Chapter Seventeen-Falling (part two)
Mira sat on the work bench, watching the Iridonian as he walked slowly around the garage, inspecting the ship. Every now and then he would shake his head and mutter to himself. T3-M4 whirred around his ankles, like some sort of pet, a replacement for his remote, Mira wondered.
"Breeee broooo deeet?" the astromech droid enquired inquisitively.
"Now, I wasn't saying that. All I said was that the ship looks like its not been taken of," Bao-dur replied quietly to the droid at his feet.
"Breeep deet broooo breeee?"
Bao-dur sighed in annoyance, "I didn't say you, did I? You are behaving very erratically…when was the last time you had a memory wipe?"
"Dwwoooooo ooooooooooo," T3 cried in alarm.
Bao-dur smiled, and leaning down, he patted the droid affectionately. The droid backed away quickly in alarm, and scurried out of the garage. "What's with him?" he frowned.
Mira laughed at the scenario playing out before her, "Hey, you would be wary if all you had had for company recently was Atton…."
He walked across to where Mira sat, "Yeah, I did notice that he crashed the ship, again…."
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In the deep dark gloom of the torture room, the young blonde Jedi hung limply from the Force bonds that encircled his wrists. Bruising on his face showed lividly against the pale contrast of his skin, blood dripped slowly from a gash across his forehead. He glanced up wearily as the dark form approached him, its face covered by its dark opaque face mask.
"What do you want from me?" he asked weakly.
"I want the Jedi that escaped. You will tell me of her."
"I will tell you nothing."
"If you do not tell us, we will force the answer out of you…we have means."
The young Jedi raised his head, and stared at the dark Lord with defiance shining in his bright blue eyes, "I will not betray her," he said quietly.
"Ah, your love for her is a noble thing, but it will not save you," he walked across and raised his arm, touching the Jedi's head slightly with his gloved hand, "We will know of her, and of the others that follow her."
"You will learn nothing from me."
He placed his hand firmly on the young mans skull, watching with amusement as his eyes rolled up whitely in their sockets and crimson dripped from between his pale lips, "Young fool," he hissed, "your love will lead her here. Are you blind to that?"
Jennra opened her eyes, and sat bolt upright in her bunk. She gazed around the small dormitory, not knowing where she was. Trembling, she slid from the bed and pulled her robe on. She sat with her head in her hands, tears spilling down her cheeks.
A figure stepped into the room hesitantly, "Are you alright?"
Jennra glanced up, hot tears blurring her eyes, "Yes, I'm okay, Mical."
"No, you are not," he walked across and sat on the bed next to her, "What is it?" he asked gently.
Jennra glanced at him, and then looked away, staring at the floor. Images of him being tortured flooded her senses, and fearfully, she pushed herself away from him.
"Have I done something to upset you?" he frowned, "If I have then I would rather you say…"
"No, its not you. It's me. I…I'm just having bad dreams, that's all. It's nothing," she replied, wiping her eyes with the hem of her robe.
He looked across at her, taking her hand between his, "It is not nothing, Jennra, these dreams. I know, Bao-dur has spoken of them."
She angrily pushed his hand away, "He had no right!"
"He is concerned about you, as I am"
"You are better off without me, Mical," she answered him harshly; "You should never have come here. I…I didn't want you here."
"I do not believe that. I am glad that I came."
She shook her head sadly, "You don't know what it is that you say." Your love for her is a noble thing, but it will not save you, she felt tears run down her cheeks as she remembered the words from her dream.
Mical pulled her to him, and wrapped his arms tightly around her, "I will not leave you again Jennra," he replied firmly.
She glanced up at him, "But how do you know that?"
"I just do," he said, kissing her gently on the lips.
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Atton walked past the dormitory, and stopped in the entrance as he noticed the two entwined Jedi. He felt the hatred curl in his heart and demand release.
"He is taking her from you…"
Atton glared hotly at Mical, then turned and strode from the dormitory, walking instead towards the garage.
The fake smile died on his lips as he saw Mira sat on the work bench laughing with Bao-dur, who was leant close towards her.
"See, even the huntress betrays you."
Atton's smile tightened into a hard line. He slunk quietly away, to the safety of his bunk in the far dormitory.
"All alone, poor little Atton."
"Shut up," he retorted angrily, raking his hand though his hair. Why can't I shut her out of my head?
"I have always been here, Atton. Ever since you choked the life out from me. My crime? For showing you the beauty of Force…and now your punishment is that you will never be able to turn away from it, you will always feel it, even when you do not wish to. Some things remain for a reason; perhaps I am, shall we say, your guide on the path you now walk."
Atton lay down on his bunk, idly picking up an old holonovel.
"You can't shut me out, Atton."
He glanced up as he felt the bed move next to him. A spectral figure sat next to him, her eyes glowing a luminous glacial blue.
"Oh great! So now I see you…uh, what next?" he threw the holonovel at the wall, where it clattered loudly to the floor. Angrily, he grabbed at the shimmering figure, his eyes narrowing as his hands passed through her insubstantial frame.
"Oh, you cannot hurt me; I am far beyond that now."
He sighed bitterly, "What do you want from me?"
"I only want you to see your destiny, Atton…to become what you should have, all those long dark years ago."
"No, I stopped all that…she helped me."
"Tell what lies you like, but only you know the truth. She was nothing; she only awoke what was already there….what I showed you. But, no, you must now turn away from all that. There is a different way…"
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Jennra stood silently waiting for the crew to assemble in the main hold. She still felt perturbed by her dream, and the urgency of it compelled her in her search for Revan. Together, we will wipe out this threat, she thought determinedly.
Mical sat quietly in a chair next to her, lending her his unspoken support. She fought back the temptation to ruffle his hair, instead turning her mind back on the task in hand.
Mira and Bao-dur came in together, deep in conversation. Jennra smiled, she remembered the attachment the red head padawan woman and the tech had had several years previously. They had seemingly flowed back into their old former friendship easily, as if time had no meaning. Visas walked in serenely behind. Atton came in last, from the opposite direction. Jennra glanced at him, he did not raise his head to look at her, instead, he slumped untidily in a spare seat some distance from the group. She noticed with great concern, how old he was looking, his skin tone was pale, dark smudges ringed his downcast eyes, and he had a general sense of unease about him that shone through, even without the use of Force sight. Jennra made a mental note to have a few words with him in private.
"As you are aware, there is a subtle threat on this planet, which" she frowned, "could cause great repercussions for all of us, maybe even to the Republic. We are conscious of the large Sith cruiser that patrols in the heavens, and the fact that there is a dark presence on board-signifying the possibility of a new Sith master." she glanced about her, "They have a large military facility, where I was a captive not so long ago. Bao-dur has been watching the facility for some time, and has gathered a lot of valuable information," she smiled at the tech, whom lowered his head in embarrassment at the obvious pride she felt for him.
"We need to find Revan, and the Mandalorian troops. The last I saw of her was a few days ago…maybe a week. They were camped near an old disused temple. I am afraid that it is going to be quite a walk to get to where she last was, and for all I know, they might have moved on from that area. But, we need to go back there, and from there we can track them, and with the help of Visas and Juhani, we should hopefully be able to sense Revan through the Force," she sighed deeply, running her hand through her hair. "She has to be alerted to the presence of the military facility."
"When do we leave, General?"
She smiled wanly, "We leave today. The longer Revan is unaware of the danger she faces, the more risk there is for her, and the Mandalorians. Pack what equipment and weaponry you think we will need, Bao-dur."
"And what of the Ebon hawk?" Atton asked sullenly.
"We will leave the droids on board. HK-47 will be a more than adequate defence, and T3 will carry on with repairs."
Atton stood up, "So, I guess that's it then?" he gestured with one hand, "Well, lead on, fearless leader…"
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Jennra walked into the women's shared dormitory with a heavy heart. Part of her wished to forget all about Revan and the Mandalorians and the Sith, and to fly back to the safety of Dantooine in the Ebon Hawk, leaving all the worries and nightmares behind. She sighed, knowing that was something that she would never do. She would not leave the steadfast Mandalorians, and her superior, Revan. She would sacrifice herself gladly for anyone of them.
She pulled a kit bag from an overhead locker, and started packing spare clothes and equipment in to it. The door opened behind her, and someone stepped in, closing the door softly behind them. She smiled as she sensed Mical's gentle presence through the Force.
He walked in and stood close behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning his head against hers. She leant back wards into him, gathering strength from his solid, reassuring presence. They stood that way for sometime without speaking.
He kissed the side of her head, and sat down on her bunk, watching as she continued to pack items away
"Are you sure you have packed enough?" he indicated the bulging pack that she was still filling.
She smiled in embarrassment, "Ah, when you have spent just short of three years with rapidly dwindling supplies, you can appreciate my greed."
"Come and sit with me a minute," he patted the space next to him on the bed.
Jennra fastened the pack, and lifted it on to the floor. She sat next to him, leaning her head against his shoulder.
"There is something that I wish to ask you. I promised myself that I would, if we found you. And now seems the right time."
She pushed away slightly, staring at him in confusion, "What is it?" she asked warily.
He looked at her and flushed brightly, "I…I only hope you feel the same way as I do," he murmured apologetically.
She rolled her eyes at him, "Just ask….what's the worst that I could say?"
He sat back from her, and stared at his hands, "When we get back…to Dantooine, I wondered if…if you would consent to become my wife…of course, I can understand if you would rather not…"
She smiled shyly at him, "Yes," she replied softly, her heart hammering in her chest.
"…it might be too soon, and we have not seen each other for over two years. And I imagine that it will not go down well with the council, but it is a promise that I made to myself when you left."
Jennra slipped her arms around his neck, "I said yes," she replied softly, pulling him closer.
He glanced down into her dark brown eyes, and smiling slowly he kissed her.
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"Already to go, General?" Bao-dur whispered quietly.
Jennra glanced back at the silent hulk of the Ebon Hawk with a lump in her throat, and turned to the tech stood next to her, "Yes, as ready as I'll ever be."
"Lead on, General!" he smiled at her.
She shouldered her heavy pack, and walked resolutely forward, with Mical and Bao-dur either side of her. Visas and Mira walked slowly behind, their lightsabers out at the ready. Atton followed in the rear, a scowl on his face.
"You must make your move. Critical times approach. You must strike before she finds Revan."
Atton shook his head, "I will do it in my own time," he muttered silently, "It will be when he least expects it."
"Good. Then make sure that you do…and do it right this time. There can be no margin for error. She must not know how it happens, for if she does, then it could be your death, and not his that comes so swiftly."
"Shush," he whispered, "She is coming…"
Jennra walked across to Atton, "Hey," she smiled at him, "We haven't had much time to talk…"
"Yeah, well you've been to busy with your boyfriend. How comes you're not walking with him?"
Jennra frowned at him, "Atton, there's no need to be like that."
"Yeah, you're right kiddo. Look, I'm sorry, it's just been such a trying time lately, you know how things have been."
She stared at the ground as they walked, "You're right," she touched his arm briefly, "It's good to see you again, Atton. I guess I had forgotten how much I had missed all of you, my friends," she replied, smiling warmly at him.
Friends, he thought bitterly, "Well, it's good to have you back," he smiled, his eyes straying past her, to stare at the figure of the hated blonde Jedi walking in the lead with the Iridonian. "I will make it up to you though. I can promise you that much. I will always be there for you, Jennra-even if things get tough," which I can assure you they will…