Chapter Sixteen

Throughout my life, I had believed that the Dark Side was stronger than the Light. Indeed, I had felt the increased strength behind the blows of the double-blade the Sith warrior had used against me on Naboo. I'd studied my encounter with him afterward and had come to the conclusion that it was his training and talent that had nearly cost me my life as well as my Master's, not the Dark. I hadn't defeated him just because I belonged to the Light, but due to my quick thinking. My mind is what had defeated him.

As Dooku's lightsaber deflected off mine, I determined it was his experience and cunning I was battling, not necessarily his connection to the Dark. His swings and thrusts weren't all that powerful, but where he lacked in athleticism and youthful vigor, he made up for with style and accuracy. He had barely moved while I was jumping and flipping all over the place.

"You cannot defeat me," he calmly told me as I completed a backflip. "My Master has foreseen it. The Queen must die and she will die by his hands. It is her destiny."

History had revealed to the Jedi that where the Sith were concerned, there were always two: a Master and an apprentice. Was Dooku a Master? He seemed a little old to be an apprentice, although it was possible. If he were the Master, had I killed his apprentice?

Actually, I couldn't believe anything that came out of his mouth. I realized he was just trying to get in my head, which was impossible. It was too full already. The chatter of the Hoojib was rattling around inside it, as was the bond locating Padmé. She was close by and as soon as I dispensed of this threat, I would be with her.

I attacked again with ferocity, hoping to end this conflict soon and nearly had disarmed him when my lightsaber began to flicker. It was losing power, which wasn't possible. My heightened concern decreased as soon as I noticed Dooku's blade was weakening as well.

I stepped back just as they both powered down, and no matter what I did to mine, it would not power back on. Dooku was apparently having the same problem.

No sooner had our weapons become useless, had Dooku thrust forth his hand toward me. I expected either a force shove, choke hold, or electrical discharge, but nothing happened. Confused, he had no other option but to pull his vibroblade – the same one he had held against Padmé's throat.

I couldn't stop the smirk that lifted one corner of my mouth. Surely, this old man realized that I had stamina on my side. There was absolutely no way he could defeat me in hand-to-hand combat, although it would've been better if I had a blade of my own. I wasn't in the habit of carrying one, although a stick would suffice.

I tried calling one to me, but without success. Something was dampening the Force in this area. The question of who or what was answered as another shriek of the creature I'd heard earlier filled the sky. Soon, it swooped down through the trees and landed in the clearing just behind Dooku.

This was no draigon. This was a creature I'd never laid eyes on before. Its wingspan was twice that of my starfighter, and it had a massive mouth filled with very large and very sharp fangs. Below its black-furred body, there were tentacles that swung from its belly. I counted four of them and they were green and glowing.

It suddenly dawned on me what Tlup must've meant when he'd talked about bait. I wasn't the bait. My lightsaber was. This thing had not only stolen the energy that powered it, but was interfering with the Force itself. I had a strong suspicion that the caves these Hoojib made their homes in were crystal caves, and the reason why this Slivilith desired to be in them. It was a power seeker, a creature that absorbed energy.

Apparently, that wasn't the only thing it consumed. According to its growl and focus, it now seemed determined to eat one of us – and it began crawling using the spindly tentacles as legs toward what it assumed was the easier meal.

While Dooku's attention was on staying out of the Slivilth's jaws, I took the opportunity to run toward the source of all my joy and pain. I found Padmé huddled behind a row of dense brush about thirty meters south. She was unable to walk due to what appeared to be an ankle injury, so I carried her in my arms and ran from the scene as quickly as I could. Without the aid from the Force, I was unable to move as I wanted, and was soon out of breath. However, the sound of an angry shriek and flapping wings spurred me on and I moved once again. The further the distance I put between myself and the energy-seeker, the stronger in the Force I became, until I was finally to ask for its assistance. The rest of the distance between us and the ship was covered in a short while.

We took shelter in the cockpit of the Starfighter, which was cramped to say the least. Padmé was practically sitting in my lap, although I didn't mind. The bond seemed to be content as well.

"Does it fly?" she immediately asked, as eager as I was to leave.

Thankfully, the R4 unit I had on board was still functioning and responded that the engines were cooled, but the power coupling would need to be replaced. Since we wouldn't be needing hyperspeed, we could get by without it. All I needed was at least one engine to get off this planet, and I'd been informed we had that.

"Then what are we waiting for?" she asked impatiently. "Let's get the hell out of here!"

I tried to ease her tension by caressing the tender part of her arm through the torn sleeve of her purple gown. "That creature back there, you know the one came down and tried to eat me?"

"The one with the fangs and tentacles? That one? Yes, I noticed it," she said sarcastically.

"It's an energy-seeker. It stole the power from our lightsabers and made it impossible to access the Force."

"Another reason to leave! But what does that have to do with this ship and why we're not using it to fly away?"

I sensed her nervousness and wished I could comfort her, but the truth was, I wasn't fully confident in my evacuation plan. "The second I fire up the engine, the Slivilith is going to come and suck what little energy we have left in the engine. We have to eliminate it first."

"You're going to try to kill that thing? With what? Sticks and stones?"

My, how the mighty had fallen. Since when had she developed so little faith in me?

"With whatever measures I have to," I argued back. "I'll use my bare hands if that's required, but I will get you off this planet and back home. I promise you that. Besides, I have some help."

"Who? Count Dooku?" she scoffed. "I think he'd rather die himself than assist a Jedi or me for that matter."

There was truth in her statement, but that wasn't what I had in mind. "Allow me to introduce you to some new friends."

After opening the hatch, I called out for Tlup and immediately he and at six more Hoojib made their way over to the ship. "Tlup, allow me to introduce Padmé Amidala, Queen of Naboo."

/We are most pleased Obi-Wan was able to save you from the dangerous white-furred man,/ my friend announced as Padmé's eyes grew wide.

"They speak telepathically?" she whispered, to which I nodded. "But they're so little and cute! How are they going to help us?"

/We have devised some defenses: rock-throwers, spears, and knives. With your help, we can finally be free of the Slivilith./

"Rocks and spears. Are you kidding? Did you see the size of that thing?"

"Let's not be so pessimistic," I teased. "They've offered to help and I don't see what choice we have. Until that thing is dead, we're not going anywhere."

Padmé sighed heavily and then smiled down at the furry Hoojib looking up expectantly at her. "Let's try and come up with a plan then."