Chapter 7

In the game room of the Levana, Mulann and Frell helped Marik lift Alanna onto a hover-gurney. Alexia and Kyra were staying back at Marik's house. Meanwhile, Amelie locked the unconscious Melkior in a nearby cortosis cage and set about watching him with blaster ready.

Marik was breathing heavily with his nervousness and passion. "Thanks, Frell. I can take it from here. She needs healing that only I can provide."

Frell looked at Alanna and then back at Marik sarcastically. "I'm sure she does."

Marik frowned. "Not now, okay." He rushed the gurney down the ship hall. Great! Just great! he thought. Now I've done it! I can sense her getting worse! Her breathing is becoming labored and she has several internal injuries! And it's all because of me! She was trying to save me! This is just terrible! I have to save her! Oh please, Force, let her be okay!

Marik grasped Alanna's hand as she writhed on the gurney, mumbling incoherently. Shiro watched them head down the hall, making impassioned fists with his hands. He blamed himself as well.

Mulann came up to Shiro and put her hands on his shoulders. "It's okay, Shiro. I know how you feel. You blame yourself and you are filled with regret and guilt. I felt the same way when my husband, Korba, was killed. But you must not blame yourself for what you cannot prevent. These things happen. You must draw upon your inner strength when unfortunate events occur."

Shiro nodded. "I know, Mulann. You are wise. I can always count on you for good advice and counsel. It's just that Alanna is suffering and it's all my fault. She is suffering; you are all paying for my cause. It shouldn't have to be your burden to bear."

Mulann knelt down to face him. "Shiro, we all took on this cause when we agreed to follow you. We are prepared to pay the price because we believe that no other Youngling should continue to suffer as you have suffered. Besides, when the right choice is clear, you must carry on and fight the good fight, regardless of the cost. As Jedi, we do these things because they are ultimately worth the suffering, because of the good we can do."

Shiro smiled uneasily. "You are a good teacher, Mulann. Thank you."

Mulann smiled back. "And you are a good student."

Shiro looked over at Amelie, who was sitting on her post, the couch, watching over Melkior intently. Shiro chuckled. "Everything secure, Ame?"

Ame was slightly startled. "Huh?"

Frell grinned, "There she is, ever-vigilant-Ame."

Amelie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Look, I know I always seem to be on guard but you can't be too careful with these Sith. I've learned that the hard way."

Mulann went over and patted Amelie's shoulder. "Relax, Ame. Things are quiet now. Enjoy the quiet moments while you still can."

Shiro joined Ame and Mulann on the couch. He smiled giddily and turned to Mulann. "Hey Mulann, we've had quite a run so far. This is reminding me of the old times when we were running from the Empire. Remember all the times we had with Daargo, Glou and Juan?"

Mulann smiled fondly and laughed. "How could I forget Juan? He hit on me immediately when I met him!"

Frell chuckled. "He hit on everyone. He was always causing trouble and coming in late and bringing in loose women. But he was a good friend. We used to get drunk, and he'd hit on these Twileks. Because of him, I got hooked up with Ame. And then Tremayne…." Frell cut off and Amelie looked down in sadness.

There was silence for a moment. Then Shiro nudged Mulann again. "Hey, Mulann, would you tell me about being a Tusken Jedi? What was it like?"

Mulann sighed and undid her veil. "It's been awhile since I thought about my master. I try not to dwell on the painful past."

"You told me he got killed by a Dark Jedi. You must miss him."

"Yeah. A Dark Jedi named Nosaj."

"Did things feel worse when you worked as a dancer for Jabba the Hutt? That can't have been fun."

Mulann shivered in disgust at the mention of the slimy and corrupt Jabba. "It wasn't."

"Shiro!" Ame yelled in surprise. "Why would you ask that? It's not very Jedi."

"What? I'm just trying to picture Mulann's past."

"Fortuna hit on me all the time," Mulann said. "I wasn't a human being, I was a slab of meat to that male shutta. Hey, Ame, what did you call Bib that one time?"

Ame answered, using some Huttese, "Ah, you mean, 'Bib Fortuna con justak menke grabbel moggo.'"

Shiro asked, "What's that mean?"

"'Bib Fortuna is just a little gravel maggot.'"

Shiro laughed, "That's funny. He must've been a real bad egg." Shiro sighed and blushed, "I would like to have seen Mulann dance."

Mulann smiled, "Ami, you wouldn't mind if I danced a bit?"

Amelie raised an eyebrow. "I'll get the guitar Boba got me."

Mulann took off her hood and cape and loosened her hair. Amelie searched through a case and pulled out a guitar.

"It must have been great when you met Ame. You too were good friends, eh?" Shiro reflected.

"Yeah, we've been through a lot together. She's always been there for me. Ame, music," Mulann signaled.

Amelie began to play the lilting melody of an old Mando'a song as Mulann moved gracefully to the music. Frell and Shiro sat back on the couch, took a deep breath and relaxed. Amelie strummed more strongly and Mulann danced more passionately. Mulann had learned to express her soul through dance and to feel the music.

Shiro admired the beauty his friend conveyed. "You were too good for Jabba, that's for sure."

Mulann bowed, "Thanks."

"What do you think, Frell?"

Frell was transfixed. "Hmm?"

Amelie looked over at Frell. "Frell! Stop staring at her boobs!" She reached over and sideswiped him.

"Ouch! Sorry!" Frell smiled sheepishly. Amelie smirked, raised an eyebrow, and folded her arms.

Shiro laughed. He could always rely on Mulann, Amelie and Frell to cheer him up. He glanced at the cockpit. "We're coming up on Osma's. Guess I better check on Alanna and Marik and make sure they're not getting into any trouble."

Alanna's quarters were nothing more than a Spartan room with a bunk, a simple desk and chair, and a closet for her clothing. There was a screen in the wall that connected to the main computer. Her room held very little decoration. Alanna was lying on the bunk and Marik was sitting in the chair that he had moved nearby. Gradually, she began to awaken. Marik closed his eyes in relief. It was obvious that Alanna was in quite a bit of pain, and yet she refused to vocalize it.

Alanna's eyes were barely open as she grimaced and said softly, "I feel like I was hit by a landspeeder…"

Marik looked over her battered body. The crack to her head had him especially concerned. But her comment caused him to chuckle. "Nay, t'was worse than a landspeeder. You were hit by Force Lightning." He tried to hide his concern over her injuries. "'Tis not that bad, I'll have you back up and moving in no time." He entered the light trance that was necessary for him to perform Force Healing, and began to heal Alanna.

Alanna noticed almost immediately that her pain was lessening. Her mind became clearer, and she dared a question. "Is he dead?"

Without thinking, Marik answered the question. "No, Shiro is alive…"

Alanna interrupted him and a look of hate flickered across her face. "Not Shiro. Has that monster, that Mandalorian brathu, been destroyed?"

Marik was alarmed by the hatred evident in her tone, but the trance state forced his calm. "Nay, he lives, Alanna. Why do you harbor such hatred towards him? Not because of the lightning, I sense."

Alanna gently sighed and attempted to turn her head away, but the pain in her body was still too great and she was forced to face him. "I'm from Galidraan. My father was the headman of our village, a mining community. When the depression hit, father fought for better wages and safer mining conditions." It was evident that she was fighting back tears. "He was a peaceful protester. He didn't even own a weapon. When the Mandalorians came to kill the Death Watch and put down the 'rebellion', they killed my mother and father. Those monsters murdered my family in cold blood!" Alanna began to sob in earnest.

Marik was concerned by this turn in her, and moved from the chair to sit on the edge of the bed. He took her hand to comfort her and continued to heal her as he listened.

Alanna was still choking back sobs as she began to speak again. "I thought that all of the Mandalorians had been destroyed by the Jedi on Galidraan, with the exception of Jango Fett, who is now dead as well. If I knew even one still remained, I would have hunted him down and destroyed him myself, long ago. That monster deserves to die!" Her tears were gone, and hatred was apparent in her eyes.

Marik continued to hold her hand and spoke in a calm and even tone. "Alanna, I can sense that you are a good, honorable person. Hatred does not become you. Remember, they were following orders, just like the Jedi were when they massacred the Mandalorians. This hatred does not honor the memory of your parents. It is time to let it go." He tentatively reached towards her face to brush away the remaining tears on her cheeks.

Even though Alanna was steadily feeling better physically, her emotions were in turmoil. She slightly turned away from him. "You don't know how I feel."

Marik sighed quietly as he put his finger under her chin and gently turned her face back towards him. "Unfortunately, I know exactly how you feel. I fought in the Clone Wars. And I survived the massacre of the Jedi and the younglings in the Temple. My friends were cut down in battle before my eyes. My mentor was killed on an asteroid with countless other Jedi that were attempting to hide from the Empire. I had left but a day before the attack. And for two years, I believed that the boy I meant to take as a Padawan, who was like a brother to me, was dead."

He paused, visibly saddened. "Yes, dear lady, I know how you feel. I just choose to not be overcome by hatred. What would killing Melkior gain for you? Another mark on your soul is all."

Alanna started a little. "How did you..?"

Marik waved his free hand vaguely as he interrupted her. "I could sense your guilt."

She lowered her head and her voice cracked with her shame. "I am ashamed of what I was forced to do…"

He gently lifted her head up. "Do not let guilt rule you, either. Think not overmuch on your failures. Think instead of successes."

Alanna then looked at his face as if for the first time, and gazed into his eyes. "You..." she hesitated and said questioningly, "Your eyes are a different color today..?"

Marik had changed into his brown civilian security uniform, which made his hazel eyes appear browner in shade. He chuckled, mildly amused. "The curse of hazel eyes. Unlike your bonnie blue eyes, they tend to change colors."

Alanna smiled genuinely at the compliment. Marik still held one of her hands in his, so she laid her free hand on top of that hand.

I can't believe I'm feeling this way, Marik thought. My Jedi teachings advise me to forego attachment. But she's so lovely and strong and courageous. As a Corellian Jedi, I am allowed privileges such as the right to marry, but what does it matter? We're from two different worlds. It would never work out. I can hope, but there seems little point.

She was feeling considerably better, for the healing process was nearly complete.

All was silent for a few minutes, before Marik spoke again. "Wait, if the Mandalorians, whose primary jobs were being bounty hunters or mercenaries, killed your family, why are you a bounty hunter?"

Alanna sighed and shrugged her shoulder slightly. "I wanted to make sure that no one would ever be helpless as I."

Marik gently brushed the hair away from her face in a tender gesture. "I do not believe that anyone could mistake you as being helpless."

Alanna blushed. Why can't I stop thinking of him? He's just my employer and a Jedi. An incredibly brave and handsome Jedi. No. Just a Jedi and I'm a Bounty Hunter. Nothing more. And yet I do feel something for him. But how could he feel the same for me? After what I've done, I don't deserve love like that.

The healing was complete, and Marik ended his trance state. He looked at Alanna. "Thank the Force you're safe." He leaned in closer to Alanna, as she was leaning in closer to him.

And they were interrupted by the comm unit. Shiro's voice came through loud and clear. "Hey guys! Look alive. Osma's is coming up. Hey guys...What are you doing in there?"

They both jumped and looked at each other sheepishly. Alanna hit the comm button. "We'll be right there, Shiro." They both rose from the bed and began to make their way to the cargo bay, where everyone else waited.

Shiro's voice came over the comm. again. "Ame says 'make it snappy.'"

Alanna hit a comm button in the hallway as she and Marik walked on. "We're on our way now."

The Levana settled down onto the landing pad of the Wayland police station and Marik and Alanna stepped out, looking around at the landing area and the station. Marik noted it was awfully quiet and the platform was strangely barren of personnel.

"It's quiet. Too quiet." Marik looked at Alanna, cavalier-like.

Alanna rolled her eyes and nodded. She turned her head and yelled, "Okay, Frell, bring him out."

Frell came forward, pulling the bound and gagged Melkior. Shiro ran up and tapped Melkior on the shoulder.

"Hey, Melk, how you holding up? Those ropes tight enough for ya? Cause, ya know, we can sure make 'em tighter!"

Melkior uttered an angry muffled noise. Shiro gave him a wet willy and patted him on the back. Amelie and Mulann brought up the rear. At first they looked around protectively, but soon dropped their guard and started kidding around.

Marik went up to the building door and typed in the access code. The door opened automatically and the group strolled in and walked down the hall.

Amelie and Mulann engaged in a mock battle of Mandalorian vs. Jedi, with Amelie withdrawing her Mandalorian blaster and aiming it at Mulann, then running back. "Hah! Come and get me, Jeti!"

Mulann responded by playfully charging at Amelie, holding her lightsaber hilt high. "For the Order!" The two clunked into Melkior and laughed, as Melkior groaned in annoyance.

Marik turned to Alanna and spoke officiously, "When we meet up with the police force, let me do the talking. Please don't cause any uproar."

Alanna rolled her eyes again, mock saluted Marik, and said, "Whatever you say, sheriff!"

Marik turned away, sighed and cursed himself inwardly. You're making a great impression, dude. She's swept off her feet. Just chill…Wait a second. What is that? Marik suddenly felt a tremor in the Force. He sensed something was not right.

Marik looked in the main office windowand noticed it was dark and nobody was in the office. He reached out with the Force and sensed the officers in the combat training room. He gave Alanna a warning look. Alanna put her hand on her blaster.

Marik whistled over to the rest of the group. "Guys, something's up!"

He ran straight for the training room door and opened it. Marik looked around and gasped at what he saw. Antinnis Tremayne stood in front of a platoon of Stormtroopers and a group of Dark Jedi in the center of the room. In the back were the police officers contained in cortosis cages. Around the catawaulk were a group of bounty hunters led by Drakk Menace. The rest of Marik's group ran into the room and the doors slammed shut and automatically locked behind them.

Tremayne smiled. "Greetings…"