Chapter 24: meeting at the crossroads
It was dusk. The night was falling over the kingdom and leaving a definite chill in the air. A cool breeze blew over her tanned skin, but she didn't feel the chilly touch. The pain inside her was numbing her senses. She let her friends down- every single one of them. Det's parents had to die because they had protected her from the monster Draju, Det would be awaiting the same fate, Obi-Wan had died for her and her supporters. She couldn't think of all the innocent people who would have to endure torture and a painful death just because of her. Kyah could make out the outlines of the palace. A thunderstorm was brewing, which was obvious from the smell of the heavy air. Kyah eyed Det closely. His head was hanging and he seemed to be ashamed and his eyes were red from crying. She laid a comforting hand on one of his shoulders and tried to smile for him. He smiled shyly back and beamed red. The lad was embarrassed because of his behaviour. She couldn't be angry with the stupid and naïve man next to her.
"Det, I just wanted to tell you that I'm not mad at you. I don't have any brothers or sisters and I don't know the feeling of having a relative out there who cares for you. For two and a half years I've been alone. You were my only friend and I'm sorry for treating your sister like I did. She has the right to hate me. Not only she was angry and jealous. I felt this dark feeling rising inside of me when she was with you and you both were laughing and enjoying yourselves. So I always tried to get your attention. I'm so sorry…," she said very quietly, so that only the blond-haired man could understand her. Her eyes began to water again and now she was the one who looked embarrassed. Det brought his chained hands up and wiped away her tears with his big thumb.
"You don't have to be sorry. We both made mistakes that led to this." He pointed with his immobile hands to the bounty-hunters.
"But I don't regret anything ... I like being close to you. If Obi-Wan could see us now, he would be proud because we're talking frankly to each other. I think he peeked behind our facades." Det shook his head.
"Kyah, I'm not going to let the Jedi down again. I won't break my promise to him. We will fight. If we have to die, we should give them a proper fight, don't you think? Maybe Obi-Wan's Master has arrived in the meantime and can help us. We shouldn't lose our hope," he said with a quiet voice and suddenly kissed her. He just did it and didn't think about it twice. The hunters began to cheer loudly. They didn't have anything against the entertainment that was presenting itself in front of their eyes.
"Boy, you have the right attitude! Enjoy the last moments of your life," Ingbor laughed.
The teenager closed her eyes and kissed him one last time on his cheek.
Finally, they reached the village, but there was no soul on the streets. It looked almost like the ghost-villages, but here another form of stench seemed to hang in the air. It was more unnerving and disgusting than the atmosphere in the ghost-villages. It was the smell of evil, which waited for blood. She bit her lips and made a composed face. She looked at her fellow companion and he looked right back at her.
The gates to the palace opened and they were pulled into the court. Det had never been there before and looked around in awe. It was so clean and expensive. There were statues of people and rare plants. The palace even had a landing platform for spaceships. He looked closer and was able to see Obi-Wan's ship. He shuddered and clenched a fist, but what was that? There were two ships! This had to be the one belonging to Kenobi's Master! The people of Dakona didn't have the technology to build spacecrafts. The planet had entered the Republic three years ago under the rule of King Bronco, Kyah's father. Step by step, the king received technology and visitors from the Republic. Now he knew why Draju was so mad about this decision to enter the Republic. He always had planned to become king by killing his brother. Now Draju was after the deadly weapons of the Republic. If the Senate only knew what the despot did to his people, to the last king. The official reason for Bronco's death was an accident. That had explained the battered dead body of the former king. The people didn't ask, didn't dare to ask, the dictator. Det shook his head sadly. Before he knew what was happening, they stood in the throne room of Draju, who was smiling satisfied at the scene in front of him. The 20-year-old turned his head around to get a better view of this room and saw two silent figures standing at the side of the throne. They were dressed like Obi-Wan, well at least they were wearing the same pants. Det had never seen the Jedi fully dressed in his robes. The lanky older man had a penetrating gaze and watched the two prisoners closely. The child next to him looked a bit flabbergasted and sported a stupid hairstyle. Det had to admit that the Knight hadn't had a nice haircut either. Then, Ingbor stepped in front of the group and bowed to the tyrant.
"Your Honour, we are here to hand over the two rebels. But I'm afraid that The Jedi was already dead when we found him," the bounty hunter said in an obedient voice. He wasn't a stupid man, though he wasn't really clever either. He was in charge of this bunch of hunters and was told how to handle the matter of the dead Jedi by king Draju personally. The rest of his fellow hunters had been told to shut up, no matter what he said. The two rebels and the Jedi winced at the words of the hunter Ingbor.
"Kyah Tara and Det Bignis! You are responsible for the death of Knight Kenobi," Draju asked in a harsh voice. The two young people in front of him didn't know what to say because they felt responsible for it. The two silent Jedi watched the scenario and were sure that they felt guilt and regret radiating from the children.
"You killed him," the King exclaimed with fury.
The two shook their heads in the negative.
"We didn't.." Det tried to speak up, but was interrupted by Draju.
"Take the traitors to his sister," Draju spoke and pointed at Det. Now panic rose inside the young man; they had captured Edi. The king clapped his big hands and they were escorted to the dungeon.
The Jedi stepped into the foreground and went to the King.
"Your Majesty, what will happen to these children," Qui-Gon asked.
"They will be executed after a long hearing that will uncover the circumstanced of Knight Kenobi's death," Draju said evilly, and Anakin could have sworn that he saw a flicker of a smile on the king's lips, but stayed silent.
The two bowed and went to their transport in order to monitor Obi-Wan with their own eyes and not through the med-droid.
"Master, I have a bad feeling about this," the boy said in a low voice.
"You are becoming more and more like Obi-Wan, Ani, and you should take it as a compliment," the Master told his student. They both had to smile.
"I don't think that these two children could have done anything to Obi-Wan, either. There is a hidden truth in this issue. We just have to discover it and Obi-Wan could be of great help."
Tbc…