OOC:

Not sure if this counts as an army post or not. It basically gets Jamasis from AWOL on Thyveck to the current Eclipse story, without putting a block of personal stuff in the middle of the squad story.

His wrist had faded into a dull ache, and his ankle was bruised, nothing more. It had been three days since they had been chased out of the jungle by the republic troopers, and the weather had decided to take a turn for the worse. Outside the rain drenched anything left uncovered and from the inside it seemed almost poetic. The reality of the mud, reduced visibility and leaky armour didn't register; only that the weather seemed mesmerisingly sad through a window, and that the future of Wraith squad seemed just as bleak.

"It's time," motioned Valthir. The squad rose almost as one, silently, slowly and already resigned. Following the dispersion of the SCOPE units, the imperial commanders on Thyveck had grown to view them with disgust, even suspicion. The minor incident just days before seemed proof that Wraith, if not the other units, was clearly unfit for service. In poor condition, limited ammunition, pursued by republic troopers and with multiple injuries the squad members already knew that Wraith was finished. The squad was to be reviewed before a council made up of the local imperial command before it would be decided whether the squad would continue, be reassigned or simply be dissolved.

The meeting itself was a blur of boredom and resignation. The faint sound of the rain outside seemed to echo through the large and almost empty room. After a good thirty minutes of listening to official statements, statistics and a somewhat innaccurate recollection of the past five months, the council ordered Wraith to be dissolved and its members moved to more 'functional and effective' SCOPE squads present on Thyveck.

--------------------------

Jamasis was the first trooper to leave, a few quick goodbyes and a long convoy journey to a nearby city under imperial control. As the transport pulled away, with rain dripping through and his squad members shrinking behind him, he noted them all in turn. Sam, Dominus... Val. His companions and squad leader, for the last time. Logically, serving in the same platoon they would be reunited frequently. But Jamasis had already decided to leave when they reached the city. Nobody would notice anyway; on Thyveck the communications were so poor he probably wouldn't be noticed for a week. Then he would just be chalked up as another trooper who couldn't handle the jungle and went AWOL.

And with Wraith gone, why would I care about that?

You feel a sense of duty towards the empire as a whole?

I've never spent one day in the empire not serving the army. Not one day leaving the barracks, getting drunk or meeting women. What do I care of its safety?

Then the army itself?

After this campaign I'd rather shoot our glorious commanders than fight and die for them. I don't have a squad either, so there isn't anybody in this army I value enough to get myself shot for.

Is there anyone you'd get shot for?

One person. You know who, and why.

I thought you only stayed in the army because you wanted to get yourself shot?

Its not worth the trouble. I'd rather just drink myself to death and feel less pain for it. I joined to escape something, and I succeeded. Now I have nothing waiting for me but an early grave on this wretched rock of jungle and death.

Very poetic... you do have one thing waiting for you though. Back home...

I don't have a home... and I have nothing waiting for me.

---------------------

A few weeks later

The drunk imperial lieutenant staggered through the darkened street, pausing only to vomit in the gutter. Jamasis watched from across the street, dressed in civilian clothing having already sold his SCOPE armour and E-11 for the plain cash. Even so he was already out of money and he was dangerously close to being sober. A drunk officer seemed almost as fortunate as winning the lottery at that point. He grabbed the lieutenant and slammed him into the wall. Already too drunk to fight back, it took a couple of right hooks to the head to knock the officer out. Jamasis found a fair amount of money on him, as well as a spare clip for a DL-44. He may have sold the rifle, but the pistol and combat knife were much more valuable as weapons than they were as extra meals. Not all officers would go down as easily.

"Whatever I had yesterday. That knocked me out for a fair few hours," he murmured to the bartender minutes later. The bar itself was hardly glamorous with words like damp and dark best describing it. Still it had alcohol and you could smoke. As he lit his ciggarette, Jamasis fiddled with his cash, trying to work out how much he'd payed the day before.

"Don't worry 'bout that," said the bartender as he returned. "Bloke over there paid for yuh. Told me to give you this. Said it was from a mutual friend, of sorts."

"Anyone who pays for me counts as a friend I reckon," Jamasis replied jokingly. He took a sip of his drink as he read the note he had been given.

Quote:Found you.

Seen as you're currently unemployed and how should I say, unprotected, at the minute, you may want to consider settling some business you've left unfinished.

Kasper Jonasson.

Upon reading the name Jamasis almost choked on his drink. He looked up hurriedly, expecting the worst. Instead the bartender just looked at him quizically.

"My anonymous friend. Where is he?" Jamasis asked the bartender.

He looked about the bar briefly, before shrugging," don't honestly know. Musta left after giving you the message I guess." Leaving his drink at the table (albeit with some regret) Jamasis grabbed what little he possessed and made quickly for the door.

"I've got to get off this planet somehow," he muttered quickly to himself.

What happened to an early grave?

The letter did. Any grave I get here is going to come after a load of pain and torture and mockery. Anyway, I think I found a reason to live.

Oh?

Someone hates me, so if I run away they get angry.

You're reason for life is the pain it causes to others? You're a beacon of hope and goodwill, you know that?

-------------------

"Anybody leaving the planet today? As in I need to leave now and I'll pay cash up front!" Jamasis shouted as he entered the pilots lounge near the docking bays. Not the respectable, upper end bays, rather the cheaper and nastier end. There was some murmuring from the pilots, one nearby exchanged a few words with his companions.

"How much?" he asked.

"This much," Jamasis produced the lieutenants money, genuinely unaware of its value. He mostly relied on bars not scamming him when he paid, something inherently risky.

The pilot exchanged a few more words with his two friends before replying, "Good enough. No questions about us, we'll drop you ASAP at the first planet we come across. No guarantees about which planet though. Deal?"

Jamasis had little choice, but it didn't bother him,"Deal."

"Docking bay 94, ten minutes. No questions."

Truth be told it took most of the ten minutes simply to find the correct bay. Inside was what appeared to be an unmodified YT-1930 freighter, slightly beaten up but essentially in good condition. Well aware of the attitude of the pilots, and the frequent use of YT freighters for questionable activities, Jamasis set about hiding his weapons on his person. He had already cut the majority of the sole of his right shoe out to make room for his knife, if it should become neccessary, and this was the ideal time. He put the spare clip in his left shoe, wedged between his foot and the side, which just left the pistol itself. He slid it into the waistband of his trousers, pulling his shirt over it and sliding it round behind his jacket. If searched he was screwed, but he wanted it available just in case.

It turned out to be unneccessary. The crew turned up a minute or so later, took the money and didn't speak a word. The interior was basic, and a familiar but worrying smell lingered everywhere. If it wasn't for the sudden emergence of a detachment of X-Wings shortly after leaving the atmosphere, it would have been perfect.

"Republic fighters! What do we do?" shouted one of the crew members.

"Shoot them before they shoot us!" shouted the pilot. Inwardly, Jamasis groaned. He knew what the smell was... spice, and lots of it. And these smugglers had really screwed up. Predictably the X-Wings knocked out the engines in about thirty seconds, and the somewhat larger republic ship from whence they had came locked the YT-1930 in a tractor beam.

"This and me with a gun in my hand. The one time I'm mostly innocent and I get shot for it..." Jamasis muttered to himself. The pilot grabbed him, and pointed a pistol at his head.

"You're my hostage now. They can't shoot me, because I've got you," the pilot whispered in his ear. "Guys, point your guns at the door!" The freighter slowly ground to a halt inside the docking bay of the Republic ship. Another minute passed with the troopers massing outside and the door gradually being cut away. A bead of sweat ran down Jamasis' face, unable to wipe it and well aware of his position as a human shield this was the most terrified and uncomfortable had had ever felt. As soon as the door was cut, blaster bolts came through and both crew members were killed instantly.

"Stop! Stop!," shouted the pilot. "I have a hostage! You can't kill me without shooting h-"

Him? guessed Jamasis, as a well placed blaster bolt struck the pilot between the eyes. Guess he's never seen a movie. That always happens...

"Are you okay sir?" asked one of the republic troopers. It took several seconds before Jamasis realised he was being spoken to.

"Oh, uh, yes I think. I'm fine now, thanks," he replied, trying to sound more shaken than he actually was.

"We'll get you some food in the cantina, then you can have a rest in my quarters. By then we should be landed, and you're free to go," The trooper beckoned his fellow towards him,"Take him to the cantina, then make sure someone shows him to my quarters. Poor guy just got taken hostage by some crazy spice smuggler." As he was taken away, Jamasis realised with a slight smile that he hadn't been searched at all.

"What ship is this?" he asked the trooper escorting him.

"The Keeper's Vengeance, being used as a medical ship for our wounded on the planet," he replied.