Chapter 2 Reunions
"You know Del," Jalien slid into the bar seat, "you could have found a more subtle way of calling me. Ever heard of a com-signal?"
The woman across from her spread gold-skinned hands regally. "Really, Jalien C'tra. You know the technology required for that is not within our nature. We had no way to ensure you would receive a … com-signal, is it? Touching your mind required far less effort."
Jalien snorted, and took a health swig of beer. "Did you have to split my head in two to do it? Plus, I nearly ripped the hyperdrive right out of the freighter, what with your encouragement to get here as quickly as possible."
She leaned back to get a second look at the woman sharing the table. Del hadn't changed much in the last eight years. Rich, dark hair, pulled back from her temples, streamed down her back and over the soft, gem colored robes that complimented her gold skin. Brilliant, crystal blue eyes appraised Jalien just as frankly.
Jale raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"We can see many of your adventures on your chi Jalien C'tra, both good and bad. You have an interesting life since you left Hidea."
The pirate shrugged, and narrowed her eyes. That smacked of … judgment. "That's life. Why did you drag me here Del?"
"We have need of transport back to Hidea. Immediately."
"And you couldn't just hire one?"
"No."
"And the ship that brought you here?"
"Gone."
"Why are you here? I didn't think The People left Hidea."
"Our business is concluded. It is of no concern."
Jale rolled her head on her neck. Del wasn't making this easy. "Del, I' m not alone. I can't just wing you off to Hidea this moment."
"You have a ship."
"Yes."
"Then we can leave."
"It's not that easy, Del."
"You Pledged, Jalien C'tra."
Jalien took another drink from her bottle. Oh, yes, she'd Pledged all right. "How is Duncan? Did you call him as well?"
Del smiled faintly. "Duncan Too'lite is healthy, Jalien C'tra. No, we did not call him to us this time."
"Do you know where he is Del? How I can find him?"
She shook her head, black hair rippling in the dusky bar. "No. We cannot provide you with that information."
Jale took a deep breath. Well, it had been worth a shot… "I have partners Del. I have to tell them something. I used up a year's worth of trust just to land and meet with you. In fact, I'll wager my next haul that you'll find a stocky blond with the most overbuilt blaster rifle this side of Corsucant, and tall, dark-haired young man, in the most boring robes around, not thirty feet," she jerked a thumb over her shoulder, "that way."
Del gazed over Jalien's shoulder, and nodded slightly. "Yes. The young Jedi. We touched him briefly."
Lords below… "You what?"
"Touched upon him briefly when we called to you. He is young, but full of potential."
Jale groaned, and dropped her head into her hand. No wonder Chedakki had supported her need to land on the Tallgent without much fuss. Hell, I'm surprised he's still just thirty feet away.
"I thought you wanted to keep things discreet?" She shook her head. Del looked at her, confusion written across her painfully beautiful features. "Never mind. I have to take you back – now?"
Del looked back at her. Yes, the answer whispered across her mind.
"Fine. Wait here." The pirate rose, took a final swig of beer, and turned to her partners.
Her very annoyed partners.
This was not going to be fun.
"Damn fool woman. I swear, she's more trouble than she's worth, Chek. We really should just leave her hanging out to dry one of these days."
Chedakki grunted some kind of reply, and Sturrick ordered another drink. The young Jedi couldn't drag his eyes away from the gold-skinned woman sharing Jalien's table. The Force radiated from all beings, to some extent or another. But this woman – this woman shone with it.
Then she glanced in their direction. Chedakki felt something brush against his mind, then the power coming off her dialed back, receded into something resembling a normal Lifesense reading.
And, once again, he might as well shout into the wind for all he could contact her back.
"What the hell is going on C'tra?" Sturrick growled as the pirate approached.
"How much money do we have?"
"What?" That snapped Chedakki's attention back to Jalien.
"How much money do we have?" She sighed at the murderous look on Sturrick's face and turned to Chedakki, blinking brightly. His eyes hardened. She sighed again.
"What's going on Jalien?"
Her eyes closed briefly, and when she opened them they were dark, all gaiety and roguishness gone. Jale rarely showed this side to the public.
"I have to help … a friend return to her home planet. I'll either need to hire a freighter or send you guys back on a transport. So, how much money do we have?"
Sturrick gazed at her in continued suspicion. "Why do not just fly her back after we return to the base? And what the hell happened to you on the way here? You said you'd explain later."
"I can't, 'rick. I – "
JALIEN C'TRA!
The mental cry ripped through Chedakki's mind, and he stumbled back a step. Jalien whipped around, blaster pistol in hand.
"Del! Del, where are you?"
The table was empty.
Jalien sprinted for the just closing door off to the right. "Del!"
Sturrick stared at her, clearly surprised. "What the hell – "
"'rick," Chedakki grasped the other man's arm and hauled him forward. "Something's happened to her friend. We've got to go."
"Chek, what are you talking about? The damn woman's just crazy." The bounty hunter protested, but followed the young Jedi out the door.
"No, she's not. Not this time…" Chedakki trailed off, his pace slowing, then halted.
Two steps away, Jalien stood, blaster pistol dangling loosely in her hand. Halfway down the alley, two women faced each other.
"Kerna," Jale murmured.
The alley was quiet, only the sounds from the bar behind them audible. The woman facing Jalien's companion was just as impossible beautiful, only with ice-blond hair, and tight, black leather outfit that left nothing to the imagination.
And the air between them thrummed with the Force.
Chedakki stumbled again, breathe catching in his throat. My god…
It was a test of some kind between them. But it was also a use of the Force he'd never seen used, never even imagined.
Sturrick grabbed his arm, dragging him upright. "Chek? You okay?"
"Yeah," he responded weakly, eyes pinned on women before them.
Next to him, Sturrick grumbled. "Dammit, C'tra. What the hell is going on?"
"Not now 'rick. Not now."
"Then when!"
"Not now!"
"Yeah, they're hot babes, but they don't warrant the attention you two are givin' 'em. And I still want ans - Hey!" Sturrick suddenly dropped Chedakki, and raised his ever-present blaster rifle instead. Above their heads, on the roofline, several figures appeared. All obviously armed.
"Jale!" Chedakki lunged forward just as the newcomers opened fire.
