Chapter Eleven: Hard Lessons

Though he had enjoyed the bustle of Rudral, Crest found that he liked the broad stretch of sky above his head almost as much. The air was fresher here, a fact that he noted when he took his helmet off on a whim as the queen's open-topped transport moved across the terrain of the countryside. One of her guards shot him a glance that was filled with disdain, but Crest merely grinned at the Arunai. "Nice day, huh?" The man's eyes turned away and Crest mentally shook his head and instead looked at the young queen, seated in front of him beside the Jedi.

She was wearing clothing that – he supposed – were meant to be of the sturdier variety, though she still looked a little too nice to be traveling though country that was growing wilder and wilder with each passing minute. Her head was bent towards the Jedi and she seemed...attentive. Concerned. Crest remembered that the general had been here for the queen's wedding and that they had been friends, of a sort. She seems like a good person. A little scared. Unsure, maybe. But nice enough. He grinned to himself. Not bad to look at – for what it's worth, which isn't much, I guess. I'm nothing to someone like that, after all. That thought was enough to make him turn his eyes away from the Arunai woman.

The group had been mostly silent all morning, save for the quiet murmur of conversation between General Halcyon and the queen, though Crest could see that the Jedi was not in a particularly chatty mood. I'm not sure how I feel about the whole thing. She did a number on the captain, but I don't think she meant to hurt him...they're just from such different worlds. You'd have thought a Jedi – of all people – would understand that.

He glanced at Traxis, standing beside him and watching the road as one of the queen's guards guided the vessel over the rocky path. Only bad part about going bucket-less is that I can't talk to him without the others knowing...or can I? After a moment, Crest cleared his throat and leaned over to Trax. "How's it going?"

As expected, the use of the Mandalorian language brought his brother's attention to him. "Fan-kriffing-tastic," he replied in kind.

"No need to be so snarky," Crest said. "I was only asking." He nodded to the road before them. "What do you think this temple looks like?"

"Why do you care?"

"Just trying to make the time pass," Crest replied, still in Mando'a. "Don't mind me." At this point, he noticed the general's head incline in his direction, though she didn't turn around, and he wondered if Stonewall had taught her any Mando'a. Possibly. But it shouldn't matter; it's not like we're talking about her. After a moment, Traxis removed his own helmet, frowned and glanced at him. Crest sighed. "What is it?"

"I feel..." The scarred clone stared at his bucket as his eyebrows knitted. "Weird." At Crest's look he shook his head. "About the captain. I think...I may have made a mistake."

Crest's eyes widened in shock. "And you're admitting it? Wow...I guess I owe the shiny some creds." Traxis frowned again and shook his head, causing Crest to wince. "Sorry...reflex. What do you mean?"

There was silence for several minutes before his brother spoke. "I just...it's strange, you know? Him and the General..." His eyes narrowed and he looked at the Jedi. "He's changed. He's not like the rest of us anymore. But now, after seeing both of them...I think I made a mistake, saying what I did." He glanced back at Crest. "Don't tell anyone I said that, or I'll shave your eyebrows in your sleep. With my vibro."

"Believe it or not, I can keep my mouth shut," Crest replied. "But you might want to say all that to him once we get back."

Traxis snorted. "I think it's a bit late for apologies, don't you?"

"Maybe." Crest looked at the general again. "But you never know."

I feel so empty, Kalinda thought as she sat beside Sita and watched the city melt into rugged countryside as the time passed. Like I have nothing left inside of me. The Force was well and truly gone; she wasn't able to do so much as lift a blade of grass. It was painful to think that she might never have it again, the feeling made even worse because she couldn't say why it had left her to begin with.

In an attempt to distract herself from that thought, she turned her mind to other matters, specifically her argument with Obi-Wan. I shouldn't have been so angry with him...it's this place bringing up old memories, stirring up old wounds. She had managed to leave without speaking to him again, though he and the other clones had come to see the group off in the early hours of the morning. He'd looked as though he wanted to say something to her, but she refused to give him the opportunity.

As the transport moved over the ground the mountains grew taller, looming above their heads and giving Kali a sense of foreboding. She hugged her arms to her sides despite the warmth of the sun on her back.

Beside her, she felt Sita shift in the padded seat and cast her a curious glance. "Kali?" She set a hand on the Jedi's arm and looked at her. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"No, Sita," Kali heard herself say. "But thank you." She paused and straightened. "However, there is something that I need to discuss with you, though I'm not sure how you'll take it." The younger woman nodded and Kali took a deep breath. "My men went to the city the other night and made a few contacts within a group of people who feel that they can get information about Neerja and whatever she may be attempting."

"That is good news." She tilted her head and regarded Kalinda again. "But you do not seem pleased. Why would I not like this?"

"The people are of the lowest caste," Kali replied. "Untouchables. And there is something that they want in return from you." She met the queen's gaze. "They wish to be represented in Parliament."

"As I'm sure fish desire wings," Sita said with a laugh. "But some things are simply not possible."

Kali felt her hands clench at her sides. "I know that I may be an outsider, but I also like to think that we are friends. Do you feel this way, too?" She watched as the younger woman nodded, her expression doubtful. "Then, can I offer you some advice?"

Sita straightened and gave her a wary look. "You may, though I make no promises as to whether I will take it."

Despite herself, Kali felt a smile creep to her face. "You married Badal out of love, right?" Sita nodded. "And in doing so, you knew that one day you might be faced with the burden that you have now, correct?" Again, the queen nodded, though she looked slightly pensive.

"But I didn't know that this would happen, Kalinda."

"You did," Kali said, shaking her head. "You are not a stupid woman, Sita. You knew very well what might happen to you should your husband die, yet you still chose to wed him and bind your lives together. I know he didn't force anything...you made the decision. Now you have to live with the consequences." She watched as the queen frowned and shook her head, her gaze falling to her clasped hands.

"I'm trying."

"Trying isn't enough," Kali replied. "I know that you could be a fine ruler if you chose to be, but you have to stand up for yourself. You may only be a farmer's daughter-" she said as Sita opened her mouth to argue. "-but that is in the past. If anything, the fact that your station changed so abruptly and drastically should give you further conviction that you have the right to rule, that your gods accept you as the leader of this system..."

"But Neerja..."

Kali held up her hand. "Is ultimately under your authority. Sita, you have to let go of your fears. You have to accept the responsibility that has been placed upon you by your own actions." She met the younger woman's gaze. "If not for your own sake, then for the sake of Aruna, for the sake of peace."

"But I'm not..."

"You are, Sita," Kalinda said, shaking her head. "You are more than able." She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. The sunlight streaming through the clouds offered a bit of warmth that contrasted with the chill of the air around them. "If you don't, Neerja will have her way and all that Badal worked for will be for nothing."

"Why did I call the Jedi here at all, if you refuse to help me?" The queen's voice was bitter.

Kali sighed again and rubbed at her eyes with the heels of her palms. "I'm trying to help you help yourself."

Neither woman spoke for a moment until Sita took a deep breath and looked back at the Jedi. "I'm sorry, Kali. There is a lot on my mind of late." She touched the Jedi's arm and gave her a small smile. "And now you are cross with me, too."

"No, Sita. Only with myself." She glanced at the sun. "How much longer?"

"A few hours, perhaps."

Kali nodded but made no reply, as she heard the quiet murmur of a familiar language behind her: Crest and Traxis, speaking in Mando'a. Stone taught me a little of it, but only a few phrases I'm pretty sure they're not saying to one another.

Stonewall...

Her eyes closed.

The mountains grew closer, until the road was surrounded on both sides by steep, rocky hills and the air was silent.

About an hour later, they had stopped for a quick break to stretch their legs. Sita's guards, three men of middle-years who had served under Badal approached the two women. "Majesty," the closest one said. "We've heard that there have been sightings of malcontents in this area. We'd like to take a look around, if it pleases you." He paused and his eyes fell on Kali. "But I have reservations about leaving you without any protection."

"You should be well aware that a Jedi is protection enough," Sita replied, raising her chin.

The guard nodded and bowed, though Kali thought that she caught a glimpse of some hidden malice in his eyes. It was useless to try and use the Force, but she thought that she felt another flicker of apprehension anyway. "As you wish, your highness."

Sita raised her brow. "Return quickly. I don't want to delay any longer than we have to." After giving another low bow, the three men slipped off, leaving the young queen with the Jedi and the clones.

They had been gone perhaps five minutes when Kali heard a faint rumbling sound in the distance. Alarm flooded her as she looked up to see a line of dust and tumbling rock that was heading for the group from the steep hill beside the road. In the next moment, Traxis began shouting into his comm as he and Crest lifted their blasters, though Kali knew that no amount of weapons fire would stop the avalanche and never in her life had she missed the presence of the Force quite so much.

For the umpteenth time during the course of the morning, Obi-Wan told himself the same thing that Qui-Gon had said to him so often, though he found the words a small comfort at the moment. Worry is a useless emotion, Obi-Wan. As is fear. Neither are helpful when it comes to trying to find a solution to a seemingly difficult situation, but both are quite effective at preventing you from doing so. In the long years since his old Master's death, Obi-Wan had often thought back to those words and marveled at the simplicity of their wisdom.

But they felt hollow and distant to him now. He found that he was unable to suppress his concern for Kalinda and the queen; he could not shake the feeling of unease that went beyond Kali's revelation. She is a capable woman – even without the Force – and she has help as well. No, something else is troubling me... perhaps there is more going on here than Neerja's simple desire for power. We know that the priestess has an agenda, but how will she go about enacting it?

Presently he was taking a walk through the city, something else that Qui-Gon had often done in order to get a feel for the Living Force and possibly gain a greater understanding of the task at hand. He could see that more and more people were entering Rudral, as evidenced by the sudden swell in the number of Arunai around him. The festival is soon, he remembered. I suppose that accounts for the increase in population.

Soon he found that he was in the marketplace. As he strolled through the stalls, his comlink chirped. "Yes, Captain?"

"General Kenobi," Stonewall's voice sounded alarmed. "We've received an emergency transmission from Traxis. It cut off before he could give any details, but from what we could make out there was a rock-slide of some kind."

Obi-Wan glanced around the crowded marketplace; the press of people was growing thicker and thicker as the day progressed and he thought that it would be nearly impossible to make his way through the crowd using normal methods. Our ship isn't within reach at the moment; one of the Arunai vehicles will have to do. "Go to one of the guards and tell him that you need a speeder," he said. "Then meet me on the way out of the city...you'll have to take the service route that goes around Rudral as I don't think you'll be able to pilot a craft through the main streets right now."

"Yes, sir."

The transmission ended and Obi-Wan cast a glance around him. Though a Force push would be effective, I doubt it would make me any friends. A grim smile crossed his face as he began to slip around the Arunai as best he could.

I only hope we're in time.

"But we're supposed to meet with Danu tonight," Milo said as he followed Stonewall and Weave through the palace in search of one of the guards. "If we're not back in time..."

"Don't worry about it now, Milo," Weave said, glancing at the captain who said nothing as they made their way to the main throne room.

Stonewall felt his jaw clench in frustration. The entire time we're here there are servants and guards lurking everywhere. Now, when we need one, not a kriffing sign of any of them. The throne room was empty, as was the queen's study, as was every room they checked. Finally, they caught a glimpse of someone turning a corner; a few sprints and Stone managed to catch up with the servant, who looked at him and his brothers with unconcealed disdain. "There's been a problem with the queen. We need a transport to take the other Jedi and reach her as soon as possible."

The servant, whom he recognized as the one who'd led them to their quarters upon their initial arrival, blanched. "The queen?"

Trying to bite back his impatience, Stonewall tried again. "Yes, the queen is in danger. We need your fastest-"

"You are not allowed to drive one of those," the man said, narrowing his eyes. "I'll call her majesty's other guards to fetch her."

"There's no time for that," Stone replied, his voice sounding feral and strange in his ears. Unbidden, an image of Kali came to his mind and he felt his heartbeat quicken with fear. "Never mind," he added, turning away. "We're resourceful. We'll figure it out. Come on," he said to the others as they made their way to the nearest hangar.

Traxis sprang for the helm and powered the vehicle up while Crest turned and raced for the young queen. "Sita, get to the ship," Kali called over the din as the rocks and dust began to churn towards them. She grabbed the young woman's arm and pushed her towards the transport, but it was obvious that the Arunai woman was not fast enough. However, Crest was. He lifted the queen up as if she weighed no more than a leaf and made his way to the ship, Kali at his heels. Even without the Force, at least I can still run.

The ground beneath them shivered and groaned, dust kicked up in the air and the world seemed to turn upside-down as the tumbling rocks began to grow closer, some of them going airborne as they hit their larger, more steadfast companions at the base of the mountain. Traxis gunned the engine and shouted. "Come on!"

Crest and Sita reached the transport first, Kalinda a moment behind them and they leaped aboard as Traxis urged the vessel to accelerate. Overhead, the sun was blotted out from the sky as a large fragment of rock was carried up by its own momentum; Kali felt smaller chunks of rock and stone pepper her shoulders and even as she tried to shield the queen with her own body she was aware of Crest doing the same thing. The wind tore at her hair as the transport leaped forward and the clattering sound of rock against rock filled their ears.

At last they were free of the debris, though the road behind them was covered in rubble. When Traxis halted the ship so that everyone could take a breath Sita looked at each of the clones and smiled. "That was...very brave. Thank you." Her gaze fixed on Crest, who actually flushed and dropped his eyes.

"Just doing our jobs, your majesty."

Sita glanced back at Kali and gave her a tight smile. "I see that your concerns were not entirely unfounded."

Understatement of the year. "Are you hurt?" Kalinda asked, releasing a breath of tension as the younger woman shook her head. "Crest, Trax? You guys are okay as well?" Both clones nodded and she looked at Traxis. "Did you reach anyone?"

"I think so," he replied. "It's difficult to say...comm's not working now. Imagine that."

Kalinda and Sita exchanged glances, the younger woman gesturing to the road ahead of them. "We're safe for now," she replied. "We need to continue on."

"Sita, I think that we should go back," Kali said. "Something's obviously wrong...those guards left right before the avalanche...it's beyond suspicious. We should return to Rudral, at least to get reinforcements."

"No, Kalinda," Sita replied, straightening her shoulders. "You were right; I need to start acting like a leader. This was my decision and as much as you feel it was in error, I know otherwise."

Of all the times for her to listen to me. Kali sighed and rubbed at her forehead, her hand coming away covered in reddish dirt. "I understand that you feel strongly about this, I really do, but-"

Sita looked at her and lifted her chin. "You may do as you wish, Kali, but I am continuing on with or without you." She nodded to Traxis. "You may take us out."

The scarred clone glanced at Kalinda, who frowned as she considered. Finally she sighed and shook her head. "Apparently, we're still going to the temple. Let's make it quick, shall we?" As the ship started up again she looked at Sita. "If I can contact the others, will you at least allow me to tell them that you're okay? If Trax's transmission went through, the others are on their way to rescue us right now."

At some point Sita's hair had come loose from its braid and was now whipping over her head with the wind. "Very well," she said after a moment. "But one way or another...I'm going to that temple." Her voice was firm and Kali couldn't help but smile.

Her comm was also damaged, though not badly enough to prevent her from sending a transmission. "Obi-Wan? Are you there?" For several moments, all she could hear was static until his voice sounded.

"Kali...you...and Sita...?"

Gritting her teeth she all but shouted into the receiver. "We're fine, but you should watch out for her guards. The queen is unharmed and we're proceeding as normal. Stay in the city until further notice."

Obi-Wan's voice was muddled but she could still hear his annoyance. "Kalinda, are you sure?"

She glanced at Sita, whose eyes were fixed on the road ahead. "I'm sure. Obi-Wan?"

Static.

Blast this kriffing excuse for technology...all the fancy starships in the galaxy and we can't get a decent communication system. "Obi-Wan?" There was only static before the signal died. Kali frowned at her comm as she considered tossing it over the side of the transport. "Hopefully he heard me," she said to the queen, who nodded but made no reply. Beside her, Crest gave a quiet chuckle and Kalinda turned to him. "Do I want to ask?"

He paused, then shook his head. "Probably better if you don't."

The mountains drew closer.

Wait...it was a trap? I know that no one saw that coming! It wouldn't be Star Wars otherwise, I guess.

What will happen once they reach the temple? What are Stone and the boys of Shadow Squad going to do? Will Kali ever figure out what's going on with the Force? (Hint: it's been alluded to in earlier chapters...as well as in my story What Remains. Shameless plug, I know.)

Thanks to everyone who's been reading and reviewing! It means so much...I really can't be appreciative enough.