Chapter XIV – Ravings
and Musings – Part II
Early morning…
Sakoya re-arranged the pillows surrounding her as
she sat in the middle of the bed – trying to get
comfortable before calling upon the Force, knowing
the mystical energy would soothe her rattled nerves.
“So much to absorb lately,” she commented to herself
as she wrapped her arms around her as if to stave
off a sudden chill. “My emotions are running over. I
must re-center myself…meditation,” she took a deep
breath, “yes, a deep meditation is just what I
need.”
She
closed her eyes and took a deep breath…all of the
recent events were still so fresh within her mind it
was difficult to manage her thoughts. Inhaling
deeply, she gradually exhaled, silently counting to
herself as she did so. She repeated the breathing
technique several times until she felt the disarray
in her mind grudgingly begin to find some semblance
of order. It was then that she gathered control. Her
heartbeat slowed, becoming composed and rhythmic.
Her feelings of agitation melting into the sea of
calm she envisioned. Indeed, the Force surrounded
her and offered the clarity and serenity she sought,
she needed only to reach out and grasp it. Sakoya
outwardly smiled and embraced what the mystical
energy presented her.
An
hour passed…
Without warning, Sakoya’s brow knit together. She
felt something…a presence…she didn’t know and it
carried with it feelings of distain,
dissatisfaction, anger and hurt. But who? Who was
this presence and why did she feel as though it was
reaching out to her?
As
quickly as it had appeared, the presence was gone.
Bemused, Sakoya tried to connect with this unknown
again only to be gently guided away by an unseen
hand.
*No,*
a voice softly resonated within her mind.
*Who?*
Sakoya promptly questioned.
*I
am not one to fear. I am one with the Force.*
*Why
would you deny me contact?*
*It
is the will of the Force,* the voice explained
in the simplest of terms.
*The
Force would deny me to help this person, whomever
they might be?* Sakoya found it difficult to
believe that the Force would not permit her this
passage.
*For
sake’s own, yes.* The voice within her mind
sounded resolute.
I
sought comfort and found more confusion,
Sakoya thought, ostensibly defeated in spirit by
this unknown entity. Her entire body began to feel
as though she carried an insurmountable weight upon
her shoulders.
*May
the Force be with you.*
Before she could question it again, it offered her
the standard dismissal and departed.
Sakoya’s eyes fluttered open and she blinked several
times to adjust them to the growing sunlight beaming
through the double doors and into the bedchamber.
She looked around and the room was exactly as it had
been before her meditation, yet she felt…different.
Unexpectedly, pinpricks from an icy chill raced up
her back, causing her to look around feverishly.
“What is going on?” she said aloud. The air in her
room soon became thick and heavy, as if she were in
some dank swamp. The humidity steadily rose and she
began to feel as though the very air was attempting
to suffocate her. Instinctively, she reached for her
throat but nothing physically held her. Sakoya’s
eyes darted all around the room, expecting to find
someone but she was the lone occupant. Without
another thought she scrambled from the bed and
nearly stumbled as she ran over to the doors that
would lead her outside – outside into the sunshine
and breathable air.
She
flung open the doors and raced out of them, reveling
in the fresh breeze that greeted her. Sakoya inhaled
deeply, as if she couldn’t get enough air and then
coughed as a result.
“At
least I can breathe again,” she exclaimed. After a
few gasps of air and her anxiety dissipating she
shook her head from side to side and muttered, “I
came to this place for my honeymoon and so far it
has been anything but.” Her thoughts were
interrupted as she heard her husband calling out for
her.
“Out
here, love,” she shouted.
A
moment later Obi-Wan strode through the open doors
and with a visitor in tow.
“Cela!” Sakoya censured the teenager with a grim
look. “Where did you go? Are you alright?”
Obi-Wan scrutinized his bride. “Are you?” he
inquired, looking at her flushed face. “Did
something happen in your meditation?”
“I’m
fine.” Sakoya nodded and then slowly she added, “Did
you feel anything a short time ago? Anything
unordinary?”
Obi-Wan glanced at her oddly, “No, nothing. What’s
wrong?”
Sakoya looked at him in disbelief. How could he have
not felt what she had? He was far more advanced in
the ways of the Force than she. “Y-you didn’t feel a
thing?” she asked again.
The
Jedi Master’s brow knit together as he stared at his
wife. “Nooo, nothing. Are you alright?”
Sakoya slowly rubbed her forehead with her
fingertips. “I-I don’t know. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
Not wanting to discuss it further at the moment, she
turned her attention to her guest. “Cela, I was
worried about you.”
Cela
grimaced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“Did
you go back to your ship?” Sakoya questioned.
Cela
nodded. “Yes, ma’am and I’m glad I did. Miss Mara is
not herself. Somehow she spilled the vial on her
hand.”
Both
of the Jedi’s eyes widened in shock.
“All
of it? What happened to her?” Sakoya pressed.
“No,
not all, about half from the looks of it. I’m not
sure what happened to her though. She’s telling me
things she normally wouldn’t and…she’s…really acting
strange.”
“Oh?”
Cela
looked at Obi-Wan. “Yes, Master Jedi, I’m not sure
how to explain it.”
“Is
she ill?” he further inquired.
Cela
frowned and tilted her head slightly to the side.
“I’m not sure if she’s ill or what you would call
it. She’s not herself…she’s acting crazy, almost
paranoid.”
“Where is she now?” Sakoya asked.
“I-I
made her breakfast…and put some herbs in it that
would make her sleep. I-I didn’t know what else to
do.”
Sakoya took the step that separated her from the
teenager and embraced her. “You did fine. I’m just
glad you’re alright.” She brushed away a few silver
strands from the girl’s face. “Take us to her and
we’ll make sure she’s okay.”
Cela
pulled back, fear reflecting in her eyes. “She’ll
kill you for being on her ship and me
for allowing it!”
“No
harm will come to you, I promise,” Sakoya assured
the girl.
Cela’s eyes danced from one Jedi to the other and
back again. She felt comfortable with these two
people and for the first time in a long time she
felt trust in someone – that she could believe what
they told her and not worry about hidden agendas.
Still, Mara was not to be underestimated, even in
her erratic state of mind. In spite of the treatment
she endured from Mara Jade, Cela still felt
obligated to help her, and it surprised the teenager
when she realized that she cared. Why, she couldn’t
answer.
Cela
bowed her head and nodded in agreement. “Fine, I’ll
take you to her. Just understand that she is
unpredictable.”
“Then let’s hope she’s still asleep when we get
there.” Sakoya winked at the girl.
__________________________________*****__________________________________
“We have you on our screen now, identify yourself,”
came the standard request for incoming ships.
“Rogue’s
Curse requesting permission to land.”
“State your destination for our records.”
“Kuryn,” the pilot answered.
“Business or pleasure?” the control center queried.
“Depends on how you look at it.”
Unwavering, the voice asked again, “Business or
pleasure?”
“Pleasure then.”
Instead of the customary ‘proceed’ there was silence
from the control center for several minutes and the
ship’s pilot thought he might have to do a series of
passes before he would be permitted to land.
After what seemed an eternity, a familiar squeal
came over the comm. “Permission granted. Proceed to
docking bay 287. Enjoy your stay.”
“Aye, Rogue’s Curse out.”
__________________________________*****__________________________________
Obi-Wan hailed one of the hestan drawn carriages
that was stationed outside the main entrance to
their resort and the trio climbed on board.
“Your destination, sir?” the driver politely
inquired.
Obi-Wan glanced over at Cela, expecting her to
answer the question.
“The
Red Door Cantina,” Cela instructed.
With
a nod, the driver set his team in motion and they
pulled away from the resort.
Cela
remained quiet for the duration of the ride,
silently hoping that she was doing the right thing.
I’m about to introduce mother and daughter… I’m
scared, what if Mara kills her? The teenager
bent forward, her elbows perched on top of her knees
and long silver hair concealing her head resting in
her hands as doubt plagued her mind. I’m so
confused, I don’t know what’s right or what’s wrong
anymore.
Both
Jedi could sense the overwhelming uncertainty within
the girl and Sakoya put one arm around Cela’s
shoulders, drawing her in close. “It’ll be alright,
trust in the Force,” Sakoya said quietly.
“I
wish I shared your optimism,” Cela countered.
The
carriage finally stopped at the cantina Cela had
specified and the three of them stepped out and onto
the cobble stone street. Obi-Wan paid the driver and
after the carriage left he turned to Cela and asked,
“Now where?”
“Follow me.”
Obi-Wan stole a glance at his wife, the apprehension
apparent in his eyes. A look Sakoya didn’t miss as
she gave him a small grin in return and the two of
them trailed after the girl. Sakoya could feel her
heart begin to pound harder and her palms had a
trace of moisture on them.
“Are
you sure about this?” he whispered.
Sakoya nodded and whispered back, “It’s too late
to turn back.”
The
few kilometers the trio had to walk were done in
relative silence. As the morning progressed a cool
breeze began to churn around them, ruffling their
hair and clothes. Overhead, storm clouds were
beginning to gather and form. Cela glanced up at the
ominous sky and mumbled, “How fitting.”
It
was nearly mid-morning and raindrops had just
started to fall when the threesome came upon Mara’s
ship. Cela deactivated the defensive system and
waited for the ramp to lower. She turned around,
uneasy about the entire situation and looked
directly at Sakoya.
“You
don’t have to come on board.”
“No,
I don’t,” Sakoya gently answered. “But the Force is
with me and I’m prepared.”
Not
knowing what else to say, Cela walked up the
platform and right behind her were the two Jedi.
Nothing in the ship had changed, all of the presets
that she had noticed before were still in place.
Cela immediately walked over to a console, pushed a
few buttons, and a compartment below her opened. She
reached inside and withdrew two comlinks. One she
stuffed into the waistband surrounding her tunic
shirt and then walked over and handed the other one
to Obi-Wan.
“Just in case.” She smiled and winked.
Cela
guided Obi-Wan and Sakoya through the bowels of the
ship and didn’t stop until she reached Mara’s
quarters. She knocked on the door first and waited.
Nothing. No sound, no noise of any kind came from
within.
“M-Mistress Mara?” she tentatively said out loud.
Again silence was her answer.
Cela
looked back over her shoulder wordlessly asking for
permission to continue. When Sakoya gave a slow nod
of her head, the girl turned her head back around
and pushed the button that would open the metal
door.
She
was surprised to find it locked.
“I
don’t understand. I didn’t lock it when I left.”
“Can
you bypass the lock?”
“I
don’t think so, Master Jedi.”
“Then allow us to try,” Sakoya offered. Together,
the Jedi reached into the Force and struggled to
open the hatch. It was quite obstinate and when the
door finally slid to the side, each of them sighed
with relief.
“She’s quite proficient with her security measures,”
Obi-Wan observed.
“She
always is,” Cela remarked as she walked inside.
Not
only was Cela surprised, but Obi-Wan and Sakoya were
as well – Mara was not in her quarters and they
hadn’t seen or heard her as they traversed the ship.
Although everything appeared untouched from earlier,
except for the tray Cela had brought in and it was
now devoid of food. But the computer console screen
was black and Mara’s desk didn’t seem to be any
different. The crumpled bedding on the bed at least
gave Cela the indication that she wasn’t
hallucinating the morning’s events.
“I-I don’t understand,” Cela said mystified. “Where
is she?”
Sakoya didn’t even hear the question as she wandered
around the room and soon became oblivious to the
others.
Obi-Wan looked perplexed as he rubbed his goatee.
“You said you gave her some herbs to sleep – would
they have rendered her unconscious immediately?”
Cela nodded. “They should have. She does have a
strong constitution but I believe I had enough in
there.”
Obi-Wan walked over to the desk and reached out to
pick up the vial. “Apparently not.”
Cela
turned her head and screamed, “NOOO! Don’t touch
that!”
Cela’s screech got Sakoya’s attention as she jerked
her head up.
Obi-Wan halted his movement and turned his head to
the side. “Don’t be afraid, Cela,” he said, giving
her a warm smile.
Cela
rushed over and grabbed a strip of cloth from the
desk and quickly wrapped the vial in it. “If any
part of this comes into contact with you, like it
did Mara, you could end up like her.”
“I
doubt such a small trace on the outside of the vial
could have adverse effects but if it will make you
feel more at ease I won’t touch it,” Obi-Wan replied
as Sakoya walked up and joined him.
“Thank you, Master Kenobi.” Cela sighed with relief.
Obi-Wan glanced at his wife. “How are you holding
up?” he asked concerned.
Sakoya’s eyes roamed the room again before settling
upon her husband. “It’s just…very strange…to be in
here,” she answered, sounding nostalgic. “I can feel
her tight control over her emotions... There is much
to be said of what emanates inside this room...” Her
voice trailed off as her eyes drifted again, taking
in everything she could see and feel. Looking down,
she espied a datapad on the desk and picked it up.
The viewscreen wasn’t locked and without another
thought she glossed over its contents. “Look at
this,” she said, somewhat stymied and handed the
datapad to her husband.
“Names of very affluent individuals…” Obi-Wan mused.
Sakoya nodded in affirmation. “Yes, I noticed that
too.” Her eyes glancing over the desk again, Sakoya
saw an activated decoder and also picked it up. As
she began reading the display she found herself
perplexed.
Obi-Wan looked up. “What’s wrong?”
“What do you make of this? A weapon perhaps?” She
handed it to him and after he paused a moment he
looked down at the decoder and began to read:
You are cordially invited to attend the
demonstration of my newest creation, MX-492 in ‘The
Vault’.
I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed.
Converge on Ord Mantell, the eighth month, fifteenth
day. The demonstration will take place at 2000 hours
sharp. You must be within The Vault 1 hour prior to
that time or you will be denied entrance.
“Reynard,” the Jedi Master dryly retorted.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
