Distraction: Chapter Ten

My desperation to rid myself of unwanted company landed me in an even more desperate situation. I should've listened to the verbose gambler, for instead of heading out of the storm, I was apparently heading into it. I was sure I was going in the right direction though probably not for long. With all the sand in the air limiting visibility, it was impossible to stay on course.

I shouldn't have given that Toydarian all my credits. I couldn't even afford to rent a speeder and was on foot. At my estimations, I should've arrived at the southern ridge by now, but I didn't see any bluffs whatsoever. Just sand – below me, above me, beside me.

It was becoming more difficult to breathe despite the wrap around my head, and I decided it would probably be best if I found some type of shelter.

I searched in vain for what seemed like hours until I spied a shadowy area. I followed the line of shadows until finally I found an outcropping. The further I walked, the higher it rose, until an even deeper shadow appeared. I stumbled forward, hoping the recess was large enough I could fit into, yet small enough it didn't also shelter something bigger than me. I'd heard tales about the creatures who roamed the desert sands of Tatooine. I really didn't wish to come face to face with any of them.

I ducked inside the opening in the rock and managed to just squeeze myself in and thus out of the worst of the storm. However, I was still being pelted by sand and shuffled my body around until my back was to the opening. There wasn't much else I could do, and so I pulled my hood down even further, curled up like a tusk-cat and tried to get some rest. The howling wind outside the small cave sang me to sleep with an ethereal lullaby.

And then the dream began.

Loss. I was overcome with the feeling of loss. I'd never experienced the like of it before. Sure, I had seen comrades cut down in their prime, but I didn't have feelings for any of them. The beautiful creature lying before appearing as if she were dead however, was ripping my heart to pieces.

It was her. The same woman I had dreamt about before, though she hadn't made her presence known to me for several months. I stepped toward her, touching at first the velvety dark blue gown she was clothed in, before placing my hand tentatively on hers.

I didn't even know her name, but I knew without a doubt that I was in love with her and that she was in love with me. This was a tragedy. She wasn't supposed to leave me so soon.

But wait. Her hand wasn't cold or even cool to touch. I stepped closer and leaned over her still body, studying her full red lips, her soft, pale skin, and the luxurious mane of dark curls cascading over her shoulders.

Was she just asleep? If so, how could I wake her? The answer to that question came readily. I knew how.

Leaning over further, I gently placed my lips to hers, brushing them across hers before placing my cheek gently against the warmth of her face. I wish I knew her name. I would whisper it now to try and rouse her. My kiss hadn't done the trick, so I leaned back a little to caress her face with the back of my hand. While doing so, I called her the truest name I could think of.

"My love. Please wake up." I coaxed her softly while continuing my caresses. "We have so much to do still. So many things to see."

Once again I applied my kiss to her full lips and suddenly heard humming. My hopes were initially that the noise was coming from her. That she was voicing her appreciation for my tender ministrations. Except I knew that sound. It wasn't human.

I came awake with a start, banging my head on the low ceiling of the shallow cave in the process. Before turning around, I reached for my blaster, knowing full well I was too late.

Through the dust of a clearing sky I could see a form; small in stature with large, pointed ears jutting out from either side of its head. Its green features were illuminated by an even greener lightsaber and I realized immediately I'd found him. Correction: He'd found me.

"Master Yoda?"

"Hmmm," the little Jedi grumbled, eyeing me cautiously. I could feel a power sweep over me and offered very little resistance to it.

"Waiting for you, I have been," he told me.

Apparently satisfied with his readings of me, he switched off his weapon. Before I realized what I was doing, I had pulled mine.

Old habits are hard to break. My past and my Sith training was all I knew. Countless times I had seen fear in my victims eyes, had seen beads of nervous sweat pop up all over their brow before I ended their miserable life. Yoda was demonstrating neither of these characteristics. He calmly gazed at me as if he were waiting for something.

"Well?" he prompted.

"You realize there's a sizable bounty on your head," I informed him, coming to a crouched position, though still keeping my blaster pointed in his direction. "I could live quite comfortably on it for the rest of my days."

"Do what you think you must, you should."

My mind was at war with itself, much like in an old fable. On one side there was Light. It told me to put down my blaster; reminded me that I was here for answers, not to collect a bounty.

On the other side was Dark. It told me to shoot the creature and be done with it. Be done with it all. With that many credits, I could leave Sidious and Anakin. Leave Coruscant. I could disappear.

And yet, there was somebody else who had something to say: The nameless woman who haunted me. I had a strong feeling she would be very disappointed with me. I didn't wish to let her down, so I holstered my blaster.

"Good," Master Yoda told me. "Now, come with me, you will."