Chapter Twelve

Qui-Gon frowned as he listened to Colonel Deaus' report regarding the Star Guard raid which had led to the injury of one Jedi and the disappearance of another.

He and Obi-Wan had just arrived on Faronta, one of the Republic's frontier worlds along the border of what was known as Wild Space. They were sitting in the colonel's office at the Star Guard garrison. They had been sent by the Jedi Council to investigate reports that illegal weapons of mass destruction were being smuggled into the Republic.

"And you have no idea where Aalea and the Star Guard officer are?" Qui-Gon asked him.

"I'm afraid we don't, Master Jinn," Colonel Deaus said, his brown-skinned face grim. "After those bastards hit us with plasma bombs, we barely got out alive. Knight Ke-Ondra, along with a large number of my forces, were injured in the explosions. As for Padawan Ve'Red and Lieutenant Davor, they were either captured or killed."

Qui-Gon flinched. Obi-Wan shifted uneasily in the seat next to him.

Colonel Deaus shook his dark curly head.

"What in the name of the seven hells of Gol is a small-time gangster like Luba the Hutt doing with plasma bombs?"

"That's what we're here to find out, Colonel," Qui-Gon said.

"We knew Luba was smuggling weapons into the Republic but we thought it was small time stuff." Colonel Deaus' black eyes hardened as he looked over at the Jedi. "Plasma bombs were banned by the Republic ages ago. If someone is stockpiling weapons like these...." His voice fell away.

"It constitutes a grave threat to the Republic. Yes, Colonel, we know."

Deaus stood. "Well, we appreciate any help you can give us, Master Jinn. My aide will escort you to your quarters."

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan also stood.

"Thank you, Colonel," Qui-Gon said, "but my apprentice and I would like to be taken immediately to the last known location of Aalea and the officer."

"Now?" Deaus asked.

"Yes, now," Qui-Gon said quietly. "Time is of the essence, Colonel."

Deaus shook his head. "If they were captured, I doubt they're still alive, Master Jinn. Luba is a sadistic bastard and he employs the worst of the lot. Last time we rescued one of ours from those cutthroats, what we got back didn't live long."

Qui-Gon's face twisted briefly in pain, but he quickly schooled his features into one of Jedi calm.

"I understand, Colonel. However, we would still like to be taken to that location. And as quickly as possible."

"I'll have one of my men fly you out there."

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Obi-Wan walked quickly in order to keep up with his master's long strides as they made their way through the corridors of the garrison to the landing field. He could sense Qui-Gon's anxiety. He knew how much his master cared for Aalea. It was he who had found her as a baby and brought her to the Jedi Temple. And, as she had grown up Qui-Gon, when he was able, had spent a lot of time with her, something Obi-Wan had never understood. Aalea wasn't the only initiate Qui-Gon had brought to the Temple, but she was the only one he had gone out of his way to keep track of as she progressed through her training.

Five years ago when Aalea turned thirteen she was chosen by the Jedi Knight Ke-Ondra to be his padawan. Neither Obi-Wan nor Qui-Gon had seen her at all during the years she had served as Ke-Ondra's apprentice. Six months ago she and her master had been assigned to the Star Guard garrison on Faronta.

"Master," Obi-Wan said.

Qui-Gon continued to hurry down the passageway. Obi-Wan reached out and grabbed his arm. Qui-Gon stopped and looked down at Obi-Wan, his blue eyes questioning.

"What is it, Obi-Wan?"

"Perhaps we should consult with Knight Ke-Ondra before we leave. He may be able to help us find Aalea."

Qui-Gon didn't respond right away. Obi-Wan knew he was eager to start their search for Aalea and he sympathized with his haste. The longer they delayed, the likelier it was she would not survive her captivity. But if there was a chance Aalea's master could help them, it would improve their chances of finding her.

Qui-Gon sighed. "You're right, Obi-Wan. I should have thought of that. Let's find the infirmary. The colonel said Ke-Ondra was there."

The two Jedi hurried back down the passageway into the interior of the garrison.

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Aalea awoke and found that she was still imprisoned in the smuggler's compound, her hands bound behind her, that mysterious metal collar which blocked her access to the Force still about her neck. Her dream she was at the Jedi Temple had been only that, a dream.

She quickly estimated how much time had passed as she'd slept. An hour and a half. If Vol was right they would be transporting her off planet soon.

Aalea struggled against her manacles. But it was no use. Without access to the Force, she was unable to summon the power to free herself. And she was still weak from Titon's torture of her. Aalea tried to swallow, but her throat was dry. She realized she hadn't had water in hours.

She took a deep breath and shouted as loudly as she could.

"Water! Please, I'm thirsty! I need water!"

She shouted for a few more minutes. Finally the cell door slid open.

"What are you screaming about?" Vol grumbled as he stepped into the cell.

"I'm thirsty."

"No need to raise a ruckus about it," he growled.

He turned and came back a moment later, a metal cup sloshing over with water in his hand. He pulled Aalea roughly off the cot and held the cup to her mouth.

Aalea drank quickly and, as she did, some of the water spilled down the front of her tunic. Vol's beady eyes slithered down as the cloth clung wetly to her chest.

Aalea stopped drinking and Vol drew the cup away. He stared at her and Aaela could see the pupils in his kelp-colored eyes growing larger. He licked his fleshy lips as he gazed at the outline of her breasts under the wet cloth.

"You know," he said hoarsely as he set the cup on the floor, his hand squeezing her arm, "I ain't never had a Jedi before."

Aalea tried to pull away from him, but the wall was against her back.

Vol leaned over her. Aalea could smell his stale sweat and the sour odor of alcohol on his breath.

"And you are the lovely, aren't you? Where did you get such pretty eyes?" he whispered huskily.

"Don't touch me," she said, a cold knot twisting in her stomach.

Vol pulled her tight against him. Aalea struggled to free her hands, but the manacles were too tight.

"Don't fight me, pretty little Jedi," he hissed. "You'll only make it worse. Now Titon, he likes to hurt the pretty ones. Not me. I like to make them feel nice."

He lowered his mouth onto hers. Aalea struggled against him. He pushed her hard onto the cot. She tried to scream, but his mouth was pressed against hers and she could feel his tongue snaking over her lips as he tried to force it into her mouth.

Panic rose in her, black and thick. Vol pressed her further into the cot, one of his hands painfully squeezing her breast. Aalea tried desperately to call upon the Force, but the collar blocked her access to it.

As Vol continued to grope at her body, Aalea managed to get her knee up. She shoved it hard into his groin.

He bellowed and jumped up.

"You bitch! Now I'm going to have to hurt you and then I'll take what I want."

He rushed at her, his fists raised to strike her.

Aalea hurriedly pushed herself up, lashed out with her foot and hit Vol hard in the chest.

He backpedaled across the floor and slammed against the wall. As he struggled to lunge at her again, Aalea leapt off the cot, jumped, and kicked him hard across the face.

Vol wheeled back and his head cracked against the wall. He slid, unconscious, to the floor.

Aalea took a deep breath, then knelt next to him. She turned around, leaned back and searched through his clothing. She found the slipkey for the manacles and quickly freed her hands. She then searched desperately for the key to the collar, but Vol didn't have it on him.

Aalea stood. Humiliation flooded through her as she stared down at the unconscious Vol. She could still taste his foul mouth on hers, still feel his coarse hands groping at her body. Her lips curled in disgust and, before she could stop herself, she kicked him hard in the side.

Then shame spread through her. That was not the Jedi way. A proper Jedi would not have done such a thing.

Aalea swallowed heavily and tears burned her eyes. She was glad Master Qui-Gon had not seen what she'd just done. He would be so disappointed in her. Yet, she couldn't help but wish he were there with her.

She shook her head. She could not afford to distract herself with feeble hopes. Qui-Gon was far away, probably on the other side of the galaxy. She had only herself to rely on if she hoped to escape.

Pressing open the cell door, Aalea glanced down both sides of the hallway. It was empty. She entered the hallway and sealed the cell door closed behind her. She wasn't sure which way would get her out of the complex, so she decided to go left and hoped her intuition was right.

To be continued....