Thanks again to my reader/reviewers for your responses to chapter 9. Mo Angel, Jedi Daugter1, Jedi Angel0001, starwarsforlife, Kit M. Yonze - a first time reviewer!, Star Wars for Life, Padme1958 and last but not least, octpa; you have made the posting of this next chapter possible. Again a huge thank you! The answers to some of your questions will be answered, and for Ferri, his situation will become grimmer. And so, on to Chapter 10...
Chapter 10 – Breaking a Jedi
"This is not open to negotiation." Anakin countered as Padme continued to protest.
"You can't possibly expect me to just..." She began again.
"Oh, yes, I can." Anakin insisted, cutting her off.
"But..." Padme tried again.
"No." Anakin said with finality.
"You aren't listening..." Padme continued.
"Yes, I am; and it doesn't matter, you are not staying on this planet." Anakin told her, "Obi-Wan and I both agree it's just too dangerous."
"I'm Bail's personal..." Padme started once more.
"Would you like me to contact the Chancellor then? I'm sure he will agree with us." Anakin warned.
"Why do you keep treating me like some helpless...damsel?" Padme demanded.
"Padme, we've talked about this. The children can't stay here, and someone has to take them off-world." Anakin answered, "Besides, Owen doesn't even want Beru here right now."
"Then let Beru take them." Padme persisted.
"Padme, this Hutt's actions cannot be predicted; Anakin and I have enough to concern us without worrying about your safety. You were Jabba's first hostage choice, we cannot take the chance that he will somehow discover your identity." Obi-Wan interjected, "You must not stay here, and we must waste no more time arguing about it."
Padme lowered her head in defeat and sighed, "I still don't agree with you; but for Ferri's sake, I will do as you wish." She conceded.
"Finally!" Anakin exclaimed with unbridled relief.
Obi-Wan patted Padme's shoulder, "It is for the best." He told her with a smile and then slipped his cloak on, "It is nearly time to put our plan into play; I trust you will be gone before I return."
"I will be gone, I promise." Padme vowed reluctantly.
--
The trio exited their battered craft together, taking care, as the solitary traveler had the night before, that they were not being watched. Just before entering Mos Espa, they separated; the pilot and the female heading for the nearest drinking establishment, while the remaining companion sought out the marketplace. When the suns had risen to their highest point, they would meet at the agreed upon place. If all went well, they would find what they were seeking quickly and then they would be free to leave this desolate wasteland.
--
Something landed on Ferri's face and his cheek twitched, a second 'something' hit his nose and he reached up to swat the irritation away just as a third struck his forehead. He moaned as he twitched again and several more 'somethings' in succession found their target; he rolled onto his back, bringing his hands up to swat away the bothersome annoyance, but it only seemed to grow more irritating until he was finally roused back to consciousness to find two pig-nosed guards staring down at him while they dripped water on face, "At last!" One of them exclaimed, "Inform Captain Fortuna."
The other nodded and was gone as the first guard grabbed Ferri by the arm and pulled him into a sitting position, "You were disrespectful to Lord Jabba; he is very displeased." He stated and then gripped Ferri's face, "And because he is displeased with your bad behavior, he is also displeased with me."
Ferri pulled away, "What a pity." He retorted.
The guard squealed and pulled the captive's head back with a handful of hair, "And still you have yet to learn respect. I warned you, did I not, that disobedience and disrespect would be punished." He said.
"I'm not used to this slave business; he insulted my Jedi master and I lost my temper." Ferri explained.
The guard squealed again, "You no longer have a Jedi master; Jabba the Hutt is your master now. And he does not tolerate lost tempers." He insisted.
"I'm a Jedi, and you are holding me against my will." Ferri protested, "You have no right to treat me like this."
This time the guard laughed, jerking Ferri's head back further, "You are a slave; bought and paid for by Jabba the Hutt. He has the right to do whatever he pleases with you." He corrected, "And right now, it pleases him to have you punished for your insolent behavior. Do you understand?"
Ferri gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to spit in the pig's face, "Yeah. I understand." He hissed.
"Excellent!" The Twi'lek exclaimed from the doorway, "Your punishment will begin now. Bring him."
"What? More punishment?" Ferri questioned and then raised his bound wrists, "Beating me and chaining me down wasn't enough?"
The Twi'lek laughed, "You were subdued and restrained; that can hardly be considered proper punishment." He answered.
The chains binding his legs were removed and he was pulled to his feet and prodded roughly toward the Twi'lek, who turned and led the way down the corridor further into the dungeons, down another flight of steps. Here, there was no natural light, and the dimly-lit corridors smelled dank. The Twi'lek stopped before an open cell and Ferri was pushed inside with the pig-nosed guards right behind him while the Twi'lek remained in the doorway. This cell was smaller than the one Ferri had previously occupied, but with a similar system of restraint, except that the chains did not appear to be as long and there were four shackles instead of two. Ferri was shoved down next to the embedded ring and held down by one guard as the other secured his ankles with two of the shackles, "What are you going to chain in here with me?" He asked, believing that to be the purpose of the remaining restraints.
The Twi'lek only laughed as the guard unwound the chain binding his arms.
"Oh, Force...no." Ferri uttered with sudden understanding and pulled his arms out of the guard's immediate reach.
"There is no point in resisting. Take your punishment like a good slave." The Twi'lek advised, stepping aside to allow a third guard into the room.
"You'll have to answer to the Chancellor for this." Ferri protested as the added guard pulled his arms down and held them to allow his companion to shackle them.
"We are doing nothing to answer for; you are a slave being punished within Tatooine law." The Twi'lek replied, "The Republic has no jurisdiction here; and you ceased to be one of its citizens the moment the bill of sale for you was sealed."
The guards checked each of the shackles and then signaled to the guard holding the prisoner down, "So now you just leave me to rot?" Ferri asked.
"Oh no, Underling; where would the profit be in that?" The Twi'lek answered, "However, you are no longer amusing to Lord Jabba and he met with his broker early this morning."
Ferri shook his head, "If he's already decided to sell me, then why am being treated like this?" He wondered.
"You will have to learn proper behavior sooner or later; and it pleases him to know you will be punished for insulting him." The Twi'lek informed him and then smiled, "The broker is arranging for an auction; he believes that will bring the best price. Until then, you will be subjected to...disciplinary measures."
"So you're just going to leave me here?" Ferri questioned, "For how long?"
The Twi'lek smiled again, "You will be given additional attention; consider your time here a period of...reflection." He replied.
"And how long will this reflective period last?" Ferri wondered.
"As long as I wish it to." The Twi'lek stated as he gestured the guards and turned to follow them.
"Then what? You'll have me beaten into submission again?" Ferri guessed.
"You will be worth nothing if you are damaged too badly; Lord Jabba wishes to at least gain back the price he paid for you. Part of your punishment will, admittedly, be physical, however there are other methods which will not be so...damaging." The Twi'lek said and then turned to leave once more.
"Wait!" Ferri protested.
"More questions? I have other matters to attend to." The Twi'lek told him impatiently.
"I...just wanted to know when this auction is going to be." Ferri requested.
"Ah. So you will know how long your punishment will last." The Twi'lek surmised, "That is a reasonable question. The time has not yet been decided. It may be as soon as tonight, if not tomorrow...or the day after."
Ferri swallowed, "Great." He murmured.
The Twi'lek smiled one last time and then slid the door closed, leaving Ferri alone in the cold, damp darkness.
Unable to stand, Ferri found his options were severely limited; he could remain as he was placed, with his legs extended, but with the short length of chain securing his arms, he was forced into an uncomfortable and, after just a few minutes, painful hunched position. Instead he pulled himself closer to the ring by bending his legs; but with nothing to rest his back against, this position, too, soon became painful, and so he chose to lie on his side with his body curled around the ring.
"Idiot." Ferri mumbled to himself, "Why couldn't your just keep you big mouth shut."
--
Beru hugged her husband tightly, "I don't want to leave." She protested quietly.
"I know; but it's just too dangerous for you to be here right now. It shouldn't be for too long; and then once this is finished, you can come back." Owen told her gently.
"Why can't you come too? They don't really need you." Beru suggested.
"I can't leave Dad here alone, and you know he'll never leave the farm." Owen reminded.
"My place is with you, Owen; why must I go?" Beru asked.
"Because I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you." Owen answered, "Please, do this for me."
Beru closed her eyes as tears blurred her vision and slid down her cheeks, "What if something happens to you?" She wondered, sobbing.
Owen wrapped his arms around her, "I promise to be careful." He vowed, "Now, you must go; Padme and the younglings are already aboard."
With a quiet sigh and a nod, Beru pulled away from her husband and then reached up to kiss him; Owen cradled her head and obliged her then wiped the tears from her cheeks, "I love you." He whispered.
"I love you too." Beru answered, then Owen gripped her hand tightly and helped her into the ship.
Anakin was speaking quietly to Padme as they harnessed their children, "Remember, Padme, no troopers until you hear that we have Ferri." He instructed.
"I'll remember." Padme assured him, "I'll make sure Bail understands."
Anakin nodded and then slipped Livie's harness up, "Awe ya gonna wescue Fewwi fwom dose bad peepo now, Daddy?" She asked.
"I am going to do just than, Baby." Anakin promised as he kissed her on the forehead before straightening up, "Everyone in?"
With one last check, Padme nodded, "Alright, now you all listen to Mommy and Aunt Beru, understand?" Anakin ordered.
Five heads bobbed followed by five 'yes, Daddy's', and Anakin nodded in approval before turning to Padme, "It will be alright." He said as he embraced her, "Contact the Chancellor as soon as you've left the system."
"I know." Padme confirmed and pushed away, "We'd better get going; I promised Obi-Wan we'd be gone before he returned.."
Anakin smiled and kissed her, "I know you don't want to do this." He told her.
"Well, I didn't." Padme admitted, "But I know the children can't be here now, so there wasn't much choice. Just get Ferri away from the Hutts."
"We will." He assured her.
Then, with one last check on his children, Anakin squeezed Padme's hand and then exited the ship to join Owen and Cliegg. The three watched the boarding ramp close and then stepped back as the engines roared to life and Padme lifted the silver ship up; shading their eyes until the craft had disappeared from view before turning back to the homestead. Soon, Obi-Wan would return, and with Beru and Anakin's family safe, the business of extracting Ferri Cortis from the clutches of the Hutts could now begin in earnest.
--
"Are you sure?" One of the three companions questioned, taking a sip of his drink.
"Well, we did hear it from more than one source." The pilot answered.
The first took another sip, "What exactly did you hear?" He asked.
"That the Hutt has become bored with his new slave and is looking for a buyer." The woman revealed.
"Already? Isn't that unusual?" The first asked.
"Apparently, Jedi don't make very good slaves. From what we could gather, he's proven to be too defiant for Jabba's taste." The pilot replied.
"But what about the race? What reason would there be for him to do the Hutt's bidding if there's no leverage to force his hand?" The first wondered.
"The race is in four days; the Hutt will probably hold onto his leverage until then." The woman guessed.
"Anyway, if it's true, then our job just got a lot easier." The pilot said.
"Maybe. If we get a chance to put an offer in." The first stated.
"Is that what we are instructed to do?" The woman asked.
"Not exactly; but I think this news of a quick sale changes things." The first answered.
"What exactly are our instructions?" The pilot asked.
"Basically what they were to begin with; become Jabba's guests." The first informed them.
"Actually, that could work." The woman suggested with a sly smile.
"Yes, it just might." The first conceded after a moment's thought and the pilot nodded in agreement.
--
Time had ceased to mean anything; he knew only cold, cramped darkness and he shifted once more to ease the stiffness that became increasingly difficult to banish. He heard the door slide open allowing the dim light from the corridor in as two of the pig-nosed guards entered, "Sit up." One of them ordered as he pulled Ferri into a sitting position.
Ferri grunted as his back muscles protested, "What now?" He asked hoarsely.
"Feeding time." The other guard answered, squatting down next to him holding a bowl.
Whatever was in the bowl smelled foul and Ferri turned away from it, "Uh...no thank you; I'm not very hungry." He replied.
"You are not being given a choice." The second guard told him as he nodded to his partner.
While one guard pried his mouth open, the other shoved a spoonful of the broth in; then his jaws were clamped shut and his nose pinched until he had no choice but to swallow it. In this manner, he was forced to consume the entire bowl; when the unsavory meal was finished, the guard held a cup of tepid water to his lips which Ferri drank, grateful to have something to wash away the aftertaste of the broth.
"How much longer am I to be chained like this?" Ferri asked.
"That is Captain Fortuna's decision." One of the guards told him.
"How long have I been here?" Ferri wondered.
The guard laughed, "Lost track of time, have you?"
"It's a little hard not to when all I see is dark." Ferri said.
The guard laughed again, "Perhaps that is how Captain Fortuna wants it." He answered.
"I don't know what..." Ferri began, then groaned as his stomach began to cramp and pulled his legs up.
"Is dinner not agreeing with you?" The guard asked in mock concern.
The Jedi moaned again, gulping air trying to force his growing nausea back down. He suddenly felt flushed even in the cold cell and tasted the burn of stomach acid in the back of throat. He tried to shift, knowing what was coming next, but the short chains would not allow it, so he clenched his teeth tightly still trying to push the nausea back, but he gagged convulsively and then retched the barely consumed meal all over himself.
The guards watched with detached interest as he retched again, and again, and again until there was nothing left for him to bring up. When they were satisfied that he was no longer in danger of choking, they turned to leave, "You aren't going to leave me like this?" Ferri asked pleadingly.
One of the guards turned back, "There is no point in cleaning you up until your time here is finished because we would most likely only have to clean you up again." He told the Jedi dismissively and then followed his companion out.
Ferri bowed his head as the door slid closed and then laid down on his side once more. If Fortuna's goal had been to humiliate him, he was well on the way to succeeding; in his current state of uncleanliness, Ferri was finding it difficult not to feel some level of humiliation...and if he were left here much longer, what dignity he still retained, would quickly disappear. He balled his hands into fists and squeezed his eyes shut, "I am a Jedi; I will get through this." He told himself out loud, "Force help me."