Chapter Twenty
Bright colors danced in front of N'aadija's eyes, swirling around chaotically and then lifting in time to the music. N'aadija stepped forward through the stone archway into a grand chamber filled with a multitude of different creatures, all dressed in their finest garments.
She stood at the doorway for a second pondering where she was, but then she concluded that the entire event had the stench of royalty.
That could only mean one thing: Narundis.
N'aadija walked slowly into the enormous room, a mischievous smile crossing her lips. She grabbed a hold of the skirt of her lavender ball gown and tried her best to mimic the movements of the dancers, failing miserably. Somehow, nobody in the room seemed to notice her lack of skill.
"This has got to be a dream!" N'aadija realized, her indigo eyes sparkling with pure enjoyment. She continued to spin around, stepping in time to the music, and gradually she caught on to the dance. Many handsome men stepped forward to touch her hand and join her in a dance, but N'aadija couldn't help feeling that she was being pulled closer to something in the room . . . or someone.
Through the cluster of bodies she caught a glimpse of him. His handsome face and dark features drew her ever closer to him as the music continued. His bright blue eyes met hers and flashed in immediate recognition, drawing a smile from her lips. He pushed the silver cape he was wearing over his shoulder and excused himself from his current conversation. N'aadija approached the young man with a small smile on her face, which he returned knowingly. The two came together, their palms touching, their eyes staring deep into each other's souls. The dark-haired man slowly drew her closer until their noses were almost touching. He smiled as he led her into a slower version of the dance that bustled around them. He slid an arm around her waist to support her and then dipped her gently. N'aadija shivered with emotion as he pulled her back up against his broad chest. She knew what was happening but she couldn't bring it upon herself to resist this attractive stranger. Their bodies were entwined in an age-old mating dance and she wanted nothing more than to kiss his full lips. His playful blue eyes observed her closely from underneath shaggy black bangs and he gave her a roguish smile. N'aadija slid her hands around his neck to play with his silky, dark hair and then surprised him by pulling him into a kiss.
'That'll shut him up,' N'aadija thought to herself, smiling inside as she tasted his lips. After a while the young man grew tired of this and pulled away, but not before he pulled her closer in approval. Now he just held her to him, staring at her with wonder and curiosity.
What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a woman before? N'aadija thought at him.
Never one that looked as beautiful as you, He answered.
Who are you? N'aadija asked him.
The young man just smiled and kissed her playfully on the forehead.
Where are we? She asked him.
Do you even have to ask? He replied.
N'aadija was about to answer him when the song ended. She glanced quickly at her surroundings, knowing that there was no other place in the universe that would exhibit such rampant gaudiness than the Narundi Royal Palace. She turned to tell the stranger that but he had disappeared somewhere into the crowd. N'aadija looked frantically around her, suddenly feeling so alone in the mass of people. The bright colors enveloped her once again, swirling and flashing before her eyes. Her soul searched among them for the bright blue of the young man's eyes.
"Mmmm," N'aadija mumbled to herself in her sleep as she woke. "Who are you? Where are you?"
She mumbled for another few seconds and then her eyes fluttered open. She smiled, feeling his arm around her waist as she lay in bed. N'aadija turned over eagerly, wanting desperately to kiss him. Shock filled her to the point where she almost let out a sound when she saw that is wasn't the strange man but M'aaranik who shared her bed. N'aadija propped herself up on her pillow and sighed in disappointment that is wasn't who she thought it was. She stared at M'aaranik as he slept, watching the slow, rhythmic rising and falling of his muscular chest. She looked at his handsome face, his lips slightly parted, his soft eyelids concealing emerald green eyes. He looked so innocent and childish lying there with his long eyelashes and placid expression.
'Looks can be quite deceiving,' Thought N'aadija with a smile. She reached out to stroke his sandy brown hair, wishing for him to wake. M'aaranik's eyes opened slowly, focusing on N'aadija's form above him. Her soft blue hair hung lazily around her face and she looked just as beautiful as ever. He yawned sleepily and stretched, smiling up at her.
"M'aaranik?"
"What is it, my love?" M'aaranik purred contentedly.
"What in the ten N'aanwarian hells are you doing in my bed? You're obviously not making a pass at me!" N'aadija snapped.
"Well, I just thought . . . I just thought it would be more practical since there are so few comfortable places to sleep on this hunk of junk! Plus, who said I wasn't going to make a pass at you?" M'aaranik said with a crafty smile on his face as he slid his hands against her bare skin. After a slight moment of shock N'aadija succumbed to his caresses, allowing him to explore her body as she leaned in to kiss him vehemently. As his hands made her shudder with pleasure she forgot all about the strange man in her dream.
The sticky, red, gel-like substance irritated Cayaa'lan as it bubbled around his broken leg. He'd grown tired of having his lower extremities dipped in a tub of bacta and was anxious to get out of it. He was never one to want to sit still when so much was happening.
Two hours earlier a sketch artist from the N'aanwarian police came in to get the description of the female Cayaa'lan had seen on the ship. The entire medical wing of the military base was chattering with new information and clues about the three dark jedi and their ship. Cayaa'lan lifted his head up as he felt an overbearing presence walking toward him.
"General Draa'k, what brings you here?" Cayaa'lan said with mock surprise. He should have known the General wouldn't let him live this one down.
"Dispense with the pleasantries K'aanar, because I know you're full of R'aatu dung!" The General stated, eyeing Cayaa'lan's wounded leg. "I'm surprised that your sorry jedi hide wasn't gutted out there!"
"I have my ways," Cayaa'lan said, giving General Draa'k a scorching glare. "Did you just come here to harass me, General, or is there some purpose to your visit?"
"Well, I do happen to have business to discuss with you, and I'd appreciate it if you DIDN'T roll your eyes at me this time!" The General barked.
"Fine," Cayaa'lan replied, his eyes straining against his will for them to remain stationary in their sockets.
"Now, I have something to show you," General Draa'k said, producing a magazine from his chest pocket. "Is this the girl that you saw on the ship?"
Cayaa'lan stared for a second at the glamour shot of a young N'aanwarian female with indigo hair and full lips. It was definitely the same woman.
"Yeah, that's her. Not too many people resemble her, and that's her all right," Cayaa'lan said with a nod.
"I bet you're interested in hearing what happened to this model," The General suggested.
"Not really, but since I have no way of shutting you up, I'll listen."
"That's a good boy! Her name's N'aadija. She was once an up-and-coming star in the fashion world, but then her name became associated with a bizarre murder case. By some fault in the justice system she became the prime suspect, even though there was no hard evidence against her. A combination of her attorney being a complete idiot and the prosecuting attorney being none other than Haa'lei Fraa'nai led to her exile from N'aanwaria. I presume that afterwards she became involved with the wrong crowd and that's where she is today." The General droned.
"Man, that's some pretty bad luck, having to go against Fraa'nai! I'd be scared to death!" Cayaa'lan exclaimed.
"I bet you would. As much as I hate to admit it, K'aanar, you did a good job of identifying one of the suspects. Now all we have to do is wait for her to rear her pretty little head and we're bound to find her two accomplices not far behind!"
"I know we have the strongest military in the galaxy, but don't you think this is a job for the jedi and not for us?" Cayaa'lan protested.
"Well, I was getting to that. I've appointed you, Jedi K'aanar, as head detective in this case. I'm sure you won't disappoint me like you did this time by letting them get away again!" General Draa'k said forcefully.
"Even though I'm only HALF a jedi I'm willing to accept your offer. Nobody pulls a fast one on Cayaa'lan K'aanar and gets away with it," Cayaa'lan said firmly.
"Good, because I didn't offer the job, I ordered you to take it! It's a good thing that your insubordination never gets you into trouble, or else you'd have been out of here in the amount of time it takes Bessla to rotate on its axis!" The General said, and then he turned on his heels and walked out of the room. Cayaa'lan gave him a lopsided grin and a salute to his back as he walked away.
"You really should learn to treat him with more respect," A quiet voice stated.
"I try Geriana, but he's got such an abrasive personality! I can't wait until my retirement, when they slap a gold blaster in my hand and give me severance pay! It'll all be worth it to get away from him!" Cayaa'lan growled.
"Well, you've got another thirty years, love. I think that in the meantime you should put forth an effort to tolerate the general," She said with a smile as she brushed his hair out of his eyes. "I was worried when I heard about your injury. So was Kai'laea. She misses her daddy."
"Tell her that daddy's coming home in a few hours. My leg is almost healed. I've been in these things enough times to know when the bacta has finished its job."
"I heard the General assign you to a new mission. How soon will you be leaving on that?" Geriana asked earnestly.
"In a few days. Meanwhile, I'm going to make the most of the time that I have with you and Kai'laea! God I missed you, Geriana!"
Cayaa'lan gushed, pulling his wife into his arms and kissing her.
"I wish that you didn't have to go . . ." Geriana whispered wistfully.
"So do I . . ." Cayaa'lan muttered. "So do I.
Bright colors danced in front of N'aadija's eyes, swirling around chaotically and then lifting in time to the music. N'aadija stepped forward through the stone archway into a grand chamber filled with a multitude of different creatures, all dressed in their finest garments.
She stood at the doorway for a second pondering where she was, but then she concluded that the entire event had the stench of royalty.
That could only mean one thing: Narundis.
N'aadija walked slowly into the enormous room, a mischievous smile crossing her lips. She grabbed a hold of the skirt of her lavender ball gown and tried her best to mimic the movements of the dancers, failing miserably. Somehow, nobody in the room seemed to notice her lack of skill.
"This has got to be a dream!" N'aadija realized, her indigo eyes sparkling with pure enjoyment. She continued to spin around, stepping in time to the music, and gradually she caught on to the dance. Many handsome men stepped forward to touch her hand and join her in a dance, but N'aadija couldn't help feeling that she was being pulled closer to something in the room . . . or someone.
Through the cluster of bodies she caught a glimpse of him. His handsome face and dark features drew her ever closer to him as the music continued. His bright blue eyes met hers and flashed in immediate recognition, drawing a smile from her lips. He pushed the silver cape he was wearing over his shoulder and excused himself from his current conversation. N'aadija approached the young man with a small smile on her face, which he returned knowingly. The two came together, their palms touching, their eyes staring deep into each other's souls. The dark-haired man slowly drew her closer until their noses were almost touching. He smiled as he led her into a slower version of the dance that bustled around them. He slid an arm around her waist to support her and then dipped her gently. N'aadija shivered with emotion as he pulled her back up against his broad chest. She knew what was happening but she couldn't bring it upon herself to resist this attractive stranger. Their bodies were entwined in an age-old mating dance and she wanted nothing more than to kiss his full lips. His playful blue eyes observed her closely from underneath shaggy black bangs and he gave her a roguish smile. N'aadija slid her hands around his neck to play with his silky, dark hair and then surprised him by pulling him into a kiss.
'That'll shut him up,' N'aadija thought to herself, smiling inside as she tasted his lips. After a while the young man grew tired of this and pulled away, but not before he pulled her closer in approval. Now he just held her to him, staring at her with wonder and curiosity.
What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a woman before? N'aadija thought at him.
Never one that looked as beautiful as you, He answered.
Who are you? N'aadija asked him.
The young man just smiled and kissed her playfully on the forehead.
Where are we? She asked him.
Do you even have to ask? He replied.
N'aadija was about to answer him when the song ended. She glanced quickly at her surroundings, knowing that there was no other place in the universe that would exhibit such rampant gaudiness than the Narundi Royal Palace. She turned to tell the stranger that but he had disappeared somewhere into the crowd. N'aadija looked frantically around her, suddenly feeling so alone in the mass of people. The bright colors enveloped her once again, swirling and flashing before her eyes. Her soul searched among them for the bright blue of the young man's eyes.
"Mmmm," N'aadija mumbled to herself in her sleep as she woke. "Who are you? Where are you?"
She mumbled for another few seconds and then her eyes fluttered open. She smiled, feeling his arm around her waist as she lay in bed. N'aadija turned over eagerly, wanting desperately to kiss him. Shock filled her to the point where she almost let out a sound when she saw that is wasn't the strange man but M'aaranik who shared her bed. N'aadija propped herself up on her pillow and sighed in disappointment that is wasn't who she thought it was. She stared at M'aaranik as he slept, watching the slow, rhythmic rising and falling of his muscular chest. She looked at his handsome face, his lips slightly parted, his soft eyelids concealing emerald green eyes. He looked so innocent and childish lying there with his long eyelashes and placid expression.
'Looks can be quite deceiving,' Thought N'aadija with a smile. She reached out to stroke his sandy brown hair, wishing for him to wake. M'aaranik's eyes opened slowly, focusing on N'aadija's form above him. Her soft blue hair hung lazily around her face and she looked just as beautiful as ever. He yawned sleepily and stretched, smiling up at her.
"M'aaranik?"
"What is it, my love?" M'aaranik purred contentedly.
"What in the ten N'aanwarian hells are you doing in my bed? You're obviously not making a pass at me!" N'aadija snapped.
"Well, I just thought . . . I just thought it would be more practical since there are so few comfortable places to sleep on this hunk of junk! Plus, who said I wasn't going to make a pass at you?" M'aaranik said with a crafty smile on his face as he slid his hands against her bare skin. After a slight moment of shock N'aadija succumbed to his caresses, allowing him to explore her body as she leaned in to kiss him vehemently. As his hands made her shudder with pleasure she forgot all about the strange man in her dream.
The sticky, red, gel-like substance irritated Cayaa'lan as it bubbled around his broken leg. He'd grown tired of having his lower extremities dipped in a tub of bacta and was anxious to get out of it. He was never one to want to sit still when so much was happening.
Two hours earlier a sketch artist from the N'aanwarian police came in to get the description of the female Cayaa'lan had seen on the ship. The entire medical wing of the military base was chattering with new information and clues about the three dark jedi and their ship. Cayaa'lan lifted his head up as he felt an overbearing presence walking toward him.
"General Draa'k, what brings you here?" Cayaa'lan said with mock surprise. He should have known the General wouldn't let him live this one down.
"Dispense with the pleasantries K'aanar, because I know you're full of R'aatu dung!" The General stated, eyeing Cayaa'lan's wounded leg. "I'm surprised that your sorry jedi hide wasn't gutted out there!"
"I have my ways," Cayaa'lan said, giving General Draa'k a scorching glare. "Did you just come here to harass me, General, or is there some purpose to your visit?"
"Well, I do happen to have business to discuss with you, and I'd appreciate it if you DIDN'T roll your eyes at me this time!" The General barked.
"Fine," Cayaa'lan replied, his eyes straining against his will for them to remain stationary in their sockets.
"Now, I have something to show you," General Draa'k said, producing a magazine from his chest pocket. "Is this the girl that you saw on the ship?"
Cayaa'lan stared for a second at the glamour shot of a young N'aanwarian female with indigo hair and full lips. It was definitely the same woman.
"Yeah, that's her. Not too many people resemble her, and that's her all right," Cayaa'lan said with a nod.
"I bet you're interested in hearing what happened to this model," The General suggested.
"Not really, but since I have no way of shutting you up, I'll listen."
"That's a good boy! Her name's N'aadija. She was once an up-and-coming star in the fashion world, but then her name became associated with a bizarre murder case. By some fault in the justice system she became the prime suspect, even though there was no hard evidence against her. A combination of her attorney being a complete idiot and the prosecuting attorney being none other than Haa'lei Fraa'nai led to her exile from N'aanwaria. I presume that afterwards she became involved with the wrong crowd and that's where she is today." The General droned.
"Man, that's some pretty bad luck, having to go against Fraa'nai! I'd be scared to death!" Cayaa'lan exclaimed.
"I bet you would. As much as I hate to admit it, K'aanar, you did a good job of identifying one of the suspects. Now all we have to do is wait for her to rear her pretty little head and we're bound to find her two accomplices not far behind!"
"I know we have the strongest military in the galaxy, but don't you think this is a job for the jedi and not for us?" Cayaa'lan protested.
"Well, I was getting to that. I've appointed you, Jedi K'aanar, as head detective in this case. I'm sure you won't disappoint me like you did this time by letting them get away again!" General Draa'k said forcefully.
"Even though I'm only HALF a jedi I'm willing to accept your offer. Nobody pulls a fast one on Cayaa'lan K'aanar and gets away with it," Cayaa'lan said firmly.
"Good, because I didn't offer the job, I ordered you to take it! It's a good thing that your insubordination never gets you into trouble, or else you'd have been out of here in the amount of time it takes Bessla to rotate on its axis!" The General said, and then he turned on his heels and walked out of the room. Cayaa'lan gave him a lopsided grin and a salute to his back as he walked away.
"You really should learn to treat him with more respect," A quiet voice stated.
"I try Geriana, but he's got such an abrasive personality! I can't wait until my retirement, when they slap a gold blaster in my hand and give me severance pay! It'll all be worth it to get away from him!" Cayaa'lan growled.
"Well, you've got another thirty years, love. I think that in the meantime you should put forth an effort to tolerate the general," She said with a smile as she brushed his hair out of his eyes. "I was worried when I heard about your injury. So was Kai'laea. She misses her daddy."
"Tell her that daddy's coming home in a few hours. My leg is almost healed. I've been in these things enough times to know when the bacta has finished its job."
"I heard the General assign you to a new mission. How soon will you be leaving on that?" Geriana asked earnestly.
"In a few days. Meanwhile, I'm going to make the most of the time that I have with you and Kai'laea! God I missed you, Geriana!"
Cayaa'lan gushed, pulling his wife into his arms and kissing her.
"I wish that you didn't have to go . . ." Geriana whispered wistfully.
"So do I . . ." Cayaa'lan muttered. "So do I.
