A Test of Faith
Chapter 17 - The Queen's Wrath
The Simaran Colicoids took them back a route that none of the three Jedi had used before. It began with a long, narrow tunnel (which was most awkward to drag a six foot five Jedi through, Jinn had to mention) then opened up into a vast cavern, filled with gigantic pillars of solid, blue rock. They had to cross a large chasm over a rather fine bridge (the three had to walk sideways across that), then followed an underground stream into another huge chamber, filled with shining rocks and an unpleasant smell of sulphur.
"This is the schafescht route," Female had told them along the way, "We do not want to rischk coming under further attack, if posschible. If we are followed, the Schohta Colicoidsch will be at a dischadvantage. We know thisch territory better than they."
Allyaah hoped that what Female told them were true. The longer their journey went without interruption, or so much as a sneeze, however, the more she was inclined to believe her. Serenn seemed to be perking up a little, but he was still very weak, and had said barely a word throughout the trek, which was most unlike him. Jinn was quite lively, but the unerring sense of foreboding that affected Allyaah seemed to be touching him, too.
They stopped for a brief respite near a tiny, little underground spring, from which the three drank. The water was clean, if nothing else.
"Something's wrong."
Allyaah and Qui looked at Serenn from where they knelt by the spring - it was the first time he'd spoken in hours. He sat up a little from his slouched position by the wall, "A shadow grows in my mind, ever darker. We're being followed."
"You should have been a poet, Master," Jinn joked.
But Serenn couldn't even find it within himself to smirk right now. He just looked away and stared into space.
The next leg of their journey seemed to go on forever, and they were all beginning to wonder whether the Simaran Colicoids actually knew where they were going. None of them spoke and the atmosphere around them seemed to only get heavier and heavier. Qui-Gon was beginning to look like he could use a nice, long nap, whilst Serenn looked set to go into a tantrum if anyone crossed his line. Allyaah tried to hold herself strong in the tense gloom, but found herself itching with frustration within.
After another couple of hours, they emerged into yet another vast chamber, and this one finally seemed to be leading them upwards; at the far side, a pathway inclining toward the surface stretched far up into the ceiling, and the sight of it lightened the hearts of the three Jedi.
"We are directly below your schip," Female said, "The winding pathway yonder leadsch to the schurface. It takesch a good hour or scho to reach that far, but it isch the schafescht way out for you."
Allyaah could see that Jinn wanted to run on ahead, and she let him wander forward for a little whilst she lowered Serenn again to the ground and sat by him, taking a break before the ascent.
"Yesch, you are wische to rescht firscht," Female nodded, "For the path will tire you." She assembled her group nearby and sat down herself, her tripod of legs curling beneath her, "When you are ready, we schall eschcort you to the schurface."
Jinn was staring up the pathway, almost as though hoping to catch a glimpse of sunlight.
Allyaah smiled at him, "You have a fine apprentice," she said to Serenn as she wrapped her arms about her knees and hugged them to her chest, "He's going to make a fine Jedi."
Serenn smiled faintly, "Better than me, I hope."
"Equal to you, maybe."
"No, he will be better."
She shook her head gently, "If you say so."
Serenn pushed his hair back over his shoulders and wiped his eyes, "I can't rest. I feel uneasy."
Allyaah nodded, feeling the same, "Me too."
"I'm going to give Vance such a grilling when we get back…"
"Oh, Serenn…"
He gave her a stinging look, "He insisted upon us coming here, the ignorant fool."
"Yes, but so did several other members of the High Council. Let it be."
"You're too passive," he insisted, "We could all be dead by now. I can't just 'let things be', not like you."
She gave him a frown, "Sometimes we have to recognise when to, and when not to, act."
"Are you calling me reckless?"
"Yes, and you know you are, so don't take it as an insult."
"I don't. I'm proud of it."
"Well, you shouldn't be. Your protégé's amazing, but he's going the same way."
"Yes… crazy, long hair and all."
Allyaah couldn't help it - Serenn had added the last remark so dryly, she had to giggle. He seemed to soften a little at that and finally let his guard down; "I'm sorry…" he sighed, "I'm just so sick of this place."
"I know," she said, looking between him and Qui-Gon, "Do you really think he'll grow his hair when he's a Jedi Knight?"
"Oh yes," Serenn nodded, "He told me that's what he wanted."
"And a beard?"
Serenn shrugged, "Probably."
"He'll look just like you."
"Hmm…he may."
Qui-Gon was getting bored of searching for the light at the end of the tunnel, and, with a deep sigh, turned back toward the camp. He trudged along the floor and when he made the halfway point, he heard his Master call; "No sight of the sky yet, Qui?"
He shook his head, "No, Master, not yet."
Suddenly, the Force hit him unlike he'd ever felt it hit him before. Qui-Gon froze and saw the ground beneath him crack open in his mind. He felt it ripple through his body and heard the screeching roar of a colossal beast as it tore up through the floor. By the looks he briefly saw on Allyaah and Dooku's face, they were feeling something similar or the same.
Without a second though, Qui-Gon vaulted across the floor and rolled to a halt by a pillar in the ground as the foundations all around them began to rumble. Female and her group shot to their feet and began chirping to each other rapidly, small heads spinning about, searching for the source of the disturbance.
There was a deafening 'crack' as a fissure appeared in the ground and, just as Jinn had seen in his thoughts moments before, a furious screeching rose up from the perforation. Qui-Gon put his hands to his ears as the sound reverberated about the cavern, it being something as pleasant to the ears as fingernails on a blackboard, and it was followed shortly by the rising of a monster from below!
Serenn had found some strength within him that pushed him to his feet and made him drag both Allyaah and Qui-Gon back from the creature as it emerged fully, dust and debris settling around it - it was the Sohta nest's Queen.
The Simaran group all screeched in return, their shells rising in hostility.
Soon, following the Queen from the fissure, came hundreds of Sohta Colicoids, rolling around their monarch and flipping up into their attack postures, ready to battle. The squawking and squealing between all the Colicoids was quite unbearable, but more so was the fact that the three Jedi would not be escaping any time soon when the Sohta Queen and her soldiers blocked the exit…
"Leaving scho schoon?" the Queen rumbled, the great, flaccid creature with the scythe-like claws that Serenn recalled all too well…
"I hate creatures that insist on using clichéd irony," Serenn muttered as his hand flew to his lightsabre.
"You're not helping yourself," Allyaah warned him, grasping his hand before it reached his weapon and giving him a sharp glare.
He shook her grip from him, "It's my choice, Allyaah," he said, "I will fight."
"You can hardly walk…"
"The Force is with me."
"But that's doesn't really help… you know it can't sustain you forever."
He nodded, "I know."
She gave up and took her own 'sabre into her hand, stepping in front of Qui-Gon, who was already clutching his. The Queen was surrounded by what looked like thousands of Sohta Colicoids, and Jinn suddenly felt quite outnumbered. Female's small entourage was hardly enough to help them get through this motley crew.
"We fight till the lascht," Female nodded to the three, "And we bade you farewell. If you ever schee the light again, do not forget usch. Do not forget the Colicoisch who helped you."
Allyaah and Serenn gave them a nod, and marched forward with her into the jaws of the dragon…
TBC…