Chapter Nine


Once the meal was done and the slaves cleared the table, Mehar reclined in his chair. Dun'ii lit the spice cigar in his mouth and he took a puff before he spoke.

"Gentlemen, before we get down to business, let's have a little entertainment!"

Pavan interjected, "Mehar, we really should be-"

"Nonsense, Commander!" Mehar laughed. "Ja'Ina here will dance for our pleasure!"

Startled, Ja'Ina jumped at the sound of her name. "M-me?"

Annoyed, Mehar waved his chubby arm, commanding her to approach the table. "Yes, you! Be a good girl and show our guests how good of a dancer you are!"

With that, Mehar started a music player and the sound filled the hall. To Ja'Ina's surprise, it was The Sea of Lights' music. It was the audio recording Soraa had to leave behind when they escaped Mehar's ship back in Jum Katar spaceport.

The music brought more of the good memories of home back to Ja'Ina and she started to move to the sounds without even thinking about it. She allowed herself to be carried away by the music she had heard and danced to many times before at Norrel's Haven. This was the only escape she was afforded for now and she readily surrendered to it.

Ja'Ina's movements were hypnotic, sensual and beautiful. She traveled all around the hall, utilizing the open space around the table. She twirled up to one of the Stormtroopers standing along the wall. He stood perfectly still as she shimmied right in front of him, playing with the trailing silver fabric of her skimpy outfit. Through the Force, Ja'Ina could sense the trooper's excitement grow as she moved all around him. This reminded her of old times when she and Soraa would tease the local men in Sim Katall.

Ja'Ina continued around the room, losing herself in the moment. She couldn't help it. The pleasant memories of home overrode the current unpleasant situation as she subconsciously used it to cope.

Mehar and the Imperial officers watched in amazement. The young woman moved as if she were in a trance, being one with the music. Her beauty and grace were not lost on them either. Her revealing slave outfit highlighted her feminine beauty and embellished her movements.

The song ended and Ja'Ina concluded her dance with a graceful bow to her audience before she remembered where she was. For a moment, she truly thought she was back home again, performing for the crowd at The Haven. Her heart broke when she reconnected to the present.

Dammit, Ina, she admonished herself. Focus on the here and now.

As Mehar and the officers applauded, Ja'Ina returned to her place against the wall by the kitchen with her fellow slaves. She sadly hung her head, mourning the loss of the past and feeling ashamed for enjoying the dance for her master. Tira and Kurloh quietly reassured her that they knew she wasn't really dancing for Mehar and the Imperial officers' pleasure.

After gathering himself for a few moments, Mehar shifted in his chair. "So gentlemen, what brings you here this morning? I know your people have been visiting with some of my colleagues the last couple of days."

Pavan sat up erect. "Then you probably know why we're here, Mehar."

"I've heard some wild rumors, but I'd like to hear it straight from the bantha's mouth, Commander."

"We have tracked a very dangerous fugitive of the Empire to Orvax IV."

Against the wall with the others, Ja'Ina whispered to Kurloh, "Does he mean Berini?"

Kurloh answered with a quiet, but urgent, "Shush!"

Mehar chuckled and took a drink. "And this fugitive is dangerous enough to have you come all the way out to our distant ring of the galaxy?"

"More dangerous than you could possibly imagine, I assure you. He managed to evade us for many years now and we finally zeroed in on him."

Him? Ja'Ina thought to herself. He can't mean-

"He's a Jedi," Pavan finished.

Mehar nearly choked on his own tongue. Wide-eyed, he sat up and snorted. "A Jedi? Here?! Surely you're mistaken, Commander! There've been no Jedi in the galaxy for about twenty years now! Your people made sure of that!"

One of the men to the left of Mehar, Lieutenant Oabeck, produced a palm-sized holoprojector. "This is the person we're looking for." He activated the device and a three-dimensional image of Spiaré's head materialized and slowly rotated around above the projector for all to see.

"What?! Him?" Mehar pointed his fat index finger at the image with a snort.

Pavan was clearly pleased, but remained calm and composed. "So you've seen him then?"

"Of course I have! I would have never suspected him to be a Jedi though! I bought those two girls from him just yesterday!" The Kusolan shot his thumb back at Kurloh and Ja'Ina behind him.

The two pirates broke into a cold sweat. They took each other's hand and looked at each other, panic-stricken.

Mehar barked at the women, startling them. "Ja'Ina! Kurloh! Come here!"

Kurloh and Ja'Ina stood frozen in place, unsure of what they should do.

Mehar turned around in his chair to face the women behind him, clearly angry. "Slaves! Now!" He punctuated his demand with a loud, hideous snort from his wide, warty nose.

Ja'Ina and Kurloh timidly stepped towards the table, leaving Tira against the wall. The pirates were certain their time was up and there was nothing they could do about it. They clasped each other's hand more tightly as they approached Mehar from his right.

Mehar turned back to his guests, his face pleasant once more. "I acquired these two lovelies from Mister Cor-Fii at a tavern in town. He got a lot of money for them, but in the end I think it was worth it."

Lieutenant Oabeck raised an eyebrow. "Cor-Fii? His name is Spiaré."

Both Ja'Ina and Kurloh tensed up at the sound of the Jedi's name. Their hearts pounded in their chests and their mouths went dry. At this point, their wits were all but spent.

"Ohhhhh really?" Mehar turned back to the women. "What other falsehoods did I hear yesterday, hmmm girls?"

Ja'Ina swallowed hard and gave Kurloh's hand a pulsing squeeze. "Well, I, uhhh-"

Pavan stood up and approached the women. "That doesn't matter! What matters is the Jedi's current whereabouts." He got right in Ja'Ina's face and forcefully grabbed her by the chin. "Where is he?"

Kurloh reflexively went for Pavan, but Mehar painfully grabbed the Togruta's arm and yanked her back to him.

The officer's strong grasp contorted the young woman's mouth, making it hard for her to speak. "I… don't know where… Cor-Fii is." Ja'Ina decided she would play the ruse to the very end, even if she had to die for it. She refused to let the Empire have Spiaré, who was quite possibly the last Jedi left in the galaxy.

Pavan grew angrier and squeezed Ja'Ina's chin harder. "Spiaré! His name is Spiaré!"

"I don't… know where he… is!" Ja'Ina's eyes filled with tears from the pain of Pavan's grip.

Mehar snorted. "Commander, if you please! She's mine to deal with. If she's lying, I assure you I can get it out of her. Quickly."

Pavan glared at Ja'Ina, who shook and whined in his grasp. He then shoved her back down to the floor. Mehar chuckled and let Kurloh go to be by Ja'Ina's side. The Kusolan stood up with Dun'ii still smugly attached to his arm.

Mehar reached for the implant control. "Commander, you and your men are more than welcome to watch as I go to work on her."

Kurloh couldn't take it anymore. She lunged towards her master with a growl. Mehar activated her implant and the Togruta collapsed in a convulsing heap. The other officers stood up and watched from their side of the table, shocked by the sight. Even the Stormtroopers took notice from their positions around the room. Tira stood aghast against the wall.

Mehar stood over Ja'Ina, who was cowering on the floor. She didn't want to endure the excruciating pain from the infernal thing embedded in her neck again, but she refused to out Spiaré nonetheless.

Mehar feigned a pleasant paternal tone. "Now Ja'Ina, my dear, where is the Jedi?"

Quivering and whimpering, Ja'Ina quickly shook her head.

"Hmmm, very well then. We'll find out either way…"

A new voice rang through the hall. "That won't be necessary."

Mehar, Dun'ii and the Imperials turned to the newcomer. Ja'Ina peered up over to the far side of the table. She saw who it was and nearly passed out from the shock.

Pavan addressed the newcomer with a thin smile. "Ahhh, Agent Vell. Good of you to finally join us."

Deoni walked up to Pavan and saluted. "Commander, forgive my delay." She looked down at Ja'Ina with a sinister smile. "As long as you have these two girls, the Jedi will come for them. I guarantee it."