Project Boussh: Desperate Measures
by Vickie Boyd



Wedge looked at Vickie strangely. She had taken two spoons and bent them 
at odd angles. With her makeshift tool, she tried to undo the bolts 
holding together the bed in the cell. She was determined to get her 
hands on the length of pipe that provided support to the bed. "I would 
kill for a Swiss army knife," she mumbled to herself.

"Swiss army knife?"

She grunted as she twisted her "wrench" again. "Yeah, it's kind of an 
all-tool. It has a knife, a bottle opener, a file. You know, all the 
essentials."

"Uh, yeah." He watched her working diligently. "Remind me again. Why are 
you doing this?"

"Yes," she hissed as the bolt came loose. "I'm hoping I can get enough 
parts together to create another lightsaber." She pulled the pipe out 
and gave it a once-over. "It's a little long, but it will work in a cinch."

She put it with the other things she had collected on top of the bed. 
Mentally clicking them off in her head, she frowned. "Well, I have 
everything I need except for a power supply and a gem."

Wedge searched his pockets for anything that might help. All he found 
was his comlink. "Will this help?"

Her eyes brightened as she took the comlink from him. Then her brow 
furrowed. "If I use this, then we won't have a way to contact the others 
when we get out of here."

"I think it would be more useful in making a lightsaber. I did watch 
your practice with Mike. You both did very well. I was quite impressed."

Her eyes were on the comlink, but her mind was in shock. Wedge Antilles 
was complimenting her. "Um, yes sir."

As she was disassembling the comlink, the door swished opened. Vickie 
jumped and turned around to hide her pile of junk. Two women were 
unceremoniously shoved into the room and the door closed behind them. 
She tried to reach out with the Force, but found herself blocked.

Wedge steadied the two women. One wore a flightsuit and the other wore a 
rather wrinkled formal dress. They both stood wide-eyed before him. 
"General Antilles," they asked in unison.

He smiled (as only he can), "Quiara. I am so glad to see you."

"They told me you were here to try and rescue me," she said as she 
hugged the Corellian. "I didn't believe them."

He returned her hug. "Well, they chose their words well." Breaking the 
embrace, he opened his arms wide. "I tried and ended up captured 
myself." He looked at the other woman, "You must be..."

"Lieutenant Dorset Konnair, Polearm Squadron." She snapped to attention.

"At ease Lieutenant. I am very glad to see you are well."

"Not more than I am," added Vickie.

Dorset looked at her strangely. "Do I know you?"

"Not exactly. I'm Vickie Boyd, Terra Nine. You probably would know me 
better as Ace Two."

"Oh, you're the one who was flying Horn's X-Wing."

"Yes. I'm sorry about what happened. It was my fault. I shouldn't 
have..." Wedge gave her a stern look, so she stopped.

"I remember Brad saying that you were the one who saved me."

"I, uh, well, I assisted in getting you out of your A-Wing. I used 
telekinesis to..."

"You can use the Force?" Quiara looked at her curiously.

"Um, yes. It seems that Terrans can be Force sensitive too. Corran has 
been teaching me a few things."

"I, for one, am glad he did," Dorset added.

An awkward silence fell over the room. Quiara moved past Vickie to sit 
on the bed. "This has been a very stressful ordeal."

"Careful," Vickie said before she sat. She picked up her parts and held 
them.

"What are those for," Dorset asked.

"I was hoping to make myself another lightsaber. Problem is, I don't 
have a..." Her voice faded as she looked at Quiara.

The younger woman looked down, "What? Is there something on my dress?"

"That pin," she said pointing to a small oval clasp on the dress. "May I 
have it?"

Quiara shrugged. "Sure. It's not mine anyway. Atner made me put this 
stupid getup on." She sighed. "I hate that I've caused so much trouble." 
She handed Vickie the pin.

Vickie took one of her bent spoons and began to pry loose the gem from 
the pin. It was an iridescent opal. She turned the gem over in her hand. 
"This will work perfectly." She walked to the corner closest to the door.

"What is she doing," Quiara whispered to Wedge. He just shrugged.

She sat on the floor with her items. "I think I can get this done in 
just a few hours. It should be easier the second time around. All I ask 
for is your protection. I swear that when I get this finished, I will 
find a way for us to get out of here."

Her three companions nodded and she leaned over and put her head against 
the wall. She had to look silly. Her back was to the room as she sat 
crosslegged in the corner. She finally felt alive and had a plan. 
Settling into the trance, she began the process of infusing the parts 
with the Force.



Wedge, Dorset and Quiara watched the woman. She looked almost as if she 
was dead. Her upper body was limp, yet they could hear the clink of 
metal as her hands moved over the parts. "This is creepy," Quiara 
finally said.

Wedge shook his head in awe. "At least she isn't in the 'fresher. We had 
that problem with another of our Terran Jedi."

The women both raised an eyebrow to this.

Wedge smiled. "How about while we're waiting, you two tell me what has 
been happening to you since this all started."



She was free, flying through space. Nothing could stop her, until she 
found him. His mind was there. It frightened her and made her angry at 
the same time. Yet she also felt sorrow. Why would she feel sad for him? 
He is the one who has caused all her trouble.

But that wasn't the way she was. She could feel angry and sad at the 
same time. That was the way of the Force. She continued to follow his 
presence, until it dissapeared along with the Force.


Vickie's eyes snapped open. She looked down to find that she had 
finished the saber. There was no time to test it. The door was about to 
open. She slid the lightsaber up the leg of her pants and turned around 
quickly, acting as if she was asleep.

The door opened to reveal a contingent of troopers. Pol led them in. 
"Well, well. It seems the Grand Admiral would like to have dinner with 
his esteemed guests. Please follow me."