Chapter Seventeen
On either side of the path created by Dooku's crashed sloop, the Hoojib and I prepared our traps. Come to find out, the small native creatures had a long history of fighting back against the Slivilith. At one time, the massive beasts numbered nearly a hundred, but over the years, their population had dwindled. As far as Tlup knew, the one that interrupted the battle between Dooku and myself was the last of its kind. After its death, the Hoojib would be free to live their lives peacefully and their kits could come out of hiding.
I had insisted Padmé stay on board during the attack. With her ankle as bruised and swollen as it was, she could offer very little help. Even though she wasn't happy about my decision, I had finally convinced her to stay put. Tlup and I would manage without her.
The final preparations had been made and we took our positions. I had tried once more to activate my lightsaber, but apparently, the energy-seeker had sucked all the life out of the crystal that powered it. I would have to replace it. Therefore, I would have to lure the winged beast another way. I dropped to my knees and entered a deep meditation, calling upon the Force to swirl the leaves about the forest floor. Before long, we had formed several cyclonic structures, which the Hoojib found most entertaining. I continued to focus on the whirlwinds' height and width, allowing them to climb higher and wider until I had achieved the result I wanted.
A screech was heard nearby and I allowed the leaves to flutter back to the ground before stepping out onto the path. The Slivilith landed a few meters in front of me, its two sets of red eyes focused upon my location. It screeched once more and began to crawl toward me, its tentacles once more aglow by the remnants of the power I'd been using.
When the thing got close enough that his stench filled my nostrils, I telepathically told Tlup to release the catapults.
In quick succession, large branches with carved, sharpened tips hurdled toward the Slivilith. It reared back and avoided most of them. However, one had hit its mark and pierced the side of the monster. The shriek of pain it made was deafening and I had to protect my ears.
"Round two!" I shouted to Tlup, who commanded the other Hoojib to release the battering rams from the trees. The heavy limbs swung down toward the Slivilith, knocking it off its feet. Once it was down, the Hoojib began throwing their spears. However, their efforts weren't enough to keep the thing down and it hopped up, announcing its anger for the entire planet to hear.
There was just one trap left and it was our last chance. One by one, spears flew out of the surrounding trees, each end connected to a thick rope. And one by one, the ropes flew over the Slivilith, hindering his movements. I assisted the Hoojib in tying off the other ends to the surrounding trees and pulled tight, but we had underestimated the strength of the creature and when it started to flap its mighty wings, the rope was pulled from my hands, burning my palms in the process. Quickly it had taken flight and was now using its tentacles to swat away its enemies.
I had to do something and I rushed forward, willing to sacrifice myself to save these little Hoojib who had bravely stood up against an enemy so intimidating and deadly.
"Hey!" I yelled at the thing, jumping up and down in front of it. "I'm the one who called you here! I'm the one you came for!"
The thing could've cared less. In its mind, apparently, only the Hoojib was responsible for its pain. I was starting to worry that our plan wasn't going to work. Thankfully, the Force was on our side.
Just ahead, I detected the sound of an engine sputtering. It had to be Dooku's ship. Apparently, the droid pilot had been trying to repair it and was now attempting to ignite the engines. It was enough to draw the Slivilith's attention, and the monster screeched loudly as it lifted from the forest floor, to retreat back toward the sound. I rushed forward to follow and watched as it furiously attacked the sloop by wrapping its tentacles around the hull and slamming it repeatedly to the ground. I wasn't sure if Dooku was inside or not. If he was, I sincerely doubted he'd survive this attack.
Without realizing the consequences of its actions, the Slivith began biting at the ship while keeping it coiled. A couple of times, its fangs came close to cutting the fuel valves, and then suddenly a line broke free and began spraying fuel. The caustic liquid splattered upon the beast which angered it even more and it began attacking with newfound fervor.
At that point, I took cover and waited for the inevitable. It wasn't long until a massive explosion rocked the ground and set fire to the surrounding trees. The Slivilith was roasted, the smell of its burning feathers and flesh even more offensive than its natural scent.
It was the Hoojib who ran toward the scene and began throwing dirt onto the flames. Once the fire was out, they began to celebrate the death of their enemy by jumping up and down and whistling. The noise eventually came together to create a melodic sound that was both joyful and eerie at the same time.
"You did it," I heard a familiar voice speak behind me. I turned to see Padmé's beautiful smiling face.
"The Hoojib did. I helped them, that's all," I humbly said, noting that my confession hadn't lessened her smile.
"Do you think..?"
I realized what she was about to say, and I didn't have an answer. I wasn't certain if Dooku had been aboard his ship or not. I didn't know if he were alive and dead. There wasn't any way to be sure, and we had more important matters to take care of.
"Hop onto my back," I suggested to Padmé. Funny that I didn't have to ask her twice. With her arms about my neck and her legs wrapped around my middle, the rest of her body pressed tightly against me, I was aware of each and every centimeter of shared contact. It was unnerving as well as exciting and I had to clear my head to remember what I was doing.
"Tlup?"
/Yes, Obi-Wan Slayer of the Slivilith. What do you require?/
I'd had a few nicknames in the past, but this was certainly a new one. "Would you mind taking me to one of your caves?"
As soon as we entered what would again become the Hoojib's home, I settled Padmé onto a boulder and looked around. It was exactly as I'd suspected. Lining the walls and ceiling of the cave were colorful embedded crystals. They reflected the light coming from the entrance and cast a prism of color onto the floor.
"What are those?" Padmé asked me as I approached one.
"With your permission, Tlup, I'd like to have one of these if I may. This blue one, perhaps," I said, pointing to the deep blue gem.
/Of course. For the Slayer of the Slivilith, it is the least we can offer./
"I'm hoping it's a kyber crystal," I explained to Padmé before I removed it from its rock encasement with the help of the Force. "If I'm right, it will power my lightsaber."
With the crystal in my tool belt, and Padmé holding onto my neck, we made our way through the scorched landscape. I paused for a moment near the remnants of Dooku's ship and listened with both my mind and my senses. I detected no signs of life and therefore we had to assume that Dooku had perished.
"Why does that make me sad?" Padmé asked quietly in my ear. "He was an evil man who tried to kill me not once but three times! Why should I care that he's dead?"
"Because," I shared, "you're a good person, and good people don't wish bad things on anybody. No matter what. Don't stop being good," I added. "It's one of the reasons I love you."
She had gone silent and I became nervous. Now was as good as a time as any to share my feelings with her, although I sensed indecision filling her thoughts. Was she trying to decide how I'd meant that? Perhaps I loved her as a guardian would, or perhaps a brother or friend. Or was she trying to decide if she shared my feelings?
Perhaps in time, she'd make up her mind I decided as I spied the ship ahead. Once inside, I adjusted the seat as far back as a could and she ended up sitting between my legs, preparing for takeoff herself. The one working engine fired immediately and it was powered at capacity. There was nothing to keep us here and I grasped the controls and turned my head. Out the side hatch, I could see a congregation of Hoojib; of all sizes and several colors.
/Goodbye, Obi-Wan my friend. Until we meet again./
/Farewell, Tlup,/ I replied telepathically. /I wish you and your loved ones long and peaceful lives./
I smiled and then lifted the ship up and over the trees, through the atmosphere, and away from Arbra. With the damage the N-1 had sustained, there was no hyperdrive, but we were only about six hours away from Naboo.
Was she going to be silent the entire time? Should I say anything else? Or perhaps I should just shut up, seeing I may have said too much already?
Her thoughts still broadcasted confusion and indecision, although her mind was beginning to clear. She was coming to a conclusion. I just prayed it was one I could live with.
"What did you get me for my naming day?" she asked – a question that had completely caught me off guard.
"A ring," I answered her honestly before reading her disappointment. She had many rings. I knew that, but this one was special. "Inside I had an inscription made that says "For my Söbati, my Heart and my Soul."
"Put the ship on autopilot," she demanded almost angrily.
Had I assumed too much? I did as she suggested and she turned around as comfortably as she could to face me.
"You shouldn't have done that. I don't need anything of value from you. I told you not to spend your money."
Yes, she did, but I had to. "I realize that," I tried to explain, "but I had to give you something! Wasn't it expected by everyone? I mean, what else could I have done?"
"How about something that didn't cost so damn much?"
"Like that bracelet?" I sardonically replied, recalling how plain and simple it was. She was worth far more than that to me.
"No, not the bracelet. What I'm thinking of wouldn't have cost you a thing."
She was so near to me, I was finding her presence distracting, and the bond was throbbing. Not in a painful way. More like it had too much caff.
"Something free?" Was she serious? "And what could that possibly be?"
"A kiss."
She'd said the single word so softly, I'd barely heard it, but I had and my heart, as well as the bond, responded immediately.
Her dark eyes were focused on my mouth and we both leaned toward one another slowly. It would've been an intensely romantic moment if it weren't for the cramped surroundings. Right before contact, I banged my head against the frame of the hatch and hissed in pain. Padmé giggled but grabbed my face between her hands.
"I'm not going to let this moment pass by," she said before claiming a kiss.
Her lips were soft and supple and my fingers splayed into her hair. I loved her long curls, even if they were littered right now with sticks and leaves. Their presence only made me more aware of what we'd been through and how grateful I was she was safe and in my arms.
An alarm started pealing, and at first, I ignored it, but she pulled away, pushed a couple of buttons, and silenced the thing.
"Where were we?" she murmured before her lips returned, only to deepen the kiss with her open mouth. I actively participate, a question popping into my mind: Where had she learned to kiss like this? But the longer it lasted, the more I didn't seem to care to know.
Her dress was torn in several places, and I took full advantage of that by slipping my hand through one on her waist to touch the smooth skin of her back. In response, she moaned into my mouth which urged me to pull her even closer.
The response of my body, hers, and the bond were all causing things to quickly spin out of control. This wasn't the time or place. We needed to slow down.
"Wait," I pleaded, pulling away slightly, only to have Padmé lean forward in pursuit. "Seriously," I stated more firmly. "This isn't what I'd imagined our first time would be like."
She leaned against my forehead with hers and smiled. "You imagined us like this?"
"Yes," I admitted shyly while caressing the smooth skin of her back. "But not in an N-1. We need to wait. And besides, I want you at your best. You're injured."
"Trust me," she purred while moving her mouth to my ear and sucking a lobe. "I don't feel a thing."
Stars above! She was driving me crazy! Perhaps we could..No! I argued with myself. This wasn't right or proper. It was the bond seeking completion is what it was.
"Tell me what you feel right now," I blurted out, trying to distract her.
"What I feel?" she mumbled into my ear before her moist, warm tongue slipped into it. "I feel wild and free. I feel like I could jump out of this cockpit and fly to Naboo myself! I'm dizzy and flustered and I feel absolutely fine! I love you. I'm sorry I didn't say it before, but I feel it now. So very deeply. I love you, Obi-Wan."
Something inside me expanded and Padmé stilled suddenly. She then pulled back and studied my face more intently.
"Did you feel that?"
I hadn't been sure if she had experienced anything when it came to the soul bond we would share. Even after it was completed, I didn't know what to tell her to expect.
"We need to talk," I told her. Over the years, I had explained a little about our connection although I hadn't gone into great detail. Perhaps it was time to do so. Before we reached Naboo, I would tell her everything I knew.