Judgment of a path: Observer's reckoning

Chapter 4

Days, hours, minutes. It was all the same to Vonta as she woke from a dreamless sleep.

At the moment cognitive thought is restored she bolted up right.

Glancing from side to side she found that she was in a place other then that cavernous hall. It appeared to be a small room. A fluorescent type of off white light illuminated the room from a singular source on the ceiling. It was circular, with a diameter of roughly 15 meters. She was laid out in a bed and was covered only with a blanket that she clutched close to her to cover her bare chest. In front of her was a doorway shaped like an arch.

The layout of the room struck her as curious, it was more organic then technological. But the analysis of the new architectural style would have to wait. She gathered her blankets so that the form a robe. She turns and rises from the bed as quietly as possible.

The ease in which she arose surprised her. Last thing she remembered was passing out from injuries so dire that even the reinforcement of the force was not enough to keep her conscious.

"Escape is not a recommended course of action Ms. Horn."

Turning on her left foot she faces the unexpected presence that speaks to her. It stood where moments ago no one had been.

Holding her makeshift robe of a blanket; with one hand she strikes a defensive stance. On the other side of the bed sits one of the mysterious animal-like Aing-tii. The voice in Vonta's head was feminine. She saw several of them before but she could not identify any distinct sexual differences.

She eyes this being before her, she could take this one hostage and then,

"Fighting me is not recommended either." The female voice speaks anticipating Vonta's intentions.

"Consider this, if you managed to get past me what would you do? Find an escape pod to get a message to allies? Fight off every last one of us until you gain control of this vessel?" She let a silence hang in the air to allow the human to consider her words.

"How do you expect to run from a capture that kidnapped you from thousands of light years away?"

Vonta had no words to answer that question, for this sentients argument was sound. There was no place to run from a race of teleporters. She drops her defensive posture. Her body became more relaxed and her free hand falling beside her thigh.

"I would at least like to know why I am naked and where my clothes are." She states in resignation of her current situation.

"I knew that you would be a smart one." Came the lilting female voice that spoke in Vonta's mind.

"You were injured when you arrived and we had to heal you. It was necessary to remove your clothing."

The female raised her hand gesturing at the bed. A space of air shimmered for a moment and then solidified into a small bundle.

"Your clothing is mended as well as we could manage."

Vonta went to the bundle finding her undergarments, pants shoes, robe, and even her cortosis body armor. Upon closer examination she saw that it all looked brand new, as if it had never seen the combat that had left if in total disrepair when she last wore them.

She glances at her captor indicating that she would like to dress without a pair of eyes watching.

"Ah yes of course." The female Aing-tii looked away as Vonta dressed her self.

That done she continues on.

"Now, Aing-tii," She experiments with the word still perplexed that the mysterious race would seek her out, "I demand to know what business you have with me that would justify kidnapping me?"

"Your mission of course." She answers as a matter of factuality.

"My mission?" The human answered.

There was a brief silence the, armor-plated head and large eyes seemed to wonder off into thought for a moment before continuing. "You seek out what was lost and what more you seek it out with the guidance of the force. The force has many shades and has existed for as long as life has roamed the galactic spanses. There were those that harnessed the force before any of the current orders began. In these times the force was used and harnessed as a weapon in many cases, with unbridled destructive potential. Other darker sects have powers that are so horrible that they are best left lost. You seek to find all that is lost so far you have found that which is connected to the light. But we must be sure that you are ready for the trials that you well face in the future."

The human Jedi took in every word digesting each consequence and meaning. "And should I prove unworthy?"

The female looked away. "We well cross that path when, or if, it comes to that."

Vonta thought back upon where she had been when she was pulled to this place, "Are those that let others die to satisfy their own judgments, are they then worthy?"

She bore the question in the air, contempt for her captors evident in her rhetorical question. The Aing-tii were serving some higher purpose. A purpose so high that they considered themselves above saving lives. Beings like this that made such judgments were, in her experience the most dangerous and unpredictable beings of all.

The Female Aing-tii made no remark on Vonta's question of ethics, "Come the council has summoned you."

The archway door slides open. And Vonta exits her quarters with an ominous feeling in her gut.