Chapter 14

"What did you find?" Ari asked as she met with Mara. She found herself a bit tired and knew it was not just due to the stress, but also the pregnancy. She also caught herself putting her hand over her stomach. She could still sense the two lives she carried. Though she could understand the concern that everyone had for her, she was not about to just sit back when she could be doing something. However, she was fairly certain in another month some of this would be a lot more difficult.

"It is like a fortress, but I did see one opening that we might be able to use. Did you find anything?"

Ari shook her head. "It is locked up tightly. I can sense beings inside too. I imagine some of them might be guards."

"If those troopers are any indication, probably a lot of them," Mara said.

"So let's see that opening that you found," Ari suggested.

Mara let toward a side area and then pointed up. "That air vent."

Ari watched what she was pointing at and frowned. "That's not exactly easy to reach." It was at least twenty feet off the ground and it would be a tight squeeze for them to move through, especially not knowing where they would end up.

"We can't just go through the front door," Mara protested.

Ari sighed and nodded. "Alright. How do we get up there?"

Mara pulled a grappling hook off her belt. "With this and the Force."

"And the bags?" Ari asked.

"We can push them in front of us," Mara said.

The two young women looked up as Mara tossed the hook, catching it easily with a little help from the Force.

Mara looked at Ari who motioned for the red head to go first.

Mara started to climb, making it look easy with the Force.

When she got to the top, she managed to unfasten the grating. Once that was done, she tossed her bag into the opening and motioned for Ari to follow before disappearing after the bag.

Ari climbed up the cord, walking up the side of the wall. She had seen others do this without the Force, but she was using the Force to help. She got up to the vent, a bit clumsy, but quickly. She slid through the opening and she had been right. It was small, but they should be able to make it through.

"Grab the hook and make sure the vent looks okay," came Mara's voice through the dark.

Ari used the Force to move the hook to her. She moved one arm to wrap the cord around her belt. Then she used the Force to make sure that the grating cover was in place.

"All set," she whispered to Mara.

Let's start moving. And talk this way. It is probably safer.

Okay was all Ari said in reply.

She could tell Mara was moving but she couldn't see the other woman. She also couldn't focus on that much. The air duct was so small that there was not much room. They could not even get onto their hands and knees. Instead, Ari found herself crawling on her forearms.

The two moved silently and though it lasted for a few minutes, Ari could feel quite tired from this. She usually would call on the Force, but it felt tainted on this planet, the Dark Side getting everywhere. She worried what this constant Dark Side might be doing to the impressionable children.

I see an opening coming up Mara told her. Just a few more feet.

What do you see? Ari asked as Mara paused over the vent.

A hallway. Decently lit, but nothing identifying. It seems like it might be relatively new though.

Nothing else? Ari asked.

Mara didn't answer as she looked as best as she could. Then came a familiar sound that made Ari shiver a little. The marching boots of the troopers. This must be one of the areas they patrolled. Was it the same group or a different group? How many could really be here? Why were there so many of these troopers and who was their boss? Ari had so many questions and there were so few answers.

The soldiers paused and though neither woman could hear the exact words, they could hear a few orders coming from one of the soldiers. The sound, muffled through the helmet was easy to distinguish, even after all these years.

Mara shifted a bit more, eyes straining for some more information.

Then Mara was falling. One moment she was looking down at the scene and the next, she was falling into it. The vent, which had been put into place, had not been placed correctly. Her added weight was enough to send the vent falling. Since the redhead's weight was on the vent, she was unable to catch herself.

Ari reached to grab her but was seconds too late. Her hand grabbed air. She had to stop herself from shouting Mara's name.

There was some confusion for a second, but Mara didn't even have time to pull out her weapons. "Hands where we can see them".

Mara!

I'm okay, but there is no way I can get out of here. This is up to you now. I won't tell them about you, but we do not have the element of surprise.

What do I do?

You find the children. You save them and I wouldn't mind if you got me out of this either.

I can fight now Ari started to offer.

No Mara's voice was firm. We use the elements of surprise we have. You also have the bag up there still. Use it.

Ari closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. They did have the element of surprise, in a way, even as one of the stormtroopers was demanding answers to questions, such as who she was and what she was doing. Mara didn't answer.

With the opening showing, Ari knew she couldn't move just yet. She felt trapped. She couldn't go back but couldn't go forward just yet. A few more questions were asked, but again Mara was silent. Mara was ordered to be locked up and Ari just waited.

She wasn't sure how long she waited, but it had to be close to an hour. The vent was not fixed, but it was not being looked at closely. Carefully, Ari looked through the opening. It seemed clear of any beings.

She moved quickly past this point. She felt Mara's bag and started to push it in front of her. It was not easy, but it was necessary. Then, she paused and got out one of the small explosives and planted it in the vent. Already, she was coming up with a plan. Though the Jedi believed in being peaceful and nonviolent, she decided that these would be useful. She thought back to the saying Han had taught her. Corellian Overdrive. It was a means to an end. Besides, it was possible that people would not be hurt. It would be a great distraction or helps them escape.

With that set, she started forward again.