Chapter 7 An Offer From the Enemy
Ten Hours Earlier
"By this time, I am sure you are all aware of what has happened." Mace Windu began as he addressed the young Jedi assembled in the dining hall, "However, I want to assure each and every one of you that measures have been taken to see that it will not happen again."
One of the younglings stood up, "Why did this happen, Master Windu?" He wondered.
"That is a very good question, but one that I do not have the answer to yet. All I can tell you is that you are safe now." Mace answered.
"Is it true that some of the younglings are missing?" An Initiate asked.
Mace nodded and sighed, "Yes, and again, we do not know why they were taken." He replied.
There were hushed whispers as Mace cleared his throat, "You may also have heard that Master Horan was killed in the attack…." He paused and sighed again before confirming the tragic news, "I am sorry to tell you this is true."
Gasps of shock preceded sobs of grief as the impact of this tragedy sank in; all but the oldest Padawans had been nurtured by Master Horan.
Mace waited a moment before continuing, "In addition, Padawan Galyn Mora was injured during the assault, but she should make a full recovery; Padawan Khyber Raneau, however, was not so fortunate, he was…fatally wounded and died." He announced, his voice, by now cracking with emotion.
The sobs intensified, "And there's more, isn't there." One of the older Padawans surmised.
Mace nodded and looked down at the floor for a moment, "Yes; Padawans Zak Perrin and Ferri Cortis are among the missing." He replied.
A ripple of quiet murmurs sounded throughout the hall and Mace put his hands up to silence it, "That they are with the younglings could be to our advantage; they will be able to protect them and, if possible, free them." He said, "In the meantime, we will mount our own search and try to rescue them ourselves."
"What do you want us to do, Master Windu?" Del asked.
"The Initiates and the younger Padawans should return to their quarters to get some rest; I would like the senior Padawans to help Master Rega return the younglings to their dormitory. And, until Galyn is able to return to her duties, I want you to talk amongst yourselves to decide who can best perform her duties until she can; the Council is meeting in the morning to plan the search for the missing. Your masters will contact you with instructions sometime after that plan is complete." Mace instructed.
"Are we really safe now?" A youngling wondered.
"Yes, little one, you are really safe now." Mace assured her.
------------
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Jedi traitor." Kien announced as Ferri was prodded, hobbling, into the galley where Kien was waiting.
"Alright, you've got me; now what do you want?" Ferri demanded.
"Where's your Jedi patience, Ferri?" Kien asked, and then grinned, "Oh, yes, I forgot, you're really not much of a Jedi are you."
"You don't know anything about me." Ferri retorted.
"Oh? Well, I know you betrayed two of your own just to save your own skin; I always thought the Jedi were more noble than that." Kien replied with a note of sarcasm.
"Things have changed since then." Ferri answered.
"Really? Enlighten us." Kien requested.
"Us?" Ferri repeated.
"Oh yes; I am sure the lovely Devan would be as interested as I am." Kien said.
"Ah, Devan; Zak told me she was holding your leash." Ferri replied.
Kien glared at him, "Watch it, boy, or I may lose my good humor." He threatened.
"I'm cringing."
"You will be." Kien warned.
"Kien, is that any way to treat our guest; and such a handsome young man he's grown into." Devan proclaimed from the doorway.
Ferri felt his face redden; he clenched his jaw and did not respond.
"Oh, see what you've done, Devan? And we were having such a nice conversation." Kien observed.
"I didn't realize you were so modest, Ferri….oh, we have never really met have we; how rude, of course we haven't." Devan said as she entered the room and held her hand out to him.
Ferri made no move to return the gesture, and, in fact, turned away from her, "If you're done now, I'd like to go back." He informed Kien.
"Oh, we're not finished with you, not by a long shot." Devan replied, reaching up to rub the back of hand against Ferri's cheek.
Ferri jerked away from her and clamped his own hand around hers, squeezing it until she cried out and tried to pull away, "Don't touch me." He ordered and let go.
Devan reacted quickly by slapping his face, "You hurt me." She said.
"So sorry." Ferri replied insincerely, not even acknowledging her stinging blow.
"Are you? Or do you just like it rough, Ferri?" Devan asked as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his face down to hers.
Ferri's heart began to race as he fought the urge to do what his body wanted him to, "NO!" He exclaimed and shoved her hard enough to throw her against the wall.
Devan hit the wall hard enough to stun her; she slid down to the floor and glared at Ferri with a mixture of shock and hate.
Kien drove his fist into Ferri's chest, driving the young Jedi to his knees.
"Don't waste your time; they're freaks, all them." Melak said as he entered the galley and Kien moved to help Devan up.
"You pervert." Devan spat out, kicking Ferri's wounded leg.
Ferri let out a strangled cry and crumpled to the floor, "Now, see; I warned you about this. If you treat him like that he'll never help us." Melak instructed sternly with a shake of his head as he squatted down next to him.
"I…would…never…have helped…you." Ferri gasped.
"Oh? I thought you said he would, Kien." Melak questioned, "That's the only reason I agreed to let you have him."
"He will; if he wants to survive, he will." Kien assured the Belaridian.
"Never…will." Ferri vowed.
"That doesn't sound very positive, Kien." Melak observed.
"He has a strong sense of self-preservation; he'll tell us what we need to know." Kien replied confidently, going to the refrigeration unit.
Ferri gathered what little Force he could feel around him, releasing his pain into it enough to pull himself into a sitting position, "I'm a Jedi; I almost forgot what that was, but I know now. I will never help you." He told them.
"Oh Ferri, darling; we know you too well. Help us or we'll throw you out into the decompression compartment and empty you into space." Devan threatened sweetly as she squatted down next to him, began to wind his Padawan braid around her finger and then pulled on it, "Understand."
Ferri took her wrist and squeezed, "Let go." He ordered evenly.
Devan smiled as she continued to toy with his braid, "I don't understand; don't you like women, Ferri?" She asked.
"A Jedi never gives in to that; we are above it." Ferri answered, "Now let go."
Devan sighed, gave the braid one final tug and then released it, "You really are a pervert; anyway, what will it be? Life or deep space?" She asked.
Ferri sighed and shook his head, "What do you want?" He asked.
Present Time
They arrived under heavy escort, the remaining Belaridian younglings with their families. With the threat of abduction looming before them, not one family had questioned or protested the need to protect their fostered children. Their homes would be occupied by Jedi teams, to wait for the anticipated arrival of the Belaridian extremists. The families were then ushered to a secured building where housing had been arranged for them; they would remain there, under Clone and Jedi guard until the extremists had been captured. Those families whose fosterlings had been abducted made their way to the Temple hoping for some news of their missing loved ones. The grieving Jedi took them in, offering them a haven to wait. The bodies of Master Horan and Khyber Raneau were prepared and laid out in preparation for the funereal release of their spirits into the Force. On one pallet, the matronly youngling master, in gray tunic and skirt, her long white hair combed neatly and pulled in the bun that was her favored style. On the pallet next to her, lay the dark-skinned Padawan in pure white, his amber boots polished to a high shine, his braid, with its beads carefully woven into it, lay over his right shoulder. Their weapons, never to be wielded by their owners again, were positioned in their proper places. A solitary Jedi, relieved on the hour, stood watch over them as their Jedi comrades appeared one by one or two by two to pay their last respects to the gallant pair who had lost their lives defending the younglings; among those mourners were Dena and Boba.
It wasn't until Dena saw her friend, lying still on his pallet, that her Jedi control slipped. Boba put his arm around her, holding her tightly and rubbing her back as she began to sob openly, "Shh." He murmured quietly, "You know Khyber; he wouldn't want you to cry."
Dena took a deep breath and sighed, "I know; always the proper Jedi, that was Khyber." She admitted, wiping the tears from her face but remaining in his embrace, "It's just not right, Boba; not here, not like this."
"No, it isn't; but we'll get them, I swear." Boba promised.
------------
"Young Fett has done a masterfully thorough job in his research, but there are still far too many possibilities for us to cover." Eeth Koth pointed out as he gazed at the data pad.
"And that is why I have offered the services of the Republic, Master Koth; the Jedi have long served us, now it is time for us to repay that service." The Chancellor's holographic image countered.
"We cannot ask…." Eeth started to protest.
"Asking we are not, Master Koth; offered freely to help the Chancellor has." Yoda interjected, "Refuse this we must not; need this assistance we do."
"But…" Eeth began again.
"We have no time for your arrogance, Eeth; I see no reason why such generosity on the Chancellor's part should be turned away." Ki-Adi Mundi said.
The Zabrak master shook his head but said nothing further.
"Master Koth, surely you must know it would take us months to search all those locations alone." Anakin explained, "I don't think we have months, do you?"
Eeth grunted, "Anakin is thinking of more than his own apprentice, Master Koth." Shaak Ti told the Zabrak, sensing his thoughts, "How long do you think the younglings will survive in a hostile environment even with two older Padawans protecting them?"
"Are you thinking of the younglings, Eeth? Or are you only focused on your own pride?" Mace wondered.
The Jedi Master sighed as he stood up and moved toward the window, "I do not know; I would not like to think I would let pride affect my judgment." He answered.
"Then perhaps you should bow to the rest of the Council's collective wisdom." Obi-Wan suggested.
"We must not waste precious time arguing about this; the Chancellor has offered to help, I see no reason to turn him away." Luminara Unduli stated.
"I agree; unless you have some reason for your protest, Master Koth." Adi Gallia added.
Eeth Koth remained in his place by the window, silently regarding the traffic flow outside, "I do not like putting the lives of our younglings in the hands of Clones." He answered after a moment's thought.
"Is there anyone else who feels this way?" Mace asked.
"Those concerns are baseless; the threat of Order 66 was removed long ago." Stass Allie argued dismissively.
"If I may, Masters?" Bail broke in.
"By all means, Chancellor." Mace prompted.
"I understand the need for concern, but I assure you, after the incident at Mas Amedda's trial, I oversaw an extensive investigation personally, and I think I can state with all confidence that Order 66 is no longer a viable threat." Bail told them.
"Master Koth?" Ki-Adi questioned.
The Zabrak sighed and turned away from the window, "Very well, I bow to the wisdom of the Council." He conceded.
"And will you help us organize this search? Or will you stand by in protest?" Depa Billaba asked.
"As a member of the Council, I will do my duty." Eeth Koth conceded further.
"Very well; rejoin the Council Circle then …please." Mace requested.
With a nod, Eeth Koth resumed his seat as the planning began.
------------
The captive Jedi huddled together against the chill that had begun to permeate the cargo hold where they were incarcerated. The passage of time had blurred and not even Zak and Ferri knew how long they had been traveling or how far away from Coruscant they were. Zak had just given up to exhaustion when the door to the hold opened; Melak and Terak, followed closely by several other Belaridians, entered the hold.
"Time's up, kiddies." Melak announced as they formed a ring around their captives, "Get them up, Zak."
"But we haven't even landed." Ferri protested.
"And we aren't going to." Terak retorted.
Melak laughed, "Oh don't worry; we aren't going to throw you out into space." He assured them malevolently.
Zak huffed, shook his head and stood up before bending down to help Ferri to his feet, "That's reassuring." He said.
They were led from the hold down a long corridor toward what Zak realized was an auxiliary shuttle, "Where are you shuttling us to?" He asked.
"And I thought Jedi were supposed to be smart; no one is shuttling you anywhere." Kien informed him as he and Devan joined them.
"I don't…" Zak began.
"Can Jedi fly, you freak?" Terak asked.
"Alright, I get it; just where am I flying to then?" Zak asked.
"There's only one place close enough." Melak answered, "Now get your little friends aboard; I don't want to stay here all day."
Zak nodded, "Go on, now; it's alright." He told them, "Shel, help get them settled, will you?"
"Yes, Zak." Shel replied and ushered them forward.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye, lover." Devan announced as she sidled up to Ferri.
"Get away from me, you witch." Ferri ordered, pushing her into the bulkhead.
Devan laughed and then grabbed his face and, before he could stop her, kissed him hard on the mouth. Ferri shoved her away, wiping a hand over his mouth, "You harlot; you make me sick." He muttered.
Zak shook his head as he took Ferri's arm and helped him toward the shuttle, "You're disgusting, Devan." He said.
"No, you're disgusting, the pair of you; there's something unnatural about all of you." Devan rebutted.
Zak helped Ferri into the co-pilot's seat before seating himself and readying the craft for disengagement, "Are you alright?" He asked.
"I don't know." Ferri answered, "I don't like the way I feel right now; I feel…."
"Dirty…I think I understand." Zak replied.
"Yes, that's it." Ferri confirmed and then sighed, "Well, shall we get this over with?"
"We might just as well." Zak said as he eased the shuttle away from the mother ship, "May the Force be with us."