Star Wars: 501st: An Imperial Commando Novel by Karen Traviss

Author:Karen Traviss
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Action & Adventure, Fiction
ISBN: 9780307796028
Publisher: LucasBooks
Published: 2011-06-28T04:00:00+00:00

Commander Melusar’s office, Special Operations, 501st Legion, Imperial City

“I’m sorry, sir. Things got a bit out of hand.”

Niner took the fact he was sitting in Melusar’s office rather than standing to attention in front of the desk as a good sign. But then Melusar was a hearts-and-minds kind of officer. And this was just a routine report about discharge of weapons in a public place. A grenade round versus a repulsortruck, and the grenade won. Holy Roly didn’t need to know more.

“Meaning?” Melusar said.

“I should have alerted the police.” Niner found it hard not to say CSF every time. “I used lethal force to stop a vehicle thief.”

“I don’t think that’s going to be a capital offense under this Empire, Sergeant. But I’d like to know why you did it. You’re experienced. Special forces. Not some trigger-happy security guard.”

Niner reached for an outright lie. It was easy. He hadn’t realized just how easy. “I think I’m overreacting, sir. I’m finding it hard to switch off from the war. Everything starts me off. Ordinary stuff.”

Melusar just looked at him, not with that I’m-waiting-for-the-truth expression Zey would have worn, but with concern. Real concern, not an act he’d learned on leadership courses.

He might just have been a great actor, of course. Niner wasn’t about to abandon caution.

“I’d be surprised if it didn’t,” Melusar said at last. “And I don’t think there’s a quick cure, because it’s a part of what makes you a fine soldier. You’ve been in life-and-death situations. You react instantly to stay alive. It doesn’t come with an off switch.”

Niner felt terrible. He was getting sympathy he hadn’t earned. There was nothing wrong with him, nothing at all. He wasn’t like Darman, erupting and lashing out when things got too much. Was he?

I’d know. I’d know if I was losing it. I’m sure I would.

But an insistent little voice reminded him that he always felt pursued, spied upon, threatened these days. The Empire kept an even tighter watch on its citizens than the Republic had. Conspicuous new public holocams were springing up everywhere, so he knew he wasn’t imagining all of it. But it was not knowing where to draw the line between the real and the imagined that was eating away at him.

“I know Darman wasn’t with you at the time,” Melusar said. “I want to talk to both of you, though.” He got up and opened the doors to summon a droid. Niner heard him. “Five-em, get Trooper Darman, please.”

The doors stayed open for a change and Melusar sat down. Niner hadn’t seen Darman since he’d walked back through the main gates and reported the incident. It wasn’t concealable from his end, whatever Obrim might have done with security holovids, and he decided against discussing it with Darman and dragging him farther into it.

Does Dar even know I came back?

There wasn’t a lot that escaped notice in a small closed world like this unit. Niner kept his gaze fixed on the wall, wary of making eye contact with Melusar and falling into conversation, because the guy was just too easy to talk to.

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