Chapter 14 – Kidnapping and Nostalgia
It was already night. Onika woke up and packed up her books and chothes. Onika took her blouse back, and dressed. Onika woke Tup.
"Hey, Tup. Wake up. We have to go." Onika whispered in his ear, shaking him. Tup woke up.
"Ah, Onika. We're leaving now?" Tup asked.
"Get up and get dressed. Now."
Tup stood up and put his armor back. Onika made the bed. Onika and Tup left the house, and returned to the ship, which sailed back to Resolute. Tup and Onika down in Resolute's hangar, empty. Tup returned to his bedroom, and to his surprise, everyone was asleep. Onika went to the cafeteria and took a glass of warm milk. Anakin was there.
"Onika, how was your trip?" Anakin asked.
"It was great. Sorry that I got less time, huh?" Onika said.
"I am very glad that you did a great trip."
"I'm going to sleep. Goodnight." Onika said, coming out of the cafeteria.
Onika went to her bedroom and lay down on her bed (which is on top of the bunk bed) and slept.
Dawned. Onika awoke and rose from her bed. Onika grabbed her datapad and left the room. Onika found her sisters in the hangar, along with Anakin.
"Guess, Onika." Anakin said.
"We will return to Coruscant?" Onika asked.
"Exactly. Will you stay with me and your aunt."
Onika, her sisters and Anakin entered the Twilight and returned to Coruscant. Onika entered the house of her uncles and went to the balcony, enjoying the view of the street.
"How nice to be here." Onika said.
"Onika, come have breakfast." Padmé said.
Onika left the balcony and went to the kitchen, grab a cup of yogurt. Onika left the kitchen and went to the dining room.
"Yo, Onika. You look like you had a great time." Shany said.
"Ha, of course. And do you amused yourself too well?" Onika asked.
"Uh, yeah."
Onika left the dining room and went to take a cold shower. Onika closed her eyes for a few seconds, feeling that something would happen to herself and her sister, Shany. Onika quickly opened her eyes and grabbed a towel. Onika dried and dressed. Onika went to her bedroom and dressed in a black overcoat. Onika left the bedroom and went to the front door.
"Hey, Onika. Where are you going?" Dhemétria asked.
"I'll walk a little." Onika said.
"I'll go with you, Niki." Shany said.
"Okay, but don't be late." Anakin said.
Onika and Shany left and were walking down the street of Coruscant. Anakin felt a strange feeling.
"Ani. There a problem?" Padmé asked.
"Maybe... I just think it was a bad idea the girls go out today." Anakin replied.
Onika and Shany walked for a few meters away from the house of their uncles. Shany was surprised by a strong electric shock and fainted. Onika, who was holding the hand of Shany, also felt the electric shock and also passed out.
Onika and Shany woke up in a dark room, her back to one another, sharing two chains, joining their hands. A mysterious figure entered the room, kneeling near Shany.
"Did you think to be rid of me?" The figure spoke, picking at her chin.
I know that voice. Onika and Shany spoke for themselves. It was clearly Cad Bane.
"My God. Did you decided to stay quiet, is not it, Shany?" Cad Bane asked.
Shany shook her head. Onika was terrified. She felt that this would happen, despite not being a Jedi.
This is not happening. Onika told herself. Cad Bane left the room. Onika decided to get up, but found out she was handcuffed to Shany.
"Shany, are we cuffed together?" Onika said.
"Oh, great." Shany said.
Onika and Shany rose from the floor. Onika walked to the window with Shany, and looked out. Onika had a childhood memory, looking at the street.
Onika and Shany were children when they walked down this street. Onika and Shany lost their mother and ran yards ahead. Onika and Shany parted, and desperately tried to seek one another. Franni ran trying to look for them, but found only Shany. Hours later, Franni could not find Onika. Several hours later, Onika was found near the Jedi Temple, by Obi-Wan, at that time Padawan.
"Hey, little girl. What are you doing here?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I lost from my mother." Onika said, with a sad look.
Obi-Wan took Onika on his lap and led her into the Jedi Council. In the room, Qui-Gon Jinn saw Obi-Wan with Onika in his arms.
"Padawan, where were you?" Qui- Gon asked.
"Master, I found this girl out there, lost." Obi-Wan said, putting down Onika.
Onika slowly approached Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon bent down to get the height of Onika .
"What's your name, little girl?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Onika." Onika said. "I lost my mother and sister. Help me find them."
"Alright, Onika. We'll find them." Qui-Gon said. "But first, take us to where you were."
Onika took his hand and went to the street with Qui-Gon. Onika and Qui-Gon walked a few meters ahead and found her mother. Onika loosened Qui-Gon's hand and ran toward her mother. Qui-Gon ran for Onika.
"Mommy, Mommy." Onika shouted.
Franni turned around and saw Onika. Qui-Gon found Onika, now with her mother.
"Onika, never get away from me." Franni said, hugging her. Qui-Gon walked to them.
"Lady. My Padawan found your daughter near the Jedi Temple." Qui-Gon said.
"Thank you for finding my daughter, Jedi Master." Franni said.
Qui-Gon walked away, back to the Jedi Temple.
"Bye, Jedi Master." Onika said.
Onika smiled at the memory. To this day she wonders who was the Jedi Master and who was his Padawan.
Since his death, Onika, during her childhood walked by that place, expecting to see him again. It's been 13 years, without seeing him and without receiving news of his whereabouts. Onika was always afraid of the truth behind his disappearance. Onika considered him her friend, and felt confidence in him. But Onika need to focus on their trail.
Onika seemed to pay attention to her current objective.
"Onika. You know where we are?" Shany asked.
Onika brought Shany to see through the window.
"Do you remember this street?" Onika asked.
"Yes." Shany said. "It was here that we played when we were kids."
"Okay, we do not have much time for nostalgia. We need to get out of here as soon as possible." Onika said, heading toward a table, look for something useful.
Onika raised one arm and passed it to the other side, getting face to face with Shany. Onika and Shany searched a drawer and found a lightsaber. Onika turned on the lightsaber and destroyed the handcuffs. Onika kept the blue lightsaber in her overcoat, and she and Shany left the dark room and walked a few steps to arrive at a port, where they heard Cad Bane talk to their uncle.
"Master Skywalker, I want 50,000 credits to the rescue of the girls, otherwise they will not be released." Cad Bane said, ending the transmission.
Onika and Shany heard the footsteps of Cad Bane and ran back to the room, returning to the starting position, pretending to be handcuffed with their hands behind their back. Cad Bane entered the room.
"Girls. I communicated the Jedi Master and he will come with the ransom money" Cad Bane said.
"And do you will free us?" Onika asked, knowing Cad Bane's answer.
Cad Bane laughed. "I have not the slightest intention of giving you two back. Even before that Jedi Master delivering the money, I'll sell you for slave owners, for them to do whatever they want with you. Especially with you, Onika . I realized that you're a very pretty girl, and they will love you." Cad Bane said, leaving the room.
"Change of plans, Niki. Need to get out of here before we turn slaves." Shany said.
Onika closed her eyes and communicated telepathically with her uncle. Onika, despite not being Jedi, had a very strong connection with the Force. Anakin felt Onika communicating with him through the Force.
Uncle Ani, forget about the money. Onika said.
No, Onika, we will- Anakin was interrupted by Onika.
Cad Bane will not set us free. Even before you arrive, he will sell to the slave owners.
Where are you?
That street that me and Shany we played when we were kids. we'll escape from here before he get rid of us. Onika said, ending the conversation. Onika opened her eyes and stood up, heading towards the window. Onika raised the curtain and saw that the building is not as high.
"Shany, I think you can even escape through the window, if necessary." Onika said.
"Onika, if we run, it will be worse for us. Cad Bane will kill us." Shany said.
"Do not worry, Shany. I know this street. I was walking to the Jedi Temple. This will only take a few hours. We need help."
Onika left the room holding Shany's hand. Onika and Shany walked in silence through the building to not draw Cad Bane's attention. The twins left and went toward the Jedi Temple. Among her three siblings, Onika was the one who had a connection with the Force, and was able to communicate with other Jedi and feel the presence of the deceased Jedi Master. It's been an hour and a half walk. Onika and Shany entered the Jedi Temple and found Mace Windu.
"What are you two doing here?" Mace Windu asked.
"Tell Master Skywalker we're here." Onika said.
Mace Windu took Shany and Onika to the library.
"Tell me, what led you to be here?" Mace Windu asked.
"We've been kidnapped." Onika said.
"By Cad Bane. He demanded to Master Skywalker a lot of money to set us free." Shany said.
"You should have waited there." Mace said.
"I know, but he came to us and said that after he received the money, he would not set us free." Onika said.
"He would sell us to slave owners, for them to do whatever they want with us." Shany said.
"During our escape, I found it." Onika said, taking the lightsaber of her overcoat. Onika handed the lightsaber in Mace Windu's hand.
"All right. I'll talk with Skywalker." Mace said.
In one room, Mace Windu made contact with Anakin by hologram.
"Master Skywalker, I found Major Onika and Commander Shany." Mace said.
"Where are they?" Anakin asked.
"Here on the Jedi Council."
"I'm coming." Anakin said, ending the transmission.
Onika and Shany entered the room where Mace was. Onika sat in a chair and looked at Mace.
"I remember you, Onika." Mace said.
"From me? From where?" Onika asked, surprised.
"It was 13 years ago. You lost your mother and Shany, and mysteriously ended up here on the Jedi Temple."
"I remember that day."
"One of our Padawans, today he's a Jedi Master, found you and brought you here."
Onika had a flashback of that day, when she was found by Obi-Wan, not knowing it was him. "He brought me to a Jedi Master." Onika said. "And this Jedi Master helped me to find my mother and Shany."
Anakin entered the room and found the two.
"Ah, there you are." Anakin said.
"Guess. Shany and I ran away from there and will not be sold to slave owners." Onika said, getting up from chair.
"We're leaving now." Shany said.
Onika, Shany and Anakin left the room and went outside.
Onika looked back. "Thank you for helping us."
Mace Windu nodded his head.
"Uncle Ani. 13 years ago, I lost my mother and Shany. Then I was found by a Padawan, today he's a Jedi Master. Do you have any idea who is this Jedi Master? Know, I really wanted to thank him and another Jedi Master for helping me find my mom and Shany. "Onika said.
"That Padawan, was Obi-Wan. And his Master was Qui-Gon Jinn." Anakin said.
"And where is Qui-Gon?"
"Master Qui-Gon died. A long time ago."
Hit a feeling of sadness in Onika. Onika knew you would not find more Qui-Gon, but she knew he would still watching over her.
"And then, Anakin?" Obi-Wan came.
"Obi-Wan, I would like to talk to you." Onika said.
Shany and Anakin returned home.
"About what, Onika?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For helping me find my mother, 13 years ago. Do you remember?"
"Ah, yes. I remembered. You were so small at the time..." Obi-Wan said, laughing.
"Well I'll go home. I'll see you later, then."
"Ok, may the Force be with you."
Onika returned home of her uncles.