Chapter 4

Obi-Wan stared at his Master. He was covered in dust, breathing hard and sweaty. The Padawan had never seen him in such bad shape after a fight.

Around him were two strangely dressed girls, one of which was apparently unconscious, and a small boy. "Are you all right?" the boy demanded of the Jedi Master.

"I think so," Qui-Gon panted. He sat up and slowly began to catch his breath. "That was a surprise I'll not soon forget."

"What was it?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I don't know. But they were well trained in the Jedi arts."

Obi-Wan shook his head slightly, as if to clear it. 'A renegade Jedi?

Impossible…' He caught a look from his Master that aid they would discuss it later and kept his questions back.

"My guess is they were after these girls," Qui-Gon continued. The worried brunette looked up from her companion.

"Do you think they'll follow us?" the boy asked sounding more curious than worried now.

"We'll be safe enough in hyperspace," the Jedi Master said, "but I do not doubt that he knows our destination." He smiled slightly. "Obi-Wan, this is Anakin Skywalker and…" he looked at the girl.

"I'm Lonespirit," she said quietly, "and the unconscious one is Afton," she added, her expression troubled.

Anakin blinked as he looked at Obi-Wan. "Wow! You're a Jedi too?"

Lonespirit turned her attention to Qui-Gon. "I'm sorry about this. I honestly don't understand what's happened, really…" He nodded.

"We best get her burn treated," he said. Obi-Wan nodded and quickly brought a small medi-kit. The Jedi set about treating Afton's burns.

Afton, herself, was far from even thinking about blaster burns. She dreaming. She was wearing tunic and leggings. She was sitting in a room in a circle with several other people, all of whom looked familiar. It was… a Council. They were having a very important meeting. They had a huge decision before them…

Clad in a swirling gown she laughed lightly at a joke her dancing partner told her.

The labyrinth.

She stood in the Escher Room facing the Goblin King. But it wasn't Jareth. A man whose head was taken up by a massive red and black tattoo glared down at her with mismatched blue and brown eyes. Instead of a crystal he held a lightsaber…

Her eyes flew open and she sat up. It took her a moment to process her surroundings as a room inside a ship. Her leg didn't throb anymore, just hurt a little. She stared at the opposite wall lost in thoughts until the doorway slid open.

Qui-Gon smiled at the startled girl. "Are you feeling better?" he asked.

She laughed. "Oh yeah. Thanks to whoever got my leg to quit hurting so badly," Afton said grinning, then sobered. "And thanks for saving my life.

That guy with the lightsaber didn't do any damage did he?"

The Jedi Master shook his head. "I got out fine. You're welcome, Afton." He sat in a chair a little ways from the bed. "You wouldn't happen to know why someone with Jedi powers would want to catch you and your friend, would you?"

"Um… where's Lonespirit?"

"In the main area. She tells me neither of your parents are anywhere near. Nor do you seem like runaways… You don't have weapons…" Afton's blue eyes lowered to the floor briefly before meeting Qui-Gon's in an honest appeal.

"You won't believe the truth. No one will. And if I lie you won't believe that either."

A smile touched his features. "Lonespirit said basically the same thing."

"If you really want the truth, we should go join the others so everyone can hear it. It's too complicated for multiple explanations.

By the time the two girls had finished their story, both of the Jedi and

Anakin were staring. Lonespirit groaned. "I told you that you wouldn't believe it," she said.

Afton nodded. "But you said we should tell the truth and we did."

"But why does Jareth want all of you dead?" Anakin asked.

"He doesn't want us dead," Lonespirit explained. "That droid could have killed us both but it didn't. It was shooting to wound us."

"So you could be easily taken," Obi-Wan said with a nod.

"Right," Afton paused to finish picking a tangle out of her hair with a comb, "because Jareth's goal is to own all of us Listians completely. We're no good dead…" she shivered, "even though it would be preferable." Setting the comb down she looked at the others and grinned. "Enough chatter. Let's get some sleep before we land on… Coruscant?" she looked at the Jedi to confirm her memory.

Obi-Wan nodded. "Yes. It will be a long day if we must go before the Council."

Aradia frowned and gave up trying to sit up as her head began spinning. Her dark brown eyes reluctantly opened and she looked around the small cell she was located in with three other girls. With effort she remembered they were Lilly, Dreamin, and Alexa.

Alexa had gently begun polishing her flute. Dreamin was staring off into space, probably thinking what she'd to do Jareth for putting her in here.

And Lilly was still asleep under the effects of the interrogation droid.

Hadn't there been more girls before?

With effort, Aradia forced her unresponsive brain to remember. She'd suddenly found herself facing Jareth with several other women. He'd given them some stupid story about how they ought to help him win the galaxy from despotic Republic. She and several others had told him to go kick a goblin.

It had been herself, Lilly, Dreamin, Alexa, and Jade who had been ushered into Jareth's presence. Then they had been joined by… if only she could remember… Fairybite! Fairybite and two others… Kelly and Heather. They had all told Jareth they would never help him. Then they'd been brought into the cramped cell by the security droids and left alone. For a while.

Then Aradia had found herself being pulled out of the cell and down a maze of hallways to another room… she shuddered and shut off the memory. The interrogation had been terrible, but thankfully when you woke up after you didn't remember much.

Alexa looked up from her flute, her green eyes worried. "Aradia, are you okay?"

"Yeah, just kind of…" Alexa nodded understandingly. Dreamin blinked and looked at her friends, her eyes tearful.

"At least you came back. Jade hasn't. And they took Fairybite, Heather, and Kelly while they were still asleep."

"What is he doing with us?" Aradia asked.

The hissing of the door opening drew their immediate attention. They stared as Jade stepped in, tossing her dark brown hair at their astonished gazes.

Her green eyes sparkled coldly. "Well, how are the pets today?"

"Now, Jade, don't tease them so," a slender green-eyed brunette said mockingly.

"Selah!" Aradia cried and jumped up to meet her friend but stopped short as Selah drew her lightsaber from beneath her black cloak.

"Don't get any closer now, dear. I'm not a very good hair stylist with this," she said sweetly. Aradia, Dreamin, and Alexa backed away.

Several of the destroyer droids entered, and took a still-sleeping Lilly out.

"Selah, leave the pets alone. His lordship will be displeased if you do anything to them."

The other girl shrugged and deactivated her lightsaber, then spun and left, Jade half a step behind her. The door slid shut with an ominous click.

The three remaining listians stared at each other, speech the farthest thing from their minds.

Disclaimer: The listians are their own. Jareth belongs to Jim Henson. Star

Wars belongs to George Lucas.