I am so, so, so, SO sorry for the late update. Something came up in which I was not able to access the internet in order to post this. :(
But please, enjoy the chapter, and I WILL update on time this Sunday :)
Voices. Flickering in and out at the edges of consciousness, two voices. One human, or so it sounded. The other was the unmistakable, the mechanical whine of a droid. A medical droid. Suddenly, Sha'dra felt heat against her eyelids and her blackened world burst into a vibrant blue. She was being scanned. Why was she being scanned?
She struggled to dredge up some sort of recollection of what had occurred before this moment. She remembered arguing with her crew. She remembered leaving to clear her mind, to make a decision…
She shot up immediately as the memory came to her, eyes flying open and lekku swinging around so fast that one slapped her against her own cheek. She looked around franticly, eyes zeroing in on the medical droid who she assumed had been the one to scan her. It most certainly had not been the Jedi who had so rudely kidnapped her, the Jedi currently leaning against the wall in a nonchalant, relaxed position.
She fixed her gaze on him and gave him a seemingly casual once over, while in reality her heart was beating against her chest at an unnatural speed. Why was she here? Was her crew alright? Were they looking for her? Well, of course they were looking for her. But had they done anything stupid? Were they about to get themselves killed? Was she about to get herself killed?
"Did you sleep well?" The Jedi finally spoke and she looked at him incredulously. Was he serious? 'Hey I kidnapped you and brought you here against your will, but I want to make sure you slept well on the way over.' Speaking of which…where was she?
"Where am I?" she demanded quietly, settling for a good old fashioned glare to pin the tall Jedi with. He unfolded his arms and pushed himself off the wall, striding slowly across the room. He stopped in front of Sha'dra and that's when she finally realized she was in a cell. She scrambled to stand, bumping up against the back wall of the cell.
"You're in one of the Detention Cells in the Jedi Temple." He informed her coolly, crossing his arms and meeting her eyes. She balked. "On what charges?!"
"On the Jedi Council's orders, actually." He corrected her casually, uncrossing his arms and leaning toward the cell. He studied her intently, and she shifted uncomfortably.
"What do the Jedi want with me?" she demanded, her angry tone not betraying the deep unease she felt about the entire situation. There was only one reason she thought the Jedi would be interested in her, and it definitely wasn't something she needed brought out into the open. Nor was it something that, if revealed, would end well for her or her crew.
"Hey, I'm a Knight, not a Councilmember. Don't ask me." He shot back flippantly. Sha'dra felt herself relax a bit more. From his attitude to his mannerisms, it was becoming painfully obvious that this boy had not been a Knight for very long.
"Not for very long, it seems." She voiced her observations, taking pride in the way he flushed angrily. Coercing the boy to show emotion, a Jedi no less, was an act to be pleased with.
"Yet you are the one in a cell." He retorted, visibly keeping his frustration in check. Sha'dra shrugged, acknowledging the boy's valid statement. However, she knew she wouldn't be in here long. Whether she busted herself out or her crew came to the rescue, the Jedi didn't have the means to hold her captive.
"You still never answered my question." She reminded after a moment. The Jedi shot her a look. "I said I didn't know." Sha'dra scoffed. Yeah. Right.
"All I know is the Force seems…restless." His features took on a thoughtful look but then he looked up, gaze focusing on her. "Therefore, the Council is restless."
"You seem to be getting to a point, but it is taking quite a long time. Does your Council usually kidnap innocent citizens when they get a little uneasy during their meditation sessions?" Sha'dra quipped, cocking an eyebrow.
The Jedi grimaced, and Sha'dra knew she was getting on the boy's nerves. She smirked a little. Good. Her specialty.
"You have no place questioning the motives of men and women far wiser than yourself, bounty hunter." He sneered the last words and she rolled her eyes.
"And here I thought we were getting along." Sha'dra drawled. She pushed off the back of the cell and stood close to the Jedi. Smiling sarcastically she stuck her hand between the cell bars and introduced herself.
"Sha'dra Maru. Thought we should introduce ourselves seeing as our banter is entering the vicious, name calling stage." The Jedi looked at her disbelievingly, then slowly, reluctantly, slipped his own hand around hers.
"Creen Muldai. Your name sounds familiar." He looked thoughtful, trying to remember when he had heard that name.
"Hmm. Yours doesn't." She replied, cocking her hip and placing her fist on it. Sha'dra watched Creen visibly struggle not to roll his eyes and she smirked once more. Oh this was going to be a lot of fun.