Chapter XX –
Confrontation
–
Part II
‘Noooooooo!’ Sakoya’s mind screamed as her voice
refused to respond to her command and she helplessly
watched her husband fall into a heap on the ground.
She tried to move, determined to be at her husband’s
side only to remain mired in place. She could hear
her own heartbeat as it pounded in her chest – its
reverberation threatening to shatter her eardrums.
Unable to utter a sound, Sakoya tilted her head
backward and silently screamed her frustration.
Then she felt it…
Pain – acute pain. She looked down only to see a
lightsaber protruding from her stomach – the crimson
blade glowing brilliantly.
Sakoya slowly looked back up and came face to face
with her daughter – the child she once believed
murdered so long ago. An ironic twist of fate, she
mused. ‘And now…she has given herself retribution
with my death.’
Suddenly Sakoya felt her anger rise to the surface
and just as quickly, she quashed it. ‘No,’ she
reminded herself, ‘Sidious transformed my child into
a killer…it is up to me to edify that error.’ The
Jedi’s lips moved to mouth her silent thoughts and
was surprised when she heard herself speak, “I
forgive you, Mara. The Force embraces you. Let go of
your hate.”
Sakoya’s
body had begun to sway and her vision was becoming
increasingly blurry as she struggled to keep her
eyes open. What little strength remained was
progressively ebbing out of her body, but just
before she lost consciousness, she gazed upon her
daughter and whispered, “I love you, Mara.”
__________________________________*****__________________________________
“Montique Resort,”
Vaarn instructed the coachman. Having absconded with
one of the medics blankets, the Clawdite wrapped it
tightly around his head as well as his body, hoping
to conceal his randomly shifting form.
“You
sure I shouldn’t take you to a medical facility?”
the man asked as he watched his client shuffle into
the coach.
Vaarn waved him off and roughly sat down.
“Please…take me to the resort.”
Casting his passenger one last doubtful glance, the
coachman turned back toward the front and urged his
team of hestans forward.
The
Clawdite leaned back and tried to relax in spite of
the grueling pain he was experiencing. The
firefighters had guided him out of the burning hotel
and over to the medics but so many others needed
help. Even though his trauma was subsiding, the
extent of his injuries was now settling in and Vaarn
knew he couldn’t risk hospitalization and his
identity discovered. No, he had come this far and
lost everything in the process but there was one
place he could go and find refuge and he knew they
wouldn’t turn him away.
Vaarn willingly shifted back to his natural state,
unable to control his changeling ability any longer
and burrowed himself further into the blanket –
closing his eyes as the carriage carried him to his
destination.
The
coachman pulled back on the reins, bringing his team
of hestans to a halt in front of the Montique
Resort. He turned in his seat to look back at
his passenger. He could barely discern the alien’s
face because of the cocoon he had made of the
blanket. Still, judging by the way the man’s body
shivered, it was apparent that his passenger was
still in a fair amount of pain.
“Sir, you really should allow me to take you to a
medical facility,” he tried to tell the Clawdite but
Vaarn waved him off as he began to emerge from his
semi-cataleptic state.
“No…thank you…” the Clawdite mumbled.
The
coachman jumped down from his seat and hurried over
to the side of the carriage to help the wounded man.
He quickly opened the door and offered his hand,
which Vaarn gratefully accepted. The Clawdite knew
he was weakening but refused to give in to the pain
that was twisting his insides into horrible
contortions. Beads of sweat covered his brow and he
felt the constrictions in his chest with every
breath.
He
knew he wouldn’t make it to his destination without
assistance.
“Pl…ease…” he tried to speak and had to pause to try
and breathe. “Go inside…ask…the front…desk.” Vaarn
managed just above a whisper. He coughed hard, which
caused him extreme pain and then felt something warm
on his lower lip. Vaarn reached up to wipe away what
he assumed was spittle only to discover fresh blood
on his hand.
“Who
shall I get to help you?” the coachman nervously
inquired.
“J-Jedi…Kenobi.”
The
driver helped Vaarn sit back down in the carriage
and then ran as fast as he could into the resort.
A
sudden beep indicating an incoming message resounded
in the room where the trio had been discussing their
next course of action. Obi-Wan set down his cup of
caf and walked over to the computer console. He
glanced down and noticed that the incoming message
was not from an outside source, but an internal one,
which surprised him.
Activating the message, Obi-Wan and his companions
watched as a holographic image appeared and politely
stated, “Jedi Kenobi, your immediate presence is
requested at the front desk.” The image disappeared
as the message ended leaving the Jedi to wonder why
he was needed so urgently.
“I’ll be back shortly,” he informed Cela and Xar’ek
as he walked away from the desk.
“Should we come with you?”
Obi-Wan glanced over his shoulder and replied, “No,
Cela. Please watch over Sakoya and Mara.”
Obi-Wan stepped off the turbolift and calmly strode
up to the front desk. Unfortunately, all of the
clerks were assisting other patrons and he could do
nothing but wait patiently.
A
few minutes passed and then a young woman approached
the Jedi and politely asked, “Can I help you, sir?”
“Yes. I received a message to come to the front
desk. My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
Before the clerk could respond, a man of standard
height and build approached the Jedi and asked
rather excitedly, “Are you Jedi Kenobi?”
Obi-Wan turned toward him, his face clearly
perplexed and nodded in affirmation.
“Please, come with me!” the coachman pleaded.
The
Jedi couldn’t detect anything deceitful, but he
could certainly see the man was upset.
“What is this about?”
“I’m
sorry. I’macoachmanandIwasbringingmypassengerhere,
againstmybetterjudgmentIadmit,
whenhenearlycollapsedtryingtogetoutofthecarriage.
Heaskedmetocomeinhereandfetchyou.”
It
was obvious how shaken the coachman was, especially
if his accelerated speech was any indication. He had
spoken so fast that the Jedi could barely understand
him.
“Why
don’t you show me?” Obi-Wan suggested.
The
coachman didn’t even wait as he quickly turned and
ran back out of the resort.
Obi-Wan Kenobi slowly moved his head from side to
side, took a deep breath and quietly said, “Why do I
have a bad feeling about this?”
“He’s coming,” the coachman told Vaarn as soon as he
reached the carriage.
“Good…thank you…” Vaarn’s voice sounded almost
garbled as he coughed again.
The
man glanced over his shoulder to see where the Jedi
was and then looked back at his passenger once more.
“Just don’t die on me.”
Vaarn would have snickered if he had the energy.
“Don’t…worry,” he rasped, “I…won’t.”
A
moment later the Jedi Master came upon the carriage
and his wonder increased as he espied the individual
sheathed in a blanket.
“Can
I help you?” he asked, confused.
It
took Vaarn a minute to recall that he no longer
resembled his human persona, the one that the Jedi
had associated him with. “Vaarn…Nurgh…at
your…service,” he replied.
Recollection came to mind at the mention of the name
but it certainly didn’t register with the face,
Obi-Wan mused.
“I…”
Vaarn tried to take a deep breath, “can help…you.”
“You
need medical assistance,” Obi-Wan condescendingly
stated the obvious.
“No,
no time,” Vaarn coughed. “Can’t…go…there…”
Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes, his curiosity piqued. “I
don’t wish to inflict more pain upon you but…why?”
Vaarn tried to take a deep breath but was
interrupted by a coughing fit instead.
“Mara…toxin…I-I can…help.”
Obi-Wan felt his heart leap but outwardly displayed
no emotion except his nod of understanding. It
wasn’t as if the man didn’t want to get help, he
just had to go about it in an unusual way, but there
was much more to it than that and the Jedi Master
knew it. “I didn’t realize you were a Clawdite, Mr.
Nurgh.”
Vaarn didn’t reply, but the glare he cast at the
Jedi spoke for itself.
Obi-Wan began to recall the conversation he had had
with Padmé when he had initially inquired about
Vaarn. Yes, I remember now…she said he was a
Clawdite…among other things. It’s no surprise he
doesn’t want to go to a medical facility – no doubt
there’s a bounty on his head. The Jedi came out
of his reverie and said, “I hope you understand that
I don’t have the medical expertise you need. I’ll
certainly try but I don’t know how much help I can
be.” The Jedi looked at the coachman. “Please get me
a hover-chair…” he asked, pausing because he didn’t
know the man’s name.
“My
name is Ternan.”
The
Jedi smiled at the helpful coachman. “If you would
be so kind, Ternan.”
“As
for you,” Obi-Wan said after Ternan had scampered
off, “I don’t suppose you have knowledge of a man
named Reynard?” Although he knew the answer, the
Jedi wanted to see if this smuggler turned bodyguard
would be forthcoming.
A
smile slowly crept up Vaarn’s lips and he simply
nodded his head.
Ternan returned with the hover-chair more quickly
than either the Jedi or Clawdite had anticipated and
anxiously helped Obi-Wan get Vaarn settled into the
chair. Not wanting to linger any longer than
necessary, Ternan wordlessly and gratefully went on
his way, leaving the duo in his wake as he attempted
to get as much distance between them and him as he
could.
Obi-Wan grinned at the Clawdite and said, “Looks
like we need to talk.”
__________________________________*****__________________________________
The
Millennium Falcon had already made the jump
into hyperspace which allowed the passengers to
settle in and consider what lay ahead.
Chewbacca had decided to go and check on a few minor
adjustments he had recently made which left Han
sitting in the cockpit alone until a visitor
arrived.
Luke
sat in the co-pilot’s seat and made himself
comfortable while Han finished his log entry.
The
pirate glanced over at the young man and smiled. He
and Luke had shared some amusing times together and
their friendship had only grown over the past year.
“So where’s your father?” Han inquired with his
traditional smirk.
Luke
smiled back as his eyes passed over the cockpits
computer console. “Playing holochess with Senator
Organa.”
“Holochess, huh? That’d be a match to watch,” he
said with a snicker. “Ya know, I have a full load of
dignitaries onboard… Maybe I should alter our course
and see if I can strike up a bargain?”
Luke
laughed and shook his head. “I doubt you’d fetch a
fair price.”
Han
rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his eyes dancing with
mischievousness. “Ohh, I don’t know about that. I
could make a nice little profit…”
Luke
smirked and rolled his eyes, knowing that the
smuggler wasn’t serious. “So how are things going
with you and Leia?”
Han’s cheeks began to flush and he turned in his
seat to look back to see if anyone else was around.
“Something wrong?” Luke asked, grinning.
Han
turned back toward the front of the cockpit again,
his face regaining its composed look. “No, nothing.
Everything’s fine.” He tried to disguise the
nervousness in his voice.
“Uh
huh,” Luke commented with a nod.
The
cockpit turned deathly silent.
“She’s not pregnant…is she?” Luke suddenly asked
with concern.
Amusement promptly replaced Han’s nervous edge as he
smirked at the question. “No.”
A
look of bemusement graced the young man’s face.
“Then what?” he urged, watching his friend’s facial
expression change. “Oh…no…” Luke moaned under his
breath as Captain Solo made his confession.
Han
glanced back again just to make sure no one else was
around. Turning toward Luke he whispered, “We’re
engaged.”
The
revelation stunned Luke but only for a moment and
then his eyes sparkled as a huge grin graced his
lips. Soon after, he began to laugh – heartily.
Han
just stared at his future brother-in-law’s reaction
not quite knowing how to interpret it. Finally, he
dryly commented, “Yeah, this is gonna be one
entertaining family.”
Anakin sat across from Bail Organa, a New Republic
Senator as well as a family friend, and studied the
holochess in front of him, deciding on what move to
make.
“Stumped, Master Jedi?” Bail playfully teased.
Anakin gave his opponent a defiant stare, his eyes
his only form of movement. “Not in the least,” he
chided back in the same good-mannered tone. “I’m
just trying to make you sweat.”
Bail
laughed and replied, “I hardly think so, Anakin. I’m
already beating you.”
The
Jedi grinned mischievously and said, “Not for long.”
The
Senator focused his attention back onto the
holochess board again and helplessly watched one of
his larger creatures get picked up and then thrown
back down by Anakin’s overpowering creature.
Shocked by the unanticipated move, Bail stared at
the holo board.
With
a triumphant smirk, Anakin sat back in his seat.
Bail
shook his head and conceded his defeat. “I’ve beaten
you before, remember that,” he good-naturedly
stated.
“That was pure luck,” Anakin retorted with a smile.
“Call it what you will, I still beat you.”
Both
men laughed.
“So,
did Padmé smuggle herself on board?” the Senator
asked when he stopped laughing.
“No,
but I’d know if she was here,” Anakin replied. “She
can’t shield herself from me – even at the times
when she’d like to.”
“It
must be difficult. You and Luke just came home only
to turn around and leave again.”
“It
is,” Anakin agreed. “But she has the unique ability
to understand, due to her position in the Senate,
the sacrifices we all must endure and besides,” he
added, “I send her dreams through the Force to keep
her occupied.”
Bail
had definitely chosen the wrong moment to take a sip
of his caf and nearly spewed it all over the Jedi.
“I
think I could have done without that knowledge,
Anakin,” Bail retorted with a chuckle as he set his
cup down.
Anakin snickered and grabbed a nearby rag that Han
must have tossed aside after making some repairs –
it wasn’t the cleanest but it would do.
Espying the rag made a certain smuggler come to the
Senator’s mind. “How is my goddaughter’s
relationship with Han progressing?”
Anakin pretended not to hear the question and
continued to wipe up the liquid.
“I
take it you still don’t approve of him?”
With
an audible sigh, Anakin tossed the rag aside and
leaned back in his seat. A look of consternation
littered his face as he replied, “I like Han – we’re
on his ship after all.”
“But?”
“But
I don’t think he’s right for Leia.”
“I
see,” Bail said with a nod of his head. “And what
does Padmé think?”
Anakin diverted his eyes and stared at the ceiling.
“An
area of contention I presume?” Bail pressed.
“She
accuses me of not letting Leia grow up,” Anakin
stated matter-of-factly.
“She
may be right. Now before you get upset just listen.
Leia is grown up now and as much as you, even
Obi-Wan, or I want to protect her we can’t – at
least, not all of the time. Han is a good man and
he’s tried very hard to act appropriately with Leia
and show his sincerity. All I’m saying is give him a
chance.”
Anakin stood up and said, “I need to meditate. We’ll
talk later.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
