The Quest : Reiadmoss
They had buried Kad a few hours earlier. The mound of dirt still spread evenly over his grave. No-one, however, could get the image of his rotted face out of their minds.
In the eerie silence of the swamp, Alexis found herself wishing sorely for Kad's complaining or O3T's droning on about the organic life forms that live in tree bark. She leaned her head against Jar Jar's shoulder. The Gungan had fallen into a shaky sleep that fortunately - and amazingly - held no nightmares for him. She didn't want to wake him just yet, although they all felt to be in considerable danger.
Hali and Mik talked in low voices at the edge of the camp perimeter, each with a gun in hand.
The campfire was a heap of smoldering coals - the best they could coax out of the fog-dampened wood of their surroundings. It gave off more smoke than warmth or light. Lying against Jar Jar with her eyes closed, Alexis wondered why they even needed it.
As if in answer, Hali's boot scuffed dirt over the coals, snuffing the points of red and orange light out. "Wake up," he hissed, between clenched teeth.
Alexis' eyes snapped open and she reluctantly nudged Jar Jar awake. Hali was alert, his whole body stood rigid. Likewise, Mik held a defensive stance and held his weapon at the ready. Jar Jar was on his feet before she was. His smooth hands gently lifted her up by her wrists and he motioned for her to be quiet.
Alexis heard a scuffle behind her. She wheeled around to be met with a fist aimed straight toward her face. She ducked, reflexively, and pivoted on one knee, swinging her leg to knock her attacker's feet from under him. Her leg slashed through air and she felt an arm go around her neck; unmistakably her attacker was about to break it.
"NO!" she heard somebody yell - Jar Jar?! The arm holding her across the neck dropped and she was shoved to the ground. She turned around and looked around wildly. Hali was lying nearby, a streak of blood -black in the wan moonlight - trickling down his forehead. Mik was likewise in a crumpled heap, next to another form. Alexis realized that Mik must have taken out on of his opponents before he fell.
Jar Jar and another dark form were locked in combat. Jar Jar was losing quite badly, Alexis feared. Sure enough, Jar doubled over as a fist slammed into his stomach and fell to the ground as the dark figure slammed his arms down across Jar Jar's back. He lay less than three feet away from Alexis, moaning as blows continued to rain down on him.
Alexis, angered, reached for Hali's gun. A boot slammed into the back of her head. Colors exploded brightly in the darkness before her eyes and she collapsed over Hali's body.
((Enough, Kojo. Really, he's been unconscious for the past thirty seconds. Must you carry on?))
Kojo stopped kicking the young Gungan at his feet. ((He was pathetically easy. We ought to kill him and these humans and save ourselves the trouble of carrying them back to Keyla.))
((Who says we have to take the humans? Let's leave them here. They'll get lost and fall into a trap. It's the Gungan that Doss wants.))
((Fine. We'll take this sorry excuse for a warrior---))
((Kojo. Have you been walking too close to the Dmonai?))
((No. I have not.)) Kojo replied, sourly.
((It sounds like it.)) Raell chortled.
Raell, the older warrior stooped down next to Jar Jar and tied his wrists behind his back tight enough to cease any struggle but not tight enough to cut off circulation. ((Get the kaadu, Kojo.))
Kojo obeyed without defiance and brought over the snorting steed. Raell lifted Jar Jar and draped him over the saddle. Then, Raell mounted and took up the reins. The others that had fought alongside them were already safely traveling ahead in the darkness, save for Talo who had fallen, killed by one of the humans' guns.
((Hey, what about me?)) Kojo complained.
((You're young. You walk.)) Raell replied, with a wry grin. Kojo scowled darkly.
((We should make sure that the humans won't follow us.)) He said, bringing up the age-old argument.
((Leave the poor fools to their own undoing.)) Raell snapped wearily, and clapped his heels into the kaadu's flanks, urging his steed onward. Across the saddle, Jar Jar moaned softly. Kojo glanced at the younger Gungan in disgust but left him alone as if he was now loathe to touch this weakling . . . this child . . . this . . .
Alexis was the first to awaken from her concussion. She groaned and spat out the bad taste in her mouth. Hali's chest was rising up and down normally, as was Mik's. Mik opened his eyes next. Alexis did not know he was awake until he crawled over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She shrieked and flailed out, catching him across the face.
"Owww! jeez! Dammit . . ."
"Oh, sorry . . . I thought you were --"
"It's okay. I still can't believe . . . we didn't even hear them!"
"I know. They were like shadows. Awful . . hey, I think Hali's seriously hurt. Where's the lantern?"
"Let me get it."
Mike returned with the latern and medical kit.
While Alexis tended to Hali's wounds, Mik regathered the weapons and then called for Alexis to hurry over.
Lowering Hali's head onto a folded blanket, Alexis loped over dizzily - still not quite recovered from her concussion - and knelt next to the body of one of their attackers. It was a Gungan, physique exactly like Jar Jar's, but skin color different and wearing armor unlike any Alexis had seen. And it was still breathing.
It muttered something that sounded a lot like cuss words. Mik shoved the gun under its chin and against its throat.
"Don't kill him, Mik. Maybe Jar Jar can tell him that we --" Alexis suddenly turned her head. "Where's Jar Jar?"
Mik did not let his eyes leave the slowly awakening Gungan's face. "They took him . . . probably."
"Why him and not us?"
"Because Jar Jar knows what he's doing and we don't, that's why. I bet they're making wagers on which one we're gonna fall into - spike-pit or skull-smasher."
The Gungan's eyes snapped open and he started, realizing what the cold thing against his neck was. Forcing himself to regain his composure, the Gungan glowered into Mik's eyes, defiantly.
"Allright, scumbag. Where did your goons take our guide?"
((Are you asking me a question?)) the Gungan chortled in his native language. ((Sorry, but I can't understand you. And you can't understand me. Make all the demands you want.))
"What did he say?"
The Gungan laughed derisively, even though he might have suspected that he'd be killed if the two humans had no use for him.
"I believe he said," spoke a voice from behind Alexis and Mik, " 'Are you asking me a question? Sorry, but I can't understand you. And you can't understand--" Alexis spun around. "O3T!!! Thank goodness!" Later, she would deny ever doing this, but caught up in the moment, Alexis hugged the droid. If droids could blush, O3T probably would have turned scarlet. Instead, he continued his translation.
"I thought your circuits were busted. How did you repair yourself?" Alexis asked, after O3T had finished.
"That's not important. O3T, ask him where they took Jar Jar."
O3T turned to the Gungan who still sneered. The sneer changed to a look of shock as O3T asked him the question in his native language. Now it was Mik's turn to be smug.
((If you think I'm going to tell you--))
((Pardon me for interrupting,)) interrupted O3T. ((But you are rendered helpless. You cannot fight. You will most likely die if you are left here alone and we will help you if you direct us to the Keyla ruins.))
((I am one of the Jaern - the New Order of the Keyla. I do not give away secrets to spare my life.))
((According to Keyla order - this unit's database specifies that injured soldiers are killed off.))
((Yes,)) The Gungan said, grimacing with the pain. ((Weakness is detested among the Jaern. Only the best from each warrior is accepted and death is the only excuse for failure.))
((Then the logical thing to do would be to let us help you. Heal and tell us where Reiadmoss is.))
The injured Gungan gaped. ((You know the city's sacred name? How is that possible?))
((Myth and legends are abundant about it. It is well known and feared by the species Gungan.))
((Where did you hear the name?))
((From the Gungan Jar Jar who was our guide.))
((The prisoner . . . ))
O3T gave a soft hoot of surprise and relayed the information to Alexis and Mik.
"So he didn't leave us . . ." Mik wondered aloud. Alexis glared at him.
"How could you ever think he would?"
Mik shrugged. "He seemed afraid . . . "
"He's probably terrified. It doesn't matter. You don't have to be macho to be loyal to your friends," Alexis retorted. She couldn't help snapping. She was worried . . . Jar Jar was in this mess because of them.
"Ask him where--"
"He said they're taking him to 'Reiadmoss'," interrupted Mik.
"I mean, what they're going to do to him."
O3T turned to the Gungan and the reply he got was less than welcome.
Jar Jar moaned softly, still slumped over the kaadu's saddle. Kojo gave him a brief glance, then slowed his pace so that he was walking directly beside the Gungan. Raell looked back to check on their prisoner's status as well.
((He looks like he could use some water,)) Raell said, handing Kojo a canteen.
((I refuse to touch him.))
((Fine. I'll do it. Tell me when he wakes up.))
((Why are you even thinking of showing him kindness? It will only weaken him further.))
((Kojo, have you forgotten the Code of the Jaern?))
((But Doss said--))
((The Boss no longer believes in it, you're right. But that doesn't mean it should be forgotten among the rest of us. Recite the Code.))
((A warrior's blood is as valuable as his companion's. A warrior's blood is as vulnerable as his companion's. A warrior is what he gives to others - not what he demands from others.)) Kojo recited, somewhat sullenly.
Raell let him dwell on the words he had spoken for a short while.
((So?)) he then prompted.
Jar Jar opened his eyes and looked about, weakly, not knowing where he was.
Kojo sighed, somewhat irritably and lifted the young Gungan's chin to meet his gaze. Jar Jar gasped as he beheld another Gungan walking along beside him. As his amber eyes met Kojo's blue-silver ones, he swallowed dryly, searching for his voice. He'd gone nearly ten hours without water and was suffering acutely from this type of dehydration.
"Wheresa am my?" he asked, his ragged voice trembling.
Kojo sighed. In Reaidmoss, children half this Gungan's age didn't show fear to their opponents. He couldn't understand even what the Gungan was saying. It was speaking in Common of all things. To other Gungans. Didn't it know it's own native tongue?
((What is wrong with you? I don't understand why Doss didn't order us to slit your throat instead of drag you along with us.))
Jar Jar's mouth dropped open in surprise as he heard his native tongue. He recognized it instantly and knew how to speak it - the thing was, nobody in Otah Gunga used it anymore. Common was much less complicated than the intricate Gungan language.
((Yes, you recognize your own language? How fascinating. I was beginning to think you were hopeless,)) sneered Kojo. Raell shot him a warning glance that was tinged with sadness.
((I sorry. Not used to speaking Gunga.)) Jar Jar said, hesitantly. He knew how to speak it, but he hadn't for so very long.
((I can tell,)) retorted Kojo.
((Where are you taking me?))
((That's none of your concern.))
((Yes it is!)) Jar Jar argued. ((I didn't do anything wrong. Why are you treating me like this?))
Kojo dealt Jar Jar a blow to his face. "OOOW!" he cried in pain.
((Shut up.))
((Why'd you do that for??)) Jar Jar yelled, rubbing his cheek with his tied wrists.
((Shut up or I'll slit your throat, so help me.))
((Kojo!)) Raell stopped the kaadu. ((Lay one more threat or blow to him and I'll tie you across the kaadu and drag you back to Reiadmoss like an infant. Do the words of the Code mean that little to you?))
Kojo looked about to argue, but managed to keep silent. He swiftly moved ahead of the kaadu so he wouldn't have to be any closer to Jar Jar than necessary.
Raell did not turn around, but he reached back and put a hand on Jar Jar's back. ((Don't worry. The Boss doesn't want you dead. He thinks that you have much potential - if you could only be trained to let go of your fears.))
((Why would the Boss - whoever he is - be interested in me?))
((You have been struck down by the humans - perhaps even by your own kind. What are you doing out in the open? And so far from your home in Otah Gunga?))
((I was banished. For my clumsiness.))
((For more than that, is my guess. Can you fight?))
((No.))
((Do you have any skill at all?))
((No. I'm useless.))
((And clumsy?))
((Yes.))
((That will change.))
((How?)) Jar Jar asked. Instead of answering him, Raell took out his canteen of water and offered it to Jar Jar who took it graciously with his bound hands and attempted to drink from it upside down - unable to lift his body, tied down as he was. He managed only to lose a quarter of the water in the bottle before hastily handing it back to Raell. ((I can't do it tied like this.))
Raell smiled. ((Do you need help?))
((Yes . . . please?))
((Good. Very good. You are not afraid to ask for people's help. That is important, if you are to become on of the Jaern,)) Raell said while he dismounted.
Jar Jar would have asked what the Jaern was but he was so thirsty that all he could keep his attention on was the water canteen. He ran his tongue over his parched lips and let Raell lift his head and hold the canteen up to his lips, pouring the cool water down his throat.
((Thank you,)) Jar Jar said, feeling much better.
((You might as well give him a pat on the head while your at it,)) came the sour retort from up ahead.
((Shut up, Kojo,)) Raell answered, as he pulled himself up in the saddle. Kojo did not slow down to wait for Raell. He was about twenty yards ahead while Raell got the kaadu moving again.
((There's nothing special about him,)) Kojo muttered, under his breath, furiously smashing aside branches and vines obstructing his path. ((The Boss was mistaken. There's nothing in him that makes him worth all this trouble.)) For the first time ever, Kojo found himself wishing he had the guts to act on his thoughts.