Chapter 17
In the main chamber of the Underground Fortress, Arriette, Emory, Annika, and Coram waited for the transmission. Moments later, Mai Lin materialized in front of them.
"Masters Merian and Tiana, Senator Ballastiodes and Governor Schualberke have asked me to contact you. They are tying up loose ends and are not available at the moment. I received your transmission and passed it on to the Senator. He is very pleased with the capture of the Jedi and gives his approval for you to begin the interrogation. Report back once you have extracted the information." Mai Lin disappeared.
"You didn't tell them that the Jedi we captured was just an apprentice," stated Coram.
Arriette looked at him. "There is no sense in telling them something that doesn't need to be told." She turned to Emory. "We have our orders, then. Shall we begin the preparations?"
"Of course. Annika and Coram, go make yourselves useful."
The two apprentices shared a look and started after their Masters.
Darsha Assant sighed in frustration. They had been searching for the clearing for nearly two hours and they were no closer to finding Arryn then they had been before.
"It's too dark to see properly!" cried Anaria out of disappointment. "How can we find Arryn if it is pitch black out? Even with glow rods, I still don't know where I'm going."
Darsha understood the girl's feeling of disappointment. Anaria's best friend was being held captive by Sith lords and the Jedi were helpless.
"May be we should head back for the night." Suggested Siri. "We could resume our search tomorrow morning, first thing."
Elantra looked grim. "I'm not leaving until we find her."
Anaria spoke up. "With Ysalamiri, it will be incredibly difficult to find her. Her Force abilities will be limited, if even possible."
Elantra heaved a sigh. "Fine, I suppose you're right. But I will be up at dawn tomorrow."
Siri smiled. "You're a good friend, Elantra."
Coram had never seen anything bigger than the torture device he was looking at. "What is that… thing?" asked Annika, coming up behind him.
"That thing is the torture device." He retorted sardonically.
"I'm not stupid, I know that! Does it have a name?" Annika asked coldly. Coram shrugged. "I have no idea."
Annika shivered. "Well, I'm glad I'm not the one who is going to be stuck in there." Coram nodded in agreement.
"And I'm glad you are not, too," said a voice behind the two Sith apprentices. Coram and Annika turned to see two men dressed in expensive, fine garments. The apprentices knew exactly who the men were. "G…Governor Schualberke, S…S…Senator Ballastiodes, I had no idea…" Coram stuttered. Remembering their manners, the two bowed to the politicians.
"Please, rise, Coram Nelamin and Annika Lia," said the older and shorter of the two, Governor Willis Schualberke. He stepped forward. "Isn't impressive? It took three teams of my best scientists to create this masterpiece. We called it FearMaster Prototype XIV 004566, but 'Torture Device' will do just fine."
Coram smiled, relieved to see that Governor Schualberke had a sense of humour. Arriette and Emory entered and surveyed the scene before realizing that the Governor and Senator were present.
"How good of you to come," said Arriette tensely. "I had no idea we were expecting visitors. Please forgive our unfortunate lack of luxury here."
"Not a problem at all, my dear," said Senator Ballastiodes. Annika made a face at his oily demure, but regained her composure before addressing him.
"If you will excuse me for interrupting, is there anything I can get you? Perhaps a glass of Juma Juice?"
"No thank you, Annika, but perhaps you could show me the prisoner. I'd much like to see the Jedi," replied Governor Schualberke. Annika looked at Senator Ballastiodes to see if he concurred with the Governor, but all she could make from his expression was a sense of authority.
"Very well. The prisoner is this way." Annika led the group through the underground tunnels to the prisoner's chambers.
"Master Arriette, what are we to do? Won't the Senator and Governor find out that the Jedi is only a Padawan?" asked Coram in a whisper.
"There is nothing we can do now. I only hope they will be…forgiving." Arriette answered faintly. She turned to Emory and whispered, "'They were tying up loose ends,' Mai Lin said. I am so glad to know that we are regarded as nothing more than a 'loose end.'" Emory nodded at her satire. "I know exactly what you mean."
Annika keyed in the password and the door to the prison cell slid open. Arryn, still tied to the chair, reeled at the number of visitors awaiting her.
"This…this is the captured Jedi?" stormed Senator Ballastiodes.
Emory spoke up meekly, "Yes, Senator."
"It is only a child!" The Senator exclaimed furiously.
Arriette fervently tried to lobby for their position. "Yes, but this is an exceptional Padawan. She was able to sense Emory as being a Sith far before anyone else, even the three Masters and other Padawans that accompanied her!"
Arryn smiled when she heard this. She had a small advantage over the Sith and the politicians. They greatly underestimated her abilities as being just a Padawan.
"We will see if your little girl is as intelligent as you say she is." The Senator went over to Arryn. "Tell me where the other fleeing members of your order are!" Arryn kept her face perfectly still, but raised her chin in defiance.
"I said, tell me now!" the Senator shouted. Arryn's lips twisted into a smirk. She shook her head as if to mock him. "I'll never tell," she said in a singsong voice. Immediately, she regretted doing that. Arryn had not yet been educated in what to do if she were captured by enemy forces, but she had a feeling it was not that.
Arryn saw the Senator's hand coming toward her, but she didn't react fast enough. It connected with her face with a loud crack. Tears automatically sprang to her eyes. She could feel a bruise start to form under her left eye. Coram, watching from the hallway, covered his eyes.
"I ask you again. Where have the fleeing Jedi gone?" he said in a dangerously quiet voice. Arryn remained silent in part as a punishment for the slapping, but also to remain in control.
"That's it, I've had it with the brat. Take her to the Torture Device." Said Senator Ballastiodes as he stalked out.
Emory quickly unknotted the ropes that held Arryn to the chair. "Get up." He growled in her ear. Seeing no other choice; she had no lightsaber and minimal, if any use of the Force; she stood and walked to face her doom.