Blinded By Love
By Serena Kenobi
A/N: Sorry for the long wait. Happy new year! Thanks for the reviews. I know you all want Taronel dead... so, here's a little something to make you all feel better.
Disclaimer: I don't, and I ain't never gonna own Star Wars. Y'all feel me? (Disclaiming in "Da Hood" talk today.)
"Husband, eh?" One of the men said.
I stiffened and set my teeth.
"What would you be doing out here?" The first man asked us.
"We are scientists," Taronel said. "We were studying the temperatures and the effects ice and snow have on certain technologies."
"Strange," the second man commented.
"And who are you gentlemen?" I asked politely, trying very subtly to distance myself from Taronel.
They all laughed. "Gentlemen, right," the first man chuckled. "We're smugglers, darling. We're meetin' some… friends of ours here."
"How interesting," I lied. "And may I ask your names?"
"I'm Captain Raler Norray," the first man said. "And these two blokes are Tyros Anthek and Moin Tarkcin. Oh, and this man to my right, the Corellian, is Dash Rendar. He's just joinin' us for a short while."
"Pleasure, I'm sure," Dash spoke, sounding uninterested.
"We're just sittin' down to have some grub," Tyros added. "Care to join us?"
Taronel said tightly, "No, thank you. We should be pressing on."
"Suit yourself, Sir Stuck-Up," Raler snorted.
I couldn't help myself. A small laugh burst out from my lips before I could stop it, and I put a hand over my mouth to stifle my giggles.
The men burst out laughing, and Raler said, "Well, the little lady's got herself a sense of humor! How 'bout sittin' down with us, love? Leave the prune to wander off by himself."
"I am not a prune!" Taronel shouted.
"Coulda fooled me," Moin muttered.
I smiled. It was impossible not to like these men. "Thank you for your generous offer, but I'm afraid I must be going. I have some people I need to find."
"I'm good at finding people," Dash Rendar spoke suddenly.
I shifted, uncomfortable. "Yes, well, these are my family. I doubt you'd want to look for them."
"I've got no love for the Empire, I can tell ya that," Dash added quietly.
"None of us do," Moin piped up. "Anythin' anti-Imp goes fine here."
I shook my head, still smiling. "Thanks, but we really should be going. Right, dear?" I glared in Taronel's direction.
"Yes," Taronel said quickly.
"It was wonderful to meet you all," I took Taronel's arm and squeezed it tightly.
"You, too, little lady," Raler said. I heard a scrape of a seat, and then a warm, rough hand took mine and shook it.
Taronel tensed, but I smiled at him and squeezed his hand, not hard, but firmly, in friendly manner.
"What's all this?" A different, harsh voice said, sounding dark and unfriendly. "Norray, where's my goods?"
Raler's hand left mine, and he said, "Well, Kelcus, 'bout time you got here."
I then heard the sound of a blaster clicking. "'Bout time you handed over what you promised."
"I'll do nothing of the sort," Raler returned. "Not until I get my money."
"Sorry, we forgot it. Guess you'll just have to give it." Kelcus laughed, and others, sounding like they were behind him, did as well. "We've got you outnumbered, Norray. Don't do anything stupid. Give up your weapons, gentlemen."
I paled and grabbed Taronel's arm. "Please, let us go," I spoke. "We are just scientists; we have no quarrel with you."
I heard footsteps approach, and Taronel reached for a hidden blaster I knew he kept behind his back.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?" Kelcus's voice was very close now. "Who's this little beauty, Raler?"
"I am Corde." I held my head high.
I felt a bit of air passing in front of my face, and Kelcus laughed. "Blind, eh? Well, now, isn't that interesting."
"Leave her alone!" Taronel stepped forward.
"Make me." Before I could even comprehend what had happened, a blaster shot rang out, and I sucked in air. I felt Taronel's arm slide off my waist, and he slumped to the floor. My mouth fell open in horror.
"You… you killed him!" I gasped.
"He wasn't one of us!" Dash growled, "He was just a scientist!"
"A scientist with a blaster," Kelcus said coolly.
I felt myself growing furious, and I lashed out with both my fists, hitting whatever and wherever I could. "You monster!" I yelled, enraged. "He was just a doctor! He didn't hurt anyone!"
Two strong hands grabbed mine, and I was forced against the wall. "Watch your mouth, sweetie." I felt his stench on my face; and a hand ran down my neck.
"Let go of her!" Raler roared.
And then the shooting started. Amidst the confusion, I was thrown to the ground, and I covered my head, my fingers digging into the hard ground. I lay there for around three minutes, and then everything was silent.
"Who's there?" I whispered.
A warm, gloved hand touched my back gently. "Hey, Corde," Dash's voice said, low in my ear. "We gotta get outta here. We managed to kill most of Kelcus's gang, but he'll have support on his ship."
"Are the others still alive?" I asked, afraid of the answer.
"Yeah, we're here," Raler said, his voice gruff. "But Moin's hurt. Come on, little lady." I was pulled to my feet, and Dash said, "Here, take my arm." He put his other arm around my slightly trembling form, and we rushed out of the base. The cold wind hit my face with a brutal force, and I put up a hand to shield myself. Dash pulled up my hood, and we hurried up the ramp and entered the ship.
"Quick, get some bacta patches on him!" Raler ordered.
Dash set me down in a seat, and I sat there, feeling helpless. I heard Tyros, who was tending to Moin, swear under his breath. "I'm a smuggler, not a medic," he grumbled.
"Here, let met help," I instantly said. "I have some basic medical training." I reached out blindly, and he took my hand and helped me next to where Moin lay.
"Are you sure you can do this, Miss Corde?" He asked hesitantly.
I nodded firmly. "Yes. Medical aid was drilled into us as part of our handmaiden training." The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.
"Handmaiden? Wow, you sure get around."
I blushed. "Well, I suppose now that you're my only hope of survival, I should tell you something of myself. I'm not a scientist. I – wait, where's my droid?"
"Oh, you mean the silver protocol droid?"
"Yes!"
"Don't worry, we managed to save her. I'm sorry, but we couldn't save your ship, but we did get your astro droid."
I looked down. The files that we had collected were no longer available; thus, my entire trip here had been for nothing. I bit my lip and fought hard to keep my voice leveled. "That's all right. I'm just thankful you saved my life." Turning back to my patient of sorts, I put my hands on Moin's neck, then moved up to his face. "He's getting cold," I said, worried. "He'll need some blankets." As he left to get them, I ran my hands down Moin's chest lightly, searching carefully and delicately for the wounds. Every time I found one, I took a cloth and dabbed at it carefully, then put a bacta patch on it. It was slow, especially because I was blind, but eventually I got all the wounds. I suddenly felt his chest begin to rise more quickly, and I heard him moan. "Shh, stay calm," I said.
He chuckled hoarsely. "What a lovely way to wake up," I heard him say jokingly. "A stunning woman whose hands are currently on my chest."
I realized my hands were still on his bare chest and quickly pulled them away, blushing. He laughed and captured them in his larger hands. "Thanks, beautiful," he said. "Appreciate it."
"It was nothing," I said, shaking my head.
"Moin! Flirting with the doctor, eh?" Tyros's voice came closer, and he dropped down on the other side of Moin. "Here are your blankets, you old softie," he grinned.
Moin chuckled again. "Thanks, Ty. But at least I didn't have to wake up to your ugly face."
Tyros burst out laughing, as did Moin, and it was so infectious that I had to join them. Although I had lost my ship, Taronel, and had no information on my family, I couldn't remember laughing so hard in my life.
I had many losses, even in the short time after I had woken up, but I felt that things might just start to look up a little bit.
I stayed by Moin's side for the next few hours and listened to him talk about all the adventures he had had as a smuggler, but soon I was growing tired.
"Look, beautiful, you're about to drop dead from exhaustion. Why don't you get some shut-eye. I'm sure one of the guys would let you have his bunk."
"I can just sleep out in the central hold area," I protested. "There's a bench I could use."
Footsteps approached, and Raler's voice said, "Nonsense, little lady! You're our guest, and you'll take my bunk. I insist." Two strong arms wrapped around my waist, and he lifted me up and carried me to his bedroom, then placed me on the bunk.
"I could've walked, you know," I said, amused. "I may be blind but I'm not a cripple."
He laughed. "Just doing you a common courtesy and helping out a lady," he replied. "Have a good sleep. We'll talk about your situation in the morning." I heard the door shut with a whoosh, and then I rolled over and curled up into a ball, my mind once again overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions. I was incredibly upset that Taronel was dead. He had been a loyal companion, to say the least. I felt somewhat guilty about bringing him to Hoth – I was the reason he was dead. But HE chose to come with you! Another voice in my head reminded me. It's not your fault, Padme.
But still, I felt guilty. I only wish I could've said goodbye. Tears began to prick at the corners of my eyes, and soon enough, I was quietly sobbing into the pillow. Why did everything I came in contact with have to die? Why me?
I cried myself to sleep that night; but my dreams were not of death, strangely enough.
They were of Anakin.
So that's that, yo. Hope everyone enjoyed it!
MtFbwy,
- Serena Kenobi
