Today's the Day!

[Starholdt]

Fresia, a temporate planet in the Core, harbored vast oceans and rocky islands. It was the least populated of the core worlds with no preexisting intellegent life. It was the home of Imperial Prison Compound 744, and the home of Jenzi, Reece, and Shi'k for the past three months. IPC 744 was not a big facility by any stretch of the imagination. It held mainly smugglers and pilots that just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The remaining crew of the Diamond Heart sat in their cell on the third wing of the facility. They'd spent the last two weeks with their new cell mates, six rowdy Rodians. Shi'k couldn't stand it another day. He'd been on the edge of madness listening to them speak Huttese all throughout the day and night, not stopping. But this day, during first meal, Shi'k seemed content. Jenzi noticed the change and nudged Reece as the walked though the meal line. "What's up with him? Has he realized there's nothing he can do so he's given up?" Reece shrugged. "No clue."

Shi'k smiled and turned. His eyes looked hopeful, like a starved child being offered a rack of boar ribs. "Today's the day!" He turned and receieved his food, which looked like reheated scraps of meat and an unidentifiable vegetable. Reece turned to Jenzi. "What the fuck does that mean?" Jenzi shook her head.

[Starholdt]

They ate quietly. Jenzi and Reece still looked puzzeled at Shi'k. The remainder of the day went on as normal. After first meal, they were shipped off to their day labor jobs. Reece and Jenzi were sent south several kilometers to a dense forest that was being cut down and leveled for the installment of a new prison wing. Shi'k was sent to a mine southeast of the prison to remove coal and other minerals to power the tree saws Jenzi and Reece were operating.

"Why would today be any different than tomorrow or yesterday? We'll still trapped in this hell hole of a planet with Imperials pointing guns at our backs. Day in and day out working and being fed shit for breakfast and dinner." Jenzi hushed him. She didn't want him to get on a soapbox, because it always ended with an imperial guard blasting him with a taser. "Relax. Shi'k is a Iktotcki. He's seen the future. Something's about to go down. Just work hard. It might be the last time we have to."

Shi'k swung his axe hard into the side of the cave. He was producing a lot more load than normal. He assumed it was because he new what was coming and was enlightened and relieved. He definatly did not want to tip off the guards that something was going on. If he had refused to work, something would have been fishy. Regardless, he was taking in more ore than even the Wookiees in the mine with him.

Jenzi cut down another huge tree, and Reece pulled it by a chain towards a giant burn pit and dropped the plant to it's quick death. He contemplated how the hell they were going to escape. Why now and not earlier. Was there some outside force that was coming? Is that was Shi'k saw?

[Starholdt]

Their shift was over for the day, and they returned to the compound. The living conditions were horrible. The prisoners were forced to bath together in one huge showering hall, males and females together. Unfortunatly, guards did not keep watch over the showers. Many woman, and men, were raped, beaten, and killed in the showers, and today looked like one of those days. The Rodians that we kept in the cell with Jenzi, Reece, and Shi'k grew ever more attracted to Jenzi. She was always unconfortable, but stuck close to Shi'k and Reece. They've all seen each other naked before and thought nothing of it, so Jenzi knew her protection was with them. But today, the Rodians thought it was a prime day to make a move.

The smuggler trio shared a showerhead in the top left corner, keeping themselves secluded from the rest. Reece always went first, while Shi'k watched the crowd for any sudden advances. Then, Reece would switch with Shi'k, allowing him to bathe. Last was Jenzi. They gave her as much time as she wanted and always stood between her and the crowd of men. The six Rodians rushed the two men with their bare fists, but Shi'k and Reece were ready. Shi'k slammed his oversized fists into the firsts face, breaking his skull and snapping his neck in one punch. Reece ran at the next and dropkicked the Rodian back into two of his friends. He rose to his feet only to be knocked down by a chargin Rodian, who began kicking the Zabrak in the chest. One Rodian got through the duo's defenses and grabbed the human female from behind and shoved her against the steel wall. The three Rodians on the ground rose to their feet and rushed Shi'k, but not before he kicked the Rodian on top of Reece in the lower back, breaking his spine. The three surrounded Shi'k and dogpiled him to the ground. Reece rose up and charged the Rodian on top of Jenzi. He came up from behind the alien and snapped his neck. "Are you ok?" Jenzi looked shaken. "I'm fine, help Shi'k."

Reece kicked a Rodian in the side with as much force as he could, cracking ribs and sending him flying. He headbutted another, driving his spikes into the side its head and slicing into it's cheek. This removed enough weight off of Shi'k to where he could raise the Rodian off himself and through him onto his friends. The Rodians backed off when they saw two of their friends dead and the other with the broken spine facedown on the floor, drowning. They disappeared into the crowd.

Reece turned to Jenzi and helped her up. He looked at Shi'k, slightly irritated. "Bet you didn't see that one coming."