"Yunda, what the hell is going on?"
She kept her face turned. Her lips parted for a moment for she could hardly believe what was taking place. Hadn't she finished this? "My name is not Yunda. It's…"
"I know it isn't now! Thordina?" Her name was spoken with the utter most sarcasm. "What kind of mess is this? You take off one night never to be seen again without one word as to where you are going!"
She knitted her brow. "You are not here to dig up the past! This is about my husband! Not about you or me!"
"Husband? Husband? I offered you everything! Did I not say that I would take that role? I laid my whole life before your feet and you threw it back in my face! To what; get married to some Senator?"
"Klip you know nothing about what happened!"
"Yes, I do!" He came closer, his hand gripping tightly on her arm. "Don't you give me that! You spurn me then expect me to just pick up and carry on like I never knew you? I have been trying that for forty years! It hasn't worked!"
She winced from his grip. This was not what she wanted at the moment nor was she equipped to handle it. Her hand pressed against his chest. "I did what I had to do! You're a Jedi Master now with not just one padawan but two. Your name is great! Do you think you would have had that if you came with me?"
"How do you…"
"I would visit the temple and watch you… from a distance. Every day was painful but I knew I had to move on. I moved on Klip! What good would it do for me to dwell on the past? Its over! I am married with two children who are bright and beautiful! I was not meant for the ways of the Jedi. This is what I was meant to be: a mother and a wife. You were destined for greatness. Not to be tied down by a family."
Klip released his grip from her arm. Now the conversation that the young Obi-Wan had rambled about was true but surely the boy didn't dream this. Could he have? That was years ago and was sure it was forgotten… though something weighed on his mind. "You left, why?"
"I needed to leave, it was the best decision."
"The council would not have just let you walk away. What was the reason? I know there had to have been one! No more lying Yunda, no more games! I think I deserve to know after all these years!"
"Klip…" Yunda lowered her head. Tears were now billowing into her eyes. She could not bear to tell him for she knew he would go ballistic. "I just left."
"So is this going to be like it was on the balcony years ago?"
"Klip!"
"Where you tear my heart out and stomp on it? I am not stupid and will not be played any longer! I bet you love him don't you? That wrinkly old man who is ready to crumple up and die?"
Her hand fluttered to her face to hide her sorrow. She didn't mean a word that she had uttered that day. Still to this day she felt guilty for telling Klip she didn't love him. Even now she wanted to collapse into his arms but she couldn't. She had to keep strong but why did she feel guilty for marrying Gavja? "Klip please stop!"
Klip gazed over his shoulder to see Yunda. She had both hands over her face but the tears still fell down and stained her sleeves. He wanted to reach out and comfort her but he would not. Pride grew deep over the years.
His lips parted for only a moment but they were closed. Klip gazed toward the door to see the young lady enter. She was alone this time. Her face was that of horror and her near blond locks were tangled. "My lady, my lady, please!" she shouted.
Yunda took in a deep breath. She turned to face the girl but it was evident that her tears were not of concern. "Serafina! What's the matter?"
"It's Azul and Flay!"
Now Yunda's eyes had grown wide with fear. Her hands gripped the shoulders of Serafina with fierceness. "What about them?"
"They were kidnapped! A woman appeared from around the corner and grasped him. The Jedi tried to stop her but…"
Serafina was cut short as Klip took off down out the door. He would let his senses guide him to Ze for he didn't know exactly where the group had taken the children to play.
There was no doubt that Yunda and Serafina were behind him but he couldn't think about them now. Ze was more important. He had learned that a padawan grows to be more like a son or daughter. Having a padawan and not forming a bond was madness.
He was now outside and gazing about. There was no one but a group of people. Ze's presence could not be felt anywhere but he was alive; Klip knew that for sure. He turned to the girl. "Where is Ze?"
"He took off after her in an air taxi."
Klip closed his eyes. He didn't want his day to be filled with stress, yet here was the teeth clincher. Regaining his stamina, Klip nodded his head. "Your son and daughter will be home shortly."
Before Yunda could say another word, Klip had disappeared among the clusters of people. He had begun a race to the speeder he had leant from the Temple. Using air taxis wasn't his thing.
When he had reached the docking bay, Klip found his vehicle. Speeding was not going to be a problem. He had snuck out many nights to race against the scum of the earth for thrills and he thought this would be no different.
He let the force guide him through the maze of tall buildings. Ze and the kidnapper must be miles away, he thought.
Reaching out with the force, Klip finally grasped hold of Ze. He would not let go as he took short cuts and zoomed past bystanders. There was no time to waste when he felt the child's confusion.
Suddenly an air taxi appeared to his right, nearly crashing into the side of the speeder. Klip turned to see Ze in the driver's seat. Once again his padawan had done a 'no, no'. Stealing was not looked kindly upon even if it was needed.
Klip set his eyes forward. He spotted the speeder which Ze had been chasing after and took the lead. The woman turn a quick left turn though Klip was not so easily fooled. Following close behind, the Jedi pulled out his lightsaber. He was not going to chase her all day! The young days of endless chase scenes were old to him.
The green saber flashed as it was turned on. Klip threw the lightsaber, as if it were a javelin, toward the speeder ahead. He used the force to steer it to a panicle point in the system's engine. Blowing up the speeder was not his intension but rather just to damage it enough that the woman had to land or fry.
Orion gazed to the boy and girl beside her. They both wouldn't stop crying but the worst thing of all was that she couldn't hurt or damage them. Suddenly there was a crashing sound. Her orbs fluttered to the front of her speeder. A lightsaber had been lodged in her engine! "Stupid Jedi!" she hollered.
There was no other choice then to land. Smoke was billowing in the windshield and blocking her vision. Her hand reached out to grab Flay. She wiggled but still kept her grip on her little brother. "Let go of me!" cried the eight year old.
Azul's face was wet with tears as he cried louder. "Mommy!"
Orion took two wires from her utility belt and hooked one to Flay and one to Azul. The girl put up a good fight but not the younger. When she had both secured, the bounty hunter pressed a button. The roof of the vehicle popped open. She pulled both children tight to her side and pressed another button which was located on her belt.
A burst of energy came from her jet pack and sent them flying into the air. Orion kept focused for the game was not over yet.
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