Chapter XXIX – Heaven and Hell – Part II
Fending off the vertigo she felt, she swung her legs
over the bed and pushed herself to her feet – only
to almost collapse to the floor. Thankfully, she
caught herself by grabbing onto the bedding and then
sat back down again. She took a couple of deep
breaths as she gazed around the room. Ultimately,
her eyes fell upon the catheter sticking out of her
hand. Without any hesitation, she reached over and
pulled it out.
She
grimaced from the minor pain but dismissed it just
as quickly. Her hand reached up and rubbed her
forehead as another wave of dizziness came over her.
In spite of feeling lethargic as well, she wanted to
know where she was. Standing up gradually this time,
she slowly shuffled over to the hatch and opened it
up.
Stupefied, she looked around and then began to walk
through the ship. Mara Jade had emerged from her
coma.
“I
don’t recognize any of this…” Mara mused, continuing
to explore her surroundings. However, it didn’t take
long before she stopped and leaned against the wall,
the cool metal soothing her warm skin through the
nightclothes she wore. The red-haired woman closed
her eyes and let her mind drift back to recent
events.
“Cela…” she mumbled, recalling her young slave. “The
vials…Yurrn and Irgan…I killed them.” Her brow
creased and her eyes narrowed as the next memory
came to life. “My…mother?” she said, gritting
her teeth. “And Palpatine, all of us…where?” she
asked herself with a combination of ire and
curiosity. “The dark side,” she recalled. “The
Emperor turned on me. That woman,” she said
with animosity toward Sakoya, “why did she have to
be there?” Mara reached up and grabbed her head in
her hands. “I have no memories of my mother,” she
snorted derisively before continuing the
conversation she was having with herself, “or my
father… But, now that I know who one is, I can also
find out the other. A pity for them.”
Her
hands slowly slid down her cheeks and neck and then
fell onto her lap. “As much as I should crack into
this ships computer and find out more…” she paused
and took a couple of deep breaths, “I need air. I
have to get out of here.” Mara glanced down at her
clothes and shook her head. “Not to mention getting
out of these rags and finding something more
suitable to wear.”
__________________________________*****__________________________________
Luke
jerked awake with a sense of panic flooding his
body. How long had he been asleep? Was Cela all
right? He felt her body next to him but she wasn’t
radiating the warmth she should have been. Fumbling
for her neck, he pressed two fingers against her
carotid artery and checked her pulse.
“It’s faint,” he stated as his concern escalated. It
was only then that he realized the storm had passed.
The wind no longer howled but remnants of its
passing remained on top of them in the forms of sand
and pebbles. He felt the weight press upon him
through his Jedi robe, but Luke knew it wasn’t heavy
enough that he couldn’t handle it. “I hope that
means we’re closer to Reynard’s compound and
shelter.”
Using the Force, Luke lifted his robe off him,
making sure it carried with it all of the debris
scattered upon it. He set it down a few feet away
and turned over to look upon the darkened sky where
stars dotted across it as far as the eye could see.
Some were brighter than others but that hardly
mattered to Luke who let a very audible sigh escape
his lips. Relief washed over him at the very sight
of those stars and he quickly turned his attention
to his injured friend.
“Cela,” he softly said, “can you hear me?”
When
she didn’t answer, he tapped her lightly on the
cheek with his fingertips. “Cela, please wake up.”
The
young woman didn’t stir and Luke noted the look of
peace on her face. If she was in pain it certainly
didn’t show, which worried the Jedi even more.
Luke
looked around his dark surroundings and then got to
his feet. “There has to be a way to help her if only
I could find it!” he stated, agitated. As he turned
around, his heart leapt at the sight of the mountain
of rock that had been their destination, and it was
only about ten meters away.
“Thank the Force,” he exclaimed. “Time to put myself
to work,” he added with a sense of resolve. Walking
over to his Jedi robe, Luke picked it up and then
walked further away before shaking it out to remove
as much sand as he could. Once he was satisfied he’d
gotten as much off it as possible, he walked back
over to Cela. Using the Force, he carefully
levitated her body off the ground and then guided
her toward the outcroppings of rock.
“Just what I need,” he commented as they came upon a
very large oval shaped slab. Gently, Luke set his
friend on the stone and was worried anew when she
continued to be unresponsive, in spite of his
efforts. He was about to search for an entrance when
he unexpectedly sensed danger. He immediately
reached for his lightsaber and ignited it. As the
emerald blade hissed to life, he deftly parried the
laser bolts that had begun to rain down upon him.
Luke
counted five beings emerge not far from his
position, their blasters unrelenting in their salvo.
The Jedi managed to position himself between his
attackers and Cela, sparing the possibility that she
could be struck while he fought to repel each bolt.
Eluding capture was not the only thought in the
forefront of Luke’s mind. Cela required medical
attention…and quickly. Changing from his defensive
stance, the Jedi began to reflect the blaster fire
back toward his attackers even as he began to
advance upon them.
Two
of the attackers soon fell and lay still and then
another followed, killed by a combination of their
own weaponry and Luke’s skill. Only two remained as
Luke’s lightsaber lit up the night. The Jedi was now
close enough to see the faces of his enemy –
Clawdites. Unfortunately, for one of them, their
blaster jammed and the useless weapon dropped to the
ground next to the now lifeless body of its owner;
the slice of a lightsaber through his midsection
barely discernable in the darkness.
One
remained and this one was resolute to see the Jedi
fall. Using his foot to kick one of his fallen
comrade’s blasters into the air, the Clawdite
grabbed the weapon with his free hand and fired each
blaster more intently on Luke.
One
shot grazed the young Jedi’s arm, which left a
stinging sensation but no further damage as he
parried again and again. In a blur of motion, he
suddenly sidestepped to the left and sliced the
Clawdite’s blasters in half. Using the Force to
propel his momentum even faster, he turned and swung
his saber through the air, decapitating the last
Clawdite.
Wasting no time in case more security showed up,
Luke reached into the Force and levitated his
unconscious friend toward him. He quickly found the
entry that the guards had used as he and Cela
disappeared inside.
__________________________________*****__________________________________
Mara
found her way back to the quarters she had awakened
in and began searching the closet. All she found
were clothes that reminded her of dancing girls.
“I’m not wearing that!” she scoffed. Her only other
choice was the Jedi clothing Sakoya had left behind.
Having nothing else, Mara ungraciously slipped on
the clothes, wanting nothing to do with these types
of garments. She could feel her mother’s presence in
the fabric and it brought back the memory of their
time on the dark side. Although, the memory was not
the one she expected…
Through the ethereal, Sakoya reached out to her
grown daughter – it was time for her to witness what
she had cast away.
It was gradual, but overwhelming as Mara found
herself in the middle of a paradise she had never
thought possible before. Tranquility surrounded her
offering itself to her – all she had to do was
accept it. She fought against her bonds, not
realizing that she was the one who controlled them.
She felt anger without wanting to. She felt pain
because she fought herself. She wanted to let go…but
couldn’t. It was like a dream that would soon fade
away leaving her feeling empty and lost.
Like she did so long ago…and still did…
And
then Palpatine came into her mind’s eye…
She reached down and grasped the medallion, studying
it, and then viciously yanked it from her neck to
cast it away into this barren nothingness she had
imprisoned herself in.
The medallion landed with a loud clatter and
suddenly Mara felt her throat constrict. She tried
to breathe but no air rushed into her lungs.
Sidious appeared before her and snidely said, “Such
is the price of betrayal, my apprentice.” His tone
was smooth, as it had always been, but chilled the
blood in her veins.
Mara’s chin dipped into her chest while her hands
grasped each side of her head. “No, stop it! I don’t
want to remember this!”
You still have much to learn, young one,
a strange voice interrupted.
Mara’s head jerked up too fast and she felt briefly
lightheaded. She steadied herself and then her eyes
darted all over the room, but she was the lone
occupant. “Who’s there?” she demanded.
The
voice never spoke again but it had chilled the
normally steely woman.
Without the slightest hesitation, Mara turned on her
heel and quickly left the room.
Leaning her head back, Mara breathed in deeply the
night air. She gazed at the stars, happy to see
them. They offered her a portion of comfort that she
hadn’t felt in quite a while. Her present
circumstances were confusing enough but this small
respite was soothing.
Bringing her head back upright, she closed her eyes
and drank in the cool breeze. She didn’t care about
the chills creeping up her back or the resulting
shudder. This was what she needed to revive her
dulled senses.
__________________________________*****__________________________________
Mara
didn’t know how long she’d been outside, not did she
care. She needed the fresh air and the ship had been
stifling. Only now, she could feel the strength ebb
from her body and, reluctantly, she boarded the ship
again.
“Time to find out what’s really going on,” she
commented as she tiredly made her way to the cockpit
and nearly fell into the pilot seat. Her eyes wanted
nothing more than to close and rest but Mara, ever
the fighter, refused to give in. Those same eyes
scanned the cockpit and rested upon the navigational
system. After a few pushing of buttons a map came on
the screen detailing her location.
Mara’s brow furrowed as she rechecked the display.
“Ord Mantell? Why…?” Surprised at first Mara soon
realized the possible reason for the ship to be on
planet. “Reynard’s gathering…” she mused while
rubbing her forehead. “How long have I been out of
commission? I remember…a meeting…a toxin.” Her eyes
suddenly lit up. “I spilled it on my hand!”
Her
hands flying over to the computer console, Mara
tried to access its contents only to have it prompt
her for a password. She tried several variations
only to eventually give up and more than a little
frustrated by her failure.
“Damn, stupid computers,” she growled. “That’s it.
My body needs sleep and I don’t have much choice in
the matter. Hopefully, morning will bring some
answers.”
Mara
went back to the quarters she had been in earlier
and lay down on the bed. She didn’t bother to change
out of her Jedi attire but she chuckled at the sight
of her bare feet sticking out of the pants. “Why
me?” she groused and closed her eyes.
__________________________________*****__________________________________
Luke
was grateful for one thing at this point – the
Clawdites’ had not only shown him an entrance but a
well-lit one. He guided Cela farther in and then
gently set her down on the cool duracrete, sensing
they were safe – for the moment.
Now
that he had the opportunity, he examined her wound
and was dismayed at the sight of so much blood on
her shirt. He could clearly see the rock embedded in
her side but he still didn’t want to pull it out for
fear that she would really bleed to death.
“If
only I had healers skills like Sakoya,” he sadly
stated. Reaching into the Force, Luke mentally
called out to the Jedi Knight in desperation.
“Luke?” Sakoya sleepily said. As she awakened
further, she could feel the young Jedi, like a
tickle in the back of her mind trying to rouse her.
She sat up and slowly closed her eyes – not to go
back to sleep but to try and find her nephew through
the Force. *Luke? I’m here.*
The
response he soon received didn’t surprise the young
Jedi. Although Sakoya was his ‘aunt’ through her
marriage to Obi-Wan, she was a close friend as well.
*Cela – she’s hurt badly. Unconscious,* he
mentally told her.
Startled by the message Luke sent through the Force,
Sakoya was soon out of bed and dressing herself. *You’re
both here? Where?*
*No
time to explain. Uh, I’m not exactly sure where we
are. It looks like a tunnel,* Luke mentally
replied.
*Guide
me then,* Sakoya countered as she slipped over
to the door of her suite.
Snoring in his deep sleep, Xar’ek never heard Sakoya
leave the room, which was what she wanted. If she
were stopped by anyone, it would be better if Xar’ek
wasn’t with her and add more plausibility to their
cover.
The
Jedi Knight easily slipped into stealth mode, which
made her movements light but accurate and virtually
undetectable.
__________________________________*****__________________________________
Bail
took one last glance at the grotto before joining
his friend, Obi-Wan, in the only other tunnel that
lead out. There was something about the secluded
area, something he couldn’t identify other than it
made him feel incredibly comfortable.
Breha would enjoy such a retreat,
he mentally noted regarding his wife.
Obi-Wan again followed the map given to him by Vaarn
as he began walking down the darkened tunnel, his
lightsaber providing the only source of light.
A
series of twists and turns later, Obi-Wan declared,
“A kilometer more and we should be near a lab.”
“Thank goodness,” Bail said with relief. “Then the
real search begins.”
“Reynard will make us work for what we’re looking
for – it won’t be easy,” the Jedi added, his voice
resolute.
“It
never is,” Bail replied with a sigh.
__________________________________*****__________________________________
It
took no thought on the Jedi’s part to choose to help
her friend rather than go back to bed and hope Cela
would be all right. Sakoya couldn’t allow it – and
wouldn’t. She knew the risk she was taking
especially when she considered the daunting task of
finding Luke and the girl. She hadn’t yet had the
opportunity to tour Reynard’s vast castle, either
accompanied or otherwise. However, she was sure
about one thing – security would be everywhere,
making it nearly impossible to slip through
undetected.
Sakoya wasn’t deterred. She quickly made her way
down the hallway to the stairs and cautiously began
descending them. Her ears were alert to any sound
and her eyes roamed all over, looking for any hint
of movement.
A
Clawdite guard passed by beneath her and she
immediately crouched down next to the balustrade. He
didn’t appear to be too worried about seeing anyone
as he lazily walked his post. Once he disappeared
from sight, Sakoya stood up and nearly glided down
the remaining stairs.
She
recalled the door at the entrance when they had
arrived and didn’t have to think twice that it would
have an activated alarm. Can’t go that way,
she mentally told herself. Turning, she went in the
opposite direction and deeper into the estate.
Sakoya hid in the shadows of the sparsely lit
hallways. When she heard a guard approaching, she
made every effort to evade them and so far, she had
been successful. Their footfalls upon the marble
floor echoed throughout making it easy for her to
discover them. She had just darted into another room
and discovered it was the kitchen – a very immense
and immaculate kitchen and it reminded the Jedi of
Reynard’s sterile personality.
“Very fitting,”
she whispered as she exited from the opposite side.
She came upon another hallway where she could turn
left, right or go straight and up a spiral
staircase. She was about to choose the staircase
when she heard a door open and a blast of light
enter the area where she stood.
“Good evening, Miss Jade. Won’t you join me?”
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