Standard disclaimers apply.
Sorry about the long wait between chapters
Chapter 2
Unexpected Allies
Healer Jinn and his night companions were not the only ones anxious to be indoors on this gloomy night. The carriage rocked along through the night, nearly three miles inland from the swamp. Three of the four passengers squirmed continuously in an effort to make themselves more comfortable. The fourth swayed gently back and forth along with the coach, contently oblivious to all, in a deep slumber.
The other passengers would soon find out that Tahl Khise was feigning sleep to avoid uncomfortable questions. She began to wonder if she would ever see the city planet of Coruscant again. {At least I am alive} she thought resignedly, {that's more than I thought possible after my arrest.}
She had escaped certain death this morning. The execution squad believed that her blindness would prevent her from fleeing, should an opportunity present itself. In an effort to brighten their day, they took her to the door and taunted her with freedom. In a blink of an eye, she had disappeared. Terrified she would be caught, but too frightened to give up with out a fight, she walked the old streets, sure that at any moment an alarm would sound and they would find her.
Tahl could not understand why they had failed to apprehend her. She knew it was not safe to wander about the city while it was still daylight. By late afternoon, hungry, thirsty, and sore, she was ready to turn herself in when her fortune changed for the better, at the door of a fancy inn- no less. A kind man took pity on her. Normally she would have set her chin and ignored the kind offer of help but she knew beggars could not be choosy.
"Are you waiting for transport Mistress?" The man's voice echoed from above her. "I'm on my way to the city of Theed and if you're going there you may share my carriage."
Tahl mumbled her thanks, climbed into the coach, and tiredly sank into the soft cushioned seat next to her generous provider.
"I am Finis Valorium, Ambassador to the Republic and your thanks is completely unneeded. You appear ill. Can I get you a Healer Mistress?"
"Only exhausted, it takes a lot to maneuver when you can't see where you're going." Tahl smiled weakly and leaned back against the window.
She had counted her blessings one minute too soon, because just as Tahl had relaxed enough to become comfortable, the Ambassador offered a ride to someone else. The carriage door opened and two men scrambled up into the small-enclosed coach. Tahl's heart thudded in her chest. She knew from her time spent in the detention camp, this voice belonged to the fabled Count Dooku. By reputation, the man was cruel and heartless. "And this is my aide, Anakin Skywalker," Dooku said finishing the introductions.
Ambassador Valorium did not get the chance to introduce Tahl for she appeared to fall into a deep sleep.
As the coach rumbled along, Tahl listened to the Count complaining about her presence. "My Lord I cannot understand why you allow a common peasant to travel with your grace."
"Charity knows no social or economic barriers. She looked as if she needed help and it was within my power to do so." Finis replied slightly chastising the older man.
Anakin took this chance to make his opinion known, "Count Dooku is right my Lord. Naboo is no longer safe with the Knights prowling the countryside every night."
"Just what in the galaxy are you talking about Skywalker?" Dooku asked impatiently. "You're speaking in riddles. What Knights?"
"I understand that's what they call the Jedi's men in these parts, sir." Anakin replied.
Dooku snorted, "They're smugglers, Skywalker, I expect you to call them by their proper name. Thieves! Nothing more than an organized band of thieves." He shifted in his seat to get more comfortable and grunted. "A Knight is a man of honor. Someone needs to teach these ingrates what honor is all about and I intend to, very soon in fact. I will smash this ring and teach the people of Naboo not to trifle with the Emperor's patience. He held up a small data pad and said, "I have been given my orders directly from the Emperor himself."
Finis sighed, "I am relieved that I do not have your task, Count. I have talked to my old friend Qui-Gon Jinn recently and he tells me that all of Naboo protects them. All of the common people are his friends."
"Yes, I have heard that also. I feel I'm up to the task; as a matter of fact I will enjoy the challenge. Ambassador, the Council is lax in their duty to uphold the laws and punishments in this area. Something I fully intend fix. Your friend Mr. Jinn will see a change immediately."
Without warning the Coach slowed and a piercing whistle announced its upcoming destination. "Ah! The city of Theed is ahead. This ride has taken less time than normal. I….."
A loud cry came from behind the vehicle, "By Order of the Emperor, I demand you halt this carriage and all passengers will disembark."
"What tis is?" The large Gungan bellowed as he brought the horses and carriage to rapid stop. The four passengers jolted back and forth in their seats. Neither the increase in voices nor the decrease in activity seemed to affect the slumber of Tahl Khise. She had relaxed against the seat, with her eyes closed, oblivious to her surroundings, as the coach door was flung open.
The Sergeant leaned into the coach and Dooku snapped, "What's this? Why are we stopping?"
The Emperor's soldier nearly dropped his torch in astonishment when he saw that the coach he stopped was full of dignitaries.
"Well, speak up man. What are you looking for? Why did you stop us?" the Count questioned impatiently.
"An escaped prisoner, Sir. She was to be interrogated and put to death for treason this morning.
The count steepled his fingers and snorted, "This is what I am talking about Ambassador. An event like this would not have happened under my command. I see I need to teach the soldiers at the Detention Center how to control their prisoners."
"Treason, did you say?" The Ambassador questioned, as he leaned forward and looked out of the Coach.
The soldier replied nervously, "Yes my lord, a female dissident from Coruscant, I believe."
No sound could be heard as all of the occupants turned to stare at the sleeping form of the woman in the corner of the carriage. "Wake up woman," the Soldier snapped.
For someone who slept so soundly, Tahl seemed to wake up with her wits about her. In one fluid motion, normally impossible for a blind person, she grabbed the data pad from the Count's hands and jumped out of the vehicle.
"Stop that thief. Don't just stand there you imbecile, get her!" Count Dooku thundered. He pushed his way out of the carriage, past his dumbfounded assistant and jumped to the ground. Anakin Skywalker followed him out the door, gathering the Soldier and his men to search the swamp on the far side of the coach.
She was grateful for the late hour; it meant the swamp would be dark making it difficult to see her. It would give her an advantage over the Soldiers. Unaccustomed to the terrain, she stumbled over rocks and bushes giving the Emperor's soldiers an idea where she was.
Tahl ran for what felt like miles, collapsed to the ground, and pulled her aching body to a spot covered with bushes and a fallen tree. Just as she had completed covering herself, a pair of booted feet stopped just a small distance from her head. In her terror, she didn't feel the slashing bite of the force-pike as it cut into her side. She clenched her teeth and tried to hunch down closer to the ground as the foot steps moved away from her hiding spot.
She could hear the men splashing through the water and she thought that might be the only safe place. Tahl cautiously lifted her head and listened carefully. She arose, running away from the noise and moving deeper into the swamps. She plunged onward through the trees, and in no time, she found herself splashing in ankle deep water with high reeds that slapped her in the face.
"The prisoner is over this way," A high-pitched shout called out.
Tahl stumbled forward – and straight into the edge of a pond. She tucked the stolen data pad into the top of her tunic and waded forward into the freezing water. "I hope it's deep because it's my only chance." Tahl mumbled. She treaded water silently and not a moment to soon because Anakin Skywalker and the Soldier broke through the brush and into the clearing. Tahl took a deep breath and slipped beneath the surface of the water. She clung desperately to the underwater plants to keep herself from floating to the surface.
Her lungs felt as if they would burst and she fought the instinct to ascend rapidly. Letting go of the aquatic plants, she gently floated to the top and as her head broke the surface she heard Count Dooku's voice.
"Have you found her yet Skywalker?" Dooku bellowed.
Anakin Skywalker shone his light once more around the swamps and called back to the carriage, "No sir. No sign of her in the swamps."
Anakin turned to the Soldier who had stopped their carriage and said, "She must have turned back and headed for the road. Since you let her escape, you may have the honor of continuing the search. Do not return until you have found her. The Count and I must be on our way to Theed."
"Yes Sir!" the Soldier replied as he saluted Anakin and trudged back to the carriage.
Chilled to the bone, but not daring to make the slightest sound, Tahl remained where she was, listening as Anakin Skywalker's footsteps became fainter.
Back in the City of Theed
Once more in the city and out of the swamps, Qui-Gon shed his role as the cunning Jedi and again became the friendly healer. In his home off the infirmary, Qui-Gon sipped a cup of tea and waited for his friend Mace to join him.
Mace came through the door carrying a datapad, which he handed to the healer. While Qui-Gon studied the information on the pad, Mace studied his friend—and frowned.
"We had a very good night my friend." Qui-Gon informed Mace Windu. "Palpatine lost a cargo worth 100,000 Nubian credits. Captain Panaka delivered tonight's cargo here and on Selona it's Captain Solo of the Millennium Falcon."
Mace hesitated before speaking, "Qui-Gon why do you keep taking these risks? You're not gaining anything by it. You don't even receive the glory of being the Jedi. Your men don't know who you are. The people don't know who you are."
Qui-Gon leaned back in his chair and looked at his friend for a moment before speaking quietly. "Mace, would you have me be any other way? By stealing from Palpatine, we provide a living for the people of this planet. They can barely feed and clothe their children. They are taxed and thrown into the death camps to work as slaves.
"Qui-Gon you can not change that. It's too much for one person to accomplish alone. It's the way of the Universe. Only the strong survive or the ones who don't draw any attention to themselves," The dark man articulated, as he picked up a pad and began to read it.
"Mace that's where you're wrong. Dictators may come to power but they can be removed, as well as their unjust laws." Sapphire eyes snapped in defiance. "Look at our brothers and sisters on Coruscant. They're trying to make things better in their world also. When men and women's backs are against the wall and the situation is unbearable, they will fight back."
But again, the Senate Librarian spoke with a voice of reason. "Men and women can not fight droid armies, Qui-Gon. It's foolish to start something that can't be finished and in the end the repercussions are going to be more disastrous than the beginning, because peoples hopes were raised."
Qui-Gon rose from his seat and fixed himself another cup of tea, while he organized his thoughts. "Ideas can fight. Don't you feel the Force as it courses through your veins. Belief makes all things possible. What we are doing to Palpatine is nothing, but if just one person on every world under his grasp fights back, then we have an army of thousands… no…"
A frantic tapping on the window interrupted the Healer's passionate speech and a look of alarm passed over his friend's face. Calmly he told Mace, "See who it is?"
With the dark of the night as her background, Tahl looked pale and ghostlike pressed against the dimly lit window. The two men exchanged a look of wonder as they helped the frozen and exhausted woman into the study. As she sat before the fire, warming herself, Qui-Gon forced a cup of hot tea into her hands and waited patiently for her to tell her story.
She clutched the soaking data pad, dripping water, as if it was her very life. "So after I waded out of the swamp I had no idea which way to go." The tea warmed her insides and sleep was trying to overtake her. "I must have fainted, because the next thing I knew; I was lying on the ground and this creature standing over me. He helped me to his home, bound my injury…, and talked constantly. He was annoying but kind…I believe the name is Jar Jar Binks."
Healer Jinn nodded saying, "The people of Theed know him well. He was exiled from the Gungan community and I believe he lives alone in the swamps. I understand why he sent you here. Tell me, Mistress, are you from Coruscant?"
"Yes, from the Galactic University." Tahl took a gulp of the burning liquid and nodded, "Although I guess I'm foolish. I came to Naboo to try and make the Council understand what is happening on Coruscant. How Palpatine is slowly taking control. For all my efforts, they threw me in a detention camp and labeled me a traitor. I was scheduled to be put to death this morning."
She looked at the two men trying to decide if she could trust them. Her mind made up, she sighed and continued, "I'm telling you this because Jar Jar informed me I could find sanctuary here. The troops are yet searching for me and I have no right to ask for help and keep you ignorant of the reason I am wanted."
Mace could not sit still any longer, "Treason, Qui-Gon." Mace exclaimed. "That's trouble that you don't need. If they find you helping her, you will be put to death along with her."
The Master Healer held his hand up, exchanged glances with Mace and said, "I don't doubt that you need sanctuary Mistress ____?"
"Tahl Khise"
Qui-Gon nodded. "Mistress Khise, my friend," The Healer gestured to Mace and continued, "Is correct. It would not be safe to hide you here."
Tahl's face lost the small glimmer of hope as she whispered, "Then you will turn me in?"
"No." Qui-Gon replied adamantly. He rose and helped the woman to stand. "Mace, take Mistress Tahl to the Nubian Inn and turn her over to Madam Yaddle."
He watched the man rub a hand over his bald head in mild aggravation and chuckled. "Mace you know what to tell her. She will know what to do."
He walked to the door and stopping beside the couple, he continued, "Mistress you must not speak or be seen by the other guests. Your inability to see and Inner Core accent are a dead giveaway. We do not want to cause dear Yaddle any difficulties and the less she knows, the safer she will be."
Tahl handed the pad to the Healer saying, "Could you get this to the one called the Jedi? I stole it from Count Dooku when I escaped."
Disapproval along with curiosity leaked into the deep lilting voice of the Healer. "Why did you steal it?"
"I thought I could find him myself and trade it for passage back to Coruscant. He brings contraband into Naboo. I thought I might be smuggled out" Tahl informed him in a matter of fact tone.
A soft smile crossed the Healer's face as he gently patted the woman's hand. "Rumor has it that many have tried to find him and failed. And they had the advantages of knowing the terrain."
Mace quickly agreed, "He is said to be like the Force itself. At least that is the common theory. He rides the swamps and marshes like the wind, there and gone. You only know he has been there, after he has gone."
Tahl took the arm offered to her by Mace and said in parting, "Whatever happens, thank you for your kindness. May the Force be with you."
After the two had left, Qui-Gon hurried back to the fire and his cold tea. Sinking into the comfortable chair, he turned on the data pad. Grateful for the waterproofing technology, he found the information perfectly preserved. Finishing the document, he reread the last several sentences aloud.
"Count Dooku dispatch all troops living and droid to the Lianorm Swamps immediately. Get control of the entire area. Use whatever means necessary." Qui-Gon leaned forward bracing his elbows on his knees and chuckled. "Mistress Tahl, the Jedi thanks you for the information.
TBC