NIGHTMARES CHAPTER THREE
So far the negotiations had been fairly uneventful. Unless one leader throwing a glass of muja juice in another's face was an event. Kyrana and Lena were sitting in on the talks today while Calie and Jafaren spent time with the Escubians and Tirana and Maleva were with the Melvisians. Both teams were trying to learn a little more about Escobar's two main societies in order to help with the peace talks.
Kyrana wished she could be out there with them. Anything was better than sitting here listening to a bunch of people who were nowhere near a peace agreement holler at each other. Kyrana had a steady headache growing more painful by the minute.
The talks were being held in an agreed neutral zone in a large hall that's acoustics, made every little sound amazingly loud. Kyrana had only just stopped jumping when the floor creaked under foot. It sounded so loud.
//Oh Padawan will this never end?// Lena joked, clearly in the mood for a break too.
Kyrana stifled a giggle. //One can never tell Master. Maybe they'll just end up shooting each other and then we'll be free.//
//Surely such wishes lead to the Darkside young Padawan.//
Kyrana nearly gasped aloud at the words. 'Darkside? Oh no, I didn't mean anything like that!' Sensing her Master's sudden concern, Kyrana forced a smile, one that didn't touch her usually jolly eyes. //Darn// she muttered, trying to sound amused but failing miserably. Kyrana turned away, signalling the end of the conversation.
//Padawan, what...?//
But whatever Lena had to say was lost as the sound of blaster fire exploded in the hall. Lena and Kyrana were out of their seats in an instant, lightsabers humming. More blaster fire rained in from the ceiling.
"Snipers," Lena said gravely to her Padawan. To the various leaders around them she called: "Get under the table now!"
//Shall I call the others on the comlink?// Kyrana asked Lena as she deflected another volley of blaster fire.
Lena nodded and signalled for Kyrana to get under the table as well. Doing so, Kyrana pulled out the comlink from her robe pocket and contacted her friends.
"We need help," she said.
If Tirana replied, Kyrana never heard it as she was thrown against a wall after a charge exploded near her. Cracking her head painfully, Kyrana fell unconscious.
***
Tirana and Maleva were headed for the negotiations when Tirana looked up, feeling something amiss in the Force. She tried to focus as she heard the low beeping from her comlink. Hearing the voice of Kyrana mixed with the sounds of blasters made her look around at the others trying to locate her master. She spoke into the com.
"Kyra? what's wrong ? Why am I hearing blaster sounds?"
Suddenly a loud crash was heard and dozens of different looking species entered, blasters armed and ready. As they started to point their guns at people's head they all got down on their knees, hands over their head. As the Melvisians started to scream of terror some of them were shoot dead, making more screaming.
"What's going on?" she shouted to Kyrana, all the while trying to prevent another Melvisian from bursting into panic. When the other Padawan didn't answer Tirana looked over to her Master who had a gun pointed to her head. A Hooded creature with a large scar over his left eye suddenly entered, his evil reddish eyes staring right at the two Jedi. Tirana looked at her Master with a worried look; noticing that the Sedonian woman was pale, yet strongly binded to the Force.
//Master, What's happening? Who are these creatures?//
//I don't know Padawan but I believe we are to find out. Keep calm and don't think of your fear, try and keep your concentration here and now, where it belongs.//
//Another one of Master Qui-Gon's sayings, huh?//
//Indeed it is Padawan. Indeed it is. Be mindful.//
Breathing silently Tirana ended their mind link as she was suddenly knocked unconscious, feeling the comlink slip from her hand ... It all went black as she heard the loud cry of her Master shouting her name, feeling someone lift her limp body.
***
The heavy smell of smoke made Kyrana come to her senses.
"Where am I? " she muttered. /Well, at least I'm not hurt except for a few marks and scratches/.
She rose and hit the edge of the table making her scream as she looked around, stills a bit dizzy. Small pools of blood filled the floor and the awful smell of burned flesh filled her nostrils. //Master?// She called, seeing that she was alone in the room. //Master, where are you?//
No answer. Kyrana gasped, as her surroundings got clearer. Images from her dreams flashed in front of her and she screamed out in terror. //Master!!!!!//
***
Master Jaffaren and Calie were walking with a large group of Escubians down a main street that had large skyscrapers on either side of the street, casting long shadows over everything. It gave the long boulevard a very claustrophobic feel. The Master and his apprentice were being shown some of the greatest accomplishments of Escubian architecture.
Calie stopped dead suddenly, feeling something bad happen to her friends. They shared a Friendship bond. It wasn't nearly as strong as a Master/Padawan bond but it was enough to let the others know when something had happened.
"Calie?" Jaffaren called to the girl. "Calie what is it?"
Calie held up a finger, indicating to her Master that he should be quiet. He frowned, mistaking the gesture for something far ruder.
//Padawan don't you swear at me! It's unbecoming of a Jedi.//
Calie shook her head. //Hush Master, I didn't mean to be rude but something has happened.//
//Happened? Where?//
//With the other teams.//
Jaffaren looked at his Padawan in surprise. Now that he thought about it, something was upset in the Force. But how had she known when he had felt nothing at first?
//Something is very wrong. I suggest we make our way to where the negotiations are being held.// Jaffaren suggested.
Calie nodded and followed her Master as he made his way through the crowds. He had just cleared the crowds when explosions began booming and people began screaming. Blaster fire rained down from the sky and Escubians began to fall to the ground, dead before they had a chance to escape.
Jaffaren and Calie didn't dare ignite their lightsabers in such a confined space. The chances of impaling someone were much too high.
//Master, we have to get these people out of here!//
//Easier said than done Calie. These people are too panicked now for us to help them.//
The crowd jostled behind them and Calie found herself being shoved around. As she tried to fight back, she found herself being taken further and further away from her Master.
A hand thumped sown on Calie's shoulder. She spun around, knowing it wasn't her Master but hoping it was nonetheless. Instead Hooded figure stood there. The crowd seemed to go around him, as if he wasn't even there. Calie could feel dark Force waves emanating from him.
"You're coming with me," a husky male voice said.
He reached out and grabbed Calie. Calie tried to turn away but her limbs refused to obey her mind's commands. /What's happening to me?/ The Hooded man placed a hand on her forehead.
//Master!!!//
And with one Force suggestion, Calie was out cold.
*****
Jaffaren´s head snapped up, as he was forced forward and forward among the Escubian crowd, hearing the loud cry from his apprentice.
// Calie? // he called, getting no response from the girl.
Worried, he looked around as a blaster suddenly hit him, making him gasp from pain. His eyes flashed before him as he saw a hooded man, carrying his beloved Padawan, holding a vibroknife against her throat. Trying to ease the pain from the shot in his leg, he heard the husky voice of the creature standing before him.
" Follow me, or watch while I kill your apprentice. "
TBC...
