, “To remain unescorted in the building.”

Junn is raging quietly. The guards are reluctant to take him in.

“Might I suggest you let these men take you to the medical bay.” Niall suggests in a persuasive tone.

Junn sneers at him. “You think a mind trick would sway a Jedi master?”

Niall shrugs. “It was worth a try….”

Kanrov has a heavy heart. “I’m sorry, but in the name of the Republic, and the Jedi order I must place you under arrest, -Master.”

Junn snaps. “Kill her!” He yells at the guards, he draws his lightsabre, igniting it.

Niall is quickest to react. He draws his lightsabre and rushes the nearest guards. They are wrong-footed. A slice later, and one is badly hurt. Another falls dead. Rojic draws a blaster and shoots two rapid shots. He injures a guard and stuns another. Jimmi leaps several feet into the air and lands, sending a massive pulse of energy along the corridor. For a second, everyone in front of Jimmi is stunned. A shot from the guards commander hits Niall, who manages to roll with it. A trooper blasts Jimmi. Junn and Karnov are locked in a lightsabre duel, Karnov calmly deflecting a flurry of angry blows. The commander comes in close to Niall, who is out of position. His blaster is raised, he has the advantage. Across Rojic, Mama snaps off two shots. The commander answers, but his shot goes wide. Junn lunges at Karnov, who narrowly avoids a fatal blow. She senses an opening, and as Junn corrects his blow, Karnov whips her weapon down. There is a heavy thud. Junn’s arm is severed above the wrist. Mama yells again, “Lay down your arms!” There is a beat when she considers apologising for such a poorly timed phrase.

Master Junn stops suddenly, as though frozen in time. Karnov suspects some new trickery and adopts a defensive stance. Her master’s eyes glaze straight ahead. The tension is palpable. The guards lower their weapons. Rojic points at Junn. A black spot has appeared at his temple, growing larger. A curl of smoke drifts upwards. Junn swoons. As Karnov steps forward to catch Junn, he clatters to the floor. Dead eyes stare up and Karnov gasps. “What?”

Still wary, Karnov lifts the severed arm. Inside are circuits and wires. Memories come flooding back. Karnov sinks to her knees with the fake master Junn in her arms. Mama’s empathy kicks in. She covers the guards and ushers the other crew members back. They all assemble in a side room.

The guards are disarmed. They stand in a corner offering no further resistance.

The remaining crew talk in low voices. Karnov joins them after ten minutes or so, carrying the droid. Her head is clear, her eyes are shining.

“No grief for Junn?” Rojic asks, pointedly.

“I’m wearing black underwear.”

Rojic takes this as a cue, an pitches in with a rather insensitive question. “So what does it feel like when you find out your whole life is a lie?”

Niall gives him such a venomous look, that Rojic backs down. “It’s okay,” Karnov says in a remarkably steady voice, “I’ll be alright. It also suggests that the Junn I knew – the real Master Junn- is still in the hands of the separatists.”

“So the impostor has been aiding the enemy all along….An undercover agent.”

“-And Karnov came along and messed it all up. The droid tried its best to destroy her, kill her or break her.”

“But our Karnov is tougher than that.” Mama says, putting an arm around Karnov.

Rojic’s mind has been working overtime. “So she never actually was promoted to Jedi Knight. – She’s still a padawan!”

“I can promote you....”Mama warns, “To a nice fresh corpse, if you don’t back off. –Leave Karnov alone. If you want to do something useful, then give us an analysis on that droid.”

Rojic duly does so. He starts prodding and poking around in the droid’s innards.

“What about the guards?” Jimmi asks.

“I’ll see to them.” Mama offers, drawing her blaster and leveling it at them. They all look afraid. Niall stops her. “No I’ll do it.”

He strides over to the four guards. They have been listening in on the conversation and wondering what will happen to them now the secret is revealed.

Niall stops. In a calm voice he says, “Repeat after me…..”

The guards nod their agreement. Niall continues. “Junn was ill. He attacked Karnov. He was subdued and taken to hospital. He’ll get better soon.”

The guards repeat Niall’s words.

“You may go about your duties.” Niall tells them.

“We’ll go about our duties.” They intone.

Jimmi turns to Rojic. “Verdict?”

“Covert ops sleeper droid. Chameleon exoskeleton. Very advanced. A marvel of robotic engineering. It is so close a facsimile that you’d never guess.”

“How did it use the force?”

“By using micro- tractor beams, and force-fields. Also misdirection.”

“Misdirection?” Jimmi asks.

“Simple. I tell you something is so….And if you trust –or trusted- me previously, then the lie is disguised.

“So lightsabre the end off the box, tell someone that the force is not to be used lightly, look after wounded troops rather than fight the enemy….All that kind of thing.”

Mama is curious. “It is Junns’ lightsabre?”

“Certainly.” Karnov says, picking it up. “His clothes, his synthesised voice….Everything is perfect….Except that it isn’t him.”

“-And it was so long since he left Karnov, that she wouldn’t exactly remember the real Junn. – Besides, he used the ‘came back a changed man’ routine to good effect.”

Jimmi sighs. “No wonder he was resistant to me probing his motivation….Electronic brain.”

“What’s left of it. The smoke was the function network self-destructing.”

“Can you fix it?”

“With an atomic scanner, molecular manipulator and a lifetime of work,” Rojic sighs, “Then maybe I might just get it to walk and string a few simple words together.”

“So…No higher brain functions….Just a walking and talking automaton.”

“Enough! -Time to go.” Karnov says to nobody in particular. She strides off, ignoring the irony.

“Like Master, like padawan.” Jimmi says, leaving them all with something to think about.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

E P I L O G U E

Niall awakes. It is still dark. He can hear quiet movements around the room. -A dimly-perceived figure is collecting things into a kit bag. “It’s still dark” He murmurs drowsily. He is silenced by warm lips and gentle lekku.

“I know sweetie. -Orders to head out.”

“When do we go? Niall asks, as he starts to ease himself from the bed.

“Not ‘we’ lover. Just me….” Oona pushes him down again.

“Doing what?” his concern shows in his voice.

“Spying of course sweetie….” Oona is trying to be sarcastic but showing signs of nervousness.

Niall dresses quickly and follows Oona down to the landing field. The silhouette of a Firespray-31 could just be made out in the starlight. The figure of the pilot is lurking in the shadows of the ramp. “My ride” Oona explains. Niall holds her close for a moment. “Be careful.”

“We will sweetie.”

Harsh voices interrupt their brief reverie. Niall turns around to see Kory and D'Estrella striding across the ground. Kory turns to the General and snaps off a smart salute. “See you in Mal'Agua.”

Still giddy with the events over the last few days and the early morning start, D’Estrella only manages to say one thing: “May the force be with you.”

With that, the two figures turn and cross the ground to the waiting ship. Commander Venn ushers them inside and follows up the ramp. The ship climbs into the night sky and in a moment, has vanished into the night. D’Estrella turns to Niall. “That's a great girl you have there.” He pauses, “-A couple of great girls. I hope this won't be too much for them.”

Niall bristles and the perceived sleight to Oona and Kory. D’Estrella senses this. “I….I'm asking a lot of them.” He adds, backtracking somewhat.

“Oh, Kory can handle the difficult. The impossible might take a little longer, but she never gives up.”

“I know General Killian.” They start to walk back at a brisk pace to keep warm.

“Niall. Please.” Niall says, turning to D’Estrella and defusing the situation. They walk back to the headquarters. “It’s surely too early to start being all formal and that.”

“Yeah. Sorry. I didn’t mean to say that the girls couldn’t manage, but every operation fills me with dread that they won’t return. I’m a quivering wreck at the moment as it is.”

“You’ve been through a lot.” Niall sympathises. He stops. “I could teach you some relaxation techniques sometimes if you’d like.”

“Thanks, I would appreciate it. –Well, goodbye for now….”

D’Estrella turns left to walk to the twinkling lights of headquarters leaving Niall alone with his thoughts. “I wonder who started it?” He asks himself. “They call everyone ‘sweetie!’”

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Footnotes:

Epilogue by: Paul Burton.

THE SEARCH FOR JUNN BEGINS!