Chapter XV – Unexpected
Guests – Part IV
Late morning
“Mara? Are you alright?” Cela knelt next to her
mistress.
Mara
was barely coherent as she slowly lifted her head.
Her pupils were dilated; her breathing ragged and
she could only speak above a whisper. “Who are
you? And what are you doing on my ship?”
“It’s me, Cela.”
Mara’s head fell forward and she lapsed into
unconsciousness.
“She’s in pretty bad shape.”
“Yes, Cela, she is… We better get her back to the
resort and see if Sakoya can help her.”
Cela
turned her head and looked directly into the Jedi
Master’s emerald eyes. “It has to be hard for her…to
learn her daughter is alive…and…” She swallowed hard
as pools of tears began to build in her eyes. “I-I…I
don’t know what to say. I’m sorry for all of this.”
Obi-Wan knelt down beside her and took her hand in
his. “Child, the Force has seen to it that our paths
have crossed and come together. Sakoya has buried
her feelings about Mara for too long, perhaps it is
time for mother and daughter to find peace in the
only way they can.”
“By
knowing each other are alive?” Cela asked, a tear
streaking down her cheek.
“Yes, and for the real healing process to begin.”
The
teenager sorrowfully looked back at Mara. “Why do I
have the feeling Sakoya will find more emptiness?”
Obi-Wan found himself reluctant to answer and
instead stood up and said, “Let’s get her to the
resort.”
Unable to procure anything that would make a
suitable litter other than Cela’s own mattress,
Obi-Wan set to work. He secured the cataleptic woman
onto it with some rope Cela had managed to find. It
would serve to hold her so that she wouldn’t slip
off and it employed extra security in case she did
regain consciousness. Obi-Wan stood next to the
makeshift stretcher and held the last portion of
rope that he would use to drag it along while Cela
secured the ship. As the rain dripped from their
faces they glanced at one another and then began the
trek toward the entertainment district.
They
were halfway to the edge of the entertainment
district when Mara began mumbling incoherently.
Obi-Wan stopped as Cela tried to make out what the
woman was saying but the girl had no idea. She felt
Mara’s forehead and it was still burning with fever.
Feeling helpless she looked up at the Jedi and said,
“I don’t know what to do.”
“All
we can do is keep moving and hope Sakoya can help
her in time.”
Mara’s head rolled limply to the side as Cela
rejoined Obi-Wan in front of the litter. “It doesn’t
look good.”
__________________________________*****__________________________________
Gunther’s eyes widened in surprise at the Jedi’s
revelation.
“You
know of this person?” Sakoya asked.
He
nodded and replied, “I’ve heard the name but the
last place I thought they would ever show up is
here.”
“Well, she has.”
“And
how do you know this person committed this crime?”
Gunther asked, slightly suspicious.
Sakoya sighed. “I don’t have absolute proof. More
like speculation.”
“Go
on,” the sergeant folded his arms across his chest.
“My
husband and I were in the cave that very night. The
battle was already in progress when we arrived – we
were too late.”
“And
yet you claim this woman is the murderer.”
“Yes,” Sakoya sounded tired. “We came across a girl
who was also in the cave. It turns out she is a
slave to the Emperor’s Hand. She had been
instructed to hide among the caves formations and
act as a backup in case anything went wrong.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t see any better than we
could.”
Gunther looked at her dubiously.
“As
I said, I have circumstantial evidence.”
“You
have hearsay at best,” he retorted.
“I
know this sounds unreasonable –” she began to reply.
The
sergeant cut her off. “Perhaps you have been
enjoying the sun too long. You could have heat
stroke and suffering from delusions.”
Sakoya touched her forehead with her hand.
“Perhaps…”
Gunther saw how weary she was and just as he was
about to tell her to sit down Sakoya collapsed to
the floor.
__________________________________*****__________________________________
“I’ll go find us transportation,” Cela offered and
before Obi-Wan could protest she was running up the
street.
Obi-Wan walked over to Mara’s side and knelt beside
her, the rain dripping from his nose and every other
portion of his body as it still thrust itself upon
them. She was still unconscious and he simply stared
at her, not believing how her features matched those
of his wife; her forehead and cheekbones, and her
hair – the same fiery red as Sakoya. There was no
longer any doubt in his mind that this was indeed
Sakoya’s daughter, presumed dead all these years.
She appeared so peaceful in her current state that
one would wonder how she could have the heart of a
cruel assassin.
Obi-Wan lifted her left eyelid and examined her
pupil – it was still dilated and the whites of her
eye were also filled with red blotches. He gently
let the eyelid return to its rested state and then
ran a hand along her forehead. He took note that her
fever had grown worse in spite of the cool rain.
“You
must be close to 40 degrees Celsius if not more,” he
murmured. “My dear Sakoya will have even more on her
shoulders now,” he commented solemnly and sat down
next to makeshift stretcher and waited.
A
quarter hour had passed before Obi-Wan saw a
familiar white carriage drawn by hestans coming
toward him. He saw Cela stand and wave to him and
then lose her balance and fall back onto the
carriage seat.
“Kids,” he chortled.
“Is
she any better?” Cela asked, her concern written all
over her face as she jumped down from the carriage
before it had even completely stopped.
The
Jedi slowly shook his head and the two of them set
to work removing the rope off Mara. Obi-Wan reached
into the Force for additional support knowing he
would feel encumbered by Mara’s ‘dead weight’ and
she would feel heavier than she actually was.
Bending down, he slipped his arms beneath her and
lifted her up and then carried Mara over to the
carriage.
“This is a slight dilemma,” he mused at the small
opening in which to enter the carriage.
“Allow me,” the driver promptly said as he hastened
down from his perch and entered the carriage from
the other side.
“Thank you,” Obi-Wan gratefully replied.
The
driver took the woman from the Jedi’s arms and laid
her down on the seat across from Cela. He then
turned and offered his hand to Obi-Wan and helped
him into the carriage.
He
smiled at the driver. “Thank you again.”
“My
pleasure, sir. Do you want me to take you directly
to the Medical Center?”
“No,
unfortunately her ailment cannot be cured by
conventional means. Please take us to the
Montique Resort.”
“Are
you sure, sir?” the driver asked.
“Yes, I’m quite sure,” the Jedi stated as water
dripped from his goatee.
“As
you wish.” He exited the carriage and made sure both
of the small doors were secure before taking his
driver seat. A slight tap of the reins and the
hestans lurched the coach forward.
Cela
yawned and curled her legs up onto the seat as she
snuggled closer to the Jedi. She nestled her head
into his shoulder and was asleep soon after.
Obi-Wan smiled down at the teenager and wrapped his
arm protectively around her. “Sleep well,” he said
with a sigh.
__________________________________*****__________________________________
Sakoya awoke to find herself in a chair and Sergeant
Glaston crouched down in front of her, a worried
look on his face.
“Wh-what happened?” she asked, as her hand reached
for her forehead.
“You
passed out. Are you alright? Do you need medical
attention?”
Sakoya glanced around as if in a daze. “Y-yes, I’m
just exhausted I think.”
“I
called for transportation for you, it’s already
outside.”
“Oh,” she replied, looking around again. “Thank
you.”
“Here,” he offered her his hand as he stood up, “let
me help you.”
Sakoya accepted the proffered hand and stood up.
Other than a slight wobble she didn’t feel too out
of sorts. “Thank you again for your help.” She
smiled at the officer.
“You’re welcome.” Wrapping his arm around her waist,
he helped her walk to the coach he had called for.
“Get some rest. I think you’ve overexerted
yourself,” he told her as they exited the building.
“I
can manage from here. Thank you for being so kind.”
Gunther smiled and replied, “Always willing to help
a lady. You can reach me here if you need to.”
Sakoya stepped up into the carriage and sat down.
She glanced over at the sergeant and said, “I’ll
keep that in mind.” Re-directing her attention to
the driver she told him her destination and they
began to pull away, leaving Sergeant Glaston
standing alone out in the rain.
“Do
you need assistance into the resort, ma’am?” the
driver inquired as he reined in his team of hestans
to a stop in front of the Montique Resort.
“No,
I’ll be fine,” she replied, opening the small door
and slowly stepping out of the carriage.
“Very well. If that will be all, ma’am?”
Sakoya nodded and wordlessly walked toward the
resort’s entrance – the thought of paying the
coachman the furthest thing from her mind.
Looking as if she’d taken a bath completely attired,
Sakoya did her best to hurry toward the turbolift.
The thought of a hot shower and warm clothes made
her shiver and she tried to pick up the speed of her
steps.
The
lift doors opened and Sakoya entered immediately,
drawing unappreciative glances from the couple
within who quickly exited into the lobby area. Their
pretentious attitude didn’t bother Sakoya though;
she was too preoccupied with the many thoughts
churning in her mind. She closed her eyelids and
said, “Penthouse level.”
Sakoya took the few minutes she had been afforded by
the lift to reach into the Force. She felt utterly
drained and hoped that immersing herself in the
divine energy would alleviate some of that feeling.
The
lift suddenly stopped and the doors opened, nudging
the Jedi from her impromptu meditation and she
shuffled out. She dragged herself along the hallway
until she came upon her suite. She tiredly reached
out to the electronic keypad, covering it with her
hand. “Just a little more,” she told herself as her
body slumped forward. The wall acted as a brace as
she rested her forehead on her hand. Pushing herself
up, she input the code and was relieved when the
metallic door slid aside.
She
had no sooner stepped inside the suite when a
familiar voice greeted her.
“Well, hello Red. How’s the honeymoon?” he
asked good-humoredly and then added, “I see you got
caught in the rain.”
Sakoya’s legs suddenly felt wobbly, her body swayed
and then she was on the floor.
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