The Lost Jedi : Jedi Dawn

　You burst into the Communications Centre. The main room is packed with equipment, all lit in the ghostly blue glow emitted by the overhead lights. Dead Imperial soldiers lie all around, and more than a few Rebels. You search desperately - there's no sign amongst them of either Vermilion or Diamond. The game can't be over yet. Scarlett appears from behind a console, having rigged a rapid repair to some damaged equipment. "Havet!" he yells. "Am I glad to see you! Have you got the super laser plans?"

トプラワ
Toprawa

Jedi Dawn
# 386

　"I've got the super laser plans!" you shout, pulling out the transit tube. "Where's Vermilion - he has the rest!" Scarlett grins. "Vermilion? He'll be right here." He stands up, and pulls the hideous red hide belt he wears through the loops of his trousers. It has a fastening on the inside, and he undoes it, revealing a secret pocket. He removes a row of data disks, and places them on the Communications Console at his side. Then he does a curious thing - he peels the belt wide open, so that it becomes a wide band, like a scarf. He removes the clasp, and then starts winding the belt around his head, just like... it was... a... turban. He pulls off his beard.
　"Vermilion." The Rebel leader and several of the other Rebels laugh loudly. "I'm sorry, Havet. I would have told you... I just wasn't sure if I could trust you. Diamond has been chasing me so hard lately, I adopted these disguises so I could move around freely. She never came within an ace of catching me."
　"Until now," comes a cold clear voice. You whirl round, as does Vermilion and the other Rebels. Several fake panels have fallen down from the walls, and a squad of stormtroopers has surrounded you. Diamond rises up from behind a dummy fuse box like a stage magician rising through a trap door. "Let me see," she says, counting on her fingers. "Vermilion, the Death Star Plans, Havet Storm. All a girl could ever want." She turns to the stormtroopers. "Kill them."
　The first shots ring out. In your stupor, you realise that Diamond's first shot is coming your way. It looks like your time is up. "NO!" yells Vermilion, throwing himself at Diamond. He hits her, hard, but as they land you hear the thump of her blaster. Vermilion's body jumps half a metre into the air, and falls sickeningly on the floor at your feet. Diamond's clear eyes meet yours. The final battle begins.

トプラワ
Toprawa

Jedi Dawn
# 388

　Diamond falls staggers back, clutching at her wound. Her eyes fill with tears. For a moment, they look almost blue in the strange light. "Daddy," she gasps, slumping backwards.
　You turn quickly, wading into the stormtroopers. They have lost their stomach for the fight with the death of their commander, however, and the few surviving rebels help you make short work of them. You rush over to Vermilion, turning him over onto his back. His wound is ugly; it looks fatal, but you find just enough strength within you to stabilise his condition for a moment. "The... plans..." he breathes hoarsely. "Frequency 1215... Codeword... Skyhook." You feel him ebbing; what you'd give to be able to help him though these last few moments. But the priority are the plans, and you know Vermilion cannot rest easily until they have been transmitted. You lower him gently into the tender arms of a young woman named Surna, a rebel you watched throttle a stormtrooper with her bare hands a few seconds ago.
　You grab the disks Vermilion laid on the console, and load them into the input magazine of the Data Compressor. You add the schematics for the super laser, and start the process of preparing a burst transmission at high speed. As soon as the ready light comes on, you key the microphone and call out "Come in Skyhook! Come in, Skyhook!" A woman's voice comes over the speaker; calm, measured and full of determined strength. Must be the Princess. "Skyhook here!" she replies. "We have only moments! Prepare to copy!"
　You check that the burst is ready, and that the frequency is clear. Ready and copying," Leia announces. "Go ahead." The burst begins. Now it's just a matter of time.

トプラワ
Toprawa

Jedi Dawn
# 389