Chapter Nine: Confrontation
When Obi-wan awo the next morning he felt the anxiety for the upcoming day claim him.
He had to put aside what had transpired between Emmara and himself, at least until this was over, and then they could discuss what would happen. For now, he had to focus on the task at hand. He prepared for the day, taking a moment to meditate before he went out to have breakfast. He felt relieved after the hour he spent calming his emotions and sorting his thoughts, and so when he stepped out of his bedroom he felt prepared to face the events that would take place.
Anakin was already awake and eating breakfast, but Emmara was nowhere to be found. Noticing his master's wandering gaze Anakin said: "She went back to her apartments almost a half an hour ago."
Obi-wan nodded.
"Are you prepared, Anakin?" Obi-wan inquired of his padawan, and Anakin nodded his head.
"Good." Was the man's simple reply as he began preparing his morning tea.
It was destined to be a long day.
…
After Obi-wan had left her, Emmara had tossed and turned in her bed. Sleep evaded her, and when she felt herself drifting off the image of Briam's cold body sifted through her thoughts and she was awake once more. The emotions that her vision stirred in her gut made tears sting in her eyes, and she wished that she could stop whatever was going to happen. She had been told that visions of the future were never absolute, that the future was shifting constantly. Those words hardly gave her any comfort; she knew that this vision would come true. She could feel it in her very being. She wished she knew what had her so distracted at the last minute that she couldn't tear her eyes away to help Briam.
These thoughts haunted her all through the night, and into the morning. She had hardly slept so as she walked into the kitchen and found Anakin sitting at the table she yawned before taking a seat across from the young man.
"Morning, Anakin." She greeted, purposely omitting the 'good' from the sentiment. It was anything but a good morning.
Anakin nodded hello as he took another bite from his bowl.
She watched him for a moment, her eyes scanning his features. Anakin was a handsome young man with defined cheek bones and sensual lips, but what caught her attention were his searing blue eyes. He was also increasingly arrogant, which was the main cause for the strain in their relationship. She was never quite able to move past his whining and his obvious disrespect for Obi-wan at times.
"Can I ask you a favor, Anakin?" Anakin's eyes snapped up to hers, and she could see the clear confusion at her request.
"Depends." He responded, eyeing her with obvious suspicion.
She made a disgruntled noise,
"Oh, shove it." She snipped, "I need you to keep close to Briam for me, make sure nothing happens to him."
Anakin was confused further at her words.
"Please?" She plead, "No questions, just make sure nothing happens."
Anakin felt empathy when he heard the desperation in her voice, and he nodded in agreement.
"I will."
Emmara smiled, although it did not reach her eyes.
"Thank you." Anakin watched her as she vacated the apartment without another word, all the while wondering why she had made such a request of him.
The emotions undulating inside of her were sporadic, as if she were on a roller coaster. As she walked into the apartment she shared with her fellow Eonian's Emmara tried to hide them away, shoving them deep into her mind. At least until the day that lay ahead was over. She had a job to do; a murderer to hunt down. A promise to keep.
She knew that they would go after Marcus as soon as possible but the apprehension was killing her. She had a feeling that Marcus was aware of their suspicions regarding him and so she anticipated his disappearing act to happen sooner rather than later. For now she just had to make sure that she did her part; she had to find a way to get him to flee to the hotel as soon as possible without actually starting a confrontation. It was going to be harder than she had originally thought, but it had to be done so she would find a way.
When she arrived at the apartment it was still early in the morning and the apartment was still. Everyone was still asleep, and so Emmara took a quick shower. Braiding her hair as quickly as possible, Emmara dressed in a simple red tunic with brown slacks. After she was completely dressed and ready to go only twenty minutes had passed, and when she went out to the kitchen it was still eerily quiet.
With a sigh Emmara sat at the kitchen table after starting a pot of coffee. It only took another half an hour until Jade appeared stumbling from the hallway.
"Need caffeine." She muttered, fumbling around to get a cup of coffee.
Emmara laughed.
"Never a morning person, were you?"
Jade's silence was her answer.
"Don't think I didn't notice your disappearing act last night, girlie." Jade called from over her shoulder, "Once I have caffeine in my system you have a lot of explaining to do."
Emmara was fully prepared for this, and so she waited patiently for Jade to have her coffee and begin asking questions. Her friend took a seat beside her and sipped her drink before she started asking her questions. Emmara answered them dutifully, keeping an eye on the chrono on the wall antsy to set the plan in motion. She heard the shuffle of feet in the hall, and she knew it was time. Once Jade was fully awake she decided it was about time for her to know. She grabbed Jade's hands in her own.
"Jay, we have some information on Jarem and the others." Jade's ears perked up instantly. "We received an anonymous tip, and we know where they are."
Jade's eyes widened to saucers and her mouth opened.
"What?" She hissed, "How long have you known?"
"Since last night." Jade was ready to make a scene but Emmara calmed her down before she exploded. "Jade it is far more serious than we thought."
She did not like the sound of that.
"Avelle is here on Coruscant." Jade's eyes darkened. "As soon as possible we are going to and apprehend her and the others."
"That's good, let me go get ready." Jade moved to get up but Emmara grabbed her arm and pulled her back. With a curious look Jade spoke. "There's more?"
Emmara nodded solemnly.
Taking a look around, listening intently to hear if anyone else had awoken, Emmara made sure to seem genuine in her act. She continued as if she was satisfied that no one was listening in, but she was perfectly aware of the figure hiding in the hallway.
"They have had help." By the look on her face Jade was lost, "We don't know who their confidant is, but they have been able to avoid us for long enough that we suspect an insider."
Jade's face turned to stone.
"Who?" Emmara shrugged.
"We aren't sure." She told her closest friend, "But we have to be mindful of our companions."
Jade's mood turned sour in seconds.
"Don't tell me you suspect Briam." Her tone was accusatory, and Emmara didn't respond.
"I don't know, Jade." She replied, "It has to be one of us, that is the only thing that makes sense. Unless you have something you are keeping from me."
Jade's eyes hardened as she practically dropped her coffee mug onto the table.
"I'm going to go get dressed." Without another word Jade stood up and stomped out of the kitchen. Marcus took this time to step out of the hallway and into the kitchen, pretending to yawn as Jade stomped past him. Emmara paid him no mind, giving him a brief 'good morning' before she disappeared down the hall.
Emmara sighed. She hated lying to Jade, but it had to be done. Listening carefully she waited until she heard the *swoosh* of the front door opening, and she smiled as their plan unfolded. She rushed to Jade's door and didn't wait for her to answer and burst into the room. Briam was there and he was already dressed, much to Emmara's relief.
"Get dressed, let's go. Now." She demanded, "Marcus is on the move. Obi-wan and Anakin are on his tail, but we have to hurry if we are to be of any help."
Jade stopped in her tracks, confused at her words.
She pieced the clues together in a few moments.
"He was listening to us?" Emmara nodded, grabbing Jade's clothes and throwing them at her.
"Let's go." She urged, before she rushed to the closet to grab the black weapons duffel bag. "I'm sorry for having to lie." She pulled it out and grabbed an assortment of weapons for each of them. She equipped her bow and a quiver of arrows, as well as a pistol and a knife.
Jade shrugged and pulled her pants on and slipped the jacket over her shoulders. She didn't even bother with her hair, but only grabbed the pistol that Emmara had laid out on the bed from the weapons bag.
They were out the door ten minutes later, hurrying to catch up to Anakin and Obi-wan.
Obi-wan had instructed a droid to wait at the docks to transport them to the hotel without any trouble. Once they arrived, Emmara found that the hotel had been effectively locked down. They reconvened with Obi-wan and Anakin on the twenty-third floor where they were waiting.
"Have they moved?" Emmara questioned immediately, and Obi-wan shook his head.
"They have no idea that the hotel is in lockdown. We made quiet work of that." He replied.
"We'll go in first." Jade stated, stepping forward with Briam beside her. Emmara took a deep breath and stepped beside them.
"We do this together." She told them. "They won't get away this time."
Jade nodded, pulling her pistol from its place.
They surrounded the hotel room door, while Obi-wan and Anakin stood back.
Emmara silently counted down.
At one, Briam kicked the door in and they all rushed inside.
Inside was a bustle of movement as they were rushing to evade them once more. Emmara stepped carefully with her bow drawn and an arrow ready, and trained on the first figure she saw which happened to be Falon Jarem. Her eyes roamed the room but she found no sign of Marcus, or Avelle.
"Stop." She commanded, "It is over, you are coming with us."
There was a collective laugh.
"What makes you think we will listen to you?" Avelle said mockingly, stepping out from the hallway with a blade in her hand. "You hold no rank here, Niada." She pointed it in her direction threateningly. Emmara winced inwardly, Avelle was known for her accuracy with throwing knives.
"You are ordered to comply and go peacefully," Obi-wan said with his lightsaber ignited in his hands as he stood ready. His padawan stood beside him ready for a fight as well. "Put your weapons down."
"On whose authority?" Avelle called back, "The Jedi?"
She scoffed.
"We aren't going anywhere."
Emmara carefully released the tension of her bow, lowering it toward the ground. The movement caused the enemies to startle and they raised their weapons. Emmara held a hand up,
"Too many innocent people have already died, Avelle just come with us." She tried to convince her, but Avelle's answer was a cold laugh.
"Emmara, ever the peacekeeper." She ridiculed, "When will you learn that sometimes peace isn't the answer."
Avelle then moved forward quickly, attempting to land a blow but missing when Emmara turned out of the way. The fight imploded, and shots were fired all around the room. Emmara put her bow over her shoulder and grabbed the dagger she had strapped to her waist and held it up. Avelle smirked at her as she advanced.
"I do respect you Emmara. I don't want to have to kill you." Avelle threatened as she circled her opponent. Emmara was hardly fazed by her words,
"Haven't you killed enough innocent people, Avelle?" She implored, hoping that she would see the error in what she was doing. She was not amazed when Avelle scoffed at her words and paid them no heed.
"Criax is the rightful ruler of Eonia." She spat, "He deserves the throne, he isn't afraid to do what is necessary…"
"Necessary!" Emmara could hardly keep from shouting. "Murdering innocent people is necessary? What kind of government will that be?" She queried, "Will he be a leader or a tyrant!" She flew forward and struck at Avelle, but Avelle dipped away expertly.
Avelle attacked, striking at Emmara's face but narrowly missed and grazed her cheek instead.
Emmara grabbed Avelle's knife wielding arm and twisted it, forcing her to face away from Emmara. Emmara did not notice Falon sneak up behind her until he struck the back of her head. Emmara stumbled forward, cringing when she touched the back of her head and seeing her fingertips stained red when she looked at them.
She threw her dagger, managing to hit Falon in the back of the knee so that he fell to the ground.
Avelle retaliated by throwing her own knife, but Emmara used the force to deflect the flying weapon.
She growled viciously, before she ran forward and threw the first punch. They fought back and forth, until suddenly from the hallway a small round object was thrown to the middle of the room.
"Bomb!" Emmara cried turning and running as it detonated.
Everyone was thrown from the wall of energy and fire that erupted from the small orb.
The minor explosion had left rubble littered across the apartment, and small traces of heat and fires were scattered here and there. Everyone was stumbling to their feet, and Emmara had the time to take a look around and regroup with the rest of them. She noticed that the other man that she had not known had fallen, and Falon was injured with Avelle cradling next to him off in the corner. Marcus had been the one to throw the grenade, and so he stood facing down the three of them. Obi-wan and Anakin had mostly stayed back, ready to jump in if necessary.
Jade was glaring Marcus down, her fingers itching over the trigger of her gun.
"Surrender, Marcus." Emmara implored, her ears ringing from the blast. "It isn't worth any more lives."
Marcus laughed sardonically.
Emmara's ears perked up when she instantly recognized the sound as the laugh from her vision. She became ultra attentive of her surroundings; taking note of where each person was standing. Avelle was still sitting with an injured Falon, a few feet away. Marcus was the only one close enough to make a move and so her eyes trailed him closely as he advanced.
"Why would we surrender?" he spoke smoothly, "We have the upper hand."
Emmara's confusion was short lived when Marcus pulled someone from the hallway.
Emmara gasped.
Halley was bound and gagged, with tears running down her cheeks. How had Emmara not noticed Halley's absence this morning? She must have been too focused on the mission at hand that she hadn't even checked to see if Halley had gone for her early morning lessons.
"Let her go!" Emmara cried, stepping forward to take Halley.
"Tsk. Tsk, Emara."Marcus said as he yanked Halley back and placed his weapon against her forehead.
Emmara stopped in her tracks, as fear began to bubble up from the pit of her stomach.
"You know I can't do that." He swept the barrel of the pistol against Halley's cheek causing the young girl to turn her head in fear. "She is my insurance that you won't follow me."
"Take me!" She cried out, "Please she is only a child, take me instead. I will go willingly." She implored as she carefully removed all of her weapons and set them on the floor so that she was unarmed; except for the gun she had hidden away in the back of her pants for insurance.
Her pleading was met with another sadistic laugh.
"That is too rich!" He ridiculed, "Emmara Niada, rising star of the Guardians, offering herself up to replace a meaningless child." Emmara flinched at the pain that flickered through Halley's eyes as he said those cruel things.
"Exactly." She agreed, "I am of more worth to you, let Halley go." She tried to convince him, praying to Valor that he would accept.
Marcus pretended it mull it over, dramatically placing a finger to his chin and tapping. Then with a cool stare he replied,
"No." This was followed by another laugh. "It is much too fun to see you squirm."
Emmara's throat closed. She had to get Halley out of here.
"If you take her, Marcus, I will never stop until I've found you." She threatened, placing all of the malice she could muster into the warning. Marcus feigned fear, but then threw his head back and laughed.
"You would never risk the girl's life, even I know that." Marcus acknowledged, knowing perfectly well that Emmara would never want to see Halley hurt. Emmara was at a loss. Marcus had the upper hand.
Her eyes narrowed on him.
"You won't get away with this Marcus." She told him, placing her hands behind her back to feel for the gun she had hidden there. Briam noticed the movement, and was fairly certain that Marcus was solely focused on Emmara. So he carefully took a step forward to see if he would react, but he didn't notice. Marcus was watching the movement of Emmara's hands and pressed the barrel closer to the girl's temple, making the girl whimper in fear.
Emmara held her hands up, taking them away from the weapon.
Briam had an opportunity and so he took it, and sent his dagger flying. It embedded itself in Marcus' gun wielding hand. Marcus cried out in pain as the gun plummeted to the floor, and Halley rushed away from her captor. She had almost reached Emmara, but nobody expected what happened next; Marcus pulled the dagger from his hand with a hiss and threw it.
It sailed through the air and entrenched itself in Halley's back.
Emmara's eyes widened in horror as she watched Halley's eyes widen in agony and she cried out as her legs gave out and she fell directly into Emmara's arms. With shaking arms Emmara carefully lowered the girl onto the ground, and began to inspect the damage. The knife was buried to the hilt in her lower back, directly in the center where her spine was located. Emmara's stomach lurched and twisted with grief. No one could survive an injury like that.
Emmara tenderly turned the young girl onto her side, and cradled her head in her hands. Halley's mouth was agape, and pain had contorted her young features.
"It will be alright." She whispered with a wavering voice, "It will be okay." Was all Emmara could manage to say as she peered into the young girls fading eyes. Halley's mouth opened in an attempt to say something and blood dripped from her tongue.
She felt Halley's familiar presence being ripped away, and Emmara cried out as she clung to the girl.
In seconds Halley's eyes glazed over and she became unresponsive.
She was gone.
Tears fell down her face as she held the nine year old girl, and grief washed through every inch of her soul.
With a sob, Emmara touched her two fingertips to her mouth and reached down to press them against Halley's forehead gently, lovingly. She cradled her in her arms carefully, closing her eyes and resting her cheek against her hair.
"Until we meet again at Valor's Hall, Little Halley." She whispered softly, and placed a lingering kiss on her forehead before she gently laid her down amongst the rubble.
Emmara rose to her feet and when she saw that Briam had pushed Jade away she realized with a sense of dread that her vision was coming true. She watched from across the room as Marcus stabbed Briam and slashed across his middle, and Briam sunk to floor as blood seeped from his wound.
A sob escaped from Jade's lip as Briam fell.
Rage swept through Emmara like a spark catching fire in a field of kindling.
That was enough.
With renewed determination, Emmara ran at Marcus and dodged the first slash that he dealt with ease. Weary of the knife, Emmara had to keep avoiding its razor edge as he swiped at her multiple times. She finally was able to block his knife wielding with her arm and landed an uppercut to his ribcage. Leaving him breathless, she took the opportunity to bring her knee up into his stomach and when he bent over automatically she slammed his back so that he fell to the ground.
The knife clattered to the ground and Emmara kicked it away.
Wasting no time Emmara kicked Marcus in the stomach again, and again. All of her anger fueling her attack.
She felt hands pulling her away from Marcus, and a voice telling her to stop but she was so angry that she hardly heard them. She fought the arms wrapping around her waist, and tried to flee but she was held fast. She watched as Anakin came from out of the corner of her eye and grabbed Marcus' wrists and bound them before he could do any more damage.
"Let me go!" She screamed, attempting to elbow her captor as hard as she could.
"Emmara it is over," Obi-wan's voice became clear in her ear. "Breathe." He instructed, as he projected calming waves through the force to wash over her. Still struggling, Emmara took a deep breath as she felt the calming feeling surge in her stomach. She closed her eyes forcefully, pushing the tears through her eyelids and they dripped down her cheeks.
She stopped struggling against him and relaxed in his arms.