o:o:o
While she'd been focusing, the Guardians had been scouting the nearby terrain for any sign of human passage. Cammi was good. She'd covered her tracks well, but the Guardians were specially trained military men, adept at reading even the slightest sign.
They found the trail heading up the arroyo and called on Phaelon to confirm it. Unconsciously, she slipped into something akin to the battlemeld used by Jedi pilots during the War, dividing herself between the Force, her fellow Jedi, and her surroundings.
It was slow going, but at least she was sure they were going in the right direction. One mistake could set them back hours, and they were on a tight schedule.
Finally, they came to a place where the sides of the arroyo shortened and they were able to see the surrounding countryside by the flashes of lightning.
Her trooper spotted it first. In a narrow depression, hidden in the shadows, sat a sleek light freighter with its engines warming carefully concealed amidst the rock. He beckoned Phaelon over, who surveyed it grimly. The Force told her Cammi and Jysella were nearby, possibly inside, but getting her out could be a problem.
On her command, the troops were to skirt around to the back of the craft and come at it from the rear, using the rocks to hide their approach and their heat signatures just in case Cammi had thermal imaging detectors.
Phaelon herself scurried over the intervening ground and dropped into the gully without a sound. When she had approached within a few meters of the ship with no reaction, it was obvious the slaver was watching her every move. Thankfully, she hadn't had time since her escape to modify the freighter, so there would be less of a chance of running into any extra weaponry.
Deactivated lightsaber in her hand, she walked towards the ramp, which lowered as she drew near. This was too easy.
o:o:o
Hello again, Jedi, Cammi's voice cackled from somewhere inside the ship. Did you really think you could waltz in here without my knowing about it? I've been watching you this whole time!
"I'm sure you have, Cammi," Phaelon replied, starting cautiously up the ramp.
She reached the top of the ramp without incident, when the slaver flatly stated, That's far enough, Jedi.
"Why don't you come out from wherever you're hiding so we can talk, Cammi," she suggested, nudging the girl's mind ever so subtly.
She snorted. Don't you try any of those funny little mind tricks on me, Jedi. I know how you Jedi operate. Oh no. I win this time.
Without warning, the ramp began to close. Pretty soon, I'll be gone, and you'll be dead, she continued smugly. You see, this whole thing is rigged to explode into itty-bitty, teenee-tiny pieces as soon as that ramp gets shut.
The ramp was already halfway shut. Cammi's insane laughter ringing in her ears, Phaelon scrambled up the incline and dove through the rapidly shutting opening. Tucking her shoulder, hit the ground and rolled, covering her head as the ramp snapped shut.
Nothing happened.
Cursing under her breath in a language to make the most foul freighter pilots blush, Phaelon got to her feet and brushed the dirt from her robes.
Reaching out with the Force, she realized Jysella's signature wasn't coming from the ship, but from inside a cave reaching back into the hillside.
Cammi wouldn't make a fool of her twice.
Assuring herself her lightsaber was within reach, she cautiously headed towards the cavern's mouth.
o:o:o