Chapter XXVIII – Ord
Mantell – Part IV
Once they
were out of the planet’s atmosphere, Cela’s hands
flew over the controls of the ship. Mara had taught
her slave what she needed to know, but Cela was also
a quick study and learned through observance. Had
Mara realized her slave was memorizing her movements
she probably would have booted the girl from the
cockpit. Cela now used that stored information to
her advantage. She had already brought up a
navigation map and was trying to determine not only
the best course to Ord Mantell but also the
quickest.
“This
would be more efficient,” Luke pointed to the map as
he glanced over her shoulder.
Cela
shook her head. “Remember the goodies I was talking
about? This ship can really fly.”
“Han
loves to boast about the Falcon pushing point
five past lightspeed.”
Cela
smirked, one side of her lips curling upward, and
scoffed, “We’re gonna go past that. That’s why we
have to be careful how we map our route. At that
speed we could run into anything.”
Luke
shared her smirk as he said, “Don’t let Han hear you
say that.”
Cela
pointed to the electronic map again. “If we jump
here then it’s a straight shot to the planet.”
“I’ll set
the coordinates,” Luke offered.
“And I’ll
engage the hyperdrive.”
__________________________________*****__________________________________
The
sentries surrounded the duo and escorted Sakoya and
Xar’ek into Reynard’s stronghold. The pair offered
no resistance and in a way, it reminded them both of
a mission they had carried out on Endor for the
Alliance.1
It had been a similar predicament, except their
captors had been Imperials. Still, Sakoya didn’t
think the same tactic she employed then would work
now. These Clawdites didn’t give the impression of
being weak-minded.
They
maneuvered through a series of tunnels built into
the rocky caverns. Navigation through a number of
them wasn’t difficult for they were smooth and
level. However, others were the exact opposite with
spindly jutting rocks from the walls and large
mounds of dirt and stone erratically blocking their
path.
“Why the
inconsistency with the tunnels?” Sakoya decided to
ask.
The
ranking Clawdite, Regor, almost ignored the question
but then considered that these may be guests of his
Master. He didn’t need any reminders of his
subservience. He’d witnessed what happened to those
who stepped out of line and wanted no part of that
kind of ‘obedience training’.
“Our
Master’s wishes. Those who don’t know the tunnels
could easily perish.”
“He likes
all the twists and turns? The dim lighting? The
uneven surfaces? The dank air?”
“He has
his reasons. Mine is not to question, simply obey.”
Sakoya
said nothing further as she thought about his words.
How easy would it be to turn them? she
silently pondered. Vaarn came to mind and his
willingness to help her husband. A content employee
would not be so inclined to revolt, but if the
opposite held true… Then of course, there was Zula,
Reynard’s closest associate… Just how loyal were
Reynard’s troops?
Regor
roused Sakoya from her musings when he led them out
into the daylight. The sun was high overhead and
sending its powerful rays down onto the party,
warming their bodies from the much cooler and clammy
caverns.
Regor
proudly walked forward, his sentries falling to
place on each side and behind their captives. Sakoya
and Xar’ek found themselves standing on sand with
two great walls on each side of them. The northern
wall was sheer rock that reached high into the sky.
A minor curve followed the wall as it stretched both
in front and behind them. On the opposite side
embedded into another rock face was a magnificent
structure.
Reynard
had built his fortress right into the massive wall
of rock. Engineers had painstakingly replicated the
scientist’s dream into reality. Brick and mortar
were the main ingredients of the construction,
accompanied by specially crafted transparisteel
windows that could withstand the effects of blaster
fire. Every window on the lower level was also
equipped with additional security devices, which
would sound an alarm if tampered with. Beautifully
crafted towers protruded more than halfway out of
the wall, their spires peeking well over the top of
the cliff face. The vast castle type structure was
magnificent to gaze upon and captured the attention
of both Sakoya and Xar’ek.
No longer
awed by the site of the castle, the Clawdites had to
prod their prisoners forward before they would move.
Sakoya found herself smiling at the small pool of
water they passed as they walked toward the main
entrance.
Regor
glanced back at his captives and noticed the female
staring at the pool. “Better stay clear of that,” he
brusquely warned.
“Why?”
Sakoya inquisitively asked.
Regor
shook his head and turned away mumbling, “Some
things are better left alone.”
Sakoya
didn’t bother to inquire further, the Clawdites tone
told her enough for the moment. She was somewhat
surprised that her partner was so
uncharacteristically quiet. Glancing over her
shoulder, she saw Xar’ek trailing behind her, his
gray eyes gleaming in the sunlight as he winked at
her.
Don’t
get any ideas, she silently reprimanded her
partner even though he wouldn’t hear her thoughts.
As they
neared the massive twin doors, Xar’ek and Sakoya
watched with interest as Regor lifted his forearm
and touched a series of buttons on a device attached
to his wrist. As if on command, the oddly
translucent doors swung open.
“Interesting,” Xar’ek commented with a nod of his
head.
“Very,”
Sakoya agreed and added, “They appear clear from the
outside…” she stepped through the doorway and into a
foyer.
Coming in
behind her, Xar’ek interrupted, “Specially designed
transparisteel, I’d be willing to wager.”
Regor
glanced over his shoulder as if to reply but then
thought better of it. “Wait here,” he gruffly
ordered and quickly disappeared.
Instantly, the remaining Clawdites surrounded the
duo but it was not enough to obscure their view of
the foyer where they waited. Columns of white
marble, its intricate gray and black strands
interwoven in the beautiful stone, ascended high
above their heads. Made from the same stone, the
floor reflected back the images of those standing
upon it. Aesthetically placed, mildly fragrant tall
potted trees and plants mingled effortlessly with
the ornate flowers that adorned an onyx table in the
center of the foyer. Off to the left was a burgundy
armchair that begged Sakoya to sit and partake in
its softness.
“May I?”
the Jedi asked, extending her hand to the chair.
One of
the Clawdites shook his head. “No.”
Xar’ek
had to stifle his chuckle at the displeasure on his
friends face.
The sound
of voices caught his attention as Xar’ek glanced
over at the approaching men. A sideways momentary
look showed him that Sakoya was paying attention as
well. One of the men was a Clawdite but not the same
one that had led them in. However, the other was
certainly more distinguished than his counterpart.
Sakoya
observed the man as he approached. To her, his body
stance appeared inflexible, almost unyielding, and
his dark clothing sufficed in maintaining that
assessment. As he came closer, she couldn’t help
noticing that his face gave no allusion of emotion,
save a coldness that made her inwardly shiver. And
his eyes – they reminded her of endless pools of
ebony.
He
hides beneath the shroud but I sense a shrewdness
that is not to trifle with. Sakoya mentally
noted. We must be very careful. Please Xar’ek,
don’t do anything rash.
Reynard
Sindre abruptly stopped before the red-haired woman,
scrutinizing her as if she were an acquired prize.
His Clawdite escort merely stood silently behind
him, his impassable face awaiting further orders.
“I don’t
recall inviting you here… Nonetheless, I’ve waited a
long time to meet you, Miss Jade,” Reynard said at
last, clasping his hands behind his back.
He
thinks I’m Mara! Oh Force, this could be
complicated. Sakoya’s inner musings were privy
only to her and she intended to keep it that way.
I can’t play this up too much – it would cause
suspicion. She recalled Mara’s mannerisms and
how she had spoken, quickly adopting the
characteristics and hoped she would be convincing.
“Your invitation came into my possession and
intrigued me. I couldn’t idly sit by while others
took advantage of your offer.”
A small
glimmer of a smile crept up the lips of the
scientist but his eyes never left her face. “Who is
your companion? He’s not Talon Karrde.”
Sakoya
cast a sly glance over her shoulder, imagining her
daughter giving such a look, and replied, “He’s
my…distraction…when business matters are concluded.”
Reynard’s
gaze shifted to Xar’ek, dissecting the man with his
eyes as if he were some sort of specimen. When the
Corellian failed to flinch, Reynard appeared
satisfied. From what he knew of Mara’s reputation,
she would not place herself with a weak man and had
this one shown any failing, Reynard would know she
lied.
“Very
well. Although I am not pleased you have brought a
guest, I will allow it – for now. Control him as
best you can. It would prove unfortunate if my
sentries were to find him in places he should not
be.” Reynard held his head high as he grimly said,
“Vuron – tend to their needs.”
Before
the Clawdite could respond, the scientist suddenly
turned around and briskly walked away.
Vuron,
Captain of the Guard, signaled to one of his guards
who promptly brought himself to the military
position of attention. “Take them to their suite,
West Wing, second floor,” he instructed.
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