Chapter Five

Athulla, 34 ABY

As she was about to enter the hangar Zay heard her mother say, "He's got bombs."

"Use your ion pulse," Zay advised.

"Good thinking," her mother said. "That should deactivate the bombs before they explode."

Once she docked her X-wing on the Corvus, Zay jumped out and rushed to the bridge. When she reached the bridge, she saw Shriv standing next to the holo pad and asked, "What's the situation?"

"I was about to contact the Opportunity to get them to surrender," he replied, "but I'm not sure how to get them to do that."

"I have an idea," Zay told him, "let me try."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive," she replied. "Open a channel."

Shriv pressed a few buttons then looked at the younger Versio and said, "Channel open."

"Opportunity, this is Zay Versio of the Corvus, " she announced in a serious voice. "I will give you one chance and only one chance to surrender. If you do not wish to do as I ask, I will be forced to do something drastic."

"This is Kip Shaw, acting commanding officer of the Opportunity," a voice replied, "and what exactly do you mean by drastic?"

Suddenly, an idea came to her and she smiled inwardly. The Corvus doesn't have concussion missiles, but they don't know that, she thought. In a serious tone of voice she said, "If you and your crew do not wish to surrender, I will fire all of our concussion missiles at your ship. Seeing as your ship is already disabled, I would take the smart decision and surrender."

"You wouldn't dare," Shaw spat back.

"It looks like your Captain isn't having the best of times out there," Zay said as she observed her mom fighting Leema Kai. "I would just make it easier on all of us and just surrender."

When she got no response back from Kip Shaw after a minute or so she turned to Shriv and winked at him. "Shriv, arm all of our concussion missiles and aim them at the Opportunity. Prepare to fire all of them at once. On my command."

"No, wait," Shaw suddenly exclaimed. "We surrender! We'll give you anything you want."

"What was your ship being used for exactly?" Zay asked him.

"Transporting... transporting children for the First Order," he stammered out.

"Do you have any children currently onboard your ship?" she asked.

"No," Shaw replied. "All we have onboard our ship is cargo."

Thank god for that, Zay silently breathed a sigh of relief. "Where were you ordered to send these children?"

"Vardos," Shaw answered. "The children were sent there, but what reason I don't know. I swear on my mother I don't know."

Vardos? Mom's homeworld? Zay thought.

"What happened to Del Meeko?" she demanded.

The channel was silent for a moment. "All I know is that Gleb scooped him up when he stumbled upon Project Resurrection," Shaw answered. "After that, I honestly have no idea."

Well, that doesn't give us much intel on what happened to Dad but it's something at least, she thought. "Where's Gleb at this moment?" she asked aloud.

"Vardos," Shaw replied.

"Thank you for your cooperation," Zay said. "If you attempt to fire on us, retaliation will be swift."

"Understood," Shaw said, then the channel went dark.

Zay looked at Shriv out of the corner of her eye. He nodded to her and with a slight smile on his face said, "Nicely done, Zay."

"Thanks, Shriv," she said. "Now let's see how Mom-"

Suddenly her mother's voice came over the comm. "Got him!"

"I know it's a strong word and all," Shriv said as he opened a comms channel to her mother, "but I really hated that guy."

"I'm going after the frigate," Iden said.

"Mom, wait. It's over," Zay said as her mother's image appeared on the holo pad in front of her and Shriv. "The Opportunity just surrendered."

"What?" her mother said, shock evident on her face. "I take down their leader and they just give up?"

"I may have told them that we were prepared to fire all of our concussion missiles at once," Zay said sheepishly.

"Zay," her mother exclaimed, "The Corvus never had missiles, you know that!"

"Yeah, well they don't know that," she told her mother with a small shrug.

"No. They don't," her mother said with a slight smile on her face. "Nice work, soldier."

"That's not all," Shriv informed his longtime friend. "They gave up everything. Gleb scooped up Del when he stumbled onto Project Resurrection."

"Where is she?" Iden asked with a hint of anger in her voice as she narrowed her eyes.

"You're not going to believe it."

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