Chapter Four


Ja'Ina and Kurloh returned to quarters to visit Soraa. Rann was in the top bunk, reading another of her blaster holojournals. Soraa was lying in the lower bunk half-asleep. Her tattered unitard had been replaced by extensive bacta-treated bandages wrapped around her body under a soft robe.

Ja'Ina knelt down next to Soraa and gently woke her up. "Hey there, how're you feeling?"

Soraa sleepily opened her eyes and looked at her friend. She spoke slowly and softly. "Like a star freighter landed on top of me. I'm okay, I guess… given the alternatives."

"You really could use some treatment in a bacta tank, but I guess we'll have to wait until we get to Orvax," noted Kurloh.

Rann put her holojournal down and leaned down over the side of her bunk. "You really think they'll have such facilities on a slave planet?"

Ja'Ina looked up at her, confused. "Why do you say that?"

"From what I hear, slave masters don't bother with healing injured slaves," Rann said matter-of-factly. "They're just thrown into the sewer to be dianoga food. There's always another slave to take their place."

Ja'Ina's thoughts went out to Dun'ii, Mehar's Twi'lek slave. While the wound Ja'Ina inflicted on Dun'ii was not fatal, Ja'Ina now feared that Mehar may have killed her just for being 'damaged goods'.

Kurloh sensed Ja'Ina's troubled mind. "Ina, don't listen to her. She's just messing with you." Kurloh had heard similar stories as well, but didn't want to worry Ja'Ina more than she already was.

Rann made her way down the side of the bunk slowly to favor her cybernetic leg. The pain was quite high due to the stress of the intense battle with the Imperial destroyer and the aftermath of the conflict. She had taken some of the spice-based medication which had brought the pain down considerably and left her feeling like she had more than a few stiff shots of Dodbri whiskey.

"C'mon, Ku! I'm just having some fun with Ina."

"Now's not the time, Rann. You seem to forget that we're still in the middle of an emergency situation."

"Oh, there's mother Ku reprimanding the foolish younglings again!" Rann leaned over to Ja'Ina, who was enjoying the exchange. "Ina, don't let her boss you around like that!"

Ja'Ina quickly nodded. "Mmm-hmm."

"Since my relief nursing crew has arrived, I'm going to go where my help will be appreciated! Soraa, don't you go anywhere."

Soraa gave a weak smile, "Don't worry about me. I'm in the good hands of the mystic philosophers."

"More like mysterious weirdoes!" Rann laughed loudly as she limped out into the corridor.

Soraa tried to sit up a little bit, but it was too painful so she relented. "Ina, Ku, what happened after the attack? I had some strange dreams that Spiaré was holding me in the most soothing embrace I've ever felt…"

Ja'Ina looked at Kurloh, unsure of what to say. Kurloh answered for her. "Don't worry about it, Soraa. Those dreams were the result of your serious injuries. You're lucky to be alive, kiddo!"

Of course, Ja'Ina and Kurloh knew it was through the will of the Force that Soraa had been rescued and the power of the Force that she was saved, but they didn't want to tell her that.

"I heard that a couple of our crewmates had died."

"Yes," Ja'Ina said with a little sadness in her voice. "Yes, there were two deaths. We're all trying to work through it though."

"We've never had to engage something as big as a Star Destroyer before," said Kurloh. "Given that we're not a military ship, I think it's very impressive that we got away as well as we did. Most everyone wounded were not in too bad of shape. You, Yifu and Fenn were the only ones with the very serious injuries."

"Why are we going to a slavery planet?" Soraa asked with a shaky voice.

Ja'Ina put her hand on Soraa's shoulder. "We were heading to some other planet, but our engines were damaged in the fight with the Imperials. We're not going to make it there without making repairs, and unfortunately Orvax is the nearest system."

"So there's going to be more slime worms like Mehar there?"

"I'm afraid so…"

Soraa forced herself to sit up, which made her wounds hurt more. She groaned and clutched herself. "I don't wanna go there!"

"Shhh, it'll be okay Soraa." Ja'Ina gently helped her lay back down. "You'll just go straight to the med-center and right back again. Only those of us who are going to work on repairs and getting supplies will need to go out for a real length of time."

"Does that include you, Ina?"

Ja'Ina nodded in response.

Kurloh smiled. "Don't worry, Soraa. I'll keep her out of trouble."

"Yeah, Soraa. There's safety in numbers." Ja'Ina put her hand on Kurloh's shoulder. "Besides we can take care of ourselves. Right, Ku?"

The Togruta nodded. "That's right! And Berini's familiar with the place. She'll give us a thorough briefing before we disembark. Who knows, maybe we'll free someone and have a new sister. Wouldn't that be nice?"

Soraa looked down at her lap, choosing to not answer.

Ja'Ina stroked Soraa's head. "Ku, I think we've had enough talking for now. Our patient needs to rest."

Kurloh stood up. "I'll leave you in good hands then, Soraa. Ina, you stay here and rest too."

Kurloh could sense Ja'Ina's exhaustion from her experience with the Force healing mishap. The young woman did a good job of hiding it on the outside, but she could not conceal it from other users of the Force.

"Okay, bye Ku."

Ja'Ina turned back to Soraa as Kurloh left the room. "Just go back to sleep, Soraa. I'll be right here with you."

The two friends smiled at each other.

Soraa closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Thank you, Ina. I'm glad you're staying with me…"

"Me too…"

Ja'Ina leaned over from her chair and laid her head on her hands next to Soraa. The two young women fell asleep, feeling perfectly at peace.


Several hours later, there was a knock on the door. Even though the knock was insistent, it took a long time Ja'Ina to rouse and respond. She looked at Soraa, who was still in a deep sleep. The knocking continued.

"Okay! Hold your thrusters!" Ja'Ina yelled, very annoyed at whoever was disturbing their rest and would not go away.

Ja'Ina got up and walked to the door. Just as she opened it, she barked, "What do you want?!"

It was Aurelia holding a tray of food, quite startled by the inhospitable greeting.

Ja'Ina felt terrible. "Aurelia! I'm so sorry! I didn't realize it was you!" Ja'Ina wasn't sure why she was not able to feel the girl's presence through the Force before opening the door. She chocked it up to her recent ordeal and tiredness. "Please come in."

Saying nothing, Aurelia walked inside. She sat the tray down on the small desk and motioned to it. There were two covered bowls and two filled glasses.

"You brought this for us?" Ja'Ina was not expecting room service.

Aurelia nodded her head and quietly said, "Mmm hmm."

"Thank you so much, honey!" Ja'Ina removed the lid from one of the bowls. Pleasant-smelling steam wafted up into her face. "This is more of your kruchette stew, isn't it?"

In an almost inaudible voice, Aurelia replied, "Yes, it is."

"Oh, thank you! I love your stew."

Ja'Ina took the bowl and sat on the edge of the bunk. Aurelia sat on the chair. Ja'Ina took a spoonful and ate it. It was just as delicious as before. She smiled at the young girl and ate a couple more spoonfuls.

"I guess it's been a while since I last ate," Ja'Ina said. "I didn't realize how hungry I was."

Aurelia quietly watched her eat. If Ja'Ina hadn't known what the girl had been through, or the ability to sense her demeanor, she would have felt quite unnerved. Ja'Ina took a drink of sweet Urbur juice.

"Berini wanted me to bring this to you," Aurelia softly said.

"She did? Well make sure to thank her for us."

The girl nodded affirmative. Ja'Ina continued eating, grateful for the good food.

Slowly, Aurelia asked, "Are you a Jedi?"

Ja'Ina choked on her food in response.

Aurelia backed away. "I'm sorry." She hung her head low.

"No, no, my dear. It's okay. Really…" Ja'Ina wiped the food from her face.

Aurelia slowly looked up at Ja'Ina. Her eyes were watering as if she were about to cry. Ja'Ina reached over to hug the teen, who quickly stood up and moved away towards the door.

"Please, don't go," Ja'Ina implored her. "I'm sorry if I frightened you."

"I-I'm sorry I asked the question…"

The young woman shook her head. "It's okay that you asked. It just surprised me, that's all." Ja'Ina reached out through the Force to comfort the teen. "Please, sit back down. You don't have to go."

Aurelia stared at Ja'Ina, still fighting back tears. Ja'Ina focused her positive energy through the Force to the troubled girl. The woman smiled and nodded slowly as Aurelia's expression changed to one of relief and peace.

"There we go," Ja'Ina said calmly. "No need to fret. It was an innocent question. Come, sit back down."

Aurelia did just that. "Thank you, Ja'Ina. You're very nice."

"Please, call me Ina. That's what my friends call me."

Aurelia smiled, the first time Ja'Ina ever saw her smile. "Okay, Ina."

Ja'Ina took a deep breath as she sat back down. "Now then, what made you ask such a question?"

The girl hesitated to answer.

"It's okay, go ahead."

"I saw what you were doing with Mister Spiaré…doing to Yifu."

"What did it look like I was doing?"

"It looked like…like you were doing some kind of Jedi healing with him. Until you fainted, that is."

Ja'Ina had to come up with something, fast. "Hmmm, I can see why you'd think that. But I assure you, I was just watching what Spiaré was doing up close. I guess I just couldn't handle the excitement when I saw he was healing Yifu right before my eyes." Ja'Ina hoped that Aurelia would believe her story.

"Oh… I see. I understand."

Ja'Ina was relieved, but kept it inside. Still, Aurelia stared at her like she was looking right through her. Ja'Ina was worried that somehow this mysterious girl could see what she was trying to hide.

"Berini told me that the Empire killed all the Jedi…"

"The Empire tried to, but apparently there's still a few of them around in the galaxy. As you can see, Spiaré is living proof."

Aurelia quickly stood up. "I'd better go and let you finish your meal. Please tell Soraa that I hope she feels better soon."

"Thank you, I will. Please feel free to come by and talk whenever you like."

Aurelia nodded and left the room. Ja'Ina hoped that she would get the opportunity to talk with Aurelia again soon. She wanted to get to know the girl more. There was some kind of connection Ja'Ina felt with her, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She wasn't sure if it was through the Force, or something else.

Ja'Ina finished her stew and sat back up against the wall on the foot of Soraa's bunk, contemplating all that had just transpired with her conversation with Aurelia.