Project Boussh: Emotional Shock
by Nick Coghlan

Nick spun through the room, fists and feet flying as enemies fell by the
dozen. Blows to the throat, kicks to the solar plexus, shattered
kneecaps, noses shoved into the brain. He focused every part of his
being into each blow, channeling all his anger and frustration into
furious motion. Eventually a single repeated word managed to make its
way into his consciousness.

"Nick."

Finally recognising his name, Nick slowed to a halt, focusing on the
individual who had spoken.

"Ooryl is wondering what you are doing?"

The room was empty except for the Gand. There were no fallen enemies, no
groaning casualties. Breathing heavily, Nick replied, "Venting. It's a
little hard to attack the universe, so I attack these instead." He
gestured around the room. "Imaginary enemies are some of the best
targets. They always stand in just the right spot to be taken down, and
they never hit back."

Ooryl nodded slowly. "I think I understand some of your frustration."
The Gand paused, considering what to say next. "Elassar is on his way
with the shuttle. Hopefully he will have a better idea how to aid our
patient's recovery."

Nick snorted. "Considering the only idea I've got is to whack him over
the head again, it shouldn't be too hard for Elassar to produce a more
productive alternative."

*************************

Nick, Ooryl & Brad stood waiting as the shuttle's ramp reached the
ground. Before Nick could say anything, the brown haired figure at the
top of the ramp spoke, "You haven't got any armed Ewoks with you, have
you?".

"Nope." At this Mike's face brightened to a mere doleful glumness.
"We're going to pick them up in Brisbane." Mike's face fell again. Nick
wondered if even Josh might be cheerier company at this point.

Nick continued, "We needed to get the van back to Brisbane, and Josh
volunteered to drive it. Yarg and the other Ewoks decided to stay with
him. C'mon, let's go."

Even as they walked on board, the shuttle's ramp was lifted again, and
the craft took off towards the north. Inside, a devilish looking figure
inspected the form that lay on the shuttle's deck. Pocketing the
hypospray he had just used on Brad, Elassar said "You did the right
thing not stunning him again, Ooryl, but I think letting him sleep
through this trip will be easier on all of us." Looking at Nick he
asked, "Now where was it we were going again?"

*************************

The shuttle sped low across the ocean towards the beach. As they
approached, they saw a sharp flare of light. Bror angled the ship
towards it. "That's the signal. Our next passenger should be waiting for
us to pick him up."

Nick rose from his seat at the rear of the cockpit. "Excellent. I'll go
meet him on the ramp."

Walking into the rear compartment, he said to Elassar, "We're just about
there. How's our patient?"

"Fine, absolutely fine." Nick flicked a curious glance in Elassar's
direction. There had been something almost gleeful in the Devaronian's
tone. His eyes met Elassar's wide-eyed and innocent expression.
Shrugging, Nick continued on to the shuttle's hatch. Elassar's scheming
could wait until after they'd picked up their passenger.

There was a barely perceptible rocking as Bror settled the shuttle on
the beach. Nick hit the switch to lower the shuttle's ramp to allow
their new passenger on board. Before he could welcome the new arrival,
he heard a noise behind him. Turning, he saw Brad standing in the entry
to the rear compartment, with Elassar supporting him. Nick opened his
mouth to ask what was going on, but was overridden by the mechanical
tones of a translator.

"WHAT IN SITH'S NAME IS HE DOING HERE?"

Standing framed in the shuttle's hatchway, Piggy was a picture of
Gamorrean fury, his eyes rock hard as they bored into Brad's. The
Terran's jaw worked soundlessly, in a futile attempt at producing
speech. As Nick looked back and forth between the two, he noticed
something intriguing. Elassar held his face perfectly still, but in his
eyes there was a gleam of triumph.