Author's note: Here, finally, is chapter 6! Sorry for the long wait, but I had MAJOR writer's block. Thank my sister, whose penname is JainaSkylar, for the suggestion she gave that gave me my inspiration. Also, thank Katieelessar! She PM'd me to make sure I hadn't fallen off the face of the Earth, which made me realize that it had been FIVE FREAKIN' MONTHS since the last update…
THIS CHAPPIE IS DEDICATED TO DarthGladiator45!
Caryna's head buzzed and she moaned softly as she woke up. She pressed a hand lightly to her aching head and felt a bump, where her attacker had struck her with the hilt of his lightsaber. She looked herself over, checking for other injuries, but only found a minor burn on her upper arm from a lightsaber. She sat back wearily, leaning her aching head against the wall and closing her eyes, willing the thumping in her head to stop and trying to block it out.
After a moment or two, the thumping slowed, and seconds later, it stopped. Then she opened her eyes, and began to examine her surroundings, an action that was difficult because it was so dark. Her eyes quickly adjusted, and she realized she was in a dungeon of sorts. It was furnished with a hard cot with a flat pillow and thin blanket, and was dank and musty. In the corner she saw a hole- apparently her toilet. In front of her sat a tray with stale water and a vile, thin stew with chunks of rotting meat and vegetables floating in it. She turned her nose at the food, though she did drink the water. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a protein cube and a strip of dried meat and ate them. She was always taught to carry something with her, especially now, with the recent conflicts on her planet. She had to be prepared for anything.
Caryna looked up as her keen sense of hearing picked up footsteps approaching. She tensed up and stood shakily, but her trembling was due to a combination of anger and weakness, not fear. She scowled as the footsteps approached her cell. The door slid open and a man dressed in black stepped inside.
"So, the princess has finally awoken," he sneered, bowing mockingly to her.
She gave him a look that clearly said 'Let me go!', and though her face remained calm, passive, inside she was absolutely seething with pure rage. "As the Princess and ruling party of Corellia, I order you to let me go!"
The man laughed evilly, and there was an eerie tone to his voice. She couldn't put a finger on why she thought that, but she was determined not to let it bother her. "I don't think so, Princess! What would be the fun in that? No, I have different plans for you!" With that, he let out another evil laugh as he stalked out of the room.
Caryna sighed as she slumped onto the cot. The light in the room was getting slowly but steadily darker. She remembered the sun setting before she was attacked, so this either meant that she had been out of it for a day or several days, or she was on another side of the planet, or both. One of the three.
The princess began to feel sleep poking at her senses as she tried desperately to figure out where she was and what day it was, but her efforts were in vain as she drifted off to sleep.
Xanatos marched back to the communications room. He started a transmission, and a man's hidden face showed on the screen. "Lord Gastaran, report."
"The princess has awakened, Lord Sidious."
"You should know that the two Jedi are on your trail."
"I am aware of that, my Lord. In fact, I was about to call in reinforcements- others that don't want the princess, or any person that is not Human, for that matter, on the ballot for the election in three days. They should slow them down a significant amount- enough for us to do what needs to be done," Xanatos finished with a cruel grin.
"Make sure they do, Gastaran, or you will suffer. Remember what happened to my last apprentice."
"I give you my word of honor, my Lord and Master, the Jedi shall suffer!"
"Good. Now get back to your business. I have other things to tend to myself. Contact me when the work is complete."
"Yes, Master." The transmission ended and Xanatos sent a message to well-known bounty hunters nearby There was to be a ten million credit reward paid to the one who brought him the head of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"I'll deal with Qui-Gon myself."
Well, there you go. I'll try not to wait five months before posting the next update. Luv y'all, and please review. How many reviews I get will determine the next chappie's priority… oh, and I may change the category this story is in, as I just found the JA category, and if I do, I will do it RIGHT before posting the next chappie. I will also PM all of you to let you know. Thanks for reading!