Chapter Thirty-eight:
Luke's scream eventually faded as he ran out of air, and then he looked down. Rapidly approaching him— or rather, he was moving toward it— was a huge mountain of garbage and parts ranging in size from a landspeeder to a bolt.
Luke flailed, trying to put distance between him and the pile, but his efforts proved fruitless. And this time as he fell, there was no great ibbot to save him.
At least this time I'm not above lava, Luke mused sardonically.
All he could do was brace for impact, and Luke drew his limbs in close to his body... but as soon as he hit the first physical obstacle, he was sent into an uncontrolled tumble, his limbs flopping without his consent. This continued for Luke and he cried out as each new bump brought with it various amounts of pain until his body was on fire...
Halfway down the junk pile, Luke crashed through something that dumped ice cold water on him and Luke sucked in a sharp breath... and suddenly his mind was in panic mode. Luke tried to fight it, but his breathing became ragged and Luke lost partial awareness of his actual fall as his mind replayed what had landed him in the frozen lake on Ando Prime.
Crash... his engine exploded... something connected with his shoulder and pierced through the skin... his cockpit plummeted, the ice drew nearer... something else wet and viscous sloshed all over him as he caromed into a barrel... holding his breath he prayed his pod would stay above the water... now he had a trail of smaller items following him, creating an avalanche of sorts... his pod was now almost under the water, and his body was so cold it was too numb to feel pain... he landed on what he assumed was solid ground, and covered his head as the avalanche caught up to him... under the water, he could only look forlornly at the wavering surface above, imprisoned in what would become his watery grave. Already he could feel his body shutting down... and then there was a splash he could hear as a muffled sound... and then he knew no more.
Luke tried to gasp in air but his lungs didn't want to cooperate. He gaped like a beached fish for terrifying seconds. As he did so, Luke heard sounds nearby and yet he couldn't react, his body curled up and his mind still trapped in his relapse. The part of his brain still functional took note that there were now several sounds coming from at least four directions, with shouts from people Luke really didn't want to meet.
He tried again to breathe...
I'm not on Ando Prime; I'm not in water... Luke chanted under his breath. This isn't the lake, Garris is not here...
00000
Anakin gasped when a wave of terror slammed into him from his son. His eyes closed as he put a hand to a nearby wall to steady himself. He'd been feeling Luke's pain for some time now, and was already harried. Anakin was doing all he could to keep himself under control. It wouldn't do to snap at their contact and lose their only shot at finding his children.
Now Luke was scared senseless, and then various bouts of pain wafted through the Force to the Jedi, and Anakin did his best to ride out the storm.
A hand touched his shoulder, and Anakin opened his eyes to see Obi Wan's concerned face. "What's the matter, Anakin?"
Anakin had to work moisture into his mouth before he could speak. "It's Luke: something else happened to him, but I don't know what exactly."
Han looked worried too. "Let's hurry this up then. What was the woman's name again?"
"Calla, though I don't have a last name," Obi Wan answered. "And I think it best if we not all go in. It may overwhelm her."
They were nearing a restaurant that the woman worked at, and it was near the end of the day, which meant that the diner would be closing soon. Anakin thought it didn't look like much, but considering where it was located, it was decent.
Han threw a look at the men. "Don't even think of asking me to wait outside. I'm going in also!"
Anakin sighed softly, though Han's loyalty to the boy he called a brother warmed Anakin's heart. He was glad Luke had such a friend.
He looked to the Wookiees. "Would you two mind waiting outside?"
They both nodded, taking a seat on a bench. [Take your time.] Dewlanna said, waving them onward.
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Luke jumped when something touched his bicep. That allowed him to finally come out of his relapse, and Luke's lungs opened to receive oxygen. Luke gulped it down... and immediately wished he hadn't. His lungs were now burning from whatever was in the air.
Luke coughed horribly, placing his hand over his mouth. It was then that the young man realized he was covered from head to toe in something that smelled like it belonged in a vehicle. Luke spat several times, trying to clear his mouth of any that may have entered it.
"Hey!" Something touched his arm again, though Luke knew it had only been seconds. "Hey, snap out of it!"
The voice sounded worried and annoyed all at once, and Luke turned his head to see someone in all black beside him. They were a bit shorter than he was, but that didn't seem to be holding them back.
"Come on!" The figure snapped when they saw Luke's attention on them. "We need to move, now!"
Luke heard the various sounds again, this time closer, and struggled to stand. He pushed up with his shaking arms, and when he did so his left shoulder screamed at him. Agony shot through him and Luke gasped, looking at the injury the best he could.
The figure bent over, examined the injury and then hauled Luke to his feet. "It'll last until we can find cover. Let's go!"
Luke hesitated. "How do I know I can trust you?"
The figure glared, their brown eyes intense. "You can trust that if the gangs that inhabit this area catch you, you'll never be heard from again!" The other shuddered. "I've seen what they do to their victims, and trust me; you want no part of that."
The other turned and hustled away, forcing Luke to decide swiftly. Luke felt an urging in his gut to get away, and so he broke into a run to follow the person in black. The heaps of garbage were in no particular order, and so there were paths that wove in and out, some backtracking into others and so forth.
Luke had no idea how to navigate such a place, but the other person seemed to know exactly where to go.
They hadn't gone more than a few junk-piles from their original position when shouts sounded behind them, and then several sets of feet began to chase after them. Luke's heart pounded, and he had to draw on his years of working for Garris to keep calm.
The figure before him cursed and made a gesture. "We need to move faster!"
Luke did his best to do so, but his body was once again shaking of its own accord, making it difficult for him to run. He was also struggling to breathe, since every breath hurt. Luke coughed heavily, which only aggravated his condition.
Luke realized his coughing was acting as a homing beacon when the shouts suddenly changed position and drew ever nearer.
"You need to be quiet!" The other hissed as they gestured him to climb a particular pile.
"I can't help it!" Luke shot back, coughing again. "It's the air!"
The figure sighed. "I know." Was the more gentle reply. "At least try to muffle the sound."
They handed Luke a heavy cloth and he used it to cover his mouth with one hand and climb with the other. He didn't know where he was going until the other pushed him into the carcass of an ancient vehicle, the entrance of which was only visible from where they'd been on the junk pile.
Luke felt a cough coming on, and he pressed the cloth to his mouth to muffle the sound. It helped, but only some. Luke heard their pursuers draw nearer and he sucked in a breath, forcing himself to hold it for as long as he could.
He could feel his face turning red with the effort not to cough, even as one tried to come out.
"Where'd they go?" Someone demanded in a gravelly voice. "They didn't just vanish!"
"'Course not; they're probably trying to trick us. I'll bet they was hidin' somewhere we already passed and came out after we were gone," another said.
"There was nowhere to hide there, idiot!" A third voice snapped.
"Well then where are they now, Huyang?" The first growled. "Since you're so smart?!"
"They're hiding somewhere!" Huyang returned evenly.
"You three quit squabbling!" A more authoritative voice barked out. "This isn't helping matters any. Everyone fan out and see if you can flush them out. Everyone takes a different path!"
There was a chorus of 'Yes sir's' and then the feet that were far below dispersed. Luke counted to ten before he released his cough, still trying to muffle the noise. But within the cover of the ship it wasn't as bad to breathe, so his spluttering lessened.
He turned to his companion, who was sitting with their back to the bulkhead and seeming to be resting.
"Thank you for helping me." Luke's voice was a little hoarse, but legible.
The other looked to him, and winced. "You're covered in ship oil. That won't come off without some specialty soap... which we don't have."
Luke looked to himself, taking the time to analyze his situation now that he as free to do so. He reeked of the oil, which he now could identify himself. His shoulder throbbed, and the chemicals from the oil only made it hurt worse. His lungs hurt something fierce, and his throat felt as if it was sandpaper. Luke's entire body was quivering again like after the hound chase. Only this time it was both from the fatigue and the pain.
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They entered the establishment and scanned the tables. Most of the patrons had left, though there were still two occupied tables. A woman with dark hair appeared from the kitchen, one hand holding a cloth and the other bucket of cleaner for the tables.
She moved to the first table, and that was when she saw their group. "Oh, hello. I'm sorry, but we're almost closed for the night."
Obi Wan smiled politely. "Actually, we don't need a meal."
They moved closer, and as they did so, the woman looked at Obi Wan and Han. "Wait, I saw you both earlier: you were asking about the missing girl."
Obi Wan nodded, motioning to Anakin. "We were, yes. This is Anakin, our friend. We need to ask you more about Saez, if we may?"
Immediately the woman's face darkened. "That scumbag? What did he do now?"
Anakin lifted a brow, sensing the hostility this woman apparently held against her former boyfriend.
"He took my son," Anakin said, careful not to let any ire seep into his tone. This woman was innocent, and didn't deserve for his bad mood to be directed at her. "And he set a pack of Corellian hounds on us."
She winced. "I didn't realize he still had those things." She looked down, clearly upset.
Obi Wan stepped closer, though remained at a respectful distance. "Please, we must find Saez. Two children are now in grave danger because of him."
Her head came up. "Two? You think he was involved in the girl's fate?" She snorted then. "Who am I kidding? Of course he would be involved. He likes to pretend he's a saint, but inside he's the complete opposite."
She gestured to a table and set her bucket down before she joined them, wiping her hands on an apron about her waist. "Now, what do you need to know? I'll tell you what I can."
Anakin leaned forward some. "Where does he live?"
Calla extended a hand. "I can give you an address if you have a map."
Obi Wan offered his datapad, which had the map they had been using. Calla took it, scrolled about for a few minutes and then selected something before turning the pad for them to see.
"Here's where you need to go. But his house has two entrances. He uses one as an escape route when he's in trouble." She handed the 'pad back to Obi Wan.
"Do you know anything about the girl?" Anakin asked hopefully.
"Not much, I'm afraid." Calla looked apologetic. "He didn't have her when we were dating. However, if he did have a slave, he would have kept that fact hidden."
Anakin's face darkened. "Slave?"
She nodded sadly. "He hates children, except to exploit them: so if he had her, it would have been as a slave. Saez can't stand to not be in control; it's his greatest fault."
"Do you know where he could have taken her if he were to get rid of her?" Obi Wan asked carefully.
Calla thought a moment, pursing her lip. "He has many secrets, but I never saw any of his haunts, I'm sorry. However," she lifted a finger when Han began to object. "I know he frequents the abandoned parts of town, so that would be a good place to look."
Anakin closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. "Can you tell us anything else about him?"
"He works special jobs for high-end clients. Or in other words, he takes on jobs from those who want something specific." Calla shifted to a more comfortable position. "And when he gets it to them, he gets a handsome paycheck. I wouldn't be surprised if he has people on the surface doing his dirty work."
Han frowned. "But its unlivable out there, how could they be out there?"
She made a face. "Some of them have implanted breathers into their bodies; these allow them to breathe without taking in the bad air. It makes me shudder, but to each his own I guess."
Anakin looked to the address she'd given them. "You're certain this is where he is?"
"We won't be attacked again will we?" Han added only half-jokingly.
Calla shrugged. "I don't know what he does at his place anymore; I walked away from him years ago. But that's his address for certain."
Obi Wan stood. "Thank you very much Calla." He produced a credit-chip, and handed it to her.
Calla blinked. "You don't have to pay me."
Obi Wan still set it on the table for her. "Consider it a gift."
She smiled, offering him her hand. "Thank you, you are very generous." She took Anakin's hand next. "I hope you find those kids. I do pray they're okay."
Anakin inclined his head, and turned to leave.
"Oh, wait!" Calla called before she rushed into the back. She returned a large bone that still had meat scraps on it that she'd placed in a bag. "If his hounds are there, this may help distract them."
Han took the bag readily, and offered his lopsided grin. "I appreciate that."
Calla laughed and waved to them as they left.
Once they'd rejoined their Wookiee companions, the group headed for the address Calla had given them.
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Luke felt as though it was several hours before his companion finally stirred. They hadn't heard anything for quite some time now, and Luke was certain they were gone.
"It should be safe for us to move now," his companion said, motioning for Luke to follow. "Stay quiet and follow me."
Luke placed the cloth to his mouth again and did as the other asked. Once they had returned to ground level, the other began to move in a new direction. Luke did his best to keep up, not wanting to get lost out here.
"Where are we going?" Luke asked quietly.
"Somewhere safe."
They navigated the heaps of trash for ten minutes, with the other picking up the odd object now and then and stashing it inside a pouch at their waist. Finally they arrived at the back end of a 'mountain', and the other looked around intently before pulling back a heavy piece of metal.
Behind it was what looked like a dead end, and Luke frowned at his companion. "What are you doing?"
"Get in," the other said crisply. "You agreed to follow me."
Luke hesitantly entered the tunnel, and it was only when he reached the supposed end that he discovered that the tunnel took a right turn, leading them deeper underneath the pile of junk. His companion followed, allowing the heavy piece of metal to settle behind them and cover the entrance once more.
Luke finally found the end of the line after several meters, and looked about the small space he'd entered. It wasn't much, but it was clear that the other lived here. There was a makeshift bed; a bucket Luke assumed was the refresher, and what passed for a table.
When his companion joined him, Luke stood up. "How is the pile above not coming down upon us?"
The other looked up. "This used to be a junk-worm's lair. They are nasty, ugly things, but the mucus their bodies secret act as a glue. That in turn holds the tunnel's shape."
Luke glanced around pointedly. "Indefinitely?"
The other flinched. "Probably not, but I don't like to think that way."
Luke could focus more on his companion now, and he realized that the voice was decidedly feminine. And while the other may not have reached physical maturity yet, there was a way the other held themselves that was akin to how the girls in Garris' care had held themselves.
"Who are you?" Luke asked at last.
The other removed the full-head hood and shook out dark brown hair that fell to her shoulders. "My name is Leia."