XXXIII: Retribution

(Reader's discretion advised.) 

"It's about time you two got here." Commander Desro said as he rushed Admiral Okins and Aria Brisard through the winding corridors of the naval base. "We were beginning to get worried."

"Coruscant isn't exactly a small jump away." Okins said. "I thought Rebecca would have clued you in on our arrival."

Desro shook his head. "She hasn't said a word."

"Where is Becky? Is she ok?" Aria asked, worried. "We were able to hear some sketchy audio on our flight from her com-link. Reception wasn't too good. She must've left it on during...whatever happened."

"Relax, Commander, for the most part, she's alright." Desro said. As they entered the medical wing, he stopped them in front of one of the patient rooms. The door had a fairly large window, and once they approached, Aria and Okins were able to see Rebecca lying on the medical bed inside.

"Can we go in?" Aria asked.

Desro nodded and opened the door. "She's resting for now. We gave her some pain medication so she should be out for another hour or so."

Aria walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge. She looked over at Rebecca and saw a bandage over the side of her friend's face. She gently put her hand over it, and turned back to Desro. "She hit her head?"

Desro nodded. "Either she was struck with something hard by her assailant or she just hit the ground. She was down when we found her."

Okins picked up his daughter's hand and grasped it tightly. When her arm moved, the sleeve of her medical shift slid down her arm revealing a large bruise just below her wrist. He motioned to Aria to check her other arm. An identical marking was visible. "She's all bruised..." He spun around to Desro. "Are these the only ones?"

Desro shook his head. "There's some lighter ones at her shoulders and legs and..." he slid his finger along his neck to demonstrate, "a slight cut on her neck...wasn't deep enough to make her bleed, thank the maker for that. Whatever was pressing there wasn't there for long."

Okins placed her hand back down on the bed and pulled Desro out into the hall. "What exactly happened here? Tell me everything."

Desro shrugged. "To be honest, we're not exactly sure. She rung the gate for entry. The trooper on duty then commed back to the central office for a confirmation. By the time they opened the gate, she was gone. They called me down to the gate, we heard a scream and then there she was in the alley at the end of the road."

Okins rubbed his forehead. "The local authorities need to nab this bastard."

"We've detained him, sir."

Aria stood and joined the men in the hall. "Wait...you have him? He wasn't gone when you arrived?"

Desro shook his head. "No, the man was on top of her when we got there."

Okins flexed his fingers, angry. "Who did this?"

"I believe his name is Jeref Ulmeran." Desro said, scratching the back of his head, "At least...that's what the guard said.

"Ulmeran?" Aria asked. Who's that?"

"A dead man." Okins growled as he started towards the detention wing. Aria quickly ran up and stood in his path.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm going to teach this bastard a lesson." He said, removing his blaster from his holster.

"You can't just go shooting people!" She exclaimed.

"Watch me."

Desro stepped forward. "I'm afraid she's right, Admiral. His lawyers were already called...he's the local authority's problem.

"Not anymore he isn't." Okins turned halfway to look Desro in the eye. "That man assaulted my daughter, he's my problem; and now he's going to pay for it."

"Let me come with you." Aria said.

"NO. You stay here with Becky. She needs you."

"But sir..."

"That's an order, Brisard! Now step aside!" He pushed Aria out of the way and stalked towards the brig.

Aria sighed and returned to Rebecca's room. She stopped next to Desro and patted his shoulder. "I hope you've got a body bag ready."

~~**~~ 

Admiral Okins stood at the doorway to Jeref Ulmeran's cell and waved the trooper on watch to open the hatch. The door then slid open and he stepped inside. Jeref was lying on the bench with his eyes closed. His hands, bound by restraints, were resting on his stomach. As the door closed behind him, he started to get a strong whiff of alcohol coming from Jeref. When Okins got close, Jeref opened his eyes and sat up. He eyed the admiral and scoffed.

"What, the Empire not have enough for you to do or something? They have to send an admiral down to interrogate me?"

"No, I'm here on my own. Don't let the uniform fool you."

"Well I should warn you..." Jeref smirked. "You can't hold me here for long. I've called the best lawyers in the city. They're no doubt working on my release now."

Okins ran a hand over his blaster slowly, trying to keep his temper in check. "Well, let me break it to you this way. I wouldn't count on your fancy lawyers to do any good, not after what you've done."

"Why don't you refresh my memory, pops."

"Why don't you wipe that smirk off your face before I shoot it off." Okins snapped. "And lose the attitude. You really think this is funny? I'm not at all laughing."

"What, so I got a little over-excited with a girl. There's no harm in that, right?"

The little restraint that Okins had left snapped. He reached forward and grabbed Jeref by the front of the shirt, then hurled him across the room. Jeref struck the opposite wall and as he slid down to the floor his head struck a bolt on the wall. The cut started a small stream of blood trickling down the side of his face.

"What in kark's name do you think gave you the right to go around attacking ladies off the street?"

Ariam rubbed his face, smearing blood onto his hands. "She was promised to me. Her...grandmother and I had an agreement."

Okins grabbed the front of the man's tunic again and slammed him into the wall a second time, holding him in place. "What kind of agreement?" When Jeref wouldn't speak, Okins shook him violently. "Answer me!"

Jeref swallowed. "Elsa...told me about Ariam Vorru's plans. She said if Ariam couldn't have her, I could." He coughed. "Vorru's...rejection was broadcasted all over the INN a few hours ago. That makes her mine now. Just taking what belonged to me." He tried to wrestle himself from Okins' grip. "And get your hands off me, old man. I'm not your problem."

Okins pressed him tighter, circling his fingers closer to Jeref's throat. "That's where you're wrong," he growled. "That girl you assaulted tonight was my daughter; that means you are my problem. Your ass is mine..."

"I'm not afraid of you, pops."

"Not yet," Okins growled and glared down at Jeref, his eyes full of anger. "Now you get to suffer twice the pain you just put my daughter through." Using his free hand, Okins snatched up his blaster and pressed it to Jeref's head, right between the eyes. "I hope you've made peace with your maker...by the time I'm done with you, you'll be dreading the day you were born."

Screams were heard in the brig corridor for several minutes followed by two blaster shots. Finally, Okins stepped out of the cell, the front of his uniform covered in blood. As he passed the trooper standing watch,  he pointed back to the cell.

"Bag, tag, and trash him. That's an order."