Focus.
Ana opened her eyes and eyed her foe who was prowling in front of her. The tiger hadn't struck yet, but it's muzzle was rippling, exposing dripping yellow fangs. A deep rumble built in the beast's chest as the muscles tensed, powerful hind legs taut as it prepared to spring. The blue-white coat shone glossily in the light as the monster threw itself forward with a brutish roar. Ana had already slipped off her outer cloak and prepared herself for battle. A single bead of sweat pearled at her temple, and she jumped into action. The tiger landed next to her with enough force to liquidize anything underneath it, and the beast sank low to the floor, belly scraping the flagstones. Ana backed up. She was disobeying the first rule of lightsaber training; keep your opponent on the defensive. She was allowing herself to be thrown into a corner. But her mind was running in circles, screaming at her to get to Qui-Gon. How could she move when the huge monster in front of her was pacing the ground, shoulder muscles flexing as it stalked its newfound prey? Ana submerged herself in the Force, trying to find her center. The Force was there, she could feel it, like a ghostly caress from a long lost zephyr of breeze. But it danced from her fingertips. She remembered Wathearu's advice. The Force is always there. It is you who will not use it.
The tiger growled, a deep, satisfied purr that built in its chest. The golden eyes were lazy with near-indifference; it expected an easy meal. It was not the remarkable tawny eyes that distracted her; it was the purr that threw her totally off guard. A deep base growl, so similar to Qui-Gon. As soon as her mind alighted upon her Master, she sprang into action. Her lightsaber carved through the air, aiming right for the base of the tiger's neck. The beast, faster than she had expected, swooped low and leapt forward, gigantic paws with gleaming white claws aiming straight for her face. She screamed aloud to the Force, then - and the Force, with an unexpected rush, flowed into her with a crash like a tsunami. She ducked into a crouch, rolling between the legs of the tiger, and struck outwards against its flanks with her lightsaber. She was savagely pleased to hear the shriek of pain from the tiger, and the hiss of electricity burning through fur and flesh. A long black stripe marred the silky coat, and all the calm composure vanished from the tiger. It sank into a crouch, once more prowling around her, but this time its movements were quicker. More guarded. Ana kept her eyes trained on the tawny orbs, never once breaking concentration. The Force was surging through her, calming her nerves and battle endorphins, making her wildly alert to every subtle movement and pulling insignificant details into clear focus. The tiger pounced again, a snarl rippling its muzzle, and this time Ana brought her lightsaber down hard on its neck. There was one strangled whimper from the massive creature, and then it lay still. Ana stood trembling in the center of the room, a cold sweat dewing her brow. The tiger had been entertainment for Bu-Taan. Now he would get to the main course.
Bu-Taan moved forward, annoyed. Ana had gotten the better of his pet. The loss of his steel-jawed beast was not what irked him; the fact that he would have to kill her in cold blood chafed him far more. Before Ana had slaughtered his brute, he could have claimed an accident. But now that his killer was dead, he could not feign innocence. With a regretful sigh, he brought his hands together in a sharp handclap. "Enough." He snapped. "Guards, finish her." He turned away, bored and indifferent.
Blaster fire came suddenly at Ana, who whirled around and deflected the bolts faster than blinking. She advanced, step by step, up the room, while the two hooded guards continued to spray her with blaster fire. These were not shockrifles; these were regular blaster designed to kill, efficiently and quickly. The one small hope she had was that her death would be fast. She jumped in the air, her fast leap and the Force propelling her high into the air. She cartwheeled as the fire suddenly intensified, and landed on the opposite side of the guards. They turned with unerring speed, but Ana kicked out at one and her boot landed squarely on his chest. The guard was buffeted backwards, skidding on the polished floors, his hood falling around his shoulders. He was young, blonde, with an angry look on his face as he tried in vain to catch his lost breath. Ana brought her lightsaber across the neck of the other, checking it just in time. Everything froze. The only sound was Ana's lightsaber humming gently, like a contented cat. Ana felt sweat rolling down her back. "Take your hood off." She spat. "Now."
Slowly, the other guard removed his hood. He was younger, with curly brown hair and striking black eyes. Those black eyes glittered smugly as he surveyed Ana. His face was tanned and handsome, unbroken save for a contemptuous sneer. "You have not won, Jedi," he said scornfully. "You have only triggered the war. Now everyone will know how the Jedi came here and slew two innocent guards. Do you really want that to happen, Jedi?"
Ana felt the Force quelling her submerging temper, soothing it like a cooling bacta balm. "I have not slain anyone except a merciless tiger, and only then in self-defense. If your people wish to know about that, then you may inform them. I have no intention of killing anyone." She paused. "That is, unless you move." She grinned wolfishly, baring gleaming white teeth in a vicious grimace. "We Jedi can be very unpredictable sometimes."
"Enough!" Bu-Taan said, getting up with the easy, slow grace that had once fascinated Ana. He had a broad smile on his face. "Well done, Ana. You have passed the test." He waited for Ana to take her eyes off the black-haired guard. When she did not, he continued. "I was waiting for you, to see if you were worthy of this proposition. Now I see that you are."
Finally, her eyes left the black haired guard. "Not another word, Bu-Taan!" she shouted green eyes slitted with fury. "Not another poisonous word. I do not want to hear your 'proposition', nor do I want you to do anything but sit over there and stay silent. You are still alive in a very deadly situation." Her teeth were once more exposed in a snarl. "That is a situation that can be easily remedied."
"Ah, La'Ana, you will want to hear my proposition," Bu-Taan said, striding over to the door. Ana's eyes never left the young guard, but her hand shot up with shocking speed. Her wrist flicked, and the doors slammed shut with a muffled thud, narrowly missing Bu-Taan's fingers. Bu-Taan looked up, mock pleading in his voice. "Now, La'Ana, is that any way to treat your hostages?" His voice was taunting.
"You haven't thought this out very well, have you?" Ana bit her lower lip. In truth, she hadn't thought it through; they were at a stalemate. If she abandoned the guards and Bu-Taan, they would most likely wreak more havoc on Iridonia. But if she didn't get back down to the parlor with all speed, the youth down there could die. She licked her lips nervously. She tried hard to remember what Yoda had said about hostage situations. Actually it hadn't been covered all that well. No one, the council reasoned, could be stupid enough to hold people hostage. That was not the way of the Force. Unbidden, another one of Wathearu's phrases bubbled in her mind: The Force does not make exceptions. Angrily, Ana shoved the words away.
Bu-Taan had seized her hesitation - nothing more than a slight flicker in her eyes - and clapped his hands twice. The blonde guard, who had been still reclining on the floor, snapped to his feet and opened the side door. Ana gave a shout to halt him, but the door had already swung open. She summoned the Force to throw it shut, but then she saw something that made her stop cold.
A young man entered, his long hair very black, almost blue. His eyes were a clear, sharp azure that pierced her merrily. A laughing little smile was lifting the corners of his lips, and he strode across the floor with a thump of his heels. His cloak was very thick, almost touching the ground, and trimmed with a navy blue that changed colors in the light. He bowed magnificently to Ana, extending a welcoming hand. As he approached her, Ana felt her hackles rise. The young man had a scar on his cheek - almost a perfect circle, but not quite. One side was broken. A lightsaber hung from his hip as he greeted her warmly. Ana felt a cold trickle of fear run down her spine like forgotten rainwater.
She was facing Qui-Gon's old Padawan.
09
Qui-Gon did not pace when he was anxious. But his muscles ached to do something. An uneasy quiet had settled over the whole room, and it had taken every shred of Jedi training not to bolt from the room when he heard Ana's shriek. But, he later mused, it was not a scream of pain, but of frustration. He felt her Force signature ebbing like the tide, sometimes swelling to a gigantic crescendo, other times hardly more than a gentle lapping. The rebels were watching him silently, eyes following him across the room. He could feel their bitterness like the souring of a food; their anger was growing like a mold. Soon it would overcome them, and they would reason they could take on a single Jedi. They would be sadly mistaken, of course, but Qui-Gon did not wish to harm innocent people. Well, mostly innocent. He flicked a steady glance at Bulgrasse, who was smoking nervously. His fingers were trembling as he raised the pipe to his mouth. As a senator, he had some experience in hostile situations, but almost losing ones life is enough to set anyone on edge. He checked his moonometer. "Where the hell is she?" he asked, voicing Qui-Gon's own feelings.
"She will come," Qui-Gon said, putting every ounce of certainty in his voice. Privately, he worried. What had happened to Ana? He knew that Bu-Taan was untrustworthy. Mentally, he cursed himself. He should have gone, and left Ana here to deal with the captives. He stood firmly in the center of the room, closing his eyes. He reached out to stroke the multicolored tapestry around him, feeling the Force pulse under his inquisitive mind. He did not sleep, but submerged himself in a deeper level of consciousness. Dream State, the young Padawans called it. His body was still alert and awake, but his mind was slowly becoming closer to the Force. He tightened his jaw as he felt for Ana's consciousness. She was frightened, that was the predominant emotion; but she was relying on the Force, which was good. But there was a nagging curiosity at the back of her mind, something that was keeping her there. He felt his jaw lock. His eyes snapped open at the sound of someone shifting their weight, and he spun around, lightsaber already unclipped from his belt and humming contentedly in his hands.
There, in the doorway, stood Xanantos with Ana by the arm.
A/N: Originally, I wasn't going to touch upon Xanantos at all. But I just re-read all of The Jedi Apprentice series and I just had to stick him in somewhere. He's awesome, in a really sick way. Sorry it took me so long to update; life goes on, and my power was out for a good ten days. Anyway, enjoy!
*waves hand*
You will review.