Chapter Eight


Thalladi Palace Security dragged the Jedi Knight from his cell and presented him in the throne room. Mer packed the large cavern wall to wall. The throne itself was empty, but beside it was Sheev, looking rather smug. The royal maidens were also present. Obi-Wan began to worry once he'd noticed that Padmé was not amongst them. He sincerely hoped nothing had happened to her. The last time they spoke, she was going to recover the lightsaber and hold it for safekeeping, but that was several hours ago.

The Knight was taken to a stone podium where his wrists were locked into shackles protruding from its base. He was forced to kneel in a submissive position, which was to be expected, he supposed. Realizing his freedom could be easily obtained through the Force, Obi-Wan decided to wait and watch; his curiosity getting the better of him.

A rather rotund Mer then entered the chamber, his pious and plump face pinched and deep wrinkles set into his scalp. His voice boomed inside of Obi-Wan's head as he announced the importance of his station and the appalling actions of the human in their midst.

"We will first listen to the accused," he told the congregation of Mer before spinning toward the Jedi. "Tell this court why you murdered our beloved Queen."

Nothing about this hearing was going to surprise Obi-Wan, although at the moment he was much more concerned about Padmé than he was his own immediate future. If she had been caught or worse, killed, it was all his fault! He shouldn't have asked for her help!

Obi-Wan told the truth, even being bold enough to accuse Sheev of the murder instead. Now would be a perfect time for her to show up with the lightsaber, he thought, but she was still nowhere to be seen.

Following his testimony, the supposed attorney took the liberty of not only scoffing his honesty, but he also made jokes of the human population as a whole, calling them zealots and genocidal maniacs. Although there were a few groups he knew that matched that description, Obi-Wan didn't argue. This trial was rigged and he knew that. Nothing he said was going to matter, although he did have one question.

"Where's the evidence of the crime? Other than the body, I mean? What proof do you have that it was I who committed this murder?"

Instead of answering him, the Mer posing as attorney, judge, and jury spun around toward the throne. "We will now hear testimony from our esteemed Advisor and Steward, Sheev."

The title of Steward was new, although it also wasn't a surprise. Sheev had wasted little time elevating himself following the Queen's death, although he wondered what Padmé had to say about that. She was of age and protocol dictated that she would take her mother's place. If only she were here. Her absence and this news caused Obi-Wan even more worry.

Sheev commenced to explain to everyone how the Jedi had managed to enter Kailana's chamber unaware prior to the treaty meeting, killed her, and hid her body inside her cathedra shell. Being a Jedi, he had plenty of opportunities to return to the surface and present himself as supporting Queen Jamilla and her human court. And besides, the physician's death report explained how the deadly wound had been cauterized, an injury that could only be caused by the weapon of the Jedi; the lightsaber.

Sheev produced Obi-Wan's weapon and switched it on for show. The audience gasped as the blue laser beam hummed and sparked beneath the water. The Jedi smiled. This hearing was going exactly as he had expected it would. There were very few surprises, except for one major one, which was subsequently presented as further evidence.

His mind was abruptly filled with the murmurings of hundreds of Mer and Obi-Wan twisted around, craning his neck to see what was causing all the chaos when he finally found what he'd been searching for.

Padmé had entered the chamber, although she wasn't alone. She was being escorted by Royal Guard members, and her hands were in chains. She had been stripped of all her jewels and gold, and even the golden and purple wrap that usually adorned her upper body was missing. She was placed before the Mer court essentially naked, and Obi-Wan immediately looked away.

A guard handed the attorney another lightsaber; the one Padmé had discovered in Sheev's private room. She obviously had been caught trying to retrieve it, and now had been drug into this farce of a trial, not as a witness, but as one of the accused.

Sheev held up the weapon and lit it as well, revealing its luminous red glow. He explained how they had discovered the maiden trying to hide it amongst the sacred tombs; how she and this human Jedi were working together so that she could obtain the throne. How she had killed her own mother for her own selfish ambitions. He told of the looks exchanged between her and the Jedi during his first meeting with the Queen; how Padmé had visited the human's prison cell not only once, but twice!

Again the disturbed murmurings filled Obi-Wan's head, driving out his most frantic thoughts. He had to figure out a way to get out of this mess and not only save his skin but Padmé's now as well!

He had never once worried about his own life. He had planned on freeing himself once they had chained him to become fodder for the Sando. He had even figured out a way to make it look as if he had been eaten. However, now that her life was in danger as well, all of his plans had changed.

"Guilty!" the Attorney's voice ricocheted in his mind, causing his head to begin to ache. "Take them both to the Sando!"

The crowd cheered as the Queen's assassins were roughly pulled from the throne room and taken toward the deeper caverns. The increasing pressure of the water caused Obi-Wan's head to ache even more and he struggled to equalize it.

The area designated for the sacrifice was obvious. There were numerous bones lying on the base of a large flat stone just ahead. Some were human while others were Mer. There were several poles with shackles secured into the stone, and they were both quickly locked into them.

"I'm so sorry," Padmé told him quietly.

Obi-Wan turned to look at her for the first time, keeping his gaze on her lovely face. There wasn't any fear in her expression, which didn't surprise him, only remorse.

"I wanted to help you, but I failed."

"Don't worry about it," he told her gently. "Things aren't as bad as they seem."

"Don't worry about it?" she scoffed lightly with half of a grin. "Have you ever seen a Sando Monster?

"Not yet, but I think I'm about to."

From a short distance, a loud roar was carried through the water, which caused the observing Mer to scatter. They were left alone although Obi-Wan imagined the witnesses were viewing the scene from close by. He had to make this look realistic, and he was only going to have one chance.

"When I'm free," he warned Padmé,"hold still. Whatever you do, don't move a muscle."

The giant creature was coming closer, although it wasn't swimming. It was actually walking across the ocean floor, its midbody reaching the same level as the sacrificial stone. Obi-Wan would therefore judge its height to be about thirty-five meters. Just above the Sando's chest were a pair of impressive arms that led to a broad neck. Its head was like an oversized lizard's with tiny eyes and a massive mouth full of rows of sharp teeth.

Once again the thing roared, Padmé screamed, and Obi-Wan called upon the Force.