Star Wars_ X-Wing 03_ The Krytos Trap - Michael A. Stackpole [119]
Corran called up a system catalog and shifted to the Lusankya database. Hundreds of names scrolled past too fast for him to read, so at the next prompt he called up his own record. It seemed fairly complete and decidedly up-to-date on data about him since his joining Rogue Squadron. Tycho’s doing, no doubt. He highlighted a datalink labeled Lusankya and saw a brief history of his stay in the prison. Comparing the date given for his arrival with the dateline on the bottom of the holographic image, he realized he’d been in captivity for six standard weeks. That was longer than he’d been able to count, but his interrogation had been full of lost and warped days.
He highlighted another datalink. Next to the legend “CStatus:” was the code “Rl.” Corran chose it and got a quick explanation floating above the desk.
R1: Resistant in primary phase.
Notes: The subject could not be induced to fire upon positive icons despite being subjected to their hostile intent in simulation. His resistance in the second round of testing occurred sooner than in the previous round. Subject is unsuitable for conversion.
Corran stared at the green words burning in the air above the desk. When he had thought about it, he had assumed the simulator flights he had taken were just part of an interrogative technique. The technique let him fly, which made him feel good. If things were done correctly, that good feeling could be transferred to the Imps, then he’d tell them what they wanted to know. He could imagine it working just that way with any number of folks—they’d be seduced into giving up information without realizing what they were doing.
Clearly that was not what Isard had been trying to do with him. She was trying to make me over into a monster, just like Tycho. She wanted me to become a tool she could use against the Alliance. He shivered and wished he could somehow open his skull and scrape the memories of what he endured from his brain.
His eyes narrowed. Well, your conditioning didn’t work. I’m not your tool. I’m your enemy, and when I get out of here, I’m going to hurt you.
He got back to an inquiry prompt and called up Tycho Celchu’s file. Finally, I’ll have proof!. Corran summoned up the Lusankya data and had highlighted the “CStatus” code before he really looked at the value listed there. R1. No way. That was my code. He called up the data and sat back, stunned.
R1: Resistant in primary phase.
Notes: Though the subject’s initial response to Imperial icons was positive, this appeared to be an artifact of his years spent at the Imperial Academy. It did not last long. Subject aggressively attacked Imperial icons. When those icons were overlaid with Alliance datastreams, the contradiction caused the subject to become catatonic. Subject is unsuitable for conversion.
But that’s not possible. Tycho’s a spy. I know it! Anger tore through Corran and immolated his brain. He wanted to believe that Ysanne Isard had planted this information so he’d not believe Tycho was a spy, but she had no way of knowing he’d get where he was to see it. Besides, his having that knowledge would serve no purpose to her benefit. Even supposing Tycho were killed by the Republic and Corran were allowed to escape and point out that Tycho had been innocent: that would cause strife in the New Republic, but how much? Was it worth the elaborate charade of letting him escape?
Corran got up from the chair and began to pace around the room. Isard had fed his hatred of Tycho and supported his conviction that Tycho had been a spy. That made no sense. From his file she would have known that he’d have been far more tortured inside by being told that he’d been wrong, and that his mistake was the foundation for Tycho’s treason and