Newest Chapter 4!
(Author'S note. Well, I know I'm horrible with cliff hangers!
AHH! Well, here we go again!)
Jaina looked around. She was lying on a bed, which seemed to be on a roof. Yurric was across the rooftop, lounging in a lawn chair and drinking whine. Looking down, she saw that she still wore her ragged clothes, but her hair had been brushed and washed. Once again, she aimed her attention to the Spice-Lord. "Where's Zekk?"
Yurric paused, theatrically trying to remember who she was talking about. "Oh yes, your scummy friend."
Jaina swung her feet over the side of the bed, noticing that they felt heavier than usual. She shrugged the strange sensation off, and faced her capture. "This is your last chance. Free us, or die."
Yurric laughed, getting up from his seat and walking over to her. "Everyone is mortal. But I highly doubt that you, or even your husband will be able to harm me in the slightest."
Jaina frowned, and then jumped to her feet. Or at least tried, the ground rushed up at her with incredible speed, and she found herself lying on her stomach. Groaning, Jaina looked up to see Yurric move closer like a spider coming in for the kill.
"That is one of the effects of the spice I had slipped into your food last night." Yurric sighed, sitting down on the bed and watched her struggle to pull herself up. "And still you say you will kill me?"
Pulling herself up, and propping herself against the using her hands and arms, Jaina rolled herself over. "Without a doubt."
Yurric chuckled. "So overconfident. You are truly amusing."
"Where is my husband?" Jaina's eyes flared with controlled anger.
Sighing, Yurric pushed a button on the bed post. Jaina guessed it was to call a servant forward. "He's aboard a slave-barge that will be taking us to Tatooine."
"Tattoine?"
"Don't play stupid with me, Jedi." Yurric sneered, but that moment of anger passed quickly, and again he laughed. "I'm sure to win a lot of credits off him. Even if he does die in the arena, the owners are given rewards for a good show."
"What about my children?" Jaina asked.
As if on cue, a door opened across the rooftop, and the twins came walking up to them. The little girl was carrying a platter ful of ripe fruit, while the little boy carried an expensive pitcher of whine. They came walking up, and as soon as they caught sight of Jaina, their dark eyes flashed with worry.
"Oh, I'll keep them with me." Yurric motioned for the little boy to bring the whine pitcher. "That is, until they grow too big to handle, and I'll send them either to the podraces or arena."
Jaina looked at her legs. Why wouldn't they move! Desperately, she concentrated on getting her blood to circulate through them, but they didn't respond.
Yurric watched her struggle. "You ought to thank me. I have you a downer, otherwise you wouldn't be able to move your arms either. Not mentioning the killer headache you'd have at this point."
Jaina glared up at him. "What do you want?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Yurric poured the wine from the pitcher he had gotten from the little boy into his half-empty wine glass. "You are a beautiful woman. Why don't you stay with me?"
A bitter taste entered Jaina's mouth, and she turned back to her legs, slapping them with her fist.
"You would be spared the horror of the ring, and-" He motioned towards the twins. "You could stay with your children."
Jaina glanced up, meeting the gaze of the twins. They stood motionless, deciplined and quiet for their ages, they were statuesque in their matching dark blue outfits.
"What about Zekk?" Jaina said, her voice dripping with her despise for the Spice-Lord.
Yurric laughed. "He's weak now. How you ever saw anything in him is beyond me." He stood up, towering over Jaina who lay helpless on the floor. "If that fight in the cells had gone on much longer, you would have killed him."
Jaina's mind raced. There must have been hidden cameras in the cells, that was the only way to explain it.
"Even you are stronger than he is." Yurric said, hunching down next to her. "Why don't you choose the easy way? Save yourself the pain."
Jaina looked up at him, her face pulling into a sneer. "Save myself the pain?" Reaching out through the Force, she got a grip on Yurric's throat. "Save myself the pain?" Anger flared in Jaina's mind, and the Force reacted to it. Her invisible grip on the Spice-Lord's throat grew tighter. "After all this? No. I gave you the chance. Now you will die." For a moment, Jaina's voice hardened, and through her veins began to course a tint of the Dark Side.
Yurric's eyes grew wide, and he jerked away, throwing himself on the bed. He gagged, clawing at his throat. The twins, who had been watching all of this, suddenly cried out. Frightened, they scurried to the other side of the roof.
The spice-Lord rolled on the bed, trying to reach something Jaina didn't see. Suddenly, there was a horrible electric shock, and Jaina's left arm gave way beneath her. She hadn't noticed the silver, bracelet-like device that had been attached to her wrist. The shock broke her concentration, and the Force powered grip was loosened.
Yurric gasped, grabbing a com unit. "Guards! Guards!"
Jaina looked up from where she lay on her back. Through the roof floor came several scruffy-looking guards totting blasters. Normally, a small group like that would have been easy for her to handle. However, her mind was still numb from the shock, and her legs refused to cooperate. Jaina was helpless.
"Take her to the slave ship. Put her with the others!" Yurric stood up as the guards dragged Jaina to her feet. "I thought you might have been smarter than that, Jedi. Now you'll pay the price."
Jaina looked up at him, defiance clearly in her eyes. "This will be the last mistake you'll ever make."
Yurric watched her being hauled away, rubbing his neck. "We'll see just what you think of the arena on Tattoine."
(((((((((((((((())))))))))))))
Jaina was dragged onto an old freighter, and it's original use was to transport immigrants between planets and had been probably built before the Clone Wars. As she was dragged up the ramp, Jaina knew that no-one would suspect such an old freight would hold slaves inside, and so no New Republic officer would question it. Yet another way that Yurric proved his intelligence.
The guards hauled her through many decks holding different species of aliens. Most lay in their cells, and Jaina guessed that they were recovering from whatever spice Yurric had put in their food. Finally, the guards took her to a dimly lit deck, and instantly she felt her brother and husband's presence.
Opening the cell door, the guards threw her in, and Jaina lay on her stomach. Inside the cell Zekk lay on his back and Jaina guessed he was still unconscious. The cell's floor was covered with old and dusty straw. However, it cushioned her fall, and Jaina was grateful that it was there.
Jaina propped herself up on her hand, and looked around. On the opposite wall was a durasteel container that was filled with water. Other than that, the cell was empty. The lights flickered, and Jaina felt the gravity change beneath her. Through the Force, she knew that the shuttle had taken off.
Zekk turned his head toward her. "Jaina?"
She crawled up beside him, then fought to get herself into a sitting position. "I'm here."
Zekk looked up at her. "Where were you?"
"Chocking Yurric."
Zekk sighed, closing his eyes. "I've got a headache that wont quit, and I can't move."
Looking down at him, Jaina couldn't help but notice the deep gashes in Zekk's cheeks and forehead. She couldn't remember all of the night before, but she understood that this was her doing. She put her hand against Zekk's face, measuring the distance between each cut. It was without a doubt her hands that had scratched him. Pausing, Jaina looked at her fingernails, noticing that there was dried blood beneath them.
The small wounds had bled for a while, but then they had clotted and dried. Zekk's face was a bloody and swollen mess. Zekk opened his bloodshot eyes. "Did I hurt you?"
Jaina shook her head. "I'm fine." She took her sleeve, and ripped it. Taking the cloth, she dipped it into the container of water and then began to wipe away the dried blood from Zekk's face. The cool sensation seemed to soothe him, and Zekk closed his eyes again.
Suddenly, the ship heaved, and Jaina could tell they had launched into hyperspace. She looked up. "We're on our way to Tattoine."
Zekk didn't bother opening his eyes. "Have you ever been there?"
"I've heard about it from my Uncle Luke. But I've never been."
Zekk swallowed hard. Jaina smoothed his black hair out of his face, and leaned over, kissing his forehead gently. There were no words exchanged, only silence. They both knew that something was coming, and that they might not live through it.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!
(Author's note. Ha Ha! Who should I kill? laughs evilly Review and vote!)
(Author'S note. Well, I know I'm horrible with cliff hangers!
AHH! Well, here we go again!)
Jaina looked around. She was lying on a bed, which seemed to be on a roof. Yurric was across the rooftop, lounging in a lawn chair and drinking whine. Looking down, she saw that she still wore her ragged clothes, but her hair had been brushed and washed. Once again, she aimed her attention to the Spice-Lord. "Where's Zekk?"
Yurric paused, theatrically trying to remember who she was talking about. "Oh yes, your scummy friend."
Jaina swung her feet over the side of the bed, noticing that they felt heavier than usual. She shrugged the strange sensation off, and faced her capture. "This is your last chance. Free us, or die."
Yurric laughed, getting up from his seat and walking over to her. "Everyone is mortal. But I highly doubt that you, or even your husband will be able to harm me in the slightest."
Jaina frowned, and then jumped to her feet. Or at least tried, the ground rushed up at her with incredible speed, and she found herself lying on her stomach. Groaning, Jaina looked up to see Yurric move closer like a spider coming in for the kill.
"That is one of the effects of the spice I had slipped into your food last night." Yurric sighed, sitting down on the bed and watched her struggle to pull herself up. "And still you say you will kill me?"
Pulling herself up, and propping herself against the using her hands and arms, Jaina rolled herself over. "Without a doubt."
Yurric chuckled. "So overconfident. You are truly amusing."
"Where is my husband?" Jaina's eyes flared with controlled anger.
Sighing, Yurric pushed a button on the bed post. Jaina guessed it was to call a servant forward. "He's aboard a slave-barge that will be taking us to Tatooine."
"Tattoine?"
"Don't play stupid with me, Jedi." Yurric sneered, but that moment of anger passed quickly, and again he laughed. "I'm sure to win a lot of credits off him. Even if he does die in the arena, the owners are given rewards for a good show."
"What about my children?" Jaina asked.
As if on cue, a door opened across the rooftop, and the twins came walking up to them. The little girl was carrying a platter ful of ripe fruit, while the little boy carried an expensive pitcher of whine. They came walking up, and as soon as they caught sight of Jaina, their dark eyes flashed with worry.
"Oh, I'll keep them with me." Yurric motioned for the little boy to bring the whine pitcher. "That is, until they grow too big to handle, and I'll send them either to the podraces or arena."
Jaina looked at her legs. Why wouldn't they move! Desperately, she concentrated on getting her blood to circulate through them, but they didn't respond.
Yurric watched her struggle. "You ought to thank me. I have you a downer, otherwise you wouldn't be able to move your arms either. Not mentioning the killer headache you'd have at this point."
Jaina glared up at him. "What do you want?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Yurric poured the wine from the pitcher he had gotten from the little boy into his half-empty wine glass. "You are a beautiful woman. Why don't you stay with me?"
A bitter taste entered Jaina's mouth, and she turned back to her legs, slapping them with her fist.
"You would be spared the horror of the ring, and-" He motioned towards the twins. "You could stay with your children."
Jaina glanced up, meeting the gaze of the twins. They stood motionless, deciplined and quiet for their ages, they were statuesque in their matching dark blue outfits.
"What about Zekk?" Jaina said, her voice dripping with her despise for the Spice-Lord.
Yurric laughed. "He's weak now. How you ever saw anything in him is beyond me." He stood up, towering over Jaina who lay helpless on the floor. "If that fight in the cells had gone on much longer, you would have killed him."
Jaina's mind raced. There must have been hidden cameras in the cells, that was the only way to explain it.
"Even you are stronger than he is." Yurric said, hunching down next to her. "Why don't you choose the easy way? Save yourself the pain."
Jaina looked up at him, her face pulling into a sneer. "Save myself the pain?" Reaching out through the Force, she got a grip on Yurric's throat. "Save myself the pain?" Anger flared in Jaina's mind, and the Force reacted to it. Her invisible grip on the Spice-Lord's throat grew tighter. "After all this? No. I gave you the chance. Now you will die." For a moment, Jaina's voice hardened, and through her veins began to course a tint of the Dark Side.
Yurric's eyes grew wide, and he jerked away, throwing himself on the bed. He gagged, clawing at his throat. The twins, who had been watching all of this, suddenly cried out. Frightened, they scurried to the other side of the roof.
The spice-Lord rolled on the bed, trying to reach something Jaina didn't see. Suddenly, there was a horrible electric shock, and Jaina's left arm gave way beneath her. She hadn't noticed the silver, bracelet-like device that had been attached to her wrist. The shock broke her concentration, and the Force powered grip was loosened.
Yurric gasped, grabbing a com unit. "Guards! Guards!"
Jaina looked up from where she lay on her back. Through the roof floor came several scruffy-looking guards totting blasters. Normally, a small group like that would have been easy for her to handle. However, her mind was still numb from the shock, and her legs refused to cooperate. Jaina was helpless.
"Take her to the slave ship. Put her with the others!" Yurric stood up as the guards dragged Jaina to her feet. "I thought you might have been smarter than that, Jedi. Now you'll pay the price."
Jaina looked up at him, defiance clearly in her eyes. "This will be the last mistake you'll ever make."
Yurric watched her being hauled away, rubbing his neck. "We'll see just what you think of the arena on Tattoine."
(((((((((((((((())))))))))))))
Jaina was dragged onto an old freighter, and it's original use was to transport immigrants between planets and had been probably built before the Clone Wars. As she was dragged up the ramp, Jaina knew that no-one would suspect such an old freight would hold slaves inside, and so no New Republic officer would question it. Yet another way that Yurric proved his intelligence.
The guards hauled her through many decks holding different species of aliens. Most lay in their cells, and Jaina guessed that they were recovering from whatever spice Yurric had put in their food. Finally, the guards took her to a dimly lit deck, and instantly she felt her brother and husband's presence.
Opening the cell door, the guards threw her in, and Jaina lay on her stomach. Inside the cell Zekk lay on his back and Jaina guessed he was still unconscious. The cell's floor was covered with old and dusty straw. However, it cushioned her fall, and Jaina was grateful that it was there.
Jaina propped herself up on her hand, and looked around. On the opposite wall was a durasteel container that was filled with water. Other than that, the cell was empty. The lights flickered, and Jaina felt the gravity change beneath her. Through the Force, she knew that the shuttle had taken off.
Zekk turned his head toward her. "Jaina?"
She crawled up beside him, then fought to get herself into a sitting position. "I'm here."
Zekk looked up at her. "Where were you?"
"Chocking Yurric."
Zekk sighed, closing his eyes. "I've got a headache that wont quit, and I can't move."
Looking down at him, Jaina couldn't help but notice the deep gashes in Zekk's cheeks and forehead. She couldn't remember all of the night before, but she understood that this was her doing. She put her hand against Zekk's face, measuring the distance between each cut. It was without a doubt her hands that had scratched him. Pausing, Jaina looked at her fingernails, noticing that there was dried blood beneath them.
The small wounds had bled for a while, but then they had clotted and dried. Zekk's face was a bloody and swollen mess. Zekk opened his bloodshot eyes. "Did I hurt you?"
Jaina shook her head. "I'm fine." She took her sleeve, and ripped it. Taking the cloth, she dipped it into the container of water and then began to wipe away the dried blood from Zekk's face. The cool sensation seemed to soothe him, and Zekk closed his eyes again.
Suddenly, the ship heaved, and Jaina could tell they had launched into hyperspace. She looked up. "We're on our way to Tattoine."
Zekk didn't bother opening his eyes. "Have you ever been there?"
"I've heard about it from my Uncle Luke. But I've never been."
Zekk swallowed hard. Jaina smoothed his black hair out of his face, and leaned over, kissing his forehead gently. There were no words exchanged, only silence. They both knew that something was coming, and that they might not live through it.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!
(Author's note. Ha Ha! Who should I kill? laughs evilly Review and vote!)