Chapter 8 A Second Assault

Ten Hours Earlier

"Information, Ferri dear; that's all we want." Devan answered.

"What kind of information?" Ferri asked.

"We want the rest of the Belaridian freaks." Melak answered.

"You're joking; there's no way for you to get back into the Temple now." Ferri informed them.

"Not them, although that would be nice, we know we have to wait awhile for them; it's the others we want, the ones who don't live in the Temple." Melak corrected.

"And just how am I supposed to help you? I don't know where they live." Ferri replied.

"Well, if your Jedi are as smart as you claim, they will move them to a safe haven; where would that be?" Melak asked.

"And what happens to me if I tell you?" Ferri wondered.

"Then you help us liberate them." Melak offered.

"You wanted information; you never said anything about helping you." Ferri countered.

"What's happened to you, boy; I remember when you would do anything to save yourself." Kien asked as he handed Ferri a tumbler of water.

"What do you think the Jedi would do to me if they saw me helping you?" Ferri answered in reply.

Kien laughed, "You see, Melak? He hasn't changed a bit; he's just gotten smarter." He said, "We promise we won't let the Jedi see you."

"No thanks." Ferri refused.

"Well, that's too bad; because now we'll have to send you off with the rest of the freaks." Melak told him.

"I'll take my chances with them." Ferri answered.

"Alright, but I'm clearly disappointed; you really are hot." Devan said with a sigh, wrapping her arms around him, "Are you sure I can't persuade you?"

"No." Ferri confirmed.

"And what would happen if we told your friend, Zak, what you've just done?" Kien wondered.

"Then we would fight, and I would kill him; I've always been stronger than him." Ferri answered.

"Oh, now that would be interesting." Devan replied with a malevolent smile.

"Well, it's not going to happen; killing that one would deny him exile." Melak interjected.

"Exile, exile, exile; what is it with you and your obsession with exile?" Devan demanded.

Melak shoved her into the bulkhead, "You listen here, missy; you had best remember who rescued you from that hell hole. We do things my way, got it?" He ordered.

"Easy, Melak; we get it, calm down." Kien replied, laying a hand on Melak's arm.

Ferri placed a hand over his mouth to cover a smile as Melak pushed Devan once more, "And what about you, missy?" He asked threateningly.

"I've got it, Melak." Devan assured him, and then smiled, "I just thought it would be interesting, that's all."

"Good; now, tell us where they'd hide the rest of the freaks." Melak demanded.

With a sigh, Ferri gave them a location, "Very nice; I'm finished with him now, you can take him back." Melak ordered.

Kien hauled Ferri to his feet and shoved him toward the open hatch, "I knew you wouldn't disappoint us." He said.

"Don't be too sure." Ferri muttered under his breath.

"What was that?" Kien asked.

"Oh, uh…you were right to be so sure." Ferri answered.

"Wait, I'm not finished with him yet." Devan protested.

"Why do you delight in torment, Devan?" Melak asked.

Devan puzzled for a moment before smiling again, "Because it's fun." She answered, slinking toward Ferri, who turned his face away from her, "Oh come on, just one little kiss?"

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The cargo door slid open and Ferri was thrown inside before the door slid closed again. Ferri lay face down on the floor for a moment before pushing himself to his knees. Zak moved toward him, "Ferri?"

Ferri smiled weakly, "I'm alright…I think." He assured his friend.

"What did they want?" Zak asked as he helped Ferri to his feet.

"Information." Ferri answered.

"That's it?" Zak wondered.

"Well, that and Kien and Devan wanted a chance to toy with me." Ferri added with more than a hint of disgust in his tone.

"That's sick." Zak replied.

Ferri nodded, "Especially Devan; she was all over me." He continued.

"I'm sorry, Ferri." Zak said.

"Don't be; it's not your fault. Anyway, your uncle wanted to know where the Jedi would hide the rest of the Belaridian Force sensitives." Ferri replied with a sly grin.

Zak narrowed his eyes, "What did you do, Ferri?" He asked.

Present Time

Padme knocked and entered the Chancellor's office, "Bail, the commander from the 22nd is on the comm." She announced.

"Alright, I'll…Padme, what is it?" Bail asked as he looked up to see the puzzled look on her face.

"Well, it seems…no, maybe it would be better if the commander told you." Padme answered.

Bail returned her puzzled expression, "Very well, put the call through." He consented.

Moments later, the figure of the Clone commander shimmered before him, "Commander?" Bail prompted.

"Chancellor, this is going to sound very strange, but our headquarters have been attacked." The commander informed him.

"Attacked? Were there any casualties?" Bail asked.

"Nothing serious on our part, Sir, but two of them were killed, the other three we now have in custody." The commander answered.

"Who in blazes would attack your headquarters where the odds of success are next to nothing?" Bail wondered.

"Well, that's just it, Sir; I don't think they knew what they were attacking." The commander replied, "They seemed genuinely surprised when they entered the barracks and found only us."

"What did they think they were entering?" Bail asked.

"A Jedi safe house, Sir." The commander answered.

"A Jedi…why?" Bail asked.

"We don't know that yet, Sir; as soon as they realized there were no Jedi here, they tried to fight their way out, and now the survivors aren't talking." The commander told him.

Bail sighed and ran one hand over his face, "Very well, I will inform the Jedi Council; as if they do not have problems enough, now someone else wants to attack them." He replied, "Thank you for your report, Commander."

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"I have just been informed by the Chancellor that the 22nd's headquarters were attacked less than an hour ago." Mace told Yoda as he joined the diminutive master in his meditation chamber.

"Hmm...interesting that is. A reason do they have for this attack?" Yoda wondered.

"Yes, and this is most puzzling; they thought it was a Jedi safe house." Mace answered.

"This idea, where would it come from?" Yoda asked, rubbing his chin with one hand, "Yes, a puzzle it is."

"They managed to capture several of the attackers, but they have been able to learn nothing from them." Mace continued, "I thought perhaps Anakin might be more successful."

"Yes, I agree; to Belarid this may be connected." Yoda concurred.

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Ferri watched the mother ship grow smaller as they moved further away from it, "You were worried that they would figure out what you did before they exiled us, weren't you." Zak surmised as Ferri sighed heavily.

"A little, yes; and they may still come after me." Ferri replied.

"If they don't know what you did already, I rather doubt they will think it worth their trouble." Zak answered.

"Maybe; I don't know. But...well, it's Devan; I confess she scares the hell out of me." Ferri confessed.

"What did she do, Ferri?" Zak asked.

Ferri's face reddened, "It's just the way she looks at me...and the thought of what she wanted to do; and..." He trailed off.

"And?" Zak prompted.

For several minutes, Zak thought Ferri would choose not to finish; but then the young Jedi inhaled deeply and looked at him with shame, "I...I almost..." He started again and then closed his eyes and finished with a whisper, "...lost control."

Zak put a hand on Ferri's arm, "But you didn't, Ferri." He pointed out, "That's what makes you a Jedi."

"Oh, but she made me want to." Ferri said with a shake of his head.

"She was seducing you; that was not your doing." Zak tried to reassure his friend, "In any case, she failed because you were strong enough to resist her."

"I guess." Ferri replied unconvincingly.

"Look, maybe it would be a good idea to talk with one of the mind healers when we get back to the Temple." Zak suggested.

Ferri looked aghast, "I can't tell anyone about this." He exclaimed.

"Why? Whatever she did, it wasn't your fault." Zak told him.

"I don't know if I can; besides, you don't even know if they'll find us." Ferri protested.

Zak tightened his grip on Ferri's arm, "Oh, they'll find us; don't worry, it's going to be alright." He insisted with such certainty that Ferri found it impossible to disagree with him.

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"Any word from Telia yet?" Melak asked as he walked onto the bridge.

"No; and I would think we would have by now. How long does it take to storm in, grab a bunch of kids and get out?" Terak answered.

"Well, these are Jedi; whether we like it or not, those super powers make them formidable. I'm wondering if she didn't underestimate that." Melak replied.

"Or Devan's freak led them right into a trap." Terak guessed.

"That is a possibility; I know Kien said the boy was a coward, but that was a few years ago, things may have changed." Melak added.

"Well, if that's the case, maybe we should send Kien down to punish him." Terak suggested.

"If that is the case, I don't think we can stop Devan from taking care of him herself." Melak said, "That girl is out of control."

Terak smiled maliciously, "I thought you liked her." He questioned.

"I did; until I found out just how twisted she is." Melak answered.

"I rather admire that about her." Terak replied, his smile turning into a malignant grin.

Melak shook his head, "You would; but be careful, Terak, that one's dangerous." He warned.

"Oh, I think I can handle the likes of her." Terak assured the older man as he fingered his facial scar, "I handled the witch that did this to me alright."

"But just the fact that she managed to do that tells me you weren't careful." Melak reminded him, "Hopefully the little vornskir taught you something, or Devan's liable to take your other eye."

"She had better not try." Terak replied threateningly.

"The two of you are a match if ever I saw one; just don't say I didn't warn you." Melak answered and then turned to leave, "Let me know if you hear from Telia."

"Will do, Uncle." Terak promised.

Ten Hours Earlier

"Telia, we have another job for you." Melak announced to the holographic woman standing before him.

"You got a lead on where we can find the rest of the little monstrosities?" The woman, Telia asked.

"Yes; we think the Jedi will probably be moving them to a safe haven. That way you'll have all the baby freaks in one place." Melak informed her.

"Guarded by a bunch of grown up freaks? I don't think that would be a good idea, Melak." Telia argued.

"Hey, we managed to get into their own stronghold; this should be a piece of cake." Melak countered confidently.

"Let me remind you that WE were the ones who got in there; YOU were safe and sound on your little ship. Maybe WE should make the decision to take this safe haven or not." Telia replied hostilely.

"Alright, point taken, I guess; but I thought we all agreed that we have to deal with all the abominations, not just the few that were hiding in that Temple." Melak pointed out.

Telia huffed and paused for a moment, "Let me talk to my people and I'll get back to you." She finally told him.

"Don't wait too long or this chance might slip through our fingers." Melak answered.

"Within the hour." Telia promised and then ended the transmission.

"Telia sounds as if she's losing her nerve." Terak observed.

"After the close call at the Jedi Temple, it's understandable; she'll come around, just give her a little time." Melak replied, "We should start thinking about getting those abominations in the hold ready for exile; I noticed your brother and his friend had some equipment with them when they were brought onboard."

"We can't have that; I'll take some men and relieve them of it." Terak said, "By the way, just how are we going to exile them? We can't very well risk taking our ship down there."

"Zak can fly, I'm sure; we'll put them on one of our shuttles." Melak suggested.

"Except that knowing that freak, he'll fly somewhere..." Terak started to protest.

"Not if there isn't enough fuel to fly anywhere else." Melak answered, "Disable the fuel cells and the comm and he won't have any choice."

"I'll do that myself after I confiscate their equipment." Terak decided.

"No, I'll do it; you just go see to it that they won't be taking anything useful with them into exile." Melak ordered.

"Alright, you're the boss." Terak replied with a shrug and left the compartment heading to the cargo hold.

"Terak darling, where are you off to in such a rush?" Devan asked as he passed her.

"Belaridian business." Terak answered without slowing down.

"Ooh, sounds official; can I watch?" Devan asked, turning to follow him.

"Suit yourself." Terak replied.

"Did anyone ever tell you how hot you are?" Devan wondered, running a hand up his arm.

"Is there any man you don't find hot, Devan?" Terak asked as he stopped and turned to regard her with his good eye.

"I'm sure there is somewhere; I just haven't met him yet." Devan answered, smiling seductively and brushing up next to him.

Terak smiled back, "And just what is it that attracts you to me? Is it this?" He asked turning again to reveal his milky eye.

"I find that very rakish." Devan told him and then reached up to run her finger up along the scar on his cheek, "And how do you find me, Terak?"

Terak caught her hand in his, held it for a moment and then guided it to the back of his neck before pulling her toward him, "Oh, I find you dangerous, very, very..." He murmured as he pressed his lips against her ear and whispered, "...dangerous."