Chapter 4 – Power

They set off down a series of twisting corridors and ascending stairwells, navigating their way through an endless maze of identical walls and floors. For all Annora knew, they could have been trekking the same ground, each turn revealing yet another stretch of pristine-whiteness and bright lights. But her master seemed to know exactly where they were going, pausing only for a moment to consider the next break or divergence in the path.

The filtered air made her eyes water and the strong scent of disinfectant tickled the back of her throat and nose, yet she could only push on without complaint. She was just thankful that she wasn't being asked to climb any elevator shafts. A wave of fatigue washed over her, and she fought the urge to stop and rest. So much had happened since their arrival on Katine. Her emotions swirled around her; heartache, fear, anxiety, relief. She felt them all keenly, and they weighed heavily upon her.

They turned another corner, again vacant, again as identical as the last. Annora began wondering how long their luck would hold. There were no signs of anyone anywhere. She conjectured that it was either too early or two late for anyone to be patrolling the corridors, but that wouldn't account for the lack of droids. The more worrying answer was that someone was allowing them to continue unimpeded, which made her feel like a rat in an impossible maze.

Nerves gnawed at her insides. She was next to useless in all this. While the deaths of her friends drove her onward, she had no talent with weapons, no formal training in physical combat, no ability to stand and protect herself. She relied completely on her master to shield her from danger. And she would have died at the bottom of an elevator shaft if it weren't for his quick thinking and skill. Annora didn't know what she could do to help when they caught up with Commander Dunjok. Really, she could only hope to come out of it alive.

An unpleasant sensation washed over her again and she closed her eyes, seeking the the source, using the calming technique her mother had taught her. She cleared her mind of all thoughts and emotion. It was akin to a slow pulsing energy, emanating from somewhere above her, a fleeting shadow, a dangerous aura. She could feel it watching her, testing her, waiting.

She reached, seeking, searching. And then it was gone.

"Master, I think someone is watching us… somehow," Annora said.

"Mesa feel it too, mesa apprentice. Yousa more connected with the energy that surrounds yousa. Mesa have mesa suspicions, and mesa think theysa trying to find us."

"Why don't they just raise the alarm?"

"Theysa trying to be safe. Theysa already breached many laws surrounding oursa arrival. The Senate: theysa not going to be happy when theysa hear of this. Politics," her master said, distastefully. "Keep close, mesa apprentice."

They rounded a bend. Ahead, she could see a steel door imbedded in the wall. It was different to the other doors she'd seen around the complex. More solid looking. Her master approached the door, raising the blaster. He thumbed off the safety, and the blaster hummed to life.

"Thisa the sleeping quarters of Commander Dunjok," her master whispered. "Wesa must be prepared for anything."

"Master, I'm not sure what I can do to help," Annora said, shuffling behind the Gungan. Commander Dunjok was behind this door. And they were about to kill him.

"Yousa be my eyes and ears," her master said.

"Yes, I tried that once and they blew up our ship," Annora said.

Her master ignored her and pushed a panel on the side of the wall. The door slid open. It was deserted inside. And dark. Her master stepped tentatively through the doorway. Annora followed, scanning the interior for Commander Dunjok. He was nowhere to be seen. Lights flashed from the computer terminals lining the walls, illuminating the gloom of the room in intermittent waves. The room consisted of little more than a solid-looking bed, steel storage containers, and a few indistinguishable personal affects.

Her master swung the blaster from one wall to the next, searching the corners.

"Mesa know yousa in here, Dunjok. Yousa make it easy and come out now."

The room was utterly silent, except Annora could hear herself breathing heavily. Her master stepped again, his blaster still raised. She had to stop herself from clinging onto his jacket for support. But the room was empty of anyone else. Her master must have made a mistake.

"Master, I can't see him anywhere," Annora said.

"Hesa is here, mesa –

A shadow descended upon her master and the blaster went off. The room flashed red and a computer terminals exploded, showering sparks. Annora shouted in surprise, stumbling back as the shadow advanced upon her. She scrambled for the open door, but it whooshed shut just as she reached its threshold. The room was plunged into darkness.

"Those who dare enter my quarters uninvited forfeit their life." The voice was deep and resounding; powerful. Commander Dunjok.

Annora braced herself against the wall and began to shuffle to the left. She felt a rush of air kiss her face, followed by the sound of rending metal. Light flooded the room, through a gaping hole made in the door next to her. But the light also fell upon a scarred face and green eyes, turned in her direction.

She opened her mouth to shout, but there was a thundering crack and the door next to her shattered. Annora fell back again, shielding her face. A reverberating roar came from Commander Dunjok, sending chills down her spine.

"You're a traitorous fool, Binks. You're a menace and a phantom. I will break your bones and grind them into the dirt."

The dust settled, and the light from the corridor illuminated a horrifying scene before her. Commander Dunjok, a massive and towering alien, holding a squirming Gungan in his meaty grasp. Her master's blaster had fallen to the floor.

Her heart pounded against her ribs and she scrambled forward, reaching for the blaster.

"I don't think so, runt." Commander Dunjok stomped down upon the weapon, breaking it in half. Before Annora could scramble away again, he lashed out with his other foot, catching her directly in the stomach. The wind whooshed out of her and she felt as though she'd been hit by a runaway cruiser. She dropped to the floor, dry-retching, clutching her stomach.

"Now you die, Binks."

Annora could barely see through watery eyes at Commander Dunjok's wicked grin. There was a flash of blue and Commander Dunjok roared again, releasing her master. Her master advanced on his enemy, lighting spilling out of his hands, crackling around the room. Annora gaped, unaware that her master possessed such power. She tried to get to her feet, but her legs gave out beneath her. Her stomach groaned and protested such movements.

"Yousa been a thorn in oursa side too long, Dunjok. Yousa are going to die now, mesa think."

Another crackle of lighting and her master took another step forward. But then Commander Dunjok reached out and clasped his hands around her master's wrists, and the lighting fizzled and disappeared.

"I have fought in countless battles, Binks. I have killed Jedi more powerful than you before the first meal of the day. This is where your story ends. And after you," Commander Dunjok turned his head to look at Annora, "I'm going to tear apart her limbs and eat her insides."

Annora's world settled into darkness, but she felt no fear.

Only anger.

Afterward: I'm sorry for the delay. This chapter has been particularly troublesome. While short, I'm endeavoring to make them as long as I think is suitable. I hope you'll stick with me. Leave a review if you like: all are welcome. Thanks for reading.