Another chapter! Gosh I'm soooo nervous when I post them! I really hope you will like it :)
Just a friendly reminder: I'm not a professionnal writer and I know my work is not perfect. I'm open to constructive critisism, and I've already brought some changes to my fic thanks to lovely readers who could point out some weaknesses. But I've also received some hateful messages concerning both my way to write and my history plot. I do think this site allows us to «unleash our imagination». If my fic bothers you that much, I will kindly ask you to walk away from it. Hateful messages and too harsh critiques will just bring my motivation down and hurt my feelings for nothing.
THAT BEING SAID I hope you'll enjoy the next chapter :D Thank you for all your support!
Anakin couldn't process what had just happened in the last 30 seconds or so. It all happened so fast, leaving him confused and staring at the spot Obi-Wan was standing before. Looking down at the mess on the floor, he made a mental note to clean it later. He couldn't believe Obi-Wan just… dropped the bottle and the glass off like that. What the kriff did the man sensed to shake him to that point?
He was about to join his former Master to the bunkers when something drastically hit him through the Force. It was so intense Anakin couldn't put his fingers on what it was. Letting out a strangle gasp from the sudden attack, he had to sit down, a hand on his chest. He knew it was coming from Obi-Wan. Only bonded Jedi could feel the other's emotions so strongly within the Force. Concentrating, slowly releasing the emotions he was feeling, he came to the conclusion that Obi-Wan was overwhelmed with… happiness? No, it wasn't just happiness. There was relief, some sadness too, mixed with something Anakin had known all too well during his life: fear and anger.
Anakin wasted no time and joined Obi-Wan. He found his former Master sitting at the edge of the bunk bed where the woman was still sleeping. He was buzzing with the same emotions Anakin felt earlier, each one trying to take over the others. His right hand was slowly caressing the woman's cheek, a caress so soft Anakin wondered if his fingers even made contact with the skin.
And then Anakin realised. The green eyes he saw earlier, the long ash-blonde locks, the pale skin. In his mind, the small folded picture Obi-Wan so preciously kept in his lightsaber handle appeared.
"Holy kriffing shit, Master..." Anakin gasped through the bond, recognizing the gentle face of Meila.
Obi-Wan didn't even bothered to scold his former Padawan for his raw language. He was too overwhelmed at the moment. He was happy. No, bursting with joy would describe it better. His Meila was alive and now that she was with them, Obi-Wan knew she would be safe. He would keep her safe, no matter what. Her presence in the Force and by his side filled a big hole in his heart, like the last piece to finally complete a long complicated puzzle. He had missed the feeling of her soft skin under his fingertips. She didn't change much over the years. How many has there been? Eighteen? As Obi-Wan slowly raised his hand to entwine his fingers in her long hair, he couldn't help but look forward to the time she would wake up and he could finally plunge himself in her green eyes.
He also felt sad. As he marveled over the fact that she was alive, he also noticed how much bruised and broken she was. Her skin may still be soft, but it was covered in blue, purple and red marks all over the body parts that weren't covered with what he recognized as Anakin's cloak. That's when he realized that the poor girl was barely covered at all under the thick brown material. Her face still had the same features, but it was so skinny. He also saw the blaster shot on her upper chest. Obi-Wan almost couldn't stand to see how his sweet Meila was so damaged at the moment. Each bruise, each cut and each badly healed scar he discovered punched a hole in his chest like a lightsaber stab.
As a result, he was afraid. Anakin mentioned that she didn't trust him. If he remembered correctly, Meila had always trusted the Jedi with her life. He didn't know what happened to her during all those years, but her body told him it wasn't good. He wondered what was waiting for him behind that broken body of hers. Even himself, a Jedi, had difficulties coping with bad memories of his past, and he was trained to deal with it. Meila wasn't. What was that on her right wrist? CT-9845… Obi-Wan's heart sunk deeply in his chest and a lump caught in his throat. He had seen this kind of code before. They used it to process and class individuals in mass-production slavery institutes. The symbols were slightly faded on her skin, which meant that she had been reduced to that code for long. Slavery. Obi-Wan had always despised that practise with all his being. He had been enslaved for a small time in the Clone Wars and it had been enough to almost break his spirit. To see the code embedded in Meila's skin, telling to the world what she has been through, broke his heart almost beyond repair.
And on top of all, he felt angry. No, enraged. He could feel his heart and his mind catch on fire as he wondered who in the galaxy could do such a thing to his sweet Meila. He was angry at whoever tattooed the code on her small wrist. He was angry at every individual who might have caused a scar on her delicate body. He was angry at every so called Master who most likely tortured her, both physically and mentally. And most of all, he was angry at himself. He should have searched for her more. He should not have abandoned his researches. He should have been there for her all those years. But mostly, he should have been able to protect her on that fateful day. He should have-
"There's nothing you could have done. I didn't recognise the code on her wrist which means there is a slavery institution somewhere in the galaxy unknown to the Republic. Don't blame yourself, Master." Anakin whispered in his head, reassuring and calming the fire in his heart.
Obi-Wan sighed. He was right. Hopefully, with Meila's help, they'll be able to discover that institution and bring it down. He would personally look forward to it. He would make sure that it would be brought to ashes. He would find the Master who tortured his sweet Meila. He would make him pay for what he's done. He would find him and-
No. He was not a man of revenge as Meila has never been a woman of violence. If they were to find that facility, the people responsible for them would be brought to justice. They would most likely rot in jail, but Obi-Wan would not commit cold blooded actions just to satisfy his burning anger.
He felt tears leaving his eyes and rolling on his cheeks as Anakin settled on the edge of the other bunk bed. After all those years, he felt like a huge brick was lifted from his heart. Not daring to remove his gaze from his sleeping beauty, Obi-Wan spoke with a voice he did not recognised as his own, "I… I thought I would never see her again..."
Anakin smiled, even though his former Master couldn't see him. The sight was beautiful. He could see, feel that something in Obi-Wan came back to life. "I think it's a blessing Master. You gave so much of yourself during the War to bring peace and safety to the galaxy, then our Code changes to allow attachments and now you have Meila back at your side… I think the Force is trying to tell us something." He said, keeping his voice tone low to avoid disturbing Meila's slumber. "Maybe the Force has more surprises for us, who knows?"
Lifting his hand from the lovely caress on Meila's hair to wipe his tears, Obi-Wan nodded. He would be forever grateful to the Force to have allowed him such a gift. As soon as his eyes were dried, his hand went back caressing her cheek, his palm gently cupping her face. He wanted to take her in his arms, to hug her tightly, to never let her go. Her wanted to kiss her, to taste the gentle lips he never had the chance to. He wanted to kiss all her bruises better, to take all her pain and all her wounds and take them himself. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her, how much he missed her...
Anakin turned his head to the door as he heard the water still boiling in the small kitchen. Even if he told Obi-Wan about it, he highly doubted the man would give up his position. So he lifted himself from the bunk bed and went himself to the kitchen.
When he reached the steaming pot, Anakin let the events fall on him. Holy shit. When Obi-Wan told him how Meila was kidnapped, he was sure the woman would be dead today. He never thought one second that they would find her, alive no less. But it wasn't just that: the fact that she may come from an unknown slavery institution was huge. They would have to bring her case in front of the Chancellor and whatever facility she came from would have to be brought down. The anti-slavery laws would never allow it, especially since Padme had made them stronger in the short time she was Chancellor. Since Meila was the only survivor he found on that ship, her protection was of the highest priority. Anakin suspected that once on Coruscant she would be assigned to a Jedi during the whole investigation. He smiled to himself, knowing someone who would gladly take that responsibility…
The next months would be a turning point for the Republic. Anakin promised himself that whatever tortured the poor soul in the next room would be brought to justice. The little 9 years old slave in his heart would never allow it to survive.
When he came back to the bunker room, Obi-Wan hadn't moved and was still caressing the woman's cheek gently, not daring to wake her up from her peaceful sleep. Anakin went back to sit on the other bunk bed, careful not to spill the steaming liquid in the small cup he was holding. When he looked at his former Master, the older Jedi still looked like he couldn't believe what he was seing. Smiling, Anakin placed the cup on the small table between the two beds, available for his former Master to take.
His Master lifted his eyes for a split of a second. "Guess I forgot about that, thank you Anakin." He voiced through their bond.
"I'll leave you alone now. She's in good hands with you." Anakin responded, leaving the room. Again, Obi-Wan nodded.
When Meila will wake up, it would be a privileged moment between her and Obi-Wan. Anakin didn't plan to be around to disturb it. Since there was only two beds in his ship and they were way too small for two, he would leave the other to his former Master. Obi-Wan had waited and hoped for this moment for what seemed to be a lifetime. Anakin could surely sleep on the couch for one night…
The tea cup was left on the table to chill.
The first time Meila woke up from her slumber, she didn't open her eyes. The pain from the grief in her heart was still excruciating and her head was still pounding madly from her sobbing session. She could hear a voice, but it was distant. She recognized the young Jedi Master who had been there when she woke up in that new starship. She was too tired and too sad to concentrate on his exact words. All her sisters were dead. They had worked so hard all those years to prepare their escape from this barbaric facility. And she was the only survivor. She felt completely alone in the world.
When a large, tender hand came to caress her cheek, she gave in and leaned in the warm palm. She knew she shouldn't trust anyone, but it has been so long since someone touched her with such gentleness that she let her guard down for an instant and appreciated the contact. For the moment, she didn't want to fight. She let the feathery touch send her to sleep again.
The second time she woke up, her eyes met a darker room than it was before. The ceiling lights had been turned off, only the small ones on the wall remained, bathing the chamber in a gentle glow. She tried to get up, but one strong yet gentle hand held her against the thin mattress. Her instincts told her to fight, to push that hand away and to run as fast as possible, but she remembered that she was safe, for the moment. If the man she met was indeed a Jedi, deep in her heart she knew she was in good hands.
Sighing, she looked at the hand gently pinning her down. Her chest was hurting badly and she began to feel sore from all the running she did back on her ship when they were attacked. Looking up the man's arm, her eyes weren't met with the burgundy and black tunic she saw earlier in the Jedi Master. This arm wore brown and soft beige fabrics. They way it hang loosely around his arm and the unique looking belt helped her to recognized the Jedi tunics. She lifted her gaze to meet a new face. He was definitely older than the other one, but his presence felt so reassuring, strong and kind at the same time. His soft smile was mostly covered by a well trimmed beard, and she lost herself in his eyes…
His eyes. She has seen those eyes before. She felt her heartbeat increase in her chest. She lifted her right hand up, reaching for his cheek, placing her palm on it. For a split of a second, he closed his eyes and leaned in the caress but she gently pushed his face to the left, bathing his face with the soft glow of the lights. Her mouth gaped open as she retrieved her hand. She almost didn't believe who was in front of her.
The hand that was laying on her shoulder came back caressing her face and his smiled warmed up, "Hello there, my friend."
Meila felt the tears drown her eyes. She would recognised that voice and that accent anywhere. "Obi..."
She didn't care about her wounds anymore. She didn't care how sore she felt and she didn't care how uncovered she was. She pushed the brown cloak aside and threw herself in his welcoming arms, ignoring the piercing pain in her chest as she did. He wrapped his strong arms around her petite form, careful not to hurt her in any way. He turned his face just enough to nuzzle in her blonde locks. "Oh Mel..."
When she buried her face in his neck, she broke down. All the events of the past day struck her at the same time. All the pain caused by the grief, all the fear of being suddenly being alone, it all hit her like fast speeder as she tried to muffle her cries in Obi-Wan's shoulders.
His right hand was slowly rubbing her back, trying to soothe the pain. "It's okay, my sweet. I promise you're not in danger anymore. Cry if it does you good." He comforted, gently rocking the shaking body in his arms. But as he held her, his eyes lowered to her back, where he could see several long red scars across it. Whip scars.
Obi-Wan felt sick. How many more scar would he discover on her pale body? The anger in his heart ignited once again, but he decided to shut it off. What was happening right now what out of his control and anger would do nothing good.
He let her sob for as long as she needed, gently rubbing her back and whispering soothing words in her ear. When the tears stopped flowing, he retracted from her arms even if he wanted to stay there forever. Since Anakin didn't put the medical supply he prepared back in the box, Obi-Wan decided to make an attempt to take care of her, knowing Anakin failed earlier.
When he looked back in her eyes, he knew he looked and sounded concerned. He could have tried to hide it but his overwhelmed heart could not allow it at the moment. "My sweet, you're badly hurt. Would you kindly let me attend your wounds? I promise I'll be gentle..."
She looked at him, her eyes red and nodded. She backed up a little on the bed to be able to lie down on it. When Obi-Wan reached for a cleaning gauze package on the table, she saw the purple bruise on his left arm visible through the durasteel sticks installed on it. She was able to retain her gasp of concern, but Obi-Wan felt it, making him chuckle softly.
"Don't worry about it. It's nothing really." He told her, taking the wet gauze from the foil.
"With you, it's always nothing, Obi." She retorted.
Her tone made his heart jump in his chest. He turned to face her and found a twinkle in her eyes he thought was gone. He couldn't help but chuckle again, more joyfully this time and to gently rub her chin with his right thumb. He was happy to see that his stubborn Meila was still hidden somewhere in all this mess. All his feelings for her came back ramming his heart like a thousand blaster shots. Force, he loved that woman.
He gently applied the gauze in the black bruise, keeping an eye on her reaction. "You tell me if I hurt you, alright? But I have a feeling you would never tell me so I'll just have to guess." He said on a joke tone, winking at her.
Meila closed her eyes. "It's cold, it feels nice..."
Obi-Wan smiled and continued his job. "I see you've met my partner, Anakin?" He mentioned, reaching for another gauze. "You can trust him and ask him anything. He is like my brother and I trust him with my life myself." He said.
"How is your Master? Qui-Gon, if I remember correctly?" She asked, wincing when Obi-Wan touched a particularly sensitive spot.
Obi-Wan felt a pinch in his heart as an old wound opened again. "Unfortunately he was killed about a years and a half after we've been separated. We're not indestructible, as many may believe..." He answered, lowering his eyes with the memories of his long lost father figure.
He placed a bacta patch on the wound to keep it still until she could have surgery. There was also some bacta cream prepared on the table and Obi-Wan figured it was for her multiple bruises. Squeezing some on his hand, he started to gently apply it on her arms.
Meila shivered and her heart started hammering. She knew the gentle hands touching her body where Obi-Wan's, but her mind screamed her otherwise. She could see her friend in front of her, but her thoughts urged to run away. As images of the past years flowed in her memories, of countless other hands roaming her body, she started to panic. She closed her eyes and tried to even her breathing, but it only made things worse. The gentle palms transformed into violent ones, wanting to undress her, wanting to abuse her…
She lost control of her breath and violently pushed Obi-Wan's hands away, completely panicked and lost. Under the surprised and concerned gaze of her friend, she backed-up and curled in a ball against the wall, sobbing, shaking and her breath out of control.
Obi-Wan was taken aback, but automatically sent her some powerful calming waves in the Force. The shaking stopped and she could breathe normally again, but her eyes were still lost elsewhere, desperate and afraid. Obi-Wan felt the bile rise in his throat. He saw countless victims in his life and also in worse condition. He had seen blood, corpses and his lot of suffering faces. He was able to deal with those situations with a stern face and a calm attitude.
But seeing his sweet Meila like this… this was different. He felt completely helpless and it made him sick to his stomach. He could practically feel thorns piercing his heart and wanting to rip it away from his chest.
"Mel..." He tried, "It's me. I'm sorry. Come back to me, please." He said in the most gentle tone he could produce. He placed the cream tube back on the table. It'll have to wait.
It took her a moment, but she snapped back from her panic attack. When she felt safe again, she went to place her head in the crook of his neck again. Carefully, Obi-Wan took her wrist and passed his thumb on the tattooed code. "Can you tell me about it?" He asked, whispering, afraid to scare her again.
He felt her body stiff against his and he was not surprised. It was a very difficult question to ask her. He waited, but after a minute she shook her head around his neck and he could feel more tears against his skin. This was not going to be easy.
"Listen my sweet, I'm not asking for details and I know it won't be easy, but know I really need to know where you come from so that I can inform the republic Senate. If we catch the people who did this to you, we will be able to stop it. Please, Mel, tell me..." He asked again, passing her hair between his right fingers.
She started to sob again and the words didn't seemed to come out of her mouth, but Obi-Wan had an idea. "I'm going to ask you some questions, you just have to respond by yes or no. Would that be better?" Obi-Wan didn't want to push her, but they had to take action.
In the crook of his neck, he felt her face nodding. He thought about his first question, careful of what words he chose. "You were prisoner of an institution, am I right?"
She took a deep breath. "Yes."
That was a start."Were they practising slavery?"
She became tense. "Yes."
Blast. He had to ask, but he really didn't want to. "Were they practising prostitution?"
Her answer was croaked and the tears started flowing again. "Y-Yes..."
Obi-Wan closed his eyes and sent another calming wave through the Force. She tightened her arms around his shoulders. "...Were you part of them?"
She nodded, not having the strength to say yes. Even if she was confessing it to the man she trusted the most in the entire galaxy, she felt terribly ashamed. Obi-Wan could sense it and decided not to ask any more questions. That's all he needed to know right now.
"I'm tired..." she whimpered between two sobs.
"Sleep my sweet. You're safe now. I promise." He said, gently rocking her back to sleep. When he felt her body go limp against his, he tucked her back in the bunk bed. It took all his will to leave her side, but he had to talk to his former Padawan.
Obi-Wan joined Anakin in the main room where the boy was cleaning the body of R4. He knew how Anakin liked to keep his hands busy when he had time to spare. Looking at the time, Obi-Wan realized they were much closer to Coruscant than he has thought. They needed to discuss what approach they would use once they arrived at the capital.
Obi-Wan went to sit on one of the couches and invited Anakin to do the same. "We need to talk, Anakin." He declared, letting no place for negotiations.
The tall boy lifted himself from his crouched position on the floor. "I know."
As Anakin settled on the couch across him, Obi-Wan spoke again. "I think our priority will be to get her to the Medical Center. She let me attend her wounds but that blaster shot will need surgery." He said, recalling the burnt skin on her chest.
"Beside that, how is she? Mentally, I mean." Anakin asked.
Obi-Wan rubbed his forehead with his right palm and sighed heavily. Where to begin? His sweet Meila was obviously not well. "She's… broken, I guess. I don't think she's ready to talk yet. We'll have to let her grieve properly before she tells us what happened..."
Anakin nodded. "You know Master, since she's the only survivor, only she can tell us about that institution or whatever it is. And whoever was holding them there might be tracking them up as we speak, especially if they are hiding from Republic laws. Not only does she needs protection, it is critical that her identity remains confidential. That tattoo on her wrist will have to be erased." He said, passing in prosthetic arm in his dark blonde curls.
Obi-Wan sighed again. Being the only survivor with a tale to tell, they were obliged to throw his sweet Meila in the lion's cage of politics and justice. She would likely pass interrogation after interrogation, forced to go back to her memories she dreaded so much. Obi-Wan didn't like this idea at all. "I'm mostly concerned about where she'll go. She has nothing of value and we can't let her live on the streets. I would gladly take her with me at the Temple but I'm afraid our quarters are forbidden to outsiders..."
Anakin shook his head. "It won't come to that Master. Chancellor Organa is a good man, he'll never let that happen. But I think I might have an idea..."
Obi-Wan lifted an eyebrow. "You do?"
Anakin smirked, his eyes vicious. "Well Obi-Wan, don't you remember that I'm married to one of the most influential senator of the Senate?" He said, his words rolling of his tongue. "Just wait until I tell her we found your girlfriend-"
Obi-Wan lifted his eyes, panicked. "Don't call her like that, Anakin!"
Surprised, Anakin looked at him with a frown on his face. "...Why not?"
Obi-Wan lowered his eyes like he did so often in a conversation. "Seriously Anakin, it has been eighteen years. For myself, I do know I still have strong feelings for her. But I must face the possibility that she might not feel the same way anymore." He said, bowing his head. "We were so young at the time..."
Anakin nodded, but the twinkle in his eyes was gone. His Master was right, in a way. "Alright, but I'm sure Padme won't mind to help us. When it comes to slavery, she despises it as much as I do." Seeing that his Master seemed to have no objections, he took his comlink and contacted his wife. Seconds later, a blue hologram of Padme appearded on small metal device.
"Anakin! I'm glad to see you! Is Obi-Wan ok after all?" She asked, a smile on her face.
"Of course he is, he always comes back on his feet." He answered, earning a chuckle from the older Jedi. "Listen Padme, is the apartment below yours still available?" He asked.
Padme nodded. "Yes it is, I know the landlord personally." She said, a question mark on her face.
Anakin looked over at Obi-Wan. The man was stroking his chin, he seemed to get the point. "Look, while I was on my way to get Obi-Wan, I've recovered a woman who seems to come from what we think is a unknown slavery facility. She's… very dear to Obi-Wan, he knew her when he was still a Padawan. Anyway I'll explain later, but she needs a place to live..."
At the mention of the word 'slavery', Padme's eyes grew wide. "Oh dear Anakin, an unknown slavery facility? Anakin, that's serious!" she exclaimed.
Obi-Wan stepped closer to the comlink so Padme could see him. "We know, Padme. It seems her and several friends were able to escape and search for help. Unfortunately their ship was attacked by Outer Rim pirates and she was the only survivor." Obi-Wan explained as Padme gasped in horror. Obi-Wan looked slightly desperate when he continued, "Padme, I know her. She was raised to despise technology because of a Code installed by her people hundreds of years ago. Whatever happened in that facility traumatised her beyond what we can imagine. If she is put on her own in Coruscant we risk to lose her and the informations she might give us on that location." And I would never forgive myself, he thought.
Padme agreed. "Of course Obi-Wan. This is an very important issue and it will have to be processed by the Senate. We can't let that institution go on any longer. I'll speak to the Landlord and to Chancellor Organa. The Senate will gladly provide the credits for the rent." She declared in her unique diplomatic tone. She then turned to face Obi-Wan. "Don't you worry about your friend, Obi-Wan, I will personally make sure that she is well accommodated. I have an easy access to that apartment."
Obi-Wan smiled and Anakin could feel his relief through the Force. "Thank you Padme. I'll be forever grateful for that."
Padme nodded and her hologram disappeared.
The two Jedi turned on themselves when they heard small footsteps coming in the main room. Meila was coming towards them. Her breathing ragged, she had wrapped Anakin's cloak around her shoulders and she had to maintain herself against the wall to walk. Obi-Wan rushed by her side to support her, but Anakin stared at her, confused. "Why is she up, she's wounded for Force's sake!"
"Not everyone likes to play the victim, Anakin. I thought you learned it after all those years by my side." He retorted, helping Meila on one of the couches and kneeling in front of her.
Anakin wanted to laugh but decided not too. He joined Obi-Wan, but sat next to Meila who looked way too tired for the small distance she had to walk. "Is there anything we can do to help you, Meila?" He gently asked, earning him an approval smile from his former Master.
The woman went to speak, but she shut her mouth and seemed deeply embarrassed. Suddenly, Obi-Wan seemed to understand and got up on his feet. Anakin looked at him, puzzled. "What is it, Master?"
Obi-Wan was making his way to the small kitchen. "She's starving, Anakin, but don't expect her to ask for food, because she won't." He said, taking a mealpack and heating it.
Anakin made the most confused face he thought he could produce. "...Why? What's the point?"
Obi-Wan smiled at Anakin's confusion. He obviously didn't know about Meila's culture. "Her planet is very fertile, Anakin. Starving on it would be as impossible as drowning in the deserts of Tatooine. It is so easy to just go and hunt for food yourself that in her culture, it is considered very impolite to ask for it." He explained, taking the steaming food out of the package and placing it on a small plate.
"I see..." Anakin said. Geez, that woman was complicated!
Obi-Wan brought the plate back in the main room. "There you go Mel. I'm sorry, I know it's processed but it the only thing we can give you at the moment." He gently explained.
Anakin seemed even more confused. "Processed, Master?"
"Technology, Anakin..."
"Right!"
Obi-Wan thought Meila would be reluctant to taste the food since it required technology to do it, but to his surprise she almost jumped on the plate, quickly thanking him. As she engulfed bite after bite, Obi-Wan truly realised how starved she actually was and felt bad for not offering food sooner.
Meila seemed to realise her outburst and lowered her eyes, slightly embarrassed. "I'm...I'm sorry. I think it's my first hot meal in a decade, and it delicious. Thank you very much, I'm in your debt." She said to the two smiling Jedi in front of her.
"We have plenty more if you're still hungry afterwards, so be our guest." Anakin declared.
For the first time since she woke up, Meila smiled gently.
Two hours later, the Cassiopee went out of hyperspace in front of the Capital Planet. Sitting on the couch in the common area, Meila felt nervous, but slightly excited at the same time. She has never seen Coruscant. Obi-Wan had talked about it many time, but she longed to see it from her own eyes. Her Jedi friend had once told her how the population relied on technology for about everything in their lives, and that was something she couldn't understand.
When she felt the ship dock, she got up on her feet. Well, she tried to get up on her feet, which was maybe a bad idea. She instantly felt dizzy, her heart rate increased drastically and her knees gave up. Fortunately for her, two strong arms were ready behind her so she wouldn't fall on the floor.
"Whoa whoa, easy..."
Breathing heavily, she closed her eyes to let the sickness pass, but it was glued to her, spinning her head around and numbing her limbs. She attempted to get out of the arms holding her shoulders, to walk on her own. She was strong, she could certainly walk alone.
When she thrashed a little, the two arms let her go. Her vision blurred, but she ignored it. One step. Her weight seemed doubled on her legs and feet, but she wouldn't give up, she never did. Two steps. Her head was spinning so badly and she felt tingles in her fingertips. Three steps. It wouldn't work. She closed her eyes and waited for the impact of her body meeting the floor.
But it didn't come. The two arms caught her before her skin met the metal tiles.
"Would you mind if I picked you up?" A soft tenor asked in her ear. It wasn't Obi-Wan, but his taller partner.
She didn't feel well at all. Wherever they were bringing her, she didn't think she could stand and walk there at the moment. "Please..."
In an instant, she was cradled in the taller Jedi's arms. Anakin lowered his head and looked at her. "There you go, are you alright?"
"Hmpf..." Was all she could produce as she felt the nausea rise in her throat. After being malnourished for so long, she may have ate that mealpack too fast.
In the control room at the front of the Cassiopee, Obi-Wan was busy shutting down the engines. Before putting the ship to an all-stop, he contacted the Medical Center in front of him and asked for a Healer, making sure to precise it was an emergency. The receptionist told him that one was on his way. As he thanked her, Obi-Wan looked over at the tall, imposing building in front of him through the ship's window. Meila could not be at a better place in the galaxy to be treated. The highest place after this center would be the Jedi Temple's healing ward. Those thought reassured him, in a way.
When he came back to the main room, he found Anakin holding Meila's hair while the woman, on her knees, emptied her stomach in a trash can. Alerted, Obi-Wan went to kneel beside her and gently rubbed her back as her body spasmed violently to reject everything she ate earlier. Anakin shot him a look, shaking his head and pinching his lips.
"This isn't good, Master..." He said, tense.
"You're right." Obi-Wan agreed, "If she can't stand basic mealpacks, whatever they were feeding her back there may have ruined her stomach. I think she's in worse condition than we thought..." He added, feeling fear grow up in his chest but shutting it out. He couldn't afford to panic right now, even if he desperately wanted to.
As the retching stopped, Meila lifted her head, her body still shaking from the effort. Her skin had become almost three shades paler, if it was even possible. Seconds later, she passed out and Anakin quickly picked her up in his arms again. Obi-Wan, back on his feet, gestured to Anakin to follow him.
"Quick, let's get her inside." He ordered, walking fast down the landing ramp. Anakin wasted nodded and followed him.
Down on the landing platform of the Medical Center, a crew composed of a Healer and several assistants were waiting for them. When they saw the pale body in Anakin's arms, the Healer ordered something to one of his assistant, who runned back in the building. He then turned back and met the two Jedi in their course. The tall man wasted no time with introductions.
"What can we help you with, Masters?" He asked, pressing two fingers against her neck, searching for her pulse.
"Blaster shot on the skin of her chest and about 18 years of cumulated torture and malnourishment." Obi-Wan declared, no letting the dept of those words crush his heart. "We tried to give her food, but she's not holding it. She also has a very bad case of post-traumatic stress." Obi-Wan hated how desperate he sounded right now.
One assistant came back with a medical bed and Anakin placed the frail body on it. Obi-Wan shivered. His sweet Meila looked so pale against the black material.
The healer noted everything Obi-Wan declared on his notepad. "Very well Masters, we'll take her over."
"One more thing." Obi-Wan called, making the Healer turn on his heals. "Do remove that forsaken code on her wrist..."
The Healer nodded and the crew disappeared with Meila in the big building. Obi-Wan couldn't help but stare at the door. He felt a hand on his shoulder, but didn't turn back.
"She's in good hands, Master. You told me that yourself when Padme was giving birth." Anakin said behind him, wanting to sound reassuring.
He knew. But he already missed her. Reluctant to leave her behind, he followed Anakin back in the ship. They had to report this to the Council and fast.
"A what?" Master Windu asked, his eyes wide with shock.
Anakin looked over at Obi-Wan standing beside him, who gave him the permission to proceed with a nod of his head. "An unknown slavery facility, Master. Even though the victim didn't spoke of a specific location, she was able to tell us what it was. Her post-traumatic stress kept her from telling us anything else." He said.
Master Shaak Ti closed her eyes and shook her head. "And I thought slavery was something that we put behind us years ago..."
Obi-Wan stepped forward. "If you allow me, Masters, slavery was not the only despicable practise within their walls. She also told me that they were forced upon prostitution." He said, his word making him want to vomit.
Master Yoda lowered his head under Obi-Wan's declarations. It seemed that his 900 years were not enough to stop those disgusting practises. "The victim, where is she now, hmm?" He asked, his voice low.
"She's being treated at the Medical Center as we speak, Master." Anakin answered.
The shock from what they had just revealed was being felt in the Council's chamber. For a moment, there was just silence, each Master considering what to do with this situation.
Master Fisto was the first the speak again. "And you say that she was the only one alive on that ship?"
"Yes, Master." Anakin replied, images of all the dead females in the common room of the ship coming back in his mind.
Another heavy silence.
"This is a matter that will have to be handed to the Senate, I'm afraid. Until we have all the informations about this facility, we cannot take action." Master Plo Koon said. "I suggest we send her for interrogations when she'll get out of the Medical Center."
"You'll scare her away." All the Masters turned to Obi-Wan after he suddenly spoke.
Anakin intervened. "Master Kenobi is right, Masters. She won't talk to anybody she doesn't know. I myself had troubles to make her talk." He said, recalling Meila's hard stubbornness when it came to talk to him.
"That is an issue." Master Windu declared. "Being the only survivor, she has become a very important individual in this affair. How are we supposed to protect her if she doesn't trust us?" He asked, a serious look on his features.
"I'd like to volunteer for that task. I knew her when I was a Padawan. Master Qui-Gon and myself were assigned for a mission on her home planet a year and a half before the Naboo crisis." Obi-Wan requested.
"He's the one who made her talk, Masters..." Anakin added, hoping to help the odds in Obi-Wan's favor. He knew his Master desperately wanted to protect the girl.
"All right, granted." Master Windu decided. "Miss Meila is from now on your full responsibility, Master Kenobi. While you're at it, try to learn everything you can about this facility, because she'll have to talk to the Senate sooner or later."
Obi-Wan smiled. "Thank you, Master. I won't disappoint you." He would die a thousand times before someone else touches his sweet Meila or tried to hurt her in any way.
"Meditate on this, I will. Before the next course of actions, we decide." Master Yoda said, rising from his chair, thus dismissing the Council.
As the Masters lifted from their chairs to leave the room, Anakin looked over at Obi-Wan, who seemed lost in his thoughts. "What do we do now, Master?"
For a moment, Obi-Wan didn't say anything and just stared into nothing. Anakin couldn't help but notice how tired his Master suddenly seemed. When he snapped out of his trance, Obi-Wan smiled. "Go see your wife, Anakin. Tell her about the latest developments. I'll join Meila at the Medical Center. Hopefully I'll be there when she wakes up..."
Anakin nodded and the two Jedi went separate ways.
When Obi-Wan entered the small chamber assigned to Meila, she was still unconscious from the surgery. The Healer he had just talked to told him she would wake up soon. The surgery had gone well. He couldn't help but wince at how white the room was. The heavy smell of disinfectant tingled his nose and the sound of multiple beeping machines was filling the room. It was nowhere near the comfort the Healing Ward of the Temple could offer.
He approached the bed where she was lying peacefully. She was fed by an intravenous tube going down in her left arm. Her chest and her right wrist were heavily covered in bacta patches. The blue and black bruises were almost completely disappeared. Her skin was back to its normal tone.
Obi-Wan let a sigh of relief and sat on the chair next to the bed. He gently took her small hands into his bigger ones, giving them some gentle caresses with his thumbs. It was so good to see that she would be okay. Seign her broken had been, well… difficult for him.
He was tempted. His heart was screaming, begging for him to bend down and kiss her gentle lips. Not a passionate kiss. Just a soft, feathery like kiss, enough to tell how much he loved her and how much he missed her. He never had the chance to do so. But he would never do it without her approval. Especially not after what she's been through.
There was one thing he knew he could do, though. He always did it back then before he had to leave. It could be perceived as an act of courtesy as well as an act of love. He brought her hands up and put gentle kisses on them, his heart exploding as he did so.
He let her hands go when someone suddenly barge in the room. Looking towards the door, he recognised one of the Healer's assistant. She smiled warmly at him and walked in front of the bed, picking up the datapad with Meila's file. After reading some of the data, she looked at him and spoke.
"Well it looks like she'll make a full recovery. Her vital signs are stable, the wounds are already starting to heal, her weight is still dangerously low, but she can work on it and it'll get back to normal with time. I understand you're the Jedi Master responsible for her safety?" She said, her voice sounding more gentle than Obi-Wan had thought.
The Jedi nodded. "Quite right. She's under my protection for the time being."
He could see a small blush on the assistant's cheek. "Well, lucky her. Not everyone gets to be protected by an handsome Jedi Master like yourself... "
Obi-Wan chuckled, but said nothing. Being the Negotiator, he had had his share of ladies and males lusting after him. He was used to flirting and as always, he gently pushed the advances away. Little did the assistant know that his heart truly belonged to her current patient…
And little did he know that Meila had woken up from her induced slumber, but was too tired to open her eyes. She didn't move from her position, hoping real sleep would wash her away soon. She was hurting. Everywhere. For her, the world was a white sea of pain.
Replacing Meila's file in the slot in front of her medical bed, the assistant spoke again. "Do you know her?"
Obi-Wan looked over at his sweet Meila, who he thought was still unconscious. "Yes, she's… a very dear friend of mine."
The assistant smiled, but the flirting air on her face was gone. "I see. When she'll wake up, would you be so kind to push the red button just above her? The healer will pass and make sure everything is under control." She said, pointing said button.
Obi-Wan nodded, bringing his chair closer to Meila's bed. "Yes, of course. Thank you."
A very dear friend of mine. The words constantly repeated themselves in Meila's mind as her broken heart painfully reminded her that Obi-Wan would never be truly hers. He had sworn his life to the Republic and lived under a Code that forbidden attachments of any kind.
Yes, they had broken that Code several times when they were young. Sometimes they embraced when no one was looking, they used to whisper silly love words to each other and they almost shared a kiss one time. But they were young, and Obi was still a Padawan learner.
Now it was different. Obi wasn't a apprentice at the tail of his Master anymore. He was an accomplished Master himself, vastly involved within the Republic and from what she's heard from their conversations in the Cassiopee, he was even sitting on the Jedi High Council. Meila didn't know if he had planned to leave the Order back then, but she certainly knew it wasn't an option anymore today.
She wasn't even sure he still had those feelings towards her. In eighteen years, he had the time to move on a thousand times. She certainly didn't, deep in her heart she knew she still loved him.
She felt sleep creeping on her and she let it take over her body, tired of fighting. Sleeping usually meant nightmares, but she didn't care one bit. As she felt unconsciousness leaning heavily on her mind, she made herself a promise.
She would forget the feelings she harboured for Obi. She didn't need another broken heart in all this mess. She accepted the idea that she had lost him.
AN: Once again, thanks you so much for all your support! If you like the story, don't be afraid to leave some reviews, I reply to everybody! They relly help me to go on with this fic! Lots of kisses and see you in the next chapter!