“I don’t know, Prince Eskel.” Kijani murmured, searching the guards one by one. Finally, she found a small key fob on one’s belt. She pressed it, and Eskel’s cuffs popped open. “Perhaps the empire got to them.” But what could they have offered – or threatened – to remove their loyalty so completely?

Giving Eskel a moment, she searched the guards for further clues. Unfortunately, she found little. Sighing softly, she pulled a blaster from one of them, and examined it carefully for any damage. After a test shot, she looked to Eskel.

“Do you know how to use one of these? I’m going to need some backup.” Indeed, her infiltration had not been perfect. She had several blaster holes in her clothes, and what looked like some burns on her cheek. She gave him time to decide, holding the blaster out carefully.

As she did, she shut her eyes and reached out to the Force. She knew a losing situation when she saw one. Eventually, she would run out of strength, and be captured or dead. If there was anyone, anyone at all able to help, she prayed that they would show up soon.