Chapter Twenty-Five:
Once again in the dead of night, Dark Lady Resmi had her extra-large delivery from Cato Neimoidia moved from its holding place to the arena. The beast was still unconscious and therefore safe to move.
She knew that some might question the intended purpose for this brute, but she wanted to make her point to Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker as vividly as possible.
She patted the hardened, bumpy hide of the creature's arm. The limb was a thick as the trunk of a thousand-year-old tree.
Who cared what others would say about overkill? She would enjoy every second of this creature's reign in the arena.
With a cocky smirk, she oversaw the transfer and then excused herself for the night. Once she was settled into bed, she gazed with open admiration at herself in the overhead mirrors.
"Oh, Resmi… you are wicked…" she chuckled.
With a lazy yawn, Resmi settled under her lush comforter and allowed sleep to take her.
00000
Skye made her way to the abandoned diner Maxx had once made so lively. During the arena battle that morning, Skye had asked her fellow gladiators to meet her in Maxx's eatery. Through the Force, Skye knew it was time to put her six months hard work into effect… starting with gaining the assistance of her peers.
But she was also taking a huge risk. Because anyone of them— or all of them— could turn her in and her grueling labor here would all go down the drain. She couldn't stop her nerves from itching, but Skye refused to let fear stop her now.
Pausing for a steadying breath just before her destination, Skye prayed to the Force for help in gaining the trust of these men. Finally she pushed the door ajar and let herself in.
The room was dark as planned, save for a few small candles so no one got hurt walking in the pitch-blackness of the windowless space.
She saw the lot of them gathered around a couple of tables that had been pushed together, leaving one space at the head for Skye. She took off the backpack she'd brought and placed it by her chair. Finally settling down in her seat with her back straight and head held proudly, Skye looked them all in the eye.
"Thank you for meeting with me," she began. "I have called you all here to offer you a chance to help regain your freedom and, by proxy, that of your loved ones Lady Resmi holds captive."
"By captive, you mean they are unknowing bait," Killian ground out irritably.
Skye nodded. "Call it whatever you will, but I am deadly serious."
Murmurs traveled the assembled gladiators, and Skye allowed them their small-talk. Not surprisingly, it was Tye who voiced the group's concerns.
"What are you talking about, Skye?"
She laid her hands palms-down on the table, a gesture of goodwill. "What I am about to tell you will either bring you to my side, or turn you against me. I will not think less of you either way, for I know you all only wish the best for your families."
"Get to the point," Killian muttered. "Some of us want to get to bed."
"I have a plan in place to destroy the Kritanta Games… and hopefully rid this galaxy of the crazy witch who runs them," Skye said boldly.
Absolute silence greeted her pronouncement, and Skye remained calm, projecting a determined, confident air. Looks were traded all around, and Skye could feel the varying emotions in the room: hope, fear, resolve… and a desire for revenge.
Once they'd had time to process her words, Skye continued. "Now, I already have several measures in place to ensure things go as smoothly as possible. What I need is help in executing the actual plan."
She could almost hear their minds at work.
At last, Tye stood. "If you're taking Resmi down, you have my total support."
"And mine." 'Mustache' joined Tye in standing.
"That crazy woman has ruined enough lives," another said as he too took to his feet.
Skye felt her heart soar with pride and more hope than she'd felt in six months time, and when everyone was finished declaring their loyalty to her cause, she saw that Killian was the only one besides herself still seated.
Tye noticed as well and lifted a brow. "Killian, come on; this will work."
The dark-skinned man had a deep frown on his face. A collective breath was held as the man deliberated. When he looked to Skye, his eyes burned with the need to see what was left of his family free from the terror their lives had been.
"I'm in."
Skye smiled. "Thank you, all of you. Now, if you'll be seated, we need to determine who will do what, and when."
00000
Once the meeting had adjourned, they left the diner in shifts to avoid suspicion of a late-night meeting between gladiators. To make it more believable, Skye had a few men act drunk as they left, and one or two carried bottles of ale left from Maxx's supplies to sell the act.
She made sure she was last to leave, and set about the kitchen making a light supper and pot of soothing tea for Luke. The diner and kitchen may have been abandoned, but for some reason nobody had thought to move the food and utensils.
Maybe they think the kitchen is haunted by Maxx's ghost. Skye thought with a snicker.
While she waited for her simple meal to heat up, Skye grabbed her backpack and prepared an herbal medicine for Luke's injuries.
When finished, Skye packaged everything in sealable containers from the cupboard, and carefully laid out the items inside her backpack. Not for the first time, Skye loved the size of her bag, for it allowed her to hide things.
Cleaning up the kitchen, Skye left. She made her steady way to where Luke was held, and put the guard to sleep well before he saw her coming. Since he was already seated in a chair, she did not have to worry about the cameras picking up his inactivity.
She used the Force to make the cameras fuzz-out long enough for her to grab the keys and let herself into the cell. Closing the door silently, Skye turned… and promptly gasped.
Luke's head jerked at the sound, but Skye was only partially aware of it. She knew they'd restrained him, but not like this…
"What have they done to you now, you poor man?" Skye breathed.
Realizing that Luke was watching her, Skye shook herself and moved closer. She hadn't planned for him to be completely incapacitated when she brought him food. But she would still aid him in whatever way she could.
"I brought you a warm meal, tea, and medicine for your arm and face." Skye set her pack down and carefully removed all the contents. One of the items was a glowlamp, which she flicked on.
Luke cringed at the sudden brilliance, and Skye winced in sympathy.
"Sorry."
He didn't answer, instead looking down. Skye paused in her motion to grab the medicine she'd prepared. His lip quivered just so, but he was obviously trying to hold it together.
Skye's heart went out to him, and she felt her own eyes mist. Blinking rapidly, Skye moved closer.
"It's okay to cry Luke," she said, vaguely amused to turn his own phrase back on him. "Let it out."
When he shook his head, biting his lip, Skye moved closer, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You've been through a lot." That was an understatement, Skye knew, but she went on. "And you have been so strong all this time. But you need to vent: you need some form of release that won't hurt you in return. So cry, sob, weep, rant and rave… just let it out."
She gingerly moved forward so they were almost nose-and nose, and used a hand to gently bring his head to her shoulder, careful not to let him get shocked.
He tensed, trying for another moment to remain closed-off, but something told Skye that this wasn't his style. Sure enough his lips trembled against her shirt, and his chest heaved. With a suddenness that only mildly surprised Skye, Luke relinquished to her care and sobbed mightily.
Skye stood silently and took every ounce of it, offering her support. Luke wept until his tears ran dry, and then he simply rested his head against her shoulder until the moment had passed entirely.
He raised his head with a slightly embarrassed look, and offered a grateful smile. "Thank you."
Skye grinned softly in return, and moved back to her gear. "I also come with news."
"Oh?" Luke was openly curious as Skye busied herself gently rubbing the herbal paste onto his forehead, and then into his bicep.
"Yes," Skye replied. "Tomorrow is going to be full of surprises. For all of us I think."
Luke frowned. "Surprises?"
Skye nodded. "I can feel in the Force that the time to act is only hours away. I also know that help is coming from beyond the skies."
"Your plan." Luke said with sudden realization. "You're going to do it tomorrow?"
"Yes," Skye whispered. She set the paste down and began to carefully wrap his arm. "Lady Resmi thinks she's so great at being sneaky, but I know she's got something cooked up. I also know without a doubt that whatever happens come morning, there will be no going back if we don't act."
She completed her task and then bandaged his facial cut before picking up her homemade meal.
"I didn't know you would be so…" Skye trailed off, gesturing to indicate his predicament. "I, ah, don't mind feeding you if you are okay with it."
Luke grimaced. "It is a little embarrassing…" at that moment his stomach chastised him for being so childish, and he chuckled. "But apparently I have no choice."
Skye grinned, glad he was coming around. They made comfortable small talk while Luke ate, and once he was done, she wiped his face gently and returned everything to her bag. Before leaving, however, Skye placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I know things have been harsh, and the future looks bleak," she murmured. "But have faith, my friend. Things will start to look up. In my experience, things usually get darkest right before they get better."
"Thank you, Skye, for everything you have done for me," Luke said softly.
"You can thank me by keeping your chin up." Skye winked and then made her leave.