Chapter 7 – Hunter and Prey
It was night, for they were docked in the space port's docks.
All had gone to bed; all had been quiet. Peaceful. Safe.
Then suddenly a scream tore the air.
The Deveronian sat bolt upright in his sleeping cot eyes wide as he scrambled out of his room.
He was grateful he had not changed into his nightwear as he rushed swiftly into the room next-door on his right.
It was a much smaller space than his own room, then again he was the captain.
On the tiny cot pressed into the wall, a small figure was screaming as it tossed and writhed amongst the warm coverings.
Quick as thinking, the Deveronian ran towards the bed and reached for the figure within.
"No! NO! NO!" a little girl with black hair, tanned skin and amber eyes screeched as he pulled her close to him.
"Shh…shh kid it's okay. It's okay just breathe"
"No-no-NO!" she screeched, tears spilling from her eyes as sobs wracked her body. She tried to struggle against his hold, her arms flailing so much that her nails scratched at his face painfully.
However, the Deveronian did not budge.
He held her close, rubbing soothing circles on her back as he murmured gently into her hair.
"It's okay kid. It's okay. I've got you now; everything's going to be alright."
"I-I-I-" the girl hiccupped through her sobs as she seemed to come to her senses. The hands that once pushed at his chest, now clung tight to his red jacket, holding onto it like a lifeline.
"That's it kiddo. That's it" The Deveronian whispered patting the girl's back gently as she sobbed even harder. It was then he noticed the warm wet feeling on his cheek.
He reached up to his face and winced as he felt his dark blood smear his fingers there.
"Wow, those are some sharp nails you've got." He couldn't help but chuckle as he continued to hold her close to him on his lap.
He could feel her starting to relax a little, her sobs turning to sniffles and her breaths evening out till at last, she began to yawn wide.
"That's it wildcat. Just sheath your little claws and sleep. You're safe now…you're safe-" he yawned in response, his own yellow eyes beginning to droop wearily as he glanced at the door.
The rest of his crew were all standing there. Open mouthed, they stared with a mixture of awe, drowsiness and frustration at both him and his charge.
"Quit gawking and get to bed. We've got an early start tomorrow." He grunted, holding his hand up and swiping it across. At once, the room door shut right in their faces.
He sighed and rolled his eyes as he heard the little girl whimper once again in his arms.
This was going to be a very long night.
It was just heat stroke. Nothing but heatstroke making you hallucinate about possible deadly assassins.
Una gulped down hard on the lump in her throat as she followed Qui-Gon, Jar-Jar, Padme, Slyde, Anakin and his mother down to Watto's shop.
She had been very quiet since the end of the race. Her mind was too filled with panic and confusion to do much except listen to the celebrations as they happened around her. She was thankful that Anakin was recounting all the highlights of his race in detail since it kept her from having to ask anyone about what she had missed while she had zoned out.
However, when Padme asked the young boy as to why his racer had stalled on him at the start line, Anakin just said:
"Oh, that? One of the external fuel capacitors broke off on my right engine." He looked back at Una ", but I don't think I would've been able to fix it if Una hadn't pointed it out."
Una felt all her blood freeze in her chest.
"What did you just say?" she stared at Anakin who frowned.
"When I was trying to start, I heard you saying something about the fuel capacitor."
"Did I?" Una gulped, then noticing Padme's curious tilt of the head she coughed.
"Oh right yeah, I guess I probably yelled it out while we were on the platform."
However, inside her head, a small voice was all but shrieking:
But I didn't say a word about the capacitor?! How could he have known I was thinking it from that distance? What the hell is going on?
"Una what's wrong?" she heard someone say, but she ignored them as she paused where she stood and turned her head to look down a small crowded side street.
And there it was, hovering behind a stall, a dark metallic sphere floating and pulsing in mid-air.
The churning in her gut intensified as she stared at the thing, which had not yet turned around to face her.
A probe…but from whom?
It looked hi-tech and expensive. Hardly the tools used by the scumbag low life thug mercenaries on this scrap heap. Even Una, who was considered one of the higher paid hunters in her field, couldn't afford to hire one of these beautiful contraptions on her credits (though she would have loved to know where she could get her hands on one).
Yet there was something about the design of this model that gave her pause. It reminded her all too horribly of that dark ship she'd just seen in the background of her daydream-vision-nightmare. Damn, she wasn't sure what she should call it.
That-that thing I saw in my head must have sent these out to search for us.
She wasn't even going to bother trying to deny it anymore. What she had seen had been real, everything in her entire being was practically screaming it from the rooftops. Whoever she had seen in that strange trance, he had been real, and he had seen her too, she was sure of it. She bit her lip, her fingers twitching towards one of her guns, but she thought better of it.
No. If her gut feeling was right and this was a probe sent out to track the Jedi and the Queen, then the last thing she needed was to draw even more attention to their position, especially if its owner had sent others of its kind to various locations.
Just keep it cool and don't cause a scene.
She sped up her step ever so slightly to fall in step with Qui-Gon who caught her eye warily.
"You seem tense, is something the matter." he murmured so that only she could hear.
"Not sure, but there's a probe that's hanging around, and I'd rather not take any chances. So let's get everything we need and get out quick." Una mumbled.
"I see." Qui-Gon's gaze hardened ever so slightly as he looked down at the young woman. He could feel the fear rolling off her in waves ever since they'd left the racetrack, and it was only getting stronger by the minute.
Something had spooked her badly. But what?
He opened his mouth to speak but was beaten to the punch as Slyde put a fatherly hand on Una's shoulder.
"Hey-hey. Easy kid, if we do have a probe after us, then you'll need to keep your heart rate down."
"I know" Una sighed as she sucked in a deep breath. Slyde was right; she was getting too anxious up to focus correctly. If that probe were top of the line, then it would easily be able to scan her vitals and see that they were off the charts with stress and hone in on her like a neon sign.
There was a silence as Scud the Trandoshan arms dealer came striding out of Watto's junk shop, several thuggish looking brutes following in his wake.
"Ah, welcome back. Congratulations on the race little one" the reptilian humanoid added ruffling Anakin's head.
"Thanks, Mister Scud."
"Mister Scud?" Una snorted, unable to help herself despite her anxiety.
"Now, now Red don't tease Mister Scud" Slyde smirked, yellow eyes twinkling as he watched Scud roll his eyes.
"Like this little brat ever could" and with that he reached out a claw-like hand and ruffled Una's head.
"Hey! Hey! You'll undo my hair" she squeaked, a small smile tugging on her lips as she ducked out of her old crew's reach. As she did so, many strands of dark brown and a couple of greys stuck out from her cornrows.
"Aw man, come on. It took me ages to get them this neat." She grumbled, and Slyde chuckled.
"Una is this any way to behave in civilized company?"
"I'll show you civilised, you old bastard." Una scowled doing her best to flatten off the wavy loose strands as the Deveronian and Trandoshan both chuckled affectionately at her.
"Come on Red, help us load these speeders with your supplies then you can kill us, alright?"
Padme's smile softened as she watched the older woman's cheeks flush with embarrassment as she, Slyde and Scud all made their way to help the other thugs load a pair of speeders.
Padme knew bounty hunters must have some life outside of their profession, but it never fully hit her that they would have something so ordinary as a family, even if it were made up of some rather strange characters.
But I suppose everyone needs a family of some kind — even those who act the harshest.
But had Una been harsh? She was tough, yes, but given what little Padme had seen of the outer rim, a woman needed to have the grit to survive.
Yet despite her toughness, she was kind to Anakin and his mother, and treated them like people and not as property. Indeed, Una could have killed that Torgrutan thug that tried to attack her yesterday, but she had stopped herself so that Anakin's innocent eyes would not see the bloodshed.
Then there was the way Una had gently smiled at her when they had first introduced themselves to one another aboard the ship. She had not grovelled or bowed to the young queen but had treated her like a human being an equal.
And here I've been judging her while she has done nothing but keep her word despite others scorn.
"Is there something troubling you young one?" Qui-Gon asked quietly from her side.
"No sir" Padme gulped, but something of her guilt must have shown on her face because the Jedi master's eyes softened ever so slightly.
"There is nothing wrong with admitting you were at fault with something. You are human; you will make mistakes."
"I know…" Padme mumbled chewing her lip "it's just…I devoted my entire life to helping and serving those in need. Making sure people are granted equal rights and treated fairly. Yet here I've been, acting so cold and judgemental against someone who has done nothing but help me and those close to me escape from the Trade Federation…"
"It is understandable you should be wary of hunters from the outer rim" Qui-Gon nodded with solemn sympathy. "The galaxy they live in is much darker and cutthroat than what even we Jedi face-"
He paused suddenly mid-speech and looked around. Padme frowned following his gaze as did the rest of their little party.
A group of men, alien and human alike, was walking towards them, and from the looks on their faces, they weren't here to congratulate the race winners.
At the head of them, his face still bruised, was a Torgrutan male with red skin, and distinctive blue and white montrals.
"Crap" Una swore under her breath, as Slyde exchanged a swift stern glance with Qui-Gon, whose stance had stiffened as he stood protectively in front of, Padme, Artoo, Shmi, Anakin and Jar-Jar, the latter of whom was gulping audibly at the sight of the approaching gang.
"ooh, Disa not looking good."
Scud's small group of thugs all bristled and chuckled, their bodies itching for the fight that was already brewing.
Una herself wanted nothing more than to sink her claws into Zotar Sil's black eye as he sneered at her then up at Slyde.
"So…it's true then. The great Slyde Crest is still babysitting his brat on missions."
Una felt her skin boil but did not rise to the challenge. Her injured side was still quite sore, and she had to protect not just herself but a whole group of people. To make matters worse, the dark probe she had spotted earlier was now hovering down a nearby alleyway watching their every move as Slyde forced his ever-so-charming grin onto his face.
"Merely checking in with my favourite protégé Zotar, speaking of protégé's and masters, I don't see your father anywhere. I wonder what he'd think about his son messing about on the streets when he should be busy hauling for the Hutts. After all, how else will he pay off that massive debt he owes?"
"Keep your mouth shut you old bastard! Or else I'll blow your brains out as they did to your precious schutta woman three years ago" Zotar's face flushed angrily only to wince as, quick as lighting, Una whipped out her blaster and aimed it at his face, her eyes alight with a burning fury.
"if anyone should keep their traps shut it's you Sleemo" she snarled, and Qui-Gon could not blame the Torgrutan and his gang for taking a step back in fright.
Even if their opponents weren't force-sensitive, they could probably feel the drop in temperature around them as the dark side of the force began to swirl ominously. Even the usually calm Shmi was looking fearful as she quickly ushered herself, her son, Padme and Jar-Jar into the safety of Watto's shop.
Yet despite the hostile air about them, Qui-Gon couldn't help but notice Slyde was as cool as a cucumber as he reached out to put a gentle hand on Una's shoulder.
"Stand down, Wildcat. I'm sure Sotar and his little friends did not mean anything by it. Did you boys?"
The Torgrutan and his gang were now all looking very nervous. They knew they outnumbered the two bounty hunters but if what Qui-Gon had seen of Una's fighting skills earlier, then they'd surely be terrified of the man who taught her.
It appeared the Jedi was proven right as a now much calmer, but still angry Una narrowed her eyes, and the rest of the gang shrank back.
Not that anyone could blame him. The look on Una's face alone was enough to strike terror into their hearts. It was ferocious…almost savage.
"Get lost Zotar. Take your little friends and sod off, or I will kill you."
"You wouldn't dare" Zotar tried smirking, only to flinch as Una switched the blaster in her hand from stun, to kill mode.
"Try me" she snarled and pulled the trigger.
The thug standing next to Zotar, fell to the ground, a black hole smouldering in the center of his forehead.
There was a bone-numbing silence as Zotar's gang all looked at him for guidance. A couple of them still looked geared for a fight despite their fears, but like Zotar, the rest of them knew a lost cause when they saw it.
Qui-Gon sighed softly in relief as the shuffling of feet on sand announced the departure of their would-be attackers as they scrambled away fearfully from Una and Slyde.
The Deveronian's charming smile fell as he looked at Una's face.
"You shouldn't have let him get under your skin."
"I know," Una muttered, her whole body sagging as she let herself relax against a nearby crate.
"You shouldn't have made idle threats either" Scud folded his arms from the side his reptilian body tensing ever so slightly as Una turned her glare on him.
"Whoever said they were idle?"
"Kid-"
"Don't 'Kid' me. Let's get our stuff and get out of here" Una grunted, turning her back on the two older hunters as she made to help Scud's crew pick up a crate and carry it over to a speeder.
Slyde sighed, his usually suave expression now worried and grave even as Qui-Gon stood by his side.
"I think I'm beginning to understand why you never brought her to the temple" the Jedi folded his arms into his poncho, his expression stern. "Her anger is quite potent."
"She wasn't always like this" Slyde's pointed chin gritted "Not till three years ago."
"What happened?" Qui-Gon murmured, not missing the sad gleam in his old friend's eye. But just as quick as it appeared so too was it gone.
"The job. Now come, help me with this box, or are you too scared to damage that handsome beard of yours?"
And with that he proceeded to bend down to lift a crate behind him, Qui-Gon quickly following his lead, though the Jedi couldn't help but wonder what had happened to sadden his oldest friend.
The hooded shadow smiled, his yellowing teeth bared in an almost cruel way as he watched the feed from his probes on a screen in his ship's cockpit.
This was turning out to be a more exciting mission than he could have hoped. True he was itching to kill the Jedi, but that bounty hunter woman…she was quite a surprising find.
A force-sensitive bounty hunter, now become my prey. How delightfully ironic.
He wondered whether he should spare her if only so, he could bring the curious being to his master. Not even the Jedi had sensed his presence, though that may have been because they were so focused on cloaking themselves from prying eyes with the force that they had made themselves blind to him in turn.
Perhaps her sensative and unguarded mind had caught his attention-yes that seemed most likely. Her mind…untrained and unshielded like a youngling, combined with her raw, innate power…it was almost a wonder the Jedi had never found and trained her earlier.
She indeed showed aptitude. He didn't need to be physically present at her little standoff with the Torgrutan worm and his gang to know that she was more than capable of drawing on the dark side for strength. She was proud, commanding, fierce…emotional…yes…he could see her being quite an asset to him and his master. That is…if he could turn her to his will.
At this, his smile fell as he watched the feed from his probe focus on her face as she helped the old Jedi and her fellow bounty hunters load up the speeders with the ship parts.
No…it wouldn't be so easy turning her to the dark side. Such things took time and patience, both of which he was in short supply. Besides, the damn Jedi had already begun to sink their teeth into her. If he had been able to sense her from this distance, then they surely would have known by now. Perhaps that was the reason she was being allowed to tag along so that she could be turned to the light.
Still, it couldn't harm to try if only to plant the first seeds of doubt in her tenuous new friendship with the Jedi.
His red and black lips curled into a sneer.
If only his master could see him now.
Obi-Wan Kenobi watched quietly as the Eopie's and speeders dragged the new spacecraft supplies across the desert sands towards them. Across three of the speeders, six people sat. On one, Qui-Gon had Jar-Jar Binks behind him, Una had a very nervous looking Padme clinging to her waist like a baby koala, and on the third was tall, pointed faced Deveronian with a slightly pale-faced Trandoshan gripping the seat behind him.
Oh, no…more tag-alongs?
It took Obi-Wan all he had not to facepalm at his master, who had dismounted his speeder and was striding towards him. Behind him Padme was quick to hop off the speeder, swiftly making a run for a somewhat dehydrated Jar-Jar as he all but toppled out of the speeder, before rushing him into the shade of the sizeable Nabooian cruiser.
"Welcome back master; I see you've managed to pick up the hyperdrive…as well as a few more strays" the padawan added as he approached cautiously.
But before Qui-Gon could answer the Deveronian gave a loud chuckle of mirth.
"I take it this cheeky upstart is your apprentice."
"Indeed he is," Qui-Gon snorted stiffly, folding his arms into his poncho. "Slyde, this is my old friend Slyde Crest. Slyde, this is my padawan learner, Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Nice to meet you Padawan Kenobi."
"Pleasure to meet you mister Crest" Obi-Wan took Slyde's proffered handshake politely though even as he did so, he felt a surge through the force.
He looked up into the Deveronian's yellow eyes and knew at once that he had felt the same pulsation of energy too.
Another Force Sensitive? But that's almost three in two days-wait hang on my master just said he was an old friend-but how and why would master know this…oh…oh I see now.
But he was distracted from voicing his revelation when Una's voice suddenly rang out over the sands.
"Oy guys, if you're finished being all sugar-spice and everything nice we've got a lot of stuff to get ready."
"Coming Una," Slyde called back, only to roll his eyes as he made his way over to a nearby eopie and began unstrapping some of the supplies "Yikes, that girl, still has no patience-"
"She probably wants to get out of the heat fast; Force knows I do." Qui-Gon shrugged as he made to help his friend untie the other side.
"I take it you and Una are closely acquainted then?" Obi-Wan asked as he raised his arms for his Master to deposit the load into them.
"Oh yes, Wildcat and I go way back, don't we little one?" Slyde called back to Una, who was helping the Trandoshan and two rough-looking characters lift the Hyperdrive from its trailer.
"Call me little again old man and I'll kick you way back myself" Una grunted, brow furrowed, beads of sweat pouring down her face as she and the thugs struggled across the sands with the Hyperdrive.
Swift as thinking, Obi-Wan rushed to her side to help the crew lift it onto the ramp.
"It's fine; we can manage." Una puffed, but Obi-Wan wasn't fooled for one second. He could see her grimace as her injured side flinched from the pain.
"Many hands make light work. Must you be so stubborn?" he murmured and wasn't disappointed to see her nostrils flare at him.
"Must you be so annoying?"
"What can I say, it's part of my charm." Obi-Wan's smirk widened as Una gifted him with one of her eye rolls.
Yet before she could open her mouth to deliver her sharp retort, the Trandoshan friend snapped over the top of her.
"Hey, Hey, you two. Less flirting, more lifting."
The rest of the men and the trandoshan all sniggered heartily as both the young Jedi and Bounty Hunter's faces turned blushed brick red, the latter's scowl deepening even more than before.
"We aren't flirting-" but then she stopped suddenly as Obi-Wan's hand grazed hers.
It was only a split second, yet it seemed to flow like a snail's pace in her mind.
A figure all in black was fighting on the yellow Tattoine sand against an older person all in creams and whites. They weren't fighting with fists, nor with blasters. Instead, two elegant blades of red and green energy danced and sparked as they made contact in swift thrusts and parries. As they fought, Una could hear voices speaking softly.
Many voices; whispers, yells; people speaking in hushed fearful tones.
One voice stood out specifically, if only because she recognised it quickly as Qui-Gon's.
"He was trained in the Jedi Arts. My only conclusion can be that it was a Sith Lord."
Sith…Sith…but the sith are just a myth…
Una thought wildly as Qui-Gon's voice was drowned out and the sands of Tattooine dissolved around her, her environment changing and shifting as other voices whispered.
"Always two there are. A master and an apprentice" One wizened, gravelly voice spoke quietly, almost lost amongst the whir of sound.
Despite the noise about them, the dark figure and the light figure from before were still fighting; their lightsabers a whir of colour and blinding light as they clashed and stepped around a metal pit in the centre of a large room.
Una had no idea where they were, but she couldn't help but shudder. Something terrible was going to happen; she just knew it.
"Una?" a voice called her name, and she vaguely felt a hand grab her arm, but she was so engrossed in the fight that she didn't move.
The dark figure had knocked the light figure's blade upwards opening his torso and stomach, and with a whirling motion, stabbed his red sword straight into the man's centre.
"Noooooooooooooo!" a voice howled behind her, and she wheeled round sharply to see-
"Una!"
It was as if she had snapped back to life. She gasped, hot arid air filling her lungs as she blinked.
She was still standing on the ramp of the ship. Scud and his thugs were all passing her by as they loaded the supplies up and into the spacecraft. Obi-Wan stood in front of her both his hands on her shoulders as he peered down to meet her gaze.
"What's wrong? Are you alright?" he asked his blue eyes fraught with worry and alarm.
Not that anyone could blame him. Her skin had turned so pale as she stood there, unblinking and staring into space, her eyes seeing but unseeing. It was a frightening contrast to the always alert, active young woman he'd come to know over the past couple of days.
"Are you alright?" The Jedi Padawan repeated slowly as she blinked a few times to right herself. Yet as she did so, something even more alarming happened.
Tears dribbled down her cheeks.
Obi-Wan stared, torn between being horror and fascination as Una raised a hand to her face and wiped one tear track away, only to gaze in alarm as her hand grew wet.
"What the?" she looked back up at Obi-Wan, her ears reddening with humiliation as she started to back away from him.
"Una," he said, his voice gentle and measured as if he were trying to approach a wounded wild animal carefully.
"Una, it's okay. Just stay calm-" Yet as he tried to reach out towards her, she flinched and drew away sharply as if they burned.
"Don't touch me!" she snapped; her snarl marred by the slight trembling of fear in her voice.
"Hey, what is it? What's going on?" she heard Slyde call as he and Qui-Gon came running up towards them. Both of their brows were furrowed in deep confusion and concern as they looked between the Padawan and the young Bounty Hunter.
But already she was backing further and further away down the ramp. "No-No you stay away from me!" She stumbled over her feet as she all but scrambled away into the shade of the silver ship.
"Una? Una wait!" Slyde called as he chased after her retreating footsteps.
Obi-Wan looked like he wanted to follow but halted when his master's gaze fell upon him swiftly and sharply.
"What happened?"
"I…I don't know master" the young padawan ran a hand over his sweaty face and hair. "We were helping the Trandoshan load the hyperdrive, and suddenly she fell behind. I assumed she had let go because of her injury so I came back to check on her and she was standing there staring at…at…I don't know what, but she looked terrified-"
"Like she had just seen a ghost" Qui-Gon finished folding his arms and nodding quietly. "A similar thing happened while we were at the races. She fell into a trance, and it didn't break till the end of the race. Since then she's been exceptionally on edge."
"Do…do you think she saw something? Like a vision master?" Obi-Wan frowned "But how could she, she's never trained in the force. Unless-your friend Slyde-"
"No," Qui-Gon said firmly. "No, Slyde may have trained with the order, but I don't think he ever trained Una the same way if much at all."
"But if she's as strong in the force as we suspect then he wouldn't have just let her be. He must have at least taught her how to shield her mind if only to stop others from targeting her-"
"Others like whom?" Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow. "There aren't many force wielders in the Outer Rim, and us Jedi don't usually travel this far out. There aren't many people who would threaten her safety in that way."
"As far as we know" Obi-Wan insisted stubbornly, though he kept his voice low. "But she must know that she is Force Sensitive? She's smart; she can't be that ignorant of her abilities."
Qui-Gon opened his mouth…but then quickly shut it.
Obi-Wan stared at his master, almost dumbstruck.
"Wait, she doesn't know?" He was almost gaping like a fish now "But…but how can she…the signs are as clear as day. She deserves to know-"
"I know" Qui-Gon sighed heavily "But unfortunately it is not our place to interfere. Slyde chose to raise Una away from the Order, away from the Jedi way of life. As her adoptive father, he has the right and the duty of revealing this secret he has hidden at the right moment."
"Oh, and when will that be master?" Obi-Wan chuckled hollowly under his breath. "When we have her presented in front of the council? When they pick through her thoughts and memories and show her the truth themselves-"
"You seem to be quite concerned by this my padawan" Qui-Gon tilted his head curiously. "Only a day or so ago you couldn't wait to be rid of this woman."
"All creatures deserve the truth master, whomever, or whatever they are. That is what you taught me" Obi-Wan shifted where he stood uncomfortably aware that his master's probing gaze was piercing him straight down to the core.
The stare did not last long as a voice grunted behind them.
"Hey, what's going on out here?"
It was the Trandoshan, Scud, who had folded his arms as he narrowed his eyes at the two Jedi who looked at one another uncertainly.
However, his question was quickly answered as a loud feminine voice snapped:
"I said, I'm fine!"
"Ah." Scud nodded as comprehension seemed to dawn "Let me guess, kid's hurt herself again."
"Something of that sort." Qui-Gon sighed as they all turned to watch Una storm out from the behind of the ship where she had been hiding.
She was no longer crying, but the look of fury on her face was so scathing that all Scud's thugs backed away from her in alarm even as she rounded on the two Jedi.
"Right Qui-Gon, you said you wanted to go back into town right?"
"Yes I did" Qui-Gon nodded, his voice calm as if the two of them were discussing the weather.
"Right then, let's go quick before we're spotted" she snapped and strode off towards one of the Eeopies that had started to wander off.
As she did so, Slyde walked out from Una's hiding spot looking about as weary as Obi-Wan felt as he strode up the ramp, quietly cursing to himself under his breath.
"That damn girl-so headstrong-come on young Padawan, Qui says you've got a good hand with engineering." He beckoned over to Obi-Wan, who nodded quickly before turning back to his master.
"You're going back into town?"
"Just some unfinished business. I won't be so long." Qui-gon muttered as he strode over to a second eopie and hoisted himself back onto the saddle.
"Why do I sense we've picked up another pathetic life-form?" Obi-Wan sighed in exasperation. First the bounty hunter woman, then the Gungan, now this new strange child. Just how many strays was his master going to pick up this time?
"It's the boy who's responsible for getting us these parts." Qui-Gon frowned as if guessing his padawan's thoughts "Get this hyperdrive generator installed."
"Yes, Master. That shouldn't take long." Obi-Wan nodded then before he could stop himself, he blurted out "Master…be careful. Whatever Una saw in those visions, if she had any, I don't think they bode well."
"No…I don't think they did. All the more reason not to let her out of our sight till we reach Coruscant." Qui-Gon agreed grimly before cracking on the reins of his steed "I will see you in two hours. Come on. Hup!"
And with a flick of the reins, the Eopie grunted and began trotting off, following the set of footprints left by Una's steed as she sped off back towards Mos Espa.
The man in the dark robes smiled victoriously as his black speeder zoomed over the sandy dunes of Tatooine.
His probes had finally identified the settlement the Queen and her protectors had been hiding in. Mos Espa.
A tiny little backwater that housed slaves, peasants and junkshops run by filthy scum.
What a fitting place for sand rats to hide.
His crimson and black lip curled as he directed his gaze upon the desert sands. It would take a couple of hours until he reached his destination, but it would all be worth it.
Who would have thought that bounty hunter would end up being so useful after all? Her presence in the force was bright like a beacon. He barely needed to consult his scanners as he followed the ripples she cast in the force
Her vision of him had frightened her, and her fear had kept her presence open to him as he felt for her life force. She was with the Jedi Master, making her way back towards the miserable settlement for something...something he couldn't quite see.
His gloved hands gripped tight at the handles of his speeder. So…the Jedi had found something else hidden on this force-forsaken trash-heap, had they?
He wondered what it could be. Surely nothing could be more important than making sure that Naboo Queen was safe and secure?
Either way, this could prove to be the opportunity he needed to take down those Jedi finally and prove himself worthy of his master once and for all.
The afternoon suns were still blasting hot as Una and Qui-Gon both dismounted their Eopie's at the edge of Mos Espa.
Since her outburst at the ship, Una had not said a single word, and Qui-Gon did not press her for an explanation, though he did use the force to send out calm thoughts to help soothe her. It worked to an extent. She was no longer scowling with anger, only thought and wariness like normal as she led her steed beside his onto the main thoroughfare.
"we'll drop these back at Watto's, and from there we'll pick up Anakin."
"Anakin? Oh right, I guess it would make sense to drop him home and say goodbye while we're at it." Una muttered stiffly.
"Actually…Anakin is coming with us." Qui-Gon sucked in a deep breath waiting for the impending explosion from the young woman that walked beside him.
"Because he's a force sensitive like you?"
Qui-Gon blinked and turned his head to Una who was looking sidelong at him with narrowed eyes.
"I heard you and Slyde talking about him just before the race." Una explained with a small sigh "And then afterwards when he was talking about his race-pod malfunctioning…He didn't hear me yell anything about a capacitor because I never said it out loud. He heard my thoughts, just like you and Junior."
And that strange shadow I saw in the desert.
She bristled uncomfortably at the thought, not noticing Qui-Gon's eyes widen with surprise.
How could she be so observant of others yet have no clue as to her powers? Then again, trying to sense your force signature was like trying to discern your natural scent. You got so used to your smell that it didn't register after a while.
"We aren't going to kidnap him are we?" Una asked quirking a brow at the older Jedi "because I've done a lot of crap in my line of work, but I do have some boundaries and child abduction-"
"No, we won't be abducting Anakin." Qui-Gon couldn't help but chuckle slightly at her babbling. She was now starting to sound more like her usual self soon. "We will be bringing him along with us to Coruscant of his own free will… with his mother's permission, of course."
"And what about the Toydarian?" Una's brow furrowed "the boy was useful and a good worker, you can't expect him to just hand over a prize slave just like that."
"That has already been taken care of," Qui-Gon assured her gently. "Do not worry; I don't think there will be much trouble from here on out."
"Famous last words if ever I heard them" Una snorted, but there was something in her eyes that gave Qui-Gon pause.
Was it just a trick in the sunlight, or had her amber eyes looked sad for a split second?
The moment was quick to pass as they finally came upon Watto's junkshop. The blue Toydarian was already hovering outside, sneering and scowling at Qui-Gon as he and Una approached.
"Your Eopies, as promised." He handed the reins to Watto, who snorted in huttese under his breath.
"[bloody outlander filth. If my boys were 'ere, I'd have them beat you till you were a damn pulp-]"
"[I'd shoot all of you first before you could even take a step]" Una spat in huttese, and Watto sneered nastily.
"[You talk big, bounty lady, but I've heard some things about you. I know you speak with a Nal Huttan slaves' accent. You can't fool me]"
"[No. But I can shoot you if that is what you'd prefer?]" Una said calmly, and though he could not understand the language, Qui-Gon could see the cold murderous gleam flash briefly in her eyes as she switched back to basic:
"Where is the boy?"
"Hmm…Ze boy iz out back, fixing his pod. I will-I will go get him." The Toydarian muttered, hovering off with many a curse under his breath.
"I've noticed this before, but for someone who hasn't lived on this planet, you have a surprisingly incredible grasp of the language" Qui-Gon folded his arms into his poncho.
"Huttese is fairly common out here in these parts of the Outer Rim" Una muttered; her lips pursed sourly.
"Like Nal Hutta?" the Jedi supplied, and Una bristled.
"If you've got something to say then say it old man. I don't do small talk."
Qui-Gon's gaze was thoughtful as he looked her over.
"Were you once a slave?"
There was a silence as Una stared hard at Qui-Gon, her anger and melancholy from her earlier outcry at the ship resurfacing once more on her face. However, she was quick to gulp down her outburst and hide it beneath a stony expression.
"When did you figure it out?"
"Only just now, however, I had my suspicions." Qui-Gon admitted quietly "You were always respectful and kind to Anakin and his mother, despite their situation. You have a personal hatred against the Hutts, and of course, you are fluent in Huttese, but your speech pattern is closer to that of a slave's than a master's dialect."
"Since when do you speak Huttese?" Una snorted, though she was avoiding his eye.
"I don't" Qui-Gon muttered "But while our time here has been brief, it has been enough for me to notice the differences in language. The Slaves here speak similar words with different inflections or shorten certain words. Also, it would stand to reason that slaves would want a language in which they could communicate with one another safely so as not to arouse their master's ire."
Una sighed. Damn, she knew the old bastard was observant, but she didn't think he'd be that freakishly sharp. She supposed it was inevitable. He and Slyde were old friends; the Deveronian would have probably spilled the beans on her to him soon either way.
"Yeah….I was a slave on Nal Hutta. Slyde found me when I was probably six or seven; I'm not completely sure. He and his crew took me in, gave me a home; a family, a life where I could stand proud on my own two feet, and not bowing down to some oversised slug for scraps."
"You love him dearly" Qui-Gon nodded, but his tone was gentle and sympathetic.
"Of course I do." Una snapped waspishly, feeling her cheeks burn bright pink, though not because of the hot sunlight "Look I may complain about him hovering over my shoulder sometimes, but he's my dad…and honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way…as cheesy as it sounds. Ooh, boy, is it getting hotter out here or is it just me?"
She quickly turned away, cursing her now beet red cheeks as she pretended to fan herself off.
Dear Gods since when was I such a soft mush? Those two hallucinations have done a number on my brain. It's this heat. It's got to be this bloody heat. None of this was happening before we came here to this dustball.
Qui-Gon meanwhile had turned back to look into Watto's shop. He could see the Toydarian speaking gruffly to Anakin's small form.
Finally, he seemed to have a better understanding of what was happening.
She was a slave…she had no one…no wonder Slyde took her in. If her powers had continued to manifest in a hostile environment, she could have ended up either dead or an incredibly dangerous threat.
Then there was the way she spoke, the passion for her work, the deep and loyal love of her surrogate family. Slyde was right; the Jedi Council would never have accepted her at the temple, they were too set in their ways about attachments and emotions.
Maybe it is foolhardy to bring Anakin before the council. If they wouldn't have accepted a keen force user like Una thirteen years ago why wouldn't they reject him now?
But no…he couldn't think like that.
Una and Anakin were two different people from two different times. Different people sat on the council now. Perhaps they could be swayed.
He was sure of it.
The shadow was getting closer to his targets. He could almost taste victory at hand as he caught sight of the three figures struggling up the dunes before him.
One was a middle-aged man (the Jedi he presumed, so bathed in the light he was in the force). The other was a dark-haired female form, (obviously, the bounty hunter, if all those weapons on her person were any indication), and the third and most surprising, was a child. A small sandy-haired sand rat who could barely keep up on his tired little legs even as the woman hunter made to help him up and run towards a gleaming silver ship only a few minutes away.
The shadow couldn't believe it. The Jedi master, solely responsible for the safety of the Naboo Queen, had risked his entire mission to bring back a child from this backwater?
Such a fool.
The shadow sneered as he accelerated towards the three figures and looked down at a distance on his scanners. At least he had the element of surprise…or so he thought.
"Anakin! UNA! Drop!"
His eyes widened as he felt a ripple in the force, and he looked up from his scanners in time to see the bounty hunter raise her rifle and aim it right at him!
The rush from Mos Espa to the ship had been long and exhausting, most of all for young Anakin Skywalker.
Una had done her best not to let anything show when she watched the little boy say goodbye to his mother forever, only to have to pretend to wipe her eyes for sand particles when Qui-Gon had glanced at her.
It was this heat, she decided. The anger and the stress from seeing that hunter in her hallucinations were pushing her limits.
Once she had slept in the shade and had a lot of water, she'd be back to her old gunslinging, aloof, bitchy self in no time.
Yeah, big chance of that. You've already lost it once, you've practically opened the floodgates already.
A small voice in her head sneered as she made to help a struggling Anakin up a dune. He was tired. The emotional drain of leaving his mother, coupled with the exhaustion of the day was catching up to him.
She had just about made up her mind to throw all caution to the winds and carry the boy piggyback the rest of the way (her pride and image be damned) when she felt a familiar wave of bone-chilling cold sweep through her.
Oh no…
Una breathed as she turned around, her heart almost stilling in her chest from terror.
A black shape on a sleek black speeder was speeding towards them. It was tall, menacing and altogether…evil.
Una had met a lot of foul beings in her life. Many of them were worthless scumbags, some of them greedy creepy crime lords.
But none of them held a candle to the horror, and bestial menace this-this thing seemed to radiate from every fibre of his being.
Qui-Gon had felt the figure's presence as well because he was quick to stop and yell:
"Anakin! Una! Drop!"
Anakin, hearing the urgency in his new guardian's voice hit the ground so fast, one would have thought he was a super magnet pulled to the planet's metallic core.
Una, however, did not drop. Her hands had already aimed with her rifle before the last syllable had left the older Jedi's mouth.
Her blaster shot flew through the air in a streak of crimson flying at the dark shadow.
However, it did not hit. There was a whir of red as a beam of red light suddenly seemed to spring from the figure's hand. Within milliseconds, the beam blocked the blaster shot and deflected it, sending it flying back the way it came its trajectory in line with Qui-Gon's head.
Without even pausing to think Una pounced at the Jedi, hands outstretched as she all but pushed him away with everything she had, eyes shut as a searing, burning pain suddenly streaked over her shoulder.
"AGH!" she cried out in pain blood, making streaks in the golden sands as she skidded across them hard.
"UNA!" she heard a young voice yell in a panic as a shadow blocked out the harsh light of the twin suns above her.
It was Anakin. His youthful face was pale from fear as he reached out to drag Una back up to sit.
"I'm fine; just a graze" Una winced shoving the boy upwards as she pushed herself back up onto her shaky feet, snatching her rifle as she went. "Come on get up. Get up quick-"
"Go! Tell them to take off" Qui-Gon cried out as he unsheathed his green lightsabre and whirled around to catch the blow from the dark shadow's crimson blade.
Even from where she stood, Una could feel the heat radiating from the two blades as they clashed and whirled through the air, their colours almost lost amongst the sparks and sputters they made as they connected harshly between their masters.
"Come on, Ani!" Una grabbed Anakin's hand as she heard the dark shadow growl angrily, the sound filling her with dread.
She cursed herself for feeling like such a coward as she all but dragged a frightened Anakin back to the ship, which had opened its ramp to admit them.
"Right up, we go!" Una muttered as she practically threw Anakin up onto the metal slab. "Go to the pilot, tell him to take off! I'll try to help Qui-Gon!"
"But-" Anakin tried to protest.
"Now, Anakin!" Una barked just as two pairs of feet came hurtling down the length of the cargo bay towards them.
Una, however, did not pay them any heed as she ran back halfway down the ramp, taking a sniper's position as she knelt on one knee to support herself.
Her shoulder was throbbing with agony, but she gritted her teeth as she supported the weapon in the correct grip and looked down the long barrel.
The sniper scope she had fitted onto the blaster had broken off when she had fallen to the ground, but Una paid it no heed.
After all, she had sharp eyesight her target was close enough to land a crack shot…if only that damned shadow would get away from Qui-Gon for two seconds.
"Damn it old man just move out of the way" Una growled as she did her best to track the two fighters with the crown of the barrel. But it was no use. The dark shadow was just so brutal and vicious in his bloodthirst that he barely moved more than two feet away from Qui-Gon for a split second before diving back in for another bout.
"Come on-come on-ah shit!" Una cursed as the ramp jolted and she felt her body wobble. She looked down just in time to see the moorings of the ship retract upwards into the hull as they ascended slowly and jerkily into the air.
"Hold on Kid" a familiar voice grunted as she felt the heat of another body come close to hers. She inhaled quickly and was relieved when she recognised the familiar warm musky smell.
It was Slyde; he was crouching beside her, one hand gripping onto one of the hydraulics that helped move the ramp up and down, the other holder her steady by the shoulder.
"I got this" She grunted as she readied her rifle again, glaring down the gleaming barrel as the ship steered her closer to Qui-Gon and his opponent. If they could move a little bit more to the side-and yes, there it was!
She pressed her finger to the trigger and squeezed it tight.
Qui-Gon gripped his green lightsabre tight in his hands as he deflected a blow-after blow from his ferocious attacker.
He was young, healthy and fit if his athleticism was anything to go by. Certainly closer to his padawan's age than his.
Qui-Gon was confident in his skills as a Jedi Master, but even he had to admit he was not getting any younger. While his mastery of the force was still exemplary, his combat with the blade was slower than it had been even ten years ago. He could feel it; his enemy could feel it.
Still, he kept up with his relentless assailant, choosing instead to rely more on technique and personal experience than his agility. He didn't need to win the fight. He just had to fight long enough till the ship came close enough for him to escape.
But it seemed the younger male humanoid with the black and crimson face, was not going to give up any time soon as he thrashed and slashed at the older Jedi.
So much ferocity, so much rage. The dark side is strong in him.
Qui-Gon grunted as the force of the blow made his feet slide back over the sandy ground as he forced himself to lock his blade with his attackers.
This was not good; he puffed, beads of sweat trickling down his brow. The heat was sweltering, he was starting to grow exhausted, and he could feel a bruise begin to form at his ribs from where Una had pushed him…with the force.
He wasn't sure whether the young woman had been aware of her actions. After all, she was shot merely a second after it happened. In her pain she had not noticed the distance between them when they had landed, nor had she seen the way he had been thrown several feet away as if he'd been hit with an invisible wall.
But he had. Qui-Gon had felt the force of the push, had seen the panic behind her eyes as she had reached out to shield him from the blast.
It was a noble act. If only this young sith had not been there to witness such a thing.
Oh yes, there was no doubt about it in Qui-Gon's mind. This being was a sith. He had to be. What other kinds of beings could wield a red lightsabre with such dark fury?
Qui-Gon grunted as finally with a great effort, he shoved his opponent's blade back with such force he stumbled back a few feet.
He was quick to recover both his footing and the distance as he used the force to propel him into an impressive flip over Qui-Gon's head. However, before he could land properly, a streak of red shot out straight at the point where his feet landed.
Sneering, the sith looked up and saw to his mounting frustration the bounty hunter woman. She was kneeling on the ship's supply ramp which was still open, but slowly and surely starting to close, a rifle in her hands as a Deveronian male held her steady.
"You liked that, well chew on this sleemo" Una growled as she aimed several more shots in the sith's direction.
He dodged and deflected each one of the blaster bolts; his hackles raised high in a snarl as one of her shots slipped past his defences and grazed the side of his hood burning the material and making it smoke slightly.
Then suddenly, a small wave of energy rippled and he felt himself get pushed down to the ground as something propelled itself into a high jump.
NO!
He leapt to his feet but too late, the old Jedi master had leapt up onto the ship's ramp next to the bounty hunter who raised her rifle one last time.
Fiery yellow eyes met amber ones for a moment, both glaring with shared loathing as the latter pulled the trigger, smirking with malicious pleasure.
"Argh!" the sith growled as her final shot grazed his thigh, cutting through the material and drawing blood.
That little sand rat! How dare she-How dare she!
The sith breathed heavily as he fell to one knee and looked up at the sky.
The silver Nabooian ship was now shrinking swiftly in the clear blue Tattooine sky.
He roared up at it, the sound reverberating off the sandy dunes around him, chilling the blood of any living thing within hearing range.
He couldn't believe it. He had failed to capture them. Two Jedi, one an old man and the other a measly padawan, and a pathetic barely force-sensitive bounty hunter.
His master would be furious with him, and force knew what he would do when he heard the news.
But all was not lost yet, a small voice piped up from the back of the sith's head as his roar died in his now parched throat.
The queen had not yet reached Coruscant, and even if she did, the senate would take a long time to consider her plea. True she would have more security around her on the core planet…but he could work around that. Security teams were controlled and easy to keep track of.
He sighed, his hands balling into fists.
Yes, he'd follow them to Coruscant, and once he got there, he'd waste no time in tracking down the queen and capturing her. Then he'd kill those damned Jedi and that little hunter. No not kill, no he would obliterate them.
And no one, not even his master, would be able to stop him.
Such was the rage of the Darth Maul.