Project Boussh: If Only the Pain Would Stop
by Vickie Boyd



They walked from the dinning room in single file. Two troopers led the 
group. Dorset followed, her eyes open for any way out. Quiara followed 
her, sighing lightly at the fact that her dress was now quite soiled. 
Vickie walked behind Quiara, her jaw set tight. Wedge brought up the 
rear with two troopers behind him.

He watched the women before him. The Lieutenant was just that. She had a 
military bearing and he could see her searching for a weakness. Quiara 
was the lost one. He felt so sorry that she had gotten involved in this. 
Then there was the Terran Jedi. She's headstrong and brash. Thrawn was 
right in calling her insubordinate, however she isn't in the military... 
yet. Would she be able to handle it if she did get "drafted"? He knew 
she would make a powerful ally and a good warrior, perhaps. She had the 
Force, and it grounded her to a sense of honor.

Vickie stumbled slightly and grabbed her leg. "Shit," she mumbled in 
shock under her breath. She looked down, but saw no blood or burn mark. 
She stopped and reached out with the Force. There was a slight tingle as 
it filtered away.

"Are you ok," Wedge whispered behind her.

She nodded and then was prodded by a blaster rifle. "Someone got hurt," 
she said quietly as she moved forward.

"Can you tell who?"

She shook her head and frowned. "I didn't even really know I had this 
ability. It must be somebody I've spent some time with. Damnit, I would 
much rather be down there."

"I know, but we're going to get out of here soon."




Once back in the cell, the three women and man sighed collectively. This 
made Quiara giggle, which quickly spread to the others. Soon, all four 
were laughing. After a few moments, they all sat down, tired from using 
muscles they hadn't used in days. Quiara pushed herself up on the upper 
bunk. "Oh," she exclaimed as she found a flightsuit on the bed. She held 
it up and found it to be the perfect size. She jumped down and 
immediately headed for the refresher.

Vickie grinned as she watched the young woman dash off to change. "I bet 
she's going to feel so much better."

"Yes, I would agree," Dorset said.

Vickie sat on the floor. "I'm going to get some shut-eye. It's been a 
long day."

Wedge nodded. "I think all of us need to get some sleep."



Her sleep was dreamless. It had been for as long as she had been on this 
ship. Without the connection to the Force, she was blinded to most 
feelings. She tossed and turned as she tried to sleep. It was fitful and 
fruitless. She sighed and lay on her back.

Suddenly she sat up. Her sudden movement woke Wedge. He looked over and 
saw her eyes were wide. "What is it," he asked.

"Mike. I can..." She paused for a moment. "Oh gods, no."

"What?" Wedge could hear the fear in her voice. Something was happening, 
and it wasn't good.

She grabbed her head and screamed. The Force flowed from Mike through 
her. She felt the searing heat going through his body. It was tearing 
him apart inside and out. She curled up in a fetal position and cried.

Wedge quickly moved to her. He looked up to see Dorset on her other 
side. They both whispered soft encouragements. The woman finally calmed 
and cried softly.

"Mike," she said finally. "He's... he's..." She couldn't finish. In 
fact, she wasn't really sure what he was. Was he dead? Was he alive? She 
didn't know. All she knew is that she hurt terribly.

Dorset was the first to speak. "Don't talk, just rest. Tell us when you 
can."

Vickie nodded and drifted off into a hard sleep.