Project Boussh: The Vibrant World
by Brad Corletti

"How did he break the travel plans? 'Hey kids, pack your bags, we're
going to Hell!'?"

Brad was interrupted by a furious storm of beeping. A droid was
swivelling its domed head and flashing its lights. A dark-skinned
woman in very good shape walked over to a laptop next to the droid and
read its display.

"He says that there is an Imperial scan going on in this room." Brad's
heart skipped a beat. She pointed at Wedge and three AFWers, sitting
on the ground. "He's pinpointed you four as the source."

One of the AFWers, their fearless leader, stood. "This isn't what it
looks like..."

Inquisitor Piggy stalked over to him, stopping inches from Sci's face.
"Why don't you tell us what it is, then?"

Brad didn't like the look of this at all... he shrank back slightly,
concerned. Were they looking for him? Had they detected his distress
beacon? Brad ran his tongue over his molars subconciously.

Wedge interposed himself between Piggy and Sci. "Piggy, stand down.
Everyone, the scanning is coming from myself and Sci, We're conducting
a medical scan, because one of the Boussh group has been infected with
a homing beacon. Myself and Sci decided a private group scan was best,
rather than going public in front of everyone."

Ahh. So they suspected. But they didn't know. Would his device stand
up to a medical scan? There was only one way to find out - but he
didn't really want to take the chance. Although, come to think of it,
they'd probably have found it during his captivity if they were going
to find it at all.

Brad listened to them explaining the situation. So Mike had been
implanted during his captivity. And as a precaution they were scanning
everyone?

Brad went outside with the rest of them to cover the starfighters in
case the Empire got close. Brad would have chosen to man the fighters
ready for liftoff, ready to take down any Imperials who got close,
rather than hoping their camo netting held up against Imperial scans;
but it wasn't his decision to make. The job complete, they returned to
the cabin.

A woman screamed as the world went flat.

It was the only way to describe it. Colour seemed to dull. Sounds
seemed to cease resonating, becoming only flat tones. The fire seemed
to lose some of its crackle.

People rushed to help the screaming woman, while Brad stood, stunned.

As quickly as it came, the flatness vanished.

Brad went back outside, thankful that the world was vibrant once more.