Chapter: 36 A Ravaged Republic
"Power is subjective. You can be holding the key to your own cage while simultaneously awaiting rescue."
Crime and chaos! As the Clone Wars spread across the galaxy, not even the Republic capital is safe. While those in Coruscant's lower levels struggle to make ends meet, people from all parts of the city die or disappear. While many mourn the loss of Togruta celebrity Herv Bobak, a Galactic Senator has gone missing. As if the disorder hasn't intensified enough, there's talk of a Jedi General in peril. The city's eyes are upon the Jedi Order and how they will respond to the rising crises...
Multicolored paint splotches swirled on Anna's palette. Like her conundrum of varying and conflicted emotions, they too were difficult to choose from. She stared blankly at the canvas before her and sighed. "There has to be an easier way to do this," Anna griped.
"There is," Rapunzel assured while painting her own work. "But no amount of auto-pigmentation and droid synchronization can replace the feel of the brush. Connect with it as you would a lightsaber."
Anna scoffed and twiddled her brush. "I'm not gonna strike anyone with this though."
"You could technically strike your canvas," Rapunzel jested. "You don't have to overthink it. Grab a color and swipe it across! Just let go."
"Let go, huh?" Anna mumbled and steadied her brush. She dipped it in an emerald coating and went to work. Green, she thought. The color of Rapunzel's eyes...and Hans'. How his eyes had come to see something in me that I'm still coming to terms with. Green...The color of my master's blade...but also Hans'. It seems things always come back to him.
Rapunzel ceased her painting to observe Anna's endeavor. With each stroke of the Padawan's brush, she became further involved in the artwork. Anna's brows furrowed as she leaned closer to the canvas. The bristles on her brush were drenched in green while she painted away. Her breaths hastened and wrist tightened. Sadness clashed with bitter realization as she stepped away from her creation. Rapunzel examined the obscurely painted creature, but was able to identify its species.
"And you say you've never painted before?" Rapunzel asked. "Anna, this is powerful."
"You're kidding, right?" she blurted.
"Not when it comes to art," Rapunzel assured and approached her painting. "All art has meaning, especially when it comes from the heart." The splotchy depiction showed a bird sitting atop its perch. Light and dark greens meshed together to form its huddled, sickly appearance. "It doesn't look too happy," she deduced.
"She isn't," Anna defined.
Rapunzel frowned at the sulking avian and made another discovery. "I see she doesn't have any wings."
"Maybe they've been clipped," Anna muttered. "Or actually...try ripped off. Maybe she'll never fly again and she's just waiting to accept that."
Rapunzel's gaze shifted from the art and back to Anna. Her eyes narrowed and she offered a faint smile. "Or maybe she never needed wings to begin with." Anna looked up as Rapunzel continued. "I think this bird could always fly. She just needs some time to realize it is all."
Anna softly smiled back until Rapunzel sprung her trap. Suddenly, the knight dabbed a drop of purple paint on her nose and snickered away. Anna hastily wiped it and dipped her own fingers in paint. "Oh you are so going down!" she snapped.
"That's if you can catch me!" Rapunzel joked and raced away.
Anna chased after her, but quickly found herself winded during the pursuit. "Just...wait...till I...get you!"
Hearing that Anna was out of breath, Rapunzel slowed down to check on her. Perhaps that was enough physical exertion for today, she considered. While the knight was distracted with keeping an eye on Anna, she didn't see the Jedi standing before her. The woman threw an arm up to block Rapunzel from running into her. She fell over on impact and peered up at a set of familiar, crimson robes. Dark, golden tabards stretched from beneath her shiny black curls. With a stern and silver leer, the woman raised a thin brow at Rapunzel.
"Master?" the knight inquired while scrambling to her feet. "What are you doing here?"
"Seeking you out, isn't it obvious?" she replied.
"I'm with a patient right now," Rapunzel explained.
"Well she can come to," the master said. "For once, can you not put your needs first? Surely I taught you better than that." Anna finally caught up, leaned against the wall, and clasped her chest. "Oh dear. Is this the poor thing here?"
Rapunzel nodded while Anna tried to get paint on her. To the Padawan's dismay, any ammo she'd possessed had already dried on her fingertips. "I'll get you...next time," Anna panted.
"Anna," Rapunzel said. "This is my old mentor, Master Donma Gothel."
"Old?" Gothel chuckled and preened her curls. "I'm anything but. Why, if I wasn't a Jedi...I'd be entering and winning the upcoming Miss Coruscant pageant."
Rapunzel sighed. "What do you want, Donma? Surely you didn't come here just to talk about yourself."
Gothel's glare was venomous enough to make Anna wonder how she could've been Rapunzel's master. "There's an urgent briefing in the temple communications center," she explained. "All those available must attend."
"I'm not available," Rapunzel intoned. "As you can see, I'm in the process of rehabilitating a Padawan to-"
"Yes yes yes," Gothel snarked and waved a hand. "She's the one from that horrid tragedy. Everyone knows, Padawan."
"I'm not your Padawan anymore," Rapunzel replied. "I'm a knight of this Order."
Gothel simpered and placed a hand over her heart. "But you'll always be my Padawan, dear. And therefore should earnestly respect my advice. If you want to do this poor soul any justice, you'll both accompany me to this briefing."
"She is not ready," Rapunzel asserted.
"Shielding her from reality will only worsen the pain of returning to it," Gothel snapped.
Rapunzel was about to fire back when Anna interposed between them. "It's okay," she said. "I wanna see what's going on."
Gothel smirked. "A Padawan with a backbone," she lauded. "That's what this Order needs more of. Come on then." Gothel led the way as Rapunzel reluctantly agreed.
"You don't have to do this," she whispered to Anna. "You've just now started to heal and open up. We have no idea what this briefing entails and what kind of triggers could be present."
"Triggers?" Anna inquired.
"Traumatic stimuli," Rapunzel explained as they traversed the Halls of Healing. "Anna, for anyone to deny that you went through something extremely traumatizing is most ignorant. Triggers could be anything from the beeping of a monitor to the certain smell of an individual. As your guardian, I must advise against going to this briefing. We need to keep you in a controlled environment until we make more progress."
"I need to try," Anna insisted. "If it gets to be too much, I'll let you know. After all, you said this bird never needed wings to begin with."
Rapunzel facepalmed but was able to recompose herself. "But I didn't mean just throw yourself into the madness," she refuted. "The healing process takes time."
"Honestly, Rapunzel." Gothel groaned. "Give it a rest. Did you ever consider that you could be holding this poor girl back? If she wants to move on, let her."
Anna couldn't deny feeling more exposed since they'd left the Circle of Jedi Healers. Its dark, tranquil corridors had been replaced by the bright openness of temple passageways. Anna could feel the weight of wandering eyes lingering on her as Jedi passed her by. Gothel led them to a security door at the communications center. Upon entering, they discovered an oval-shaped chamber with an array of wall-mounted holoscreens. A large holotable was surrounded by rows of inclined seating.
Okay, Anna thought. This is either the temple's first real party or something serious has happened. This is the biggest congregation of Jedi masters, knights, and Padawans that I've ever seen. While those present still waited on others to arrive, Gothel seized an opportunity to mingle. She disappeared into a group of nearby Jedi until only her laughter could be heard.
Rapunzel stayed close to Anna and gave her a nudge. "How are you doing?" she asked.
"Fine," Anna assured defensively and observed which Jedi were present. Master Mace Windu stepped towards the holotable and activated several projectors. Holograms of the masters Ki-Adi-Mundi, Luminara Unduli, Kit Fisto, and Plo Koon all flickered into view. Each stood around the holotable as if they were present like any other Jedi. It was customary for masters serving on the frontlines to still attend briefings. Anna noticed a pair of Jedi younglings standing by the table and scoffed. "Okay," she told Rapunzel. "If those little tykes can handle this, so can I."
The knight remained close as a familiar voice caught Anna's attention. "Is that who I think it is?" he asked. The last time she'd heard Anakin Skywalker speak, she'd been on the verge of death on Malastare.
"Skywalker," Anna replied. "Nice to see you."
"A shame we seem to never meet on better terms," Anakin lamented.
"What's going on?"
"A member of our council has been captured," Master Adi Gallia explained and then looked to Anna with worried eyes. "Padawan Dellian, I'm honestly surprised to see you here."
"Oh?" Anna inquired.
"I heard from Master Allie that you'd been undergoing treatment. How is my cousin?" Gallia asked Rapunzel.
"She sends her regards," the knight replied.
"With all due respect, Master Gallia," Anna said. "If something's happened to a member of our Order, I want to know about it. Treatment or not."
Gallia gave Anna a brief nod and approached the holotable with Anakin. "We should find a seat," Rapunzel suggested.
"I wonder who's been captured," Anna contemplated until her eyes widened. "What if it's Master Kenobi?"
"Doubtful," Rapunzel replied and gestured to the upper rows of seating. "He's right there."
Anna gasped upon realizing that Obi-wan was conversing with Elsa and Yelena at the edge of a row. "I appreciate your patience on the matter," he told them. "Senator Amidala cited her...dangerous work style as a reason for not offering political stewardship. However, after I mentioned Elsa's concerns with our Republic, she recommended you seek a representative from the Ethics Committee."
"Any suggestions?" Yelena inquired.
Obi-wan observed the idle congregation behind him and activated a personal holoprojector. A woman's face beamed into view and rotated while he spoke. "Senator Dia Veritaz of the Ethics Committee has been reported missing in the Outer Rim."
"What's a Republic senator doing all the way out there?" Elsa asked.
"Your deduction is as good as mine," Obi-wan assured. "But if you're interested, I can have an investigation cleared by the council for the both of you."
Yelena looked to Elsa with raised brows. "What do you think, Padawan?" she queried.
Elsa pursed her lips and weighed her options. "I'm not sure about venturing that far. I promised Anna that I'd stay close while she recovers."
"As I've said before," Yelena intoned. "You mustn't let attachment cloud your reasoning. Anna is safe within temple walls. Senator Veritaz, on the other hand, has been left to an unknown fate. Our...your choice can be the difference between this woman's survival and demise."
It doesn't feel like I really have a choice, Elsa thought. But my master's right. This senator needs our help.
"We'll do it," Elsa replied.
"I think you've made a wise decision," Obi-wan assured and glanced downward. "Besides, it appears your sister is doing just fine."
"Wait, what?" Elsa gasped and followed his gaze. She could hardly believe her eyes as Anna made her way up the stairs. "Sis!" she blurted and practically rocketed out of her seat. The sudden shout caught Anna off guard but she still met Elsa with an embrace. "You're out of bed!"
"I am," Anna murmured.
"And...talking. I mean, you were always talking...but now you sound gooder. I mean good! Better?" Elsa recollected herself with a deep breath. "I'm sorry. It's just...really nice to see you up and about."
Anna tittered. "It's nice to see you too. This is Rapunzel, Jedi Healer."
"A healer?" Elsa realized and bowed respectfully. "I'm honored to meet you and have always admired the work of your circle. There's room in our row if you'd like join us!" Anna and Rapunzel nodded while Elsa's curiosity got the best of her. "I must ask, how does one become a Jedi Healer?"
"Well," Rapunzel began. "If a knight chooses the path of a Consular, they can study the art of healing. Are you considering it?"
"I haven't fully decided yet," Elsa admitted. "While I am nearing the end of my Jedi Trials, I do think I'm leaning towards becoming a Consular. So it's nice to know what options reside within that branch."
Anna tried to conceal her discomfort, but she couldn't help feeling left behind. Elsa was talking about the future and she was still struggling to move on. She tried to remind herself that everyone was on their own journey and that she would reach her goals in time. However, that was much easier said than done. While Elsa chatted Rapunzel's ear off about her field of study, Anna found herself sitting next to Yelena. "Padawan," the master greeted. "I'm sure Master Mattias will be glad to see you out and about."
"Where is he?" Anna asked.
"He's been keeping himself occupied with a...project," Yelena explained. "It's nothing against you, but I'm glad he's had something to distract him from what's going on. The stress of your kidnapping-" In that instant, Anna felt a twinge of angst. Her brows raised as she recalled Ventress' husky cackle. She felt her body being slammed against the cold tiles of a dungeon cell and- "-It's just nice to see us moving on as a community, right?" Yelena concluded.
Anna snapped herself back into the moment and realized she'd missed most of what Yelena had said. "Um," she mumbled and looked to Rapunzel. Her overseer was distracted as Elsa bombarded her with questions. "Right," Anna replied. "We're all moving on here." The lights dimmed while Anna noticed two more Padawans filing into the chamber. She tried to put a name to the young Togruta's face until Elsa beat her to it.
"Hey," the eldest Dellian realized. "It's Ahsoka. By the Force, everyone's here." Elsa squinted and observed the hooded Mirialan walking beside Ahsoka. "I don't think I've seen her before."
Rapunzel smirked. "That's Barriss Offee, Master Luminara's apprentice. She's a brilliant scholar who'll take a good text over a conflict any day." Elsa compared herself to Barriss while Rapunzel continued. "The Circle of Jedi Healers would love to get its hands on her once she reaches knighthood."
"With a wise and dutiful master like Luminara-" Yelena added. "-that Barriss has a bright future ahead of her, I can promise you that."
Everyone quieted as the holotable powered up. Master Yoda stood alongside Mace Windu as an ominous figure began to take shape. Contrary to the typical blue holograms, this transmission came in a bloody red hue. The skeletal, armored figure had Jedi leaning with intrigue or taken aback in repulsion. For a Jedi like Obi-wan, the figure was one he'd seen ravage battlefields since the start of the Clone Wars. For Elsa, it was a heinous being she'd finally gotten out of her mind until know. Rapunzel could sense Elsa's rising anxiety as the Padawan nervously gripped her seat.
"Wait," Anna whispered. "Is that..."
"General Grievous," Yelena identified. A whirlwind of emotions whisked Elsa back to the droid attack on Hoth. Still, she forced herself to watch on. As the rest of the hologram materialized, the Jedi realized that one of their own had indeed fallen into the general's clutches. "No," Yelena uttered as she noticed the wounded Zabrak. "It's Master Eeth Koth."
"Greetings, Jedi." Grievous bellowed. "It would seem once again one of your Order has lost his way. And even better...a leading member of your Jedi Council." Eeth Koth groaned as the cyborg held him up by the neck for all to see. "Listen to me, Jedi. I do not care about your politics." Elsa swallowed hard. "I do not care about your Republic." Yelena flinched as Grievous slammed Koth on the floor. "I only live to see you die!"
Anna's heart sank as a MagnaGuard stepped into view. The sight had her breaths hastening and eye twitching. "Anna?" Rapunzel worried and glanced at her. It was horrid enough that she had endured Separatist torture and capture. She couldn't fathom watching another Jedi experiencing it. All concepts of readiness and boldness shattered when the MagnaGuard activated its electrostaff. The sight and sound of pulsing electricity drained Anna of all of energy. Her eyes widened, yet closed. Her heart raced, yet felt like it had completely shut down. The room around Anna became a blur as she focused intently on the projection. The droid jabbed its electrostaff and the bolts flickered on screen. From the moment it struck Master Koth, Anna screamed. Jedi turned, for her scream was far from simply reactionary. Her arms flailed as she remembered Dooku's powerful lightning. She felt the sting of a MagnaGuard's staff and the thrust of Metora's stun baton. All of it left a ceaseless stinging...burning...buzzing...that just wouldnt-
"STOP!" Anna screeched and Rapunzel sprung from her seat.
"Anna?" she spoke softly and took her by the hands. "Anna, it's me. We're leaving. We're gonna take a walk."
Despite her master's protests, Elsa couldn't possibly ignore her sister's trauma and followed from behind. Master Koth's screams rang out across the chamber and only worsened Anna's condition. Noticing the correlation, Elsa cupped her hands over Anna's ears to block out the noise. Meanwhile, the pair of youngling wept and hid their faces as Ahsoka embraced them.
"Honestly, Rapunzel." Master Gothel scoffed from the lower gallery. "Get a handle on that patient of yours. If she can't take this, she shouldn't be here."
"But death will not come so easily for Master Koth," Grievous taunted. "I will make him suffer endlessly, because I know that is more painful for you all!" The general's ghastly, insidious laugh echoed even out of the chamber as the girls departed.
Once they were out of the communications center, Anna pried her hands free of Rapunzel's gentle grasp. She then swatted Elsa's hands away and ran down the hall. "Anna!" Elsa called. "Wait!"
"I knew this was a bad idea," Rapunzel scolded herself.
Anna didn't make it far before getting winded again and collapsed against a temple verandah. Her pants and whimpers were obscured by the heavy sounds of passing ships. "Sis!" Elsa hollered and rushed to her side. Being by the balcony only made Anna think about how she'd leapt from Dooku's palace. The trauma never seemed to end and kept her in a frantic state. Her hands pattered on the railing while her wild eyes searched for a way down.
"We need to go," she said.
"Go where?" Elsa asked.
"Master Koth's been captured," Anna asserted. "He needs...to be saved. We have to get him. We have to-"
"Anna-" Rapunzel said and stepped on to the verandah. "Let's just take a moment to-"
"Don't you people get it?" Anna growled in a deep, brooding town. "I have to save him!" she shouted and dropped to her knees. "It can't happen to more of us. Not...all of us." She hung her head in shame while Elsa and Rapunzel knelt beside her.
"What's it? What happened?" Elsa asked.
Anna shook her head while Rapunzel answered for her. "Things will be clearer in time. But right now, we need to give Anna more space and less questions."
"I-I need a ship," Anna asserted. "Any corvette will do. We can find Master Koth and...and-"
"Anna, listen to me." Rapunzel calmly said. "It's okay to not want other's to feel your pain. No one should have to go through what you have, but there are forces beyond your control. You're not ready for a mission."
"Like hell I'm not," Anna snarled.
"You can hardly run!" Rapunzel raised her voice for the first time since they'd met. "And while the Force is our greatest ally, your repertoire shows me you've disconnected from it. Without a lightsaber, you will be harmed all over again."
"Then get me a new one!" Anna snapped and glared at her sister. "Elsa, give me yours. Everyone knows you don't even use it."
In that instant, Elsa gasped and found herself growing angry. She clenched the sleeve concealing her scarred arm and thought of her duel with Barbossa. "Anna," she countered. "My saber and my actions are part of the reason you're even here."
"Elsa," Rapunzel interjected. "Stand down. This isn't about you."
Elsa unclenched her fists yet still defended her side. "I have nothing to prove to you, Anna." she said. "I did what I had to in order to save you."
"That's enough," Rapunzel insisted while Anna gained momentum.
"Save me?" Anna laughed mockingly. "Elsa, you're the reason all this happened in the first place. If you hadn't gotten in my way, I would've finished Ventress off and she never would've captured me." She stormed across the verandah and crossed her arms. "And then you and the others abandoned me."
"Oh no," Rapunzel murmured and braced for the worst as Elsa scowled. "Padawans-"
"Are you joking?" Elsa scorned and stomped towards her sister. "Don't you dare accuse me when I had to clean up your mess!" Elsa's voice raised with the speeding ships nearby. Her tone was like that of an angry, fed up parent's. "You didn't listen to me and pursued Ventress. Because you were so blinded by rage that you couldn't even follow solid...basic reasoning."
"Ventress killed our friends!" Anna shouted back. "Get that through your thick, pacifistic head!"
"Oh I've gotten it through," Elsa assured. As she continued to defend herself in such an aggressive manner, she was urged by a furious method. She felt a distinct fury directed towards her sister and unknowingly tapped into an unseen pull. It fed on her negative emotions as she spoke through her rage. "Because I looked into your disappearance from the moment you went missing! I talked with Knox about the events he witnessed. He told me how you all just stood there while Nelani...one of my best friends...died."
"Stop," Anna choked.
"Elsa," Rapunzel intoned.
Her big sister refused to yield and jabbed an accusatory finger. "You abandoned her, Anna. That's what abandonment looks like. Don't you ever say I abandoned you when I never stopped looking for you across the stars to-"
"Stop it!" Anna screamed. Tears streamed down her face as she tugged at her hair.
The sound of her little sister's grief was enough to break Elsa' free of her negative thoughts. Rapunzel could only allow the sisters to say so much to each other. "That's it!" the knight blurted over both Padawans. "Both of you may be grieving in your own ways, but it isn't fair to take it out on each other like this.
"But..." Elsa insisted while looking over her hands. "I was just trying to help."
"Maybe you think so," Rapunzel assured. "But while you had good intentions, you were unable to separate your own problems from Anna's. If you want to be a Consular, that's a patience you'll have to hone. If you really want to help your sister, you'd be better off giving her some space." Rapunzel stepped between both sisters to form a human barrier. "Now."
"Please do!" Anna snarked. The tone of her little sister's voice had Elsa wanting to snap again until she considered Rapunzel's words. She bit her tongue and respectfully left the two on the verandah. "I can't do this," Anna lamented.
"You don't have to do everything right now," Rapunzel said. "Let's just get back to the circle."
Anna brandished a fraudulent grin. "Sure thing." She trudged back through the Halls of Healing as if the weight of the galaxy was on her shoulders. "Can't wait to hear what other lies you've cooked up for me," she jeered.
Rapunzel raised a brow. "Anna, I am here to guide you and will not lie to you."
"Gee," Anna grumbled as they approached her bedroom. "I hate to break it to you, but you kinda did. The whole 'You don't need wings to fly' speech was very sentimental and all...but I do need them. And I have news for you, Rapunzel. I had wings. Some of the best wings in this Order and they were broken. They were plucked, battered, ripped and shredded off of me!" Though Anna raised her voice, Rapunzel remained steadfast and resolute. "Going to the briefing wasn't a mistake, it was a reminder. Call it triggers or whatever you want, but I've been changed forever. Just leave me alone." Anna shut the door and left Rapunzel leaning in the hall.
The knight sighed and withdrew a handheld device from her belt. "You know," she began while tapping away at the console. "It's all up to you, Anna. People can influence your decisions...they can help or harm you along the way too. But ultimately, you decide when you're finished. It's up to you to decide who you want to be and when you wish to take those steps. If Dooku truly wins or not depends on your reaction to these moments in your life. You may be accepting your pain, but you need to accept your fear as well. So long as you dwell in despair, those who have wronged you will hold a power over your life." Rapunzel huffed. "Anna, I want you to get your life back. It isn't fair that agents of the Dark Side are out inflicting chaos on the innocent and we can stop them."
"How?" Anna muttered from behind the door. "What can I possibly do from in here when I can't even watch a briefing without losing it?"
"You can live," Rapunzel urged. "By all and any means. One step at a time, as long as it's forward. You have a right to be happy. I cannot speak for what tomorrow will bring, nor can I change the pains of yesterday. As for right now..." Rapunzel clicked a button on her device and Anna heard a very familiar jingle.
"UTINNI!" a digital voice shouted.
If Anna didn't have a panel to unlock her door, she would've kicked it down. It zipped leftward as she faced Rapunzel with an enticed gaze. "Is that what I think it is?" the Padawan asked.
Rapunzel smiled coyly. "Ahhh so you've heard of Jawa Crossing?"
"I thought I was the only Jedi who played that!" Anna blurted.
"As if!" Rapunzel retorted. "You don't know the right Jedi then."
Anna leaned over and gasped at the knight's display. "Is your character in a dewback onesie?"
"What can I say? I like lizards." Rapunzel beckoned Anna out of the hall and over to a bench in their sanctuary. Once seated, she handed the device to Anna and watched the Padawan's giddiness return. One would've thought Rapunzel had just given Anna the keys to her own starship with how excited she got.
"Holy Kriff!" Anna gasped. "Your house is amazing! And you have a golden-robed Jawa?"
Rapunzel relished in Anna's tranquility, yet couldn't deny the concern lurking behind her smile. She worried about Anna's trauma-induced fear and felt she had enough evidence to make a report. "Knock yourself out," Rapunzel insisted and left Anna to play on the bench. "I'll be right back." While Anna gamed away, Rapunzel ducked into one of the meditation rooms and activated her holocom.
Master Stass Allie's face flickered into view and she said, "Rapunzel. I trust you have a progress report for our circle?"
"I do," she replied. "According to Padawan Dellian's account, she was a close prisoner of Count Dooku himself. Upon escaping his palace, she was then captured by slavers."
Allie rubbed her chin. "If her story is true, that would mean she was taken to Serenno...Dooku's homeworld."
"This is probably wishful thinking-" Rapunzel said. "-but would his location aid the war effort at all?"
"Unfortunately, we are already well aware of the count's presence on Serenno. Remember, Dooku serves as Head of State for the Confederacy of Independent Systems. His homeworld resides in the Separatist heartland."
Rapunzel shrugged. "Well, it was worth a shot."
"So she's opening up to you?" Allie queried. "That's splendid."
Although the knight nodded, she persisted to inform her superior about Anna's condition. "While she may appear fine for the most part, I have come to the conclusion that her traumas have led her to develop...electrophobia."
"Really?" Allie inquired. "It isn't uncommon if she's gone through typical methods of Separatist interrogation. "If your presumption is correct, such a phobia will not be so easily overcome. I suggest gradual steps through a controlled environment."
Rapunzel bit her lip. "About that," she said. "While it's proven effective with most patients, I'm unsure how Anna would fare. She may be ailing, but her heart's on fire. It's keeping her grounded and telling her to slow down that's part of the problem."
"Trust your judgement, Rapunzel Crin." Allie instructed. "You know what it is she needs."
For a Coruscanti native, every duracrete inch of the city told a story. No district was the same and they could tell you exactly what part of the planet you were calling home. To a pair of newly-minted Republic citizens, they knew as much about the Jrade District as the government wanted them to. Kristoff and Sven followed an elderly man into the elevator of a high-rise apartment. The elder belched and the malodorous stench made its way across the compartment. "Nice one," Kristoff jested and the landlord glared. When trolls burped, it was considered rude not to compliment, Kristoff griped to himself. As they neared their designated floor, Kristoff withdrew his ID card and admired its shine. Even if the photographer droid had told him not to smile, he couldn't resist sneaking a grin. After all, he finally felt like he and Sven were part of something bigger. The course their journey would take would completely depend on their choices. There'd be no sinister captain to steer them wrong nor tyrannical government to oppress them. It appeared that the Trolls had fulfilled their desire to get them to a better life. Kristoff only wished he could bring the whole village with him.
The voice of Frippa, his citizenship agent, echoed in his mind like an angelic presence. "I am going to set you up with a license, a divine quarters, and a fantastic job!" Your journey to the service of a greater good begins today. Gone are your aimless lives of hardship and despair. Never again shall you toil without meaning."
The elevator dinged and their landlord guided them down a carpeted hall. While one side boasted an array of doors, the opposite gave passersby an extravagant view of the city. Ceaseless skylane traffic zipped across the wide window panels while Kristoff and Sven gasped. "Have you ever seen so many ships, buddy?" he asked. Sven mooed and shook his head in disbelief.
"Hey," the landlord grumbled and flailed a keycard. "Do you want in to your room or not? I haven't got all evening."
Kristoff and Sven hustled over as the old man unlocked their room. The door slid partially open before its faulty circuits gave out. Enraged, the landlord gave it a good smack. When that didn't work, he just pushed the rest open manually. "It does that," he mumbled.
"That's fine," Kristoff assured. "If we get a tool kit, Sven and I can fix it."
"Well good for you," the landlord said and turned a light on. The overhead lamp fizzed for a moment before dimly lighting a snug, single room. Two rickety beds were tightly pressed against the adjacent walls while a compact restroom was barely visible. A slim, single window provided natural light and the only glimpse of the outside world. "There you have it, boys." The landlord huffed and rolled his eyes. "Welcome to the Republic."
As Kristoff looked over the room, all he could do was smile. The grin was utterly bewildering to his landlord as he and Sven admired their room. Kristoff ran his hands across an actual bedsheet and his brows furrowed. He hadn't slept in a real bed since he was a child in Aren's capital. Touching those blankets took him back to a brief, quieter moment. One in which his real parents were tucking him in and reassuring him that all would be well. Since then he'd only known mossy beds and metallic floors. But to feel an actual mattress brought him bliss all over again. Kristoff didn't even realize that he was choking up and hurriedly composed himself. "It's amazing," he said and turned to the landlord. "Thank you." Sven eagerly nodded in agreement beside him.
The landlord was beyond baffled by their reactions to such a ramshackle apartment. "Enjoy," was all he could respond with and handed over their keycards. He gave them one last look of disbelief before hobbling down the hall. "Poor fools," he muttered to himself.
"The future is ours, Sven." Kristoff rejoiced and embraced the Cevrian. They had to squeeze their faces together to both look out the window. The setting sun painted the lower plaza in a bold and fiery hue. "We've got our IDs, our divine living quarters, and our-" Kristoff's eyes widened as he hurriedly checked the time. "Fantastic job? Oh no..." He grabbed Sven by the antlers and pulled him close. "They scheduled us for a shift the same night we moved in! Either they really need workers or their just trying to be efficient." Sven groaned in Cevrian. "Hey! We are not cheap labor because we're new citizens looking for work. Try to think positive here! Now come on."
He and Sven rushed out of their apartment and down to the plaza below. The shadow of their high-rise loomed over them as night descended on the city. Suddenly, all of Coruscant's beauty and glamor started to fade. Commuters became swift silhouettes looming in the shadows. The headlights of endless airspeeders swayed across the streets. Kristoff had nothing but a cyan-screened datapad to illuminate his face as he followed its instructions. "Okay," he said. "Nev's Trading Company should be just up this way." The markers led him to an elongated edifice with gaping doors. While hulking machinery echoed from within, various freighters flew in and out with shipments.
Kristoff and Sven funneled into a narrow entryway and joined countless other workers. While Sven was quicker to catch on, Kristoff started to notice that not everyone was as enthusiastic as they were. In fact, all of the other workers appeared as depressed as those living on Aren.
"Bjorg and...Bjorg!" a hoarse voice screeched from the front of the crowd.
"Here!" Kristoff shouted and raised his hand.
He and Kristoff approached to find a lanky Xexto draped in durable denims. Four skinny arms sprouted from his small torso. His long neck dipped towards one of the lists in his hands. His black, almond-shaped eyes examined Kristoff and Sven. "What's the relation here?" the Xexto asked.
"Basically brothers," Kristoff explained. "It was easiest for our agent to-"
"Agent? Oh," the Xexto realized. "You're newbies. Just in time. I need a pilot."
Kristoff handed his piloting license over but remained sincere. "While I do have some experience, I'd appreciate getting practice with your ship types first."
"That's called working," the Xexto snipped. "Can you fly or not, kid?"
"Well, yes but-"
The Xexto thrusted a skeletal digit at his own expression. "Look at this face. Does this face look like it gives a damn about experience? No. This face gives a damn about meeting his quota so he doesn't get fired. Cause if this face gets fired, your butt gets fired. And it's back to whatever crapworld you came from. Understand?" Kristoff bit his tongue and clenched his fists. "I'll take that as a yes. I got a shipment of dry ice that needs delivering to the...lower levels of Coruscant. The holomap'll give you directions. You can read right?"
"I'll manage," Kristoff asserted.
"Good," the Xexto replied. "The stuff's in G-30. Now make it snappy."
Kristoff was about to head off with Sven when he reconsidered Frippa's words. "Quick question," he said and the Xexto groaned. "This district we're in. Is this considered the upper city?"
The Xexto could hardly contain his laughter. "Upper cit-" he busted into a series of cackles until his frail throat went raw. "Kid, this is Jrade we're talking about. The 'happy' town." He gestured to the employees who were anything but. "If we were in the upper city, I wouldn't be sending you into the underworld. Jrade's basically part of that stinkhole with some Republic, high-rise confetti sprinkled on top. Any other stupid questions?"
Sven ushered Kristoff away before any altercation could ignite. It took every ounce of Kristoff's wishful thinking to keep him from believing Frippa had deceived him. He couldn't let himself believe that the government had just built up his hopes in order to make him a cog in its well-oiled machine. Instead, he chose to think of Elsa and what the Jedi stood for. If she was out there making a difference in people's lives, he and Sven could too. He focused on the task at hand and surveyed their company's vehicle. With broad wings and matching turbines, the G-30 delivery craft appeared cumbersome at first glance. Its mahogany coating reminded Kristoff of the snowless trees back in Aren.
"Prime the engines," he told Sven. It felt refreshing not to hear orders from Barbossa anymore. "And please stop giving me that look. We have to make the most of this. Who knows? Maybe we'll become Kristoff and Sven: Corsucant's Top Ice Masters and Deliverers." The Cevrian rolled his eyes and engaged the thrusters. Kristoff sat at the controls and programmed the holomap guidance systems. "Deliveries," he read aloud and observed the incoming information.
UNDERWORLD LEVEL: 1313
CLIENT: MARTEZ
"Here goes nothing," Kristoff said. He bumped his fist against Sven's hoofed hand and took off into the night.
Elsa typically dealt with her emotions the only way she knew how to. Tinkering had always been an escape for her. With each tightening of a bolt and plugging of a wire, Elsa tried to forget how she'd treated Anna. She deeply regretted giving in to such emotion and making the matter so personal. While she understood having to give Anna some space, she longed to apologize. A knock at her door freed her from her frenzied fixing.
"Padawan?" Yelena called.
"Coming," Elsa replied. She set down her droid project and made for the door. "Master," she bowed deeply upon seeing her.
"Elsa?" Yelena worried. "Why so formal?"
"I was wrong to dismiss your warnings," Elsa admitted. "My emotions were...are getting the best of me. I thought I could be there for Anna during her recovery, but I still took it to heart. I let her down."
Yelena sighed and placed a gentle hand on Elsa's shoulder. "You and Anna share a very unique bond. Attachment is dangerous, but can be all the more confusing when your sibling is also a member of the Order. I know you're trying your hardest and what's important is that you recognize the issue."
Elsa nodded. "So what do I do? I promised that I'd see this through with her."
"That was your first mistake, Padawan. Anna's struggle does not have to be yours. She is in the process of recovering while you and I have a grievousmatter to attend to." Elsa shuddered and Yelena flinched. "Apologies. That was a poor choice of wording on my part. But on the bright side, Skywalker, Kenobi and Gallia have embarked on a rescue mission for Master Koth. I have faith they'll get him home safely."
"I can only hope we can do the same for Senator Veritaz," Elsa said. The Padawan quickly noticed Yelena's glower and sensed her unease. "What is it?"
"I've looked further into the report," the master said. "The case only gets more unsettling. According to Republic intel, Senator Veritaz was first reported missing when she didn't show for a scheduled meeting. The rest of the Ethics Committee contacted the authorities, who have been swamped with an allegedly murdered celebrity. The most they could do was recover a message from Veritaz herself. She said a beloved member of her staff...a handmaiden I believe...had been kidnapped and she was enroute to rescue them personally."
Elsa was flabbergasted. "First of all, has Coruscant always been this insane? All these murders and missing people."
"I'm afraid so," Yelena lamented.
"Secondly," Elsa continued. "Why didn't the senator contact the police or us for that matter when her handmaiden was kidnapped?" After asking the question, Elsa wondered if Padmé would've done the exact same thing if Teckla had been taken.
"An excellent question, my apprentice." Yelena concurred. "One we can only have the answer to if we find Dia Veritaz. After multiple attempts to contact her were futile, members of the committee received a distress signal...from the planet Hoth."
"Hoth?" Elsa reiterated. Suppressed memories clashed within her while Grievous' demonic laugh returned. "Of course," she groaned.
"Now I understand your first time on that planet was...chaotic," Yelena said.
"No," Elsa retorted. "We're still going through with this. The senator and her handmaiden's safety is of the utmost importance. So no past experience can keep me from-"
"Padawan," Yelena asserted. "I wasn't going to try and talk you out of it."
"Y-you...weren't?" Elsa stuttered.
Yelena smiled. "These are dangerous times, Elsa. I was merely going to say that your previous experience warrants extra precaution this time. We're going after Senator Veritaz...and the 213th Battalion is coming with us."
Author's note: Thank you so much for reading this week's chapter of the "The Frozen Force." Your kindness, appreciation, feedback and support is always appreciated. It is an honor and pleasure to bring you this ever-growing adventure each week and I'm excited to see where we're heading next. But now...it's time for next week's preview.
Feel that chill in the air as a roar echoes in the distance. You can't see what's coming but you know you're being watched. But by how many? Where even are you? Every direction looks the same across the icy world and darkness is descending. Creatures are on the prowl and this rescue mission...just got a whole lot scarier. Log in next week for a Frozen Force Friday like no other. Brace yourselves for the first Frozen Force Halloween Special: NIGHT OF THE WAMPA!
See you then! Muahahaha! *lightning flashes*
Long Live Imagination, May the Force be with You, and Trick or Treat!
~Michael
