Chapter 26


A cold hand came across Er Shua's face. "General? General can you hear me?"

"I think he is out cold." Another voice sounded.

Er Shua moaned, rolling onto his side. A seer of pain flared through his chest, snapping him awake as reality suddenly hit.

"Es'mai!" He scrambled to his feet, searching."Where is she?!"

"We're sorry sir." A Trooper placed a hand on his shoulder.

Er Shua threw the hand aside.

"Don't be sorry you fool! Tell me where she is! Where is my daughter?!"

The Trooper swallowed, signalling behind him. Er Shua reeled, where there he faced her pale, fallen form and immediately he had to swallow the urge to throw up.

"Es'mai." He sank to his knees.

The Troopers paid their respects by silently turning away. They couldn't see their General in such a state. Woefully they glanced from one to the other, making a silent vow amongst one another to keep this moment of despair to themselves.


Julian pushed Adia through the bubble membrane. She fell to the floor panting.

Julian sat down beside her, holding her quaking body into a tight hug. She was mumbling something over and over again. Her eyes were bloodshot, her wrists cut so badly that she looked as if to pass out at any given moment.

Julian needed to get help and fast. But where was he to go? What had happened to Er Shua? He refused to think that he'd been killed but yet the possibility was still there.

Adia's head sank.

"No Adi, don't go out on me now!"

Julian grabbed her face, holding it so that she looked into his eyes. "Adi, where is Er Shua? Where can I get help?"

Adia's eyes rolled back.

"Adia!" Julian shook her by the shoulders. The girl startled but then her head fell again.

It was useless.

The Gungan stared around the city, none of it looking the least bit familiar. People were running by, alerted by the sudden destruction of the sub pens but no one noticed him.

Julian stood, lifting Adia's body over his shoulders he tried to follow the crowd but was eventually halted by a Trooper astride his Kaadu.

"Are you Julian?"

Julian stepped back, stunned.

The Trooper nodded, "The General Er Shua has sent out a search." He eyed off the girl draped over Julian's shoulder. "What happened?"

"We got caught up. She need medical attention right away."

The Trooper turned his Kaadu, signalling Julian forward.

"This way."

The Trooper guided Julian back to the hospital where a wounded Er Shua sat, a doctor tending to his wounds. He appeared to just stare into nothingness. Anything said to him, he didn't seem to register.

Julian gave one of the medics a baffled look.

The Medic gave a sad sigh, signalling for him to place Adia on a sickbay bed.

"He and his daughter were attacked." The doctor removed Adia's cuffs, "She was killed."

Julian excused himself, slowly making his way over to his father. His face bore an expression so dark that he looked like he'd aged years.

"Er Shua." He whispered.

The Gungan barely turned his head.

"I am sorry about Es'mai." he continued. "But the longer we spend here, the more we put Adia in danger."

The old Gungan stared at him so dangerously that Julian almost felt he would attack him. But instead Er Shua sighed, digging his head into his hands.

"I cannot make this journey Julian."

"What?" Julian was taken aback.

"You and Adia are going to have to make it alone."

"Sir!" Julian protested. "I really don't think-"

"Just do it!" Er Shua snapped, getting upright. "I have failed to do my duty properly, and because of that it has resulted in a death. I have no other choice but to hand that duty over to you." He squinted as if to have a headache. "I have much to contend with here. I will meet you when you get to the temple."

"Yes sir."

Julian's voice crackled, trying with all his will to keep his posture firm. But his insides felt like jelly. Unsure as to how to face this sudden responsibility for he'd always lived in the shadow of his father. This liberty he'd just been given felt so unnatural. His father never gave up. It disturbed Julian to see him that way.

Er Shua stared at Adia before producing a tiny, gold bracelet, which he seemed to examine until finally he slapped it into Julian's hand.

"Look after her Julian." He whispered.

"Yes Sir."

Julian nodded as he watched the old Gungan slowly stride out.

Adia's head throbbed so much that it pained her to even open her eyes. Every so often an image that seemed completely alien to her flashed through her mind. Adia wasn't sure if she was hallucinating or not. Her mind felt so heavy. So full of memories that she could not recall having.

"Adi." Julian came up beside her and whispered.

"Don't talk." The girl murmured, clutching her ears. "My head."

Every sound seemed amplified. It only made the throbbing worse.

"Here," a Gungan in a blue gown approached with a shot. "This ought to help with the head."

Adia felt a slight jab before she found her mind suddenly drifting off into the other world again.

"Just give her a little while. The drug won't take long to kick in" The medic smiled at Julian before scurrying off.

Julian moaned, rubbing the rim of his nose. The prophets weren't going to be happy but he had no other choice.

He sat down at the end of Adia's bed. They were getting nowhere in a lot of time. Somewhere in the city, no doubt was the being that; with Adia's own weapon almost killed her. The sphere was gone, out of Adia's possession and into the hands of the ones whom were supposedly condemned, never to take hold of it.

Julian sighed. For the sake of the people he hoped that this so called warrior would attempt to finish his job before returning to his master with the sphere. That way there was still the chance that they could get the jewel back.

"Sir Julian?"

Julian's head snapped upright as three faces loomed down upon him. Two Troopers accompanied a younger rather large, lime coloured Gungan.

"My name is Bani Nass." He spoke in a thick accent. "The current Boss Nass' son. I was wondering if I could have a word with you?"

He guided Julian to his feet and dismissed his Trooper escort.

"You are of the Ankura." Julian speculated.

The Gungan nodded, his fat chin layers wobbling.

"And you are of Mesul. Well at least your counterpart is. I meet her on a previous occasion."

Julian suddenly felt edgy, unsure as to where this was heading. The people of the Mesulan and the Ankuran went back into history. A great battle was fought between the two nations. A battle that resulted in many deaths and plagues that almost wiped out both sides. The war went on for hundreds of years until suddenly and mysteriously it stopped, the two nations went their separate ways, never to confront one another again.

"What do you want Ankuran?"

The Nass lifted up his hand in a gesture of peace.

"I don't want this to result in some kind of argument. But when I confronted your friend I knew something was up with you. Why are you here in my city, Mesulan? You have no dealings with us."

Julian glared at the Gungan.

"Yes, normally we would not be here. But due to circumstances beyond our control we are here to retrieve a long lost member."

He signalled to Adia.

The Gungan closed his eyes and bowed his head, accepting that this was all the information he was going to receive.

"That is fine but you have your bounty. I strongly suggest you leave as soon as possible. For if my father was to ever find out…" he let it hang.

"Leaving was our original plan yes." Julian snapped sarcastically, leaning back on the bedpost.

He could see the Nass trying hard to hold down his temper. Again the Gungan closed his eyes, swallowing.

"I have a transport for you."

Julian's attitude changed, he slowly stood again.

"What kind of transport?"

"My own personal Bongo. A gift from my father." He waved a hand dismissively. "Will be hardly missed."

"Why are you doing this?" Julian questioned but the Gungan had already turned back to his two Trooper companions.

Adia was beginning to waken again. The girl moaned, more so for attention than anything. Julian hurried over to her side, kneeling beside the bed.

"You okay?"

Adia's eyes rolled as she gave him a weak smile.

"Here again." She moaned sarcastically. "One would think that we actually like this place."

Julian snorted, helping her to sit up.

"We've out stayed our welcome. I've just been informed that we are to leave the city as soon as you get up."

"Oh." Adia replied. "Well I suppose we better get going then." She slid off the bed only to notice who was missing.

"Where's Er Shua? Is he alright?"

Julian nodded, "He's fine but he is now unable to make the journey. We have to do it alone."

Adia looked disappointed but Julian didn't give her the time to linger as he began to make his way across the ward.

They met up with the Nass at the hospital's exit where his Troops escorted them to a distant Sub pen, unaffected by the destruction of the previous one.

Adia seemed to be just as bewildered as Julian at the Nass' generosity but he did not let them question him.

"I can arrange an escort to a certain point, then my Troops will go no further." The Nass stated. "For their own protection."

Julian nodded appreciatively.

"Thank you. Your service toward us is greatly appreciated."

It was then that the Nass screwed up his eyes, speaking in a dangerous, low tone. "Now listen to me Mesul. I am only helping you because I wanted you away from this city. You will tell no one of this, you hear?"

Julian smirked.

"Consider it forgotten."