***March 2005 - Working for the Empire

 

Today I had to do some jobs for the Garrison and I was glad that I could do this. Finally I felt a bit useful to the Empire; first they asked me to be a receptionist because today was ID issuing day.

I had to lead the civilians inside the building, put them on a chair and when the officer in charge gave me a comm call I had to bring one of the civilians to him. There was one man, he looked familiar to me. He was staring at me.. also others did this. I think because of the announcement that they put on the Holonet several days ago, about me. I felt uncomfortable behind the desk in the entrance of the Garrison main building but I didn’t show any emotion and just.. did my job.

After the issuing had ended the officer in charge, lance corporal Onoxa, asked me if some of the civilians paid much attention to me. I told him that some people were kinda looking at me, and told hem about this guy.

“Good.. it is our major concern, the rebels will try to corrupt you again if they know that you are here. And we don’t want that to happen..”

“No, officer.”, I stammered.

I shuddered, no they shouldn’t get me again. I hoped that I got some plastic surgery and another identity, I really didn’t want to fall into their hands again.

 

Later this day I saw the soldiers getting in line, they had another patrol.

“Silverstar, come here.”, the lance corporal ordered me and he handed me a black jumpsuit, a helmet and a pistol, “Put this on. You are coming with us.. as a witness.”

I smiled and rushed back to the bedroom in the barracks to put on the clothes. They had prepared a speeder for me and I followed the patrol to Mos Entha.

“Stay with me.”, the lance corporal ordered me, “We are going to ask someone some questions.”

I nodded at him and followed him. We entered the medical centre. I vaguely recognized some faces but had no memories about the persons that belonged to them. Onoxa ordered one of the doctors, which also looked familiar to me, to come with us. He was brought into the precinct, one of the official buildings of Mos Entha, and there he was locked in a room with a lot of chairs. When I heard that he had family that was with the Rebel Alliance I felt sorry for him. The lance corporal wanted the doctor to tell him more about his terrorist mother but the doctor said he knew nothing. The trooper then called him a liar, I stared at the doctor. Maybe the rebels had brainwashed him too.. why didn’t he just turn his mum in, then it was all over.

“Shoot him in one of the knees.”, the Imperial officer then suddenly said to me.

I stared at the doctor that was begging for mercy, drawing my pistol with a shaking hand.

“The doctor is protecting a member of the Rebel Alliance.”, he continued, “He is a criminal.”

I felt hesitation.

“Damnit I don’t know!”, the doctor yelled, staring at me with scared eyes.

Then I pulled the trigger. With a scream he fell back on the ground.

“Tell me about your mother.. now.”, Onoxa continued.

“I DON’T KNOW!”, the man shouted with a painful face.

“Shoot him.. again.”

And I pointed at his other leg, pulling the trigger again. I closed my eyes and bit my lip, for some reason this didn’t feel good. Although I knew it was the right thing to do. I sighed as the soldiers were ordered to drag the ‘package’ outside.

 

We returned to the base and there I started to cry because I felt very sad. I didn’t know why.

“What is wrong, Silverstar?”, Onoxa asked me.

“Sir I don’t know.. I feel a bit confused.”, I answered, “A bit weird.”

“What do you mean, weird?”

“I don’t know why I feel this, officer..”, I stammered.

“Oh come-on, you are now with comrades. There is no need for tears.”, one of the cadets said to me with a comforting voice.

The officer wiped the tears from my cheeks and smiled at me.

“I.. I’m happy that I have friends now..”, I said back with a smile.

“Real friends, yes.”, the officer said to me with a nod, “Real friends.”

Inside of me I felt warmth, yes finally.. I had real friends.

I followed the cadet to the barracks and there we got another meal. But I didn’t feel like eating, I felt nauseous.

“I was glad to see you out there with us tonight.”, the cadet said to me with a smile.

I didn’t know if I myself was happy to be there.. but that I didn’t say aloud. I ate a bit from the plate and then I put the rest on the counter.

“Are you alright?”, the cadet asked me.

I nodded. As it was in the middle of the night we went towards the cellar, where the bedrooms and showers were. I wished the cadet, that was called Jarome, goodnight and after he vanished in the cadet’s dormitory I ran towards the toilets and puked all the food that I had just consumed into one of the toilets.

I felt dizzy, leaning on the wall I found my way back to the lance corporal’s bedroom and there I fell down on the ‘guest bed’. I hoped that I could get some sleep but I barely slept this night.