(special thanks to Crispy for help on several sections that were giving me problems)
The foursome quickly made their way over the closest bridge to the other side of the Seine. Josh and Vickie searched for Mike through the Force while Becki used her eyes. "This way," Josh said in a strained voice. "I think he's hurt."
"Sith," Vickie muttered as she headed in that direction. Even now Mike was blocking her. This scared her more than anything. He had been her closest friend in Mendellia, but because of something stupid she'd agreed to, he was distancing himself.
Josh moved forward quickly. After what had just happened with Becki, it was best for him to fall back on his military training. Keep your mind on the mission, Cochran, he thought to himself.
"Over here," Becki called from a dock nearby. She had found Mike and he didn't look good.
Vickie was terrified suddenly, as she looked down at her friend, that she hadn't been able to sense him because there was nothing alive to sense.
Mike was half buried under a pile of packing crates, covered in a greyish film of dust and dirt. Only the small puddle of blood forming beneath his head provided any colour to the tableau.
Becki knelt beside her wingmate, and gently checked for a pulse. She exhaled deeply when she found one, and turned a relieved look upon her colleagues. "He's alive. Just. Whoever did this to him..."
"They haven't left us much to find," Josh finished, his voice hard. Vickie noticed that her fellow Jedi's face was blank, but his inner turmoil was evident to her. He was scared that he'd lost another of his team, and his previous little dawdling with another team member wasn't helping either.
"Can you tell how badly he's injured? I don't want to risk moving him if it'll make things worse," Becki asked, still kneeling beside him. One hand rested on Mike's brow, as she gave what little comfort she could.
Vickie concentrated on her fallen friend, but a few frustrating seconds later, she shook her head. Letting out a breath she hadn't been aware she was holding, she said "I can't even sense him properly, let alone read him."
Josh tried as well, but he had no more luck. "It's as though there's static when I try and scan him," he said.
"Can we at least get the boxes off of him?" Becki asked.
"That we can do," Vickie said. Josh, beside her, flexed his hands for effect. Turning, they focused on the boxes pinning their teammate to the ground.
With a muted crack, the boxes were reduced to tinder and splinters, freeing Mike from his confinement. Josh moved to stand beside his fallen team member, putting barely remembered medical training from his time in the USAF to use, checking for serious injuries.
"I can't find anything life threatening," he said, a hint of uncertainty in his voice as he stood. "I just think he's been beaten badly."
"But who could have done it?" Becki asked, the concern evident in her voice.
"Well, we were all accounted for," Josh said, absently. Looking at his teammates, he grimaced. "Sorry. I would guess it was it was someone from the Alba Varden, if they found out Mike had found them."
Raymond cleared his throat. In the worry for their friend, they had forgotten he was there. "I am assuming this 'Alba Varden' is a boat you are looking for."
Becki looked up and nodded. "Yes, but..."
He held up a hand, "If I am not mistaken, it is just over there." He pointed to a luxurious boat moored nearby. "And if you do not go soon, it will be gone."
Josh narrowed his eyes and turned towards the boat. There was a bit of activity going on. "Ok, Becki, you stay with Mike..."
Vickie quickly interrupted. "Wait. She has a stake in this too." She pulled a pack from behind her back and handed it to Raymond. "See if you can staunch the blood." She opened the medkit and pulled out a couple of pink-colored bandages. "Use these on the ones that look the worst." Next she held up a bottle of goo that looked about the same color. "Dab this on the scratches and such."
The tall man nodded and looked at Josh. "Please trust me. I will take care of your friend while you go do whatever you need to on that boat."
The Jedi still stared at him through slitted eyes. After a moment, he nodded. "Ok, let's go."
Three, Seven and Nine walked carefully towards the Alba Varden. The commotion on the deck had ceased. There was only one guard they could see from their vantage point. Seven looked at the women beside him and nodded.
Becki stayed near Josh for efficiency's sake, warily maintaining a greater distance from him than usual. Though she wasn't that comfortable with their current relationship, she couldn't let that get in the way of the mission. They traveled towards the gangplank. If all went well, Vickie would be there to meet them.
Taking a glance back to where Raymond was tending Mike, Vickie leaped for the Alba. Her Force-enhanced jump landed her lightly on the port deck. Quietly, she made her way around to the guard. He never heard her approaching. She tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned, she smiled and waved her hand. "Good night, sweet prince."
With a chuckle, she walked away from his sleeping form, his rifle slung over her shoulder.
Josh and Becki silently walked up the gangplank. "Is our friend asleep," Josh asked softly.
Vickie nodded and handed him the rifle. She held up three fingers and pointed towards where they guessed the control room was. Josh nodded in understanding and unholstered his blaster. Becki followed suit as the three quietly made their way back in that direction.
Josh looked over the windowsill into the control room and saw three rough looking men. He pointed for Vickie to go around and come in the other side door. She went around and told him telepathically that she was ready.
They burst through the doors and fired three quick shots. All three men fell, stunned. Becki finally dared to breathe. "Do you think that's it?"
Vickie shook her head. "I sense a couple more down below. We've got to find that piece of the shield first."
Josh agreed. "Yeah, let's check the cargo area." They moved from the control room to head down the stairs to the lower area.
The three Terra Group members slunk through the bowels of the boat, looking for the cargo area. Following her instincts, Vickie led them to the correct door. Unfortunately, her "Spidey senses" went off right at the door. "Trapped," she hissed.
Josh pulled out his lightsaber. "New door?"
She bit her lip and concentrated. After a moment, she nodded in consent. The blue blade brightened the area for a moment before dimming as it began to slice through the wall where Vickie showed him to cut. She put up a Force-shield around them to protect them from any stray shards of burning metal and in hopes it would shield the sound as well from whomever else was on the boat.
Once inside, they saw a single carton sitting alone in the center of the room. "Why do I have this urge to check for a Nazi symbol burned off the side and rat carcasses," Vickie whined.
"Stop hive-minding me," Josh scolded as he moved to the box.
There were no old German symbols on the box. Not unless Aurebesh was taken from German, which it isn't. Vickie pulled her PDA from her pocket and typed in the symbols. "That's it," she confirmed. "That's the piece."
Josh pried the top from the box and laid it to the side. Reaching in, he found straw. He pulled it out, and kept pulling it out. Finally, he found the small piece. The thick glass was about four or five inches in diameter. "All this for something so small."
"Uh, guys," Becki said in a small voice.
They all looked up to see a barrel-chested man in the doorway. "Hé," he yelled.
Vickie's lightsaber was quickly in her hand. "Jump through the loading grate," she yelled at Josh. "WITH Becki!"
"What about you?" he yelled back as he quickly blasted the wooden grate into thousands of shards.
"I'll be fine," she growled as she lit her lightsaber and jumped forward. She blocked the first volley of shots that came her way and landed in front of the huge man.
Josh looked at Becki as he pulled out his own lightsaber. "Hold on tight," he told her as he put and arm around her. She grabbed him around his midsection as he bent his legs to jump. Best to save herself rather than die here. After all, there were many things to take care of before she would feel any better.
Vickie's lightsaber went through the first man, stunning him only slightly. She cursed at his size, knowing any other setting on her blade would harm him. Two other men came through the hole they had made towards her.
Josh blocked the shots fired at them as he jumped. He and Becki landed on the deck above. "We can't leave her here," Becki said frantically.
Josh frowned, "She can take care of herself." He couldn't tear his eyes away from the hole he'd blasted. She'd better take care of herself or he was going to hurt her himself.
"Ah, merde," Vickie swore as she Force-pushed the two back against the wall. Her mind was racing. How to get out of this. Her jacket swung to the side as she was barely missed a punch. Something fell out and rolled across the floor. Oh sith. I forgot that was in... A grin crossed her face.
Raymond was just finishing bandaging the injured man when someone spoke to him. RAYMOND! He looked around, but didn't see anyone. The voice sounded much like the older woman.
Raymond, you need to get Mike out of here. Take him back to our apartment. I know you know where that is.
The voice was definitely in his head and was certainly the eldest of the group. The desperate tinge made him quickly yet carefully pick up the young man. Something bad was about to happen and he needed to get out of there.
Vickie Force-pushed the large man in the doorway until he slid down the hall, gathering the other two men with him. She turned around and leapt up through the hole Josh had made. "Go," she yelled. "Jump to that ship passing by." She pushed them to make them move.
"Why?" Josh asked.
"No questions, move now!" Telekinetically, she triggered the detonator. As the threesome was leaping, the explosion pushed them across.
It started small, just the area of the detonator itself. Soon the fire spread, blowing a hole in the hull of the boat. The wood splintered and flew out into the Seine. Flames spat out into the water. The shockwave rocked both boats.
Becki, Josh and Vickie landed hard on the deck of the boat conveniently passing by. "What are you doing," shouted the captain of the vessel. Becki and Josh immediately recognized the voice. They looked at each other as they sat up. "You?!"
"We landed on the Passeur d'Aurore," Becki laughed. "Incroyable!"
Josh began to laugh as well.
"Eh, I don't care who you are, you are getting off my boat!" The captain moved her ship towards the dock and let off the two laughing young people and the confused one. "And don't ever do that again!"
They looked back towards the Alba Varden. The smoke was clearing and it was sinking quickly. Vickie breathed a sigh of relief as she heard splashing and men yelling. "I think we better move," she said.
"What was that all about," Vickie asked as they began to walk briskly along the bank.
"We happened upon that boat earlier," said Becki. She was still chuckling. "Couldn't see the name of the ship, so Josh called out to the captain, calling her 'Monsieur'."
Vickie chuckled. "Well, we have the focus and didn't lose anyone this time."
"Are you sure?" Josh asked.
"Raymond was taking Mike to safety. Let's get there as well." She took them each by the arm and walked into the crowd of people heading to see the sinking boat.