A letter to the reader:Welcome back to an intergalactic adventure several seasons in the making. I want to take a moment to thank you for all of your love, appreciation, and support. It is my honor and pleasure to bring you a story that combines the worlds of Star Wars and Frozen. These fandoms, like this story, are near and dear to me. So without further ado, I invite you to return to a galaxy far...far away. Let us adventure together alongside Anna, Elsa, and all of their friends in a second season.
~Michael
GOLDENHEART STORIES PRESENTS...
A Michael J. Pineda Production...
The Frozen Force: Season II - "Dark Force Rising"
Chapter: 31 The Lost Jedi
"Desperation destroys doctrine."
It's been two weeks since the devastating attack on the Ethereal which left seven Jedi dead and one missing. While there are those in the galaxy still searching for answers, others question their safety in its entirety. If the Jedi cannot protect themselves, how can they defend the Republic? As a quest for the truth ignites, masters seek greater methods to train the future of their Order. It is clear that Padawans serving on the frontlines of the Clone Wars are better equipped to handle their harsh reality. While the survivors of what is being called the "Scarif Massacre" are struggling to move forward, others are taking initiative. Since the kidnapping of Padawan Anna Dellian by Sith Acolyte Asajj Ventress, her sister Elsa's search has been ceaseless. Accompanied by Masters Yelena and Mattias, Elsa has been utilizing every asset at her disposal to find her sister...despite the Order's detestments. But the Clone Wars rage on across the galaxy. The ever-escalating conflict serves as the perfect breeding ground for organized crime. While corruption and chaos spread throughout the stars, a caravan cruiser heads for the Outer Rim. As its war-torn refugees glimpse the lush planet of Dantooine, a new journey begins...
"Attention all passengers," a robust voice announced. "This is your pilot speaking. We are now on approach for Dantooine."
"Please buckle up as we make preparations to land," his reserved co-pilot added.
The cruiser's engines slowed and dozens of passengers flooded towards its viewports. No amount of the pilot's rule enforcement could get these eager, desperate refugees to buckle up for landing. Childrens' hands pressed against the glass while their parents laughed alongside them. Mothers kissed their infants while fathers wept at the sight of a new world. "We're finally here, Duffy!" a child cheered and hugged his stuffed animal. "Dantooine!" He leapt excitedly and sent his plush spinning through the air. He gasped as his fluffy companion swiveled to a traveler's booted feet. "Duffy?" he worried. The child swallowed hard and observed a violet-hooded stranger. It remained silent, yet craned its neck inquisitively towards the plush. He yelped when it stretched a sleeve towards his toy and he found the courage to run over. "Don't hurt him!" the boy pleaded only to trip over himself.
"He's a bursa isn't he?" the hooded woman spoke soothingly. "He's very cute," she said and handed it over.
The boy snatched his plush back and cradled it like a child. "It's okay, Duffy." he reassured the toy bursa. "You're safe now." He glared at the stranger like she'd committed the most despicable crime and then ran across the ship. The woman sighed, buckled up in accordance with landing procedures, and reclined in her seat. A burly, black-bearded man squeezed into the seat beside her. "You'll have to excuse my son," he said. "Dain is a proud boy, but he's been through so much. All of us Rovani have, but no child should have to endure this suffering. To be outcasted from so many worlds and to witness the horrors of this war. It's unfair." He smiled faintly and gestured to the planet in their viewport. "But Dantooine is a chance for our people to start over. It grants us a long awaited hope."
"That's the idea anyway," the woman replied.
"I am Manaro," the Rovani introduced. "Who might you be?"
The cloaked figure remained silent. Her face shied away as he leaned towards her. "No one of importance," she confessed.
Manaro sighed. "I'm sorry that wherever you hailed from seems to have taken its bitter toll. Do you have a family, young lady?"
The stranger subtly shook her head. "Maybe I'll find them here," she answered.
"I see," Manaro lamented. "Well, my wife and I firmly believe that family isn't always blood. If you find that you're struggling, our door is always open to you. Plus, I'm sure Dain would love to have a big sister." The woman shuddered at the concept of siblings and Manaro bit his lip. "Apologies. I feel that I've overstepped. It's just been hell and I feel that my boy-"
"It's okay," the stranger assured. "Really, Manaro. Thank you for your hospitality. I hope Dantooine gives us both what we're looking for." The aisle rumbled as they entered the atmosphere.
Manaro's hiccup was concealed behind a series of groans. "Forgive me," he uttered. "I don't fly much and these landings do a number on my belly." He raised a bushy brow as the stranger cracked open a capsule of flight sickness pills.
"Take one," she said. "Trust me."
Manaro kindly accepted and nervously gripped the seat. While other passengers braced, the darkness of space was soon gradually by a cloudy sky. Streaks of midday sunlight danced across the viewports and reflected towards vast plains. Olive-colored savannahs stretched for miles alongside lavender hills. A sea of clouds maintained a cool temperature over the tranquil planet. "I believe we've done it right this time," Manaro said. The stranger turned out of curiosity as he continued. "We Rovani have always coexisted among battlefields and bustling cities teeming with corruption. Dantooine will provide us with a quiet locale where we can live off the land uninterrupted. Plus, it's the first time we're showing up after the battle." Manaro chuckled at his new friend's silence. "You didn't hear? The Republic already battled Separatist forces here, but both have since departed. From my understanding, the community is already at over a hundred strong. We've got at least thirty more on this ship."
"So you believe in it all?" the woman asked. "The Court of Miracles?"
Manaro's smile faded. "You truly have had your spirit crushed, haven't you?" he sympathized. "We are Rovani, child. All we have is belief. The day we lose that...there will be nothing left." Their ears popped as the cruiser neared the savannah below. The landing gear extended and a chorus of seat belts unbuckled across the aisles. Manaro gave the woman a bow of respect and regrouped with his family. She watched as he embraced his wife and hoisted Dain onto his shoulders. He took one final look at the hooded stranger before disembarking with the others.
Many of the refugees carried nothing but the clothing on their backs. They hobbled out onto the fresh, windy plains where an elderly Rovani woman was waiting. "Welcome, brothers and sisters." she called to them. The hooded passenger stayed towards the back of the group while the elder examined them. She slid into the tall grass and broke apart from the caravan.
The stranger was on her own course as she trekked through the thick, savannah grasses. Each blade was taller than its predecessor and loomed over her violet hood. With a gentle breeze against her cloak, she suddenly paused. Her boots dug into the dried soil and she clenched her fists. A pleasant, yet eerie hum sounded from fields. This wordless melody closed in on the stranger from an unseen area. She took a step back until the grasses behind her started to rustle. The muzzle of a blaster rifle slid between the plants and halted inches from the stranger's head. Several other firearms emerged from the field to enforce how surrounded she was.
The humming persisted and the stranger relaxed her hands. When she did so, the patrol advanced and cocked their weapons. Their plasma cylinders heated up and were prepared to fire away. Rather than reach for any kind of weapon, the cloaked intruder raised her pale hands in surrender.
Only then did the source of such harmonious humming appear. A pair of black boots emerged across from the stranger. Scarlet pants and a crimson top vividly contrasted against the young girl's raven locks. Twin blaster pistols swayed from her purple belt and extra cartridges of ammunition poked from within her violet vest. She ceased her humming and said, "You'll have to excuse our welcoming committee. The Court of Miracles can't be taking any chances these days." She lifted an arm towards her militia. "You can lower your weapons. This one's with me." The Rovani looked to one another confusedly, yet obliged. The group's leader made her way to the cloaked stranger while she slowly removed her hood. Her emerald eyes brightened upon glimpsing a familiar, platinum blonde, Padawan braid. "Elsa," the Rovani rejoiced and pulled her into an embrace. "It's been too long."
"Ezzie," the Jedi replied. "I've missed you so much. You're looking well."
Ezzie observed Elsa from head to toe and sighed. "I wish I could say the same about you, my friend. I'm so sorry about Anna."
"We all are," Elsa assured and tucked her braid beneath a pink bandana. She folded up her cloak to reveal a loosely-fitted white shirt and pair of purple leggings. "How do I look?" she asked.
"Like you'll fit right in," Ezzie replied. "My old threads look good on you! I just knew you'd have to look like me someday."
One of Ezzie's militia slid over to her. "Ez," she queried. "I trust you and all, but who exactly are we letting in here?"
"I suppose I owe you a proper explanation, Veta." Ezzie realized and paused to address her unit. "Brothers and sisters, Elsa is the Jedi whom I owe my life to."
"Ah yes!" Veta shouted. "Frollo's killer!" She cheered and the others celebrated around her.
Elsa hurriedly shook her head in denial until Ezzie shushed her. "Just go with it," she whispered. "This crowd's already as paranoid as it gets."
"But it's a lie," Elsa retorted.
"And that lie will keep you alive here," Ezzie intoned and faked a smile to confront her people. "Now we all know the rules regarding outsiders. Anyone who isn't Rovani can and will be put to death. But you all trust me, right?" The group firmly nodded to her. "Elsa has earned her place among us, and her visit is temporary. So on our code, please...you saw nothing."
While the patrol cleared a path through the savannah, Ezzie walked alongside Elsa. "They'll take us in through a less-traveled route," she said.
"So he's still here, right?" Elsa asked. "I'd hate to put you through all of this risk just to end up on a wild bantha chase."
Ezzie winced. "Oh he's here. Clopin's got'em under lockdown until he cracks. But I don't think he's budging anytime soon. I can't tell if it's through sheer willpower or utter foolhardiness."
"Regardless, I cannot thank you enough for doing this." Elsa replied. "I need to try everything I can."
"I hope it works out," Ezzie replied. "I'm no Jedi, but I can tell how anxious you are. It looks like you've barely slept."
"You're right," Elsa yawned. "I've been meditating extensively in the hopes of uncovering Anna's whereabouts. But no matter how hard I try, my senses are...clouded. I fear there are forces at work beyond my control." Seeking to change the subject, Elsa proposed a question. "So, do you still have Anna's old Jedi robes?"
"You know it!" Ezzie boasted. "I might need them again someday."
"How is Clopin?" Elsa asked. "Are you two still friends?"
Ezzie shot Elsa a glare. "We're friends, but founding this community has seriously changed him. I fear paranoia got the best of old Clopin once he became leader. He fuels our people with a hatred for outsiders and plays on their past pains. He claims it promotes togetherness, but I think it pushes everyone else away."
"Have you tried voicing that concern?" Elsa suggested.
"At first," Ezzie admitted. "But voices like mine are highly outnumbered here. You're among outcasts now, Elsa. Everyone in the Court of Miracles has been dealt their share of suffering and has no plans to endure more. They'll fight to their last breaths to preserve what normalcy they've found on Dantooine. Since Clopin may recognize you, we're gonna do our best to steer clear of his path."
"Sounds like a plan," Elsa agreed. "I just need to see the prisoner. What was he doing here anyway?"
Ezzie shrugged as they neared a gully. "Your guess is as good as mine. We think he came to steal something, but it just doesn't add up. How'd you hear about it?"
"Anna's master had a friend in the Coruscant Police Force. Data records tracked our target to a last known location here. It wasn't long before we found out about the Rovani caravans moving in."
Ezzie smirked. "You got lucky. You sent an encrypted transmission with the word 'Dellian' and were fortunate that I was able to decipher it to get in contact. I have to ask, what does your Jedi Council think of all this snooping?" Elsa's wobbly grimace spoke volumes. "Elsa, you rebel." Ezzie teased.
"They think we're investigating the Court of Miracles," Elsa defended. "And ensuring that all is 'safe' in the aftermath of the Republic's latest battle."
Ezzie chuckled. "Oh, you mean the battle that happened on the opposite side of the planet? This just keeps getting funnier."
Veta leapt into the gully first, cupped her hands over her mouth, and mimicked a bird call. There was a brief pause before someone across the way repeated her signal. "It's clear," she whispered and the rest of the group entered.
"So how is Anna's master?" Ezzie asked. "Mattias, right? He must be devastated about losing her."
"He blames himself," Elsa explained. "In a way, we're all blaming ourselves. But that's why we're setting out to right this wrong."
"All power to you," Ezzie said only to frown. "That was something Anna once told me. Do you believe she's alright?"
"All I have is belief," Elsa confessed. The gully dipped into a series of winding tunnels. The Padawan had to resist the habitual urge to spark up her lightsaber until she was passed a lantern instead. The damp cavern was frigid and breezy as it yielded a soft light across the way.
"Elsa-" Ezzie began. "Welcome to the Court of Miracles."
The passage emptied towards a thriving Rovani settlement. The fields were alive with children playing while adults harvested crops. A seven-string hallikset could be heard strumming from someone's tent while silhouettes danced within. Those working the land took a moment to welcome the latest group of refugees. Manaro and his wife waved back while their son scurried ahead. The sight of such a persecuted people prospering freely made Elsa smile. Oh Anna, she thought. I wish you could see this. You will see this.
Elsa was shaken free of her thoughts when Ezzie nudged her. She pointed towards an elongated tent on the furthest side of the compound. "That's where we're keeping the prisoner," she said.
"How are we getting in?" Elsa asked.
"Woah," Ezzie blurted. "Our agreement was to get you into the Court of Miracles. You said you wanted to see where he was. You didn't say anything about breaking into the prisoner's tent."
"I thought it was implied," Elsa intoned while Ezzie's fighters grew restless. "I need you to get me in there. Why else would I have wanted to come?"
Ezzie became flustered. "I don't know, to get information?"
"Yeah, from him."
"Listen, Jedi." Ezzie spoke in a much firmer tone. "If it wasn't for me, my militia would've fried you by now. Don't think you can go around dropping orders here. I played by your rules when I was in the Jedi Temple, so now you play by mine."
Elsa's eyes darted between her angered friend and her subordinates. She feigned a smile and replied, "Of course."
"Good," Ezzie affirmed. "We need to be smart about this. I've had to work my tail off to become leader of a militia. While Clopin trusts me, it'll take one slip up to send all of my progress crashing down. You've got one day to do what you need to and I'll have my team look the other way." Elsa didn't want to further stir tensions between them, but she couldn't help feeling brushed off by Ezzie. She wondered if Ezzie would even be there had Elsa adopted a similar mindset with her back in the temple. "In the meantime," the Rovani earnestly concluded. "Make yourself at home."
Ezzie and her unit dispersed into the settlement while Elsa observed from the cave. She made a mental note of where the prisoner's tent was and then proceeded towards the crowds. Draft animals and Rovani farmers shuffled through the grassy paths between tents as Elsa took in a plethora of scents. From freshly-cooked meals to various perfumes, the Court of Miracles was alive with aromas. Raucous laughter caught Elsa's attention and she leaned towards a shifting tent.
A Rovani musician noticed her peeking and rapidly plucked away at his hallikset. "Join us!" he eagerly beckoned. "Dance!" The men and women around him waved and hollered for her to join as well.
"Sorry," Elsa insisted. "I don't dance." She did, however, use the boisterous tent as a cover to place a call. Elsa slipped behind it, took a knee, and activated her comlink. "It's Menzel," she called. "I'm in. Sterl, Plim. Please respond."
"Sounds like a quite a party," Sterl quipped. "Glad you made it in."
"I hope you know what you're doing," Plim intoned. "And who you're trusting."
"If we're dealing with the same forces here-" Elsa explained. "-then he may be our best hope at finding Anna."
"I still don't know whether I can believe in any of this," Plim murmured and Elsa rolled her eyes.
"Seriously? After everything?" Elsa retorted. "If what happened to Anna hasn't made you a believer in the other forces out there, I don't know what will."
Plim went silent as Sterl took over. "Just be careful, Menzel." he said. "If it's anything you can't handle, you call us. We can't lose you too."
"Copy that," Elsa replied and ended the transmission. She stepped back onto the main pathway and tried to blend in with the locals. It helped that the Rovani were a diverse people whose appearances varied depending on which part of the galaxy they hailed from. During her walk, Elsa eyed the elongated prisoner's tent and jogged towards it. She waited until her path was free of wandering eyes and then crouched behind a stack of crates.
What am I dealing with? Elsa asked herself and examined the tent's defenses. A pair of Rovani guards were stationed at its entrance. A daunting blaster rifle swayed from each guard's rugged grip. Okay, she mentally affirmed. You can do this.
Elsa looked at her hand and felt the Force flowing through her. She could sense the energy radiating in various forms from all around her. She chose to focus on the mustachioed guardsman and discreetly raised her hand from cover. Elsa took one look at his bandana-clad head and shut her eyes. She tried to visualize the inner recesses of his mind and sought to connect with it. Once she felt tethered to the guardsman, she spoke into the Force. "You are tired and hungry," she whispered. "You wish to get a meal and rest." Though her mind trick wasn't successful, she could tell that her abilities had prodded his subconscious. The guardsman's brows furrowed and he tilted his head inquisitively. It was as if he was trying to listen for an unknown voice. Elsa took a deep breath and tried again. She waved her hand and said, "You think you saw something and you want to investigate." This time, the guardsman winced and clenched his temple.
"Something wrong?" the guardswoman beside him asked.
"I'm not sure," he murmured. "I just feel a little light-headed."
Third time's the charm, Elsa told herself and gave the mind trick another go. "You think you saw something and want help checking it out."
Elsa paused as the man stuttered. "I...I think I-" Her heart sank when he suddenly howled with pain. His hands rushed to tug his hair as he collapsed to his knees.
"Brother?" his partner worried and knelt beside him. "What's wrong?"
"My head," he hissed. "It feels like it's going to burst." He writhed in the grass while rigorously rubbing his temples. The guardsman sweated profusely and every sound was thunderous against his ears.
So much for a mind trick, Elsa scolded herself. I think I broke the poor man. She thought back to Master Yelena's earliest teachings on the Force.
"You must always remember, Elsa,-" Yelena had lectured. "The Force is a powerful responsibility of which all Jedi are entrusted with. At times, it should serve as a temporary means to accomplish a greater good. We should never abuse our abilities for profit or personal gains. Should we ever overstep, these wrongs must be righted."
Elsa had let her overconfidence get the best of her. Just because she'd deeply connected with creatures through animal kinship didn't mean she could understand the workings of a person's mind. To vocally and mentally manipulate someone she wasn't even in contact with was a risky feat. She had overwhelmed a Rovani man who was merely serving his people. Seeking to redeem herself, Elsa emerged from cover and rushed over. She didn't have to fake the fearful look on her face, for she was genuinely worried about his wellbeing.
"What happened?" Elsa asked calmly.
"I don't know," the guardswoman replied while feeling his forehead. "He's burning up. Perhaps a fever? It sounds like he's got a killer headache too."
Killer? Elsa dreaded within her subconscious. Don't even use that word. She couldn't fathom the thought of accidentally murdering an innocent man for the sake of the mission. She cradled his head as he quieted down in her arms. Elsa willed the Force to undo her mistake, but she was unsure of its effects.
The guardswoman examined their quiet surroundings and noted how her partner calmed in Elsa's arms. "I'm going to get help," she said. "Just keep him calm."
She ran off as Elsa massaged the man's temples. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "For your pain," she was quick to add. "I...had nothing to do with it."
"Not so loud," the guardsman groaned when she spoke.
As the dreadful effects of Elsa's failed mind trick faded, she noticed the unguarded entrance. Elsa glanced at the pathway and considered how the guardswoman could return at any moment. Her eyes swayed down to the man, whose aching eyes were shut tight. This might be my only chance," she thought. He seems to be recovering and the tent's clear. This guard has the opportunity to be alright, but you'll never know about Anna unless you take this chance. With a hard gulp and heavy heart, Elsa loosened her grip on the man's head. She gently rested him against the ground and dashed into the tent before he came to.
"Hey," the guardsman uttered groggily. "Where'd you...go?" He tried to sit up, but dizziness got the best of him.
Realizing she was against the clock, Elsa snuck deeper into the tent's confines and kept to the shadows. A set of lanterns caught her eye and she crept closer to a table. The unsettling presence of a club made Elsa sick to her stomach. She then noticed a peculiar winch wedged into the ground. A thick, ebony cord coiled around the winch, through a pulley system, and into a well of sorts. Elsa deduced the tent had been constructed around the well. This turned a once nurturing source of water into a crude, makeshift, prison cell. Elsa peered into the inky abyss and was unable to see the bottom. Unwilling to call down and potentially alert the guards, she made for the winch. Elsa bit her lip and cringed while cautiously turning the handle. Her anxiety made every squeak and grind sound ear-splitting as she pulled someone or something up. Elsa watched the damp cord tighten under the weight of whatever she was pulling. Her heart raced out of fear that a guard would barge in at any moment.
"Come on," Elsa whispered while twisting the winch. "How deep is this thing?"
Her blue gaze widened as a booted foot emerged from the well. The cord tugged this limp being up by a single loop and his malodorous stench followed. His jacket flopped with his upside down body while a forest of dreadlocks swayed below them. The man's dazed, heavily-kohled eyes fluttered open for a moment. As if still processing who stood before him, he shook his head to wake up and flashed a toothy grin. "Elsa, love." His speech was as slurred as ever. "I knew you'd change your mind."
"Captain Jack Convore," Elsa replied. "I'm not here to join your crew."
"Yet here you are calling me cap'n," Jack quipped.
"I was being courteous," Elsa defended and took her voice down. "This is low, even for you. What were you thinking? These people you tried to steal from have been through enough hardship."
Jack's eyes narrowed. "So you came all this way in that new toggery just to lecture me?"
"No," Elsa retorted.
"So you're here to bust me out."
"Well...yes, but-"
"Are you in my crew or-"
"Would you let me talk?" Elsa snapped.
"Lass, there's a lot of blood rushing to my head now." Jack insisted while dangling. "You'll have to excuse me if I seem a bit...benumbified."
"I'll get right to it," Elsa asserted. "I need your help."
Jack snorted and raised an upside down brow. "Honestly," he murmured. "Does anybody mount a rescue just because they miss someone anymore?"
Elsa clenched her fists at his words. Jack could read the angst across her face as she thought deeply about Anna. Elsa wondered what using Jack to get to her sister said about her nature. Any invasive doubts she had were battled back with thoughts of her sister. She recalled how helpless she felt watching Asajj Ventress drag Anna into her ship. If only I'd been faster, she thought. I could've caught up. If I had been stronger, maybe I could've defeated Ventress. What a joke. I couldn't even defeat Anna in training. What if she'd listened to me? I should've been more persuasive. A Jedi Consular would've been. They can negotiate during the most trying of circumstances and soften the hardest of hearts. I have to make this right.
With a deep breath, Elsa recomposed herself and spoke calmly. "Jack, we're running out of time. If I'm going to get you out of here, I need your word. The same word which I entrusted you with to come back and save me from Hondo's crew on Scarif."
The pirate's nose wrinkled. "I've been playing these games a long time, love, so you can dispense with the formalities. What is it you want from Cap'n Jack?"
"Anna's gone missing," Elsa grieved.
"The redhead," Jack recalled. "And you want me to help you look? It's a vast galaxy-"
"But you have the means," Elsa interrupted. "That compass of yours. I was naive when I first laid eyes on it. But the magic you referred to is real, isn't it?" Jack's silence was enough of an answer for her. "I recognized a similar green mist around a set of enchanted cards on Felucia."
Jack hummed in thought. With his eyes shut and lips twitching, Elsa almost thought he was sleeping. "So you want me to help you find Anna as payment for you rescuing me?"
Elsa stuck to her beliefs and hardened her resolve. "That's correct, yes."
"No deal," Jack replied nonchalantly.
"Wait, what?" Elsa blurted. "But it's only a matter of time before the Rovani execute you."
"It's only a matter of time before a lot of things, dear." Jack insisted. "I don't even have the compass. The lead Rovani snatched it."
"Then I'll get it," Elsa assured.
"But do you know how it works?" Jack teased as Elsa huffed.
She frustratedly grit her teeth. "There has to be something we can negotiate on."
"The Pearl," Jack intoned.
"The what?"
"The Black Pearl."
Elsa rolled her eyes. "By the Force, you still haven't found that ship after all this time?"
"Whether it's my ship or your sister, sometimes what we're looking for finds us," Jack replied. "When the time comes, I just need your help to get the Pearl back. Savvy?"
Elsa cautiously looked the prisoner over. "If I agree to this, how will I know when that time arrives?" she asked.
Jack smirked until footsteps sounded from the entryway. "Blast," Elsa cursed and glared at Jack. "I could've gotten you out by now if you'd just been reasonable!" she whispered sharply as guards rounded the corner.
While the guardsman still appeared sickly, he was well enough to stand at his partner's side. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked and stared Elsa down.
Jack swayed his hands in an effort to placate the guards. With a beaming grin and squinted eyes, he compellingly explained the situation. "I believe one of your sistren here was about to haplessly interrogate me once more," he said and gestured to Elsa.
"Shut up!" the guardswoman growled and struck Jack's abdomen with the butt of her rifle. Her sunken eyes swayed to Elsa next. "You," she grumbled. "What are you doing back here? I told you to stay with Nulos."
"You are not with our militia," Nulos added.
"In fact, Wevri." an all-too familiar voice said. "She's not Rovani." Elsa's eyes shot open as she glanced past the guards' shoulders. A slender Rovani adorned in multicolored robes emerged from the shadows. Clopin looked much healthier since the last time Elsa had encountered him. No longer was he living hand to mouth and traversing the brink of death. But Baron Frollo's demise had only solidified his newfound strength. While Ezzie had greeted Elsa with an embrace, Clopin only offered a leer. His dark eyes listed beneath a set of wine-colored goggles. "She's a Jedi," he said while observing her handiwork.
"Clopin," Elsa insisted with her hands raised. "This isn't what it looks like."
"Oh no?" he jeered. "Then please enlighten me. Because it looks like you're breaking this thief out of captivity. Which I must say, leads me to think much less of the Jedi."
"We helped you escape Coruscant," Elsa replied.
"That you did, and your response does nothing to answer my question. So I can only assume I am correct. How it is you were able to sneak in here is a mystery, unless one of my militia captains was partial to you." As Clopin and Elsa stared at each other, they knew they had Ezzie in mind.
"I acted alone," Elsa assured. "Please, I promise that I mean no harm to the Rovani."
"Then prove it," Clopin intoned and motioned to Jack. "Find out what my people cannot."
Great, Elsa thought. More bargaining. Brace yourself, Elsa. If you want to be a Jedi Consular, you need to try and satisfy everyone with the least amount of chaos. Take a deep breath and negotiate.
Elsa heeded her own advice and said, "What do you need?"
Her stomach dropped and Jack's eyes widened as Clopin withdrew the enchanted compass. "We found this on the thief's person upon capture. I don't know what you believe, Jedi, but this compass is anything but broken. There is something...spiritual bound to it." Elsa watched as green vapors encircled the compass and Clopin's hand. The device's needle swirled uncontrollably while Clopin jabbed a finger at Jack. "It's the only reason this scum is still alive. But make no mistake, I will make his stay a slow and agonizing hell until he gives up the powers of this trinket." Clopin's glare was daunting towards Elsa. "That's where you come in." An insidious grin emerged atop his scraggly goatee. "Warp his mind, Jedi. Make him bend to your will. Do this, and you will be granting the Rovani people a great service. We will use the compass' powers to help our struggling world. Surely you will not choose a pirate over a persecuted people."
Elsa winced and looked to Jack, who was surprisingly calm. Although, she wondered if it was due to the amount of blood flowing to his head. "Of course not," she told Clopin through a fraudulent smile. As she stepped towards Jack, she noticed that Clopin had also claimed his vibrosword. The pirate's blade swayed from Clopin's belt when he turned after her. Elsa stood before the prisoner and gingerly raised a hand. When she did so, she thought about how much pain she'd put Nulos through.
But biding time meant nothing if Elsa couldn't formulate a plan. She noted the proximity of Clopin and his guards. While one seemed battle ready, Nulos was still recovering. Elsa eyed the winch suspending Jack and observed the compass in Clopin's hands. A plethora of possibilities swarmed through Elsa's mind, each offering a drastically different outcome.
"Hurry up," Clopin urged and she extended her hand to Jack's face. Before she could touch him, a distant rumble sounded from outside the tent.
Wevri clasped her rifle and looked up. "What was that?" she asked.
An ensuing series of loudening, obscure bursts garnered everyone's attention. The panic on the Rovani's faces didn't show until hysterical screams echoed throughout the settlement. Clopin's brows furrowed and he snagged Elsa by the shoulder. "What have you done?" he growled.
"This isn't me," Elsa replied. And hopefully isn't the others, she worried.
Clopin sneered and his nostrils flared. "Then what in the blazes is going-"
A blinding white light blasted through the roof of the tent. The explosive beam sent a shockwave across the ground and all standing were thrown off their feet. Elsa felt herself rising above smoke and charred soil. Chunks of blasted dirt swirled above her until she crashed back down. Her ears were ringing and painfully throbbing as sound slowly returned. Her heart thundered against her chest while a distinct ringing lured her to her belt. Elsa's trembling hand reached for and activated her comlink.
"Menzel?" Plim called in. "Menzel! Please respond!"
"I'm here," Elsa groaned. "What happened?"
"There's a damn fleet overhead," Sterl's voice crackled over comms. "Looks like some sort of invasion."
"Separatists?" Elsa asked and cautiously rose.
"Something else," Sterl deduced. "Do you have what you need?"
"Not yet."
"We're getting you out of there," Plim asserted.
"No!" Elsa coughed as smoke puffed towards her. "There's still a chance. Please, you have to believe me."
There was a long pause. "I do believe you, Elsa." Plim responded. "Which is why we're going in."
"Thank you...master." Elsa ended the call and crawled through the smoke.
She shuddered when a pair of figures stumbled into view. "We're under attack!" Wevri warned and hauled Nulos to safety.
Elsa heard Clopin groaning and slid to his aid. She used the Force to lift scorched tentpoles and a collapsed tarp off of him. Without the debris pinning him down, Clopin took a moment to catch his breath. He and Elsa peered through the gaping hole in the tent and saw ominous warships in the sky. Smaller craft descended from their dark underbellies and set the land ablaze. "No," he uttered. "This is exactly what I sought to prevent. But there will always be those who stand against us."
"You did everything you could for your people," Elsa reassured him.
"This isn't over yet," he grunted and forced himself to rise. "These invaders will not take the Court of Miracles without a fight!" He unsheathed and flourished Jack's vibrosword. "Help me save the Rovani, Elsa. Let us save them all!" The energy behind his proclamation was short-lived as a stranger swung through the smoke and snatched away his sword.
"Thank you!" Jack exclaimed and landed atop the tent's remnants. The blast had severed the pirate's restraint and given him the perfect tool to swing away. "Rovani!" he declared. "Jedi! This is the day you will always remember as the day you almost-" Suddenly, Jack's body went limp and collapsed against the tarp.
"Is he...dead?" Clopin wondered.
"He was upside down for a while," Elsa deduced. "That much blood to your head could cause a hemorrhage." In that instant, Jack loosed a shrill scream and frantically awakened. He wildly shook his head free of the daze and sprung off the tent. "Get back here!" Elsa shouted and dashed after him. From the moment she emerged from the tent, the Padawan was met with a horrific sight. Rovani denizens scattered about as ships landed across their settlement. A variety of savage pirates emerged with weapons drawn and began pillaging whatever they could. Elsa's blood ran cold when saw a bursa plush fallen amidst the flames. She stared into its innocent, button eyes and wonder where Manaro's son was. The grim reality of her situation took hold and she feared the worst for the Rovani.
"Have no fear!" Ezzie shouted to her militia amidst the chaos. She angrily fired her pistols at incoming pirates. "Defend the Court of Miracles!"
A thermal detonator exploded from behind and sent her tumbling through the grass. A three-eyed Gran pirate lunged at her, but she unloaded two lasers into his gut. As Ezzie recovered, she noticed her friend amidst the flames. "Veta!' she screamed and dropped to her aid. Shrapnel from the detonator had pierced her leg, but she was slowly waking up.
"Look out!" Veta warned through her stupor as more pirates closed in. Before either Rovani could react, a cruiser glided dangerously low to the ground. Its powerful engines blew the pirates across the field and its ventral hatch opened. Ezzie threw herself in front of Veta and took aim at the mysterious craft. Her fingers relaxed on her triggers as a familiar face emerged from the smoke. A bright green lightsaber ignited at the man's side and he looked to Ezzie with an intensity she hadn't seen since Coruscant.
"Mattias!" she called to him.
He smirked and beckoned his partner to join him. "Coming, Plim?" he asked.
"I think we can drop the codenames, Sterl." an older woman mumbled. Her braided, white tresses swayed with the breeze and landed atop her cream-colored robes. She ran her fingers against a ceremonial sash, as if hearkening to a forgotten culture.
"You know, Yelena-" Mattias mumbled. "You are no fun."
"Stow it," Yelena scoffed and sparked up her blue lightsaber. She looked to the skies and examined the varying symbols on each warship. "Looks like a pirate raid. I knew this was a bad idea."
"Well we're here now," Mattias defended and turned to Ezzie. "Get your people to safety. We'll deal with these pirates." Ezzie helped another Rovani carry Veta while the Jedi went back to back. "Just like the old days, eh Yelena?"
"I don't think they ever ended," Yelena admitted. A pirate took up a sniping position on one of the ravaged hills. He fired at Yelena, but she deflected the laser back through his scope and into his face.
Mattias rushed towards the sounds of screaming families and halted at a burning hovel. Using the Force, he shifted the flames and cleared a path for those trapped inside. While others fled, one of the Rovani women skidded to a halt. "Please," she panted. "My husband. My son! They are still inside! I couldn't find them! I-" She succumbed to a coughing fit while Mattias heard a child crying from within. "Karabast," he cursed and lunged into the burning home. "Hello?" he hollered and dodged fiery refuse.
"Help!" he heard a child wail. Mattias spun to see a little boy hunched over a pair of legs. Manaro was pinned under a massive tentpole and appeared lifeless to his son.
"Hey, little fella." Mattias spoke calmly and fought to conceal a cough. "Is this your Papa?" He could see the fear swelling in the child's reddened eyes as he nodded. "What's your name?"
"Dain," he sniffled.
"Okay, Dain. I'm Jedi Master Mattias. I'm gonna need you to be strong and help me out, okay? Reach out with me." Mattias stretched his hands towards the pole while Dain mimicked the gesture. The child's eyes filled with amazement as the tentpole started to shift. Mattias smiled while lifting it with the Force. He was just happy to liberate the boy of his fears. "That's it!" he urged. "We've almost got it!" The pole was nearly off Manaro as he started to stir. To Mattias' horror, his exertion and posture added strain to his spinal cybernetic. The sharp pain made him lose his grip and buckle forward. He howled in agony as the pole plummeted. Dain screamed and threw his hands forward out of fear. For a brief second, an unseen burst of energy shifted the pole away from Manaro.
By the time Mattias recovered and rubbed his aching back, he wondered how the man hadn't been crushed. "We did it, Jedi Master Mattias!" Dain cheered while hugging his groaning father. "We did it!"
Mattias scratched the back of his sweaty head. "We did...didn't we," he answered in bewilderment.
While Mattias ushered the Rovani out of the inferno, Yelena observed a looting. A band of Ishi Tib pirates was ransacking a nearby trove. Their beak-like maws chittered as credits, jewels, and talismans poured into their grubby hands. Yelena cleared her throat to get their attention and said, "Oh my. Whatever would your mothers say?" The Ishi Tibs' angular eyestalks craned towards her. While some of the weaker pirates bolted at the first sight of a lightsaber, the others readied their weapons. "Well, now we know who the fools are." Yelena muttered. The first pirate charged her head-on with a dagger. She easily dodged his attack and kneed him in the groin. His painful whimper prompted the other pirates to attack from multiples sides. Laserfire zipped overhead as Yelena blocked their shots. Several of the deflected lasers found their way into incoming assailants as Yelena went on the defensive. Mattias leapt into the fray and slashed down one of her gunmen from above. "Took you long enough!" Yelena called to him.
"Nice to see you too," he chuckled.
A series of lasers rang out from the central pathway. Ezzie led the charge as her militia formed up behind her. They blasted away at encroaching pirates and forced the rest to fall back. Yelena seized the opportunity to activate her comlink. "Padawan, come in."
"I read you," Elsa responded while running across the destruction. "I am in pursuit of our lead!"
Elsa dodge laserfire and kept her eyes focused on Jack. With flailing arms and panicky feet, Jack scurried between craters. He glanced over his shoulder, noticed Elsa giving chase, and waved. "It's like I said, love!" he yelled back. "Sometimes things find us!" He disappeared behind one of the tents. Elsa kept up her pursuit, only to bump into Jack's stationary self. She noticed him glaring up at a particularly black ship. Its shadowy hull was haunting against the silver clouds. Laser cannons launched white orbs of explosive energy towards the fields below.
"Don't tell me," Elsa murmured. "The Black Pearl."
"All according to plan, Elsa, darling." With a powerful strut, Jack set off to claim his prize and left Elsa dumbfounded.
"Wait a moment," the Padawan realized.
"I'd rather not," Jack quipped.
Elsa was utterly befuddled. "D-...did you plan on getting captured?"
"Now you're catching on," Jack lauded while planning his next move. "The pirate clans of the Raioballo Sector have been planning this raid for some time, and I just knew my beloved Pearl would show. The twisted, self-proclaimed 'captain' at its helm couldn't resist a plundering on this scale."
Elsa felt a unique fury rising within her as she snagged Jack by the coat and pulled him close. "You mean to tell me you knew about this attack and didn't warn the Rovani?"
"Elsa," Jack tried to pacify her. "I was their prisoner. I doubt they would've listened."
"You were just biding your time," Elsa accused. "Waiting while these innocent, downtrodden people could've had a chance! And for what? Your blasted ship? You've only been out for your own needs, Jack. It's repulsive!"
Jack stared into Elsa's eyes as if he could see right through them. He simpered and delicately pried her hands from his coat. "Let us examine your deduction for a moment," Jack said. "For while I'm far from clean on this matter, can you say the same of yourself?" Elsa paused as Jack smirked. "There's a flaw in your reasoning, love, because you're also acting selfishly."
Elsa rigorously shook her head. "No...I'm not!" she nervously refuted.
Jack scoffed and extended an empty hand to her. "Then would you be so kind as to give me back my compass?" There was an eerie pause until the pirate explained himself. "I saw you pluck it from that Rovani," he detailed. "And while he was recuperating, too." Jack hung his head only to raise it in celebration. "It was an impressive lift actually. I always knew you'd make a good pirate." Elsa shamefully withdrew the enchanted compass. She felt like she'd betrayed the Order's teachings and therefore herself. "Now don't get so worked up," Jack assured. "Nothing wrong with putting 'What Elsa wants' first sometimes."
"But there's always a choice," Elsa insisted.
"There is," Jack agreed. "And you've made plenty of them to lead you here. So you can either wallow in your moral dilemma or help Cap'n Jack help you." He pointed towards the looming ship while Elsa glanced at the compass.
You still have a choice, she told herself. No matter how far you stumble or wherever you go, you dictate what happens next. Leave Jack and this search will have been for nothing. The guidance on this compass will remain a mystery and you'll have lost another lead. We shouldn't be out here looking for Anna. If it were up to the Council, they'd put it up to the Force.
"But what do you want?" a voice whispered within Elsa's mind. Evara, Wraith of the Force, spoke on. "It's time to ask yourself how you can change the situation, Elsa. The Force is a guide. It is a pathway. But those who channel it must dare to fly. Only you can make these choices."
Elsa took a deep breath and tossed the compass to Jack. "I help you get your ship, you help me find my sister." she intoned.
"Done!" Jack rejoiced and swirled the compass in his hands. "This way."
Elsa front-flipped after Jack as he kicked a pirate into the dirt. He eyed a nearby landing craft and dashed for its lowered ramp. Elsa cautiously trailed after him as he entered the emptied hold. While the rest of the craft's crew pillaged, its pilot remained at the controls. Jack gave his shoulder a tap in one direction and left his sword's hilt waiting on the opposite side. When the pilot turned back, he immediately clunked his head on the butt of Jack's sword. He then threw the dazed pilot overboard while Elsa found a seat to strap in.
"Oh I wouldn't buckle up, dear." Jack muttered and left the Padawan confused. "We'll be jumping momentarily."
"Jumping where?" Elsa asked.
"Out," Jack simply replied while powering the ship's thrusters to a ninety degree angle.
"But where?" Elsa asserted.
"Out!" Jack reiterated and sent the craft to collide with the Black Pearl. He rushed to Elsa's side as gravity forced them backward. Since he never bothered to close the ramp, he pulled them towards it and leapt off. On impulse, Elsa wrapped her arms around Jack as they fell through the sky. Her action worked in her favor as his body cushioned her fall. They struck against the Black Pearl's lower wing. Jack and Elsa braced when the craft they'd flown exploded against the starship's ventral hull. Just as Jack had predicted, the gaping hole created was soon to be sealed by the emergency bulkhead. "There's our way in," he said. "Hurry!"
Elsa let Jack get ahead of her and knelt along the ship's wing. She plucked a miniaturized device from her satchel and let it magnetize to the Black Pearl. Her endeavor almost cost her entry into the ship as the bulkheads neared full closure. Jack observed her dash with wild eyes and shrugged, realizing she wouldn't make it. While Elsa wasn't the quickest, she made up for it with her Force abilities. She used a brief, exasperated Force push to stall the bulkheads and slipped in before they sealed.
Darkness enveloped the chamber as the duo caught their breath. "That was a close one," Elsa panted. She gasped when footsteps echoed from a corridor.
"And they'll always be closer," Jack whispered and ushered her into hiding. Their enemies were quickly approaching and the demolished area provided little cover for two stowaways. Running out of time and options, Elsa sprung to the rafters. Jack was about to criticize her abandonment of him when she used the Force to pull him up.
"Stop squirming," Elsa scolded as Jack flailed against the unseen energy. He clung to the beams beside her while a pair of pirates stomped in.
"Kriffing hell," one of the goons grunted. "Look at this mess. This is why I hate working with other crews."
"Think the pilot's dead?" his partner joked while glaring at the fiery scrapheap.
"I think he was drunk, that's for sure. I'm not cleaning this mess. Have the kid and his pet do it."
The grimy, gritty pair returned to the hallway, leaving Elsa and Jack to rest in silence.
The Black Pearl's crew cheered from its intimidating command bridge. A set of wide, sleek viewports gave its pirates a view of the destruction below. Yet between the revelry and savagery, a young man remained quiet. He leaned against an outdated terminal and felt just as unused. When he looked down at the burning tents and fleeing Rovani, he didn't see riches. He didn't see the opportunity he was promised nor the great purge against corruption his superior spoke of. No. All Kristoff Bjorg witnessed...was horror. Whether he was adorned in his wintry coat on Aren or his newly acquired garbs for piracy...he was still a survivor. When he saw laser cannons blasting away at civilian homes, he relived the atrocities he had escaped. Kristoff still heard the screams of his people from when the Aren military invaded. The sight of Trolls fleeing their burnt hovels still haunted him nightly.
A hoofed hand rested on his shoulder and he pressed his head against it. Despite the so-called "comradery" these pirates claimed to share, Sven was still Kristoff's only friend. The others tolerated them because their captain did, and they were barely getting by. He peered up at Sven and looked into his pure, black eyes. The Cevrian's fuzzy ears drooped as he too felt remorse over the Court of Miracles.
"I know, buddy." Kristoff lamented. "This isn't right." Sven offered a moo and Kristoff sighed. "But what am I supposed to do? What can we do? The captain's given us a fresh start." Sven glared at him. "Don't give me that look. We win by surviving, remember? And one day we'll go back to Aren and set things right." Sven's stare didn't cease and did all the talking for him. He had Kristoff debating with himself and tugging at his messy blonde hair. "We had to leave. They wanted us to." He withdrew his kyber necklace and caressed the yellow crystal. "Bulda...Cliff...even Pabbie. They all wanted us to have better lives." Kristoff couldn't take himself seriously while observing the destruction below. "This is better than being on Aren, right?" He looked to Sven who was genuinely unsure. Having been struggling from as far back as he could recall, Kristoff stood up. "If this isn't living either-" he asked. "-what is?" He and Sven exchanged perplexed glances until he looked to their captain. "I guess it's time to find out."
With a deep breath, Kristoff approached their leader. The man's long, navy blue coat was almost grazing the bridge's metallic surface. The plumes on his peculiar hat bounced with each violent heckle and holler. Between his own jeers and the screeches of his pet monkey-lizard, the captain could hardly hear Kristoff calling him. "Captain," Kristoff said and cleared his throat. With trembling fists and a hardened heart, Kristoff grew enraged at his superior's ignorance. "Captain Barbossa!" he shouted and the bridge went silent.
Kristoff's resolve faltered as all eyes descended upon him. With nothing but the sounds of muffled screams and echoing laserfire to fill the ambience, Barbossa slowly turned. His blue leer was vivid as he examined Kristoff. "Something you'd like to be sayin, cabin boy?" he inquired.
Kristoff shuddered but stood his ground. "What exactly are we doing here?" he asked.
Barbossa's eyes narrowed and he slowly lurched closer. "Flyin a ship?" he answered with a widened grin. "Standin around? Conversin on pointless matters? Do any of those answers satisfy yer question?"
Kristoff tried to remain calm despite the captain's jeers and the crew's laughter. "You told me we only stole from the corrupt," he said. "What have these people done?"
"Come on, lad." Barbossa scoffed. "I've taught you better than this. We make our livin in a galaxy that's constantly out to get us. Threats be everywhere. Separated, the Rovani are a nuisance. United, they may pose a greater threat to all pirates in this sector. That be heat we don't need."
Kristoff sighed. "I'm sorry, but this isn't right."
"Isn't right?" Barbossa snarked. "Nothing in this galaxy is right, boy. But you've got to know yer place in it. Who was it who taught you how to maintain any part of this ship?"
"You, sir."
"And who be the only reason you can decently hold a blaster?"
Kristoff huffed. "You."
"That's right!" Barbossa bellowed for all to hear. He wrapped his arm around Kristoff as the rest of the crew returned to their stations. Suddenly, Kristoff felt Barbossa's sharp nails dig into his shoulder. The captain pulled him close and hissed, "Don't you ever try and undermine my authority in front of the crew again. I don't care what flea-ridden, backwater planet you hail from and whatever sob story follows. Cross me and I'll be more than happy to acquaint ya with the airlock."
The doors behind them slid open and a pair of gruff pirates hobbled in. "Captain," one of them said. "We had a collision in the hold. Doesn't look like the pilots survived. Place is a damn mess and perfect for our cabin boy to get cleaning."
Barbossa flashed a stained, toothy grin. "Well then," he said. "What are you waiting for?" He violently shoved Kristoff towards the doors. "Get to it then, boy! And take that blundering Cevrian with you."
Kristoff and Sven scowled at Barbossa as he cackled away. His monkey-lizard's laugh was far more raucous and irksome while the rest of the crew joined in. For as much as Kristoff wanted to retaliate, he couldn't help but feel hopeless in the situation. He felt as though all of the Troll's sacrifices to get him offworld had amounted to months of worthlessness. He had become nothing more than a common thug. Just another piece of scum using a hundred excuses to oppress others. Sven growled with whatever fight he had left in him, but Kristoff held him back. "Come on, pal." he mumbled. "Let's just go."
"Elsa," Yelena called in. "What's your status? Padawan!"
Elsa cautiously brought the comlink to her lips. "I'm alright," she whispered. "Just help the Rovani. Standby for my signal."
"Plan B?" Yelena dreaded.
"You know it," Elsa murmured before shutting off comms. She dropped down to Jack and dusted herself off. "I hope you have a solid plan for getting your ship back," she told him. "While I've elected to assist you, I am still a Jedi and will condone any unnecessary acts of violence."
Jack grimaced and observed his surroundings. "Plans are always changing," he answered. "You should know this by now. And if we find ourselves betwixt a brutal engagement, do not be surprised if I react accordingly. We're not dealing with neighborly spacers, you know."
"As someone who's been captured by pirates thanks to you-" Elsa derided. "-I know exactly what type of criminals we're dealing with. But they will pay for their crimes accordingly."
Jack's wrinkled nose and quirky brows made it look like his face had frozen. "Honestly, Elsa." he grumbled. "How has your brain not exploded with so many contradictions? Are you in any position to be hauling these pirates to a prison? Where is the nearest prison? Do you have enough binders for everyone? What about food and documentation scribbles? How long will that take to keep you from finding the redhead?"
Elsa felt overwhelmed by Jack's questions. "I get it," she snapped and tried to reel herself back. "It's just...if someone doesn't have to die, who are we to make that choice? We kill only if we must."
"Fair enough," Jack replied. He was about to make for the door when it started to open. He shot Elsa a glare as if her stalling had forced them to lose valuable time.
Elsa repeated their stealthy plan from earlier and fled to the rafters. She lifted Jack just in time as Kristoff and Sven entered the chamber. The young man took one look at the crashed, scorching ship and sighed. "Living the dream," he mumbled and started sweeping debris. Sven lifted a jagged piece of scrap and angrily grunted at him. "What was I supposed to do?" Kristoff defended. "I didn't see you speaking up! I mean, sure...you don't speak Basic...but still! Maybe we need to pay our dues just a little while longer. I know I said that months ago, but I mean it now too."
Elsa leaned against one of the beams to get a closer look at man. Though he dressed like another one of the pirates, he seemed like anything but. She likened his fair complexion to hers and could sense the anxiety radiating off of him. He was so unsure of the life he'd chosen, or perhaps it was one selected for him. If there was any means of getting Jack's ship back with the least amount of conflict, perhaps it could start with him. Elsa's hopes were dashed when Jack leapt down from the rafters.
"Wait," the Padawan whispered to no avail as Jack landed behind Kristoff. By the time she jumped to join them, Jack already had his blade to Kristoff's neck.
"I wouldn't be making any sudden movements if I were you," Jack asserted and held Kristoff in place.
"Jack!" Elsa exclaimed and raised an open palm. "Stand down."
Sven dropped the scrap in his arms and rushed towards the ordeal. "That's far enough," Jack warned the Cevrian. "No need for unnecessary bloodshed, right?" He looked at Elsa after asking his question.
"Right!" she intoned. "Which is why you need to let him go this instant."
Jack's grin faltered. "I need you to work with me, love."
"You won't even work with me," Elsa retorted and focused on Kristoff. "He's not like the others. I can sense it. Maybe he can help us." Sven's growl caused Jack to bring the sword closer to Kristoff's neck. "Please," Elsa spoke to everyone. "I need you all to trust me. We mean no harm."
"You want to tell that to your friend?" Kristoff grunted in Jack's grasp.
Elsa contemplated how quickly she could disarm Jack with the Force. She wondered if other pirates were on the way and how quickly she could diffuse their predicament. "Jack," Elsa spoke calmly. "Look at me. We-"
A blue ringed stun blast struck Elsa in the back. She yelped as the impact overloaded her nervous system. Her body went limp and struck the floor panels with a clang. While Elsa had been distracted with the hostage situation, Sven had discreetly reached for his blaster. The Cevrian looked over his unconscious target and focused his attention on Jack.
"Bugger!" Jack cursed and shoved Kristoff into Sven. He used the diversion to bolt down the corridor and lose his pursuers. Sven fired several stun blasts, but Jack rolled away.
"Thanks for the save," Kristoff told the Cevrian. "It looks like the pilots did survive." He knelt over Elsa's body and checked her pulse. Sven mooed with curiosity over her attire. "I think she's one of those Rovani," Kristoff deduced. "But what's she doing here?" When he rolled her head to check for any injuries, he heard something clunk beside her. "Did you hear that?" he asked Sven who hurriedly nodded. Kristoff nervously opened her satchel to find the source of the sound. With a anxious stare and trembling hands, Kristoff removed a teal-tinted hilt and cautiously examined it. He and Sven gulped in unison before he asked, "Should we tell the captain?"
Author's Note: Thank you so much for tuning in for the premiere of Season 2! I am so excited to continue this adventure with you all and to take these characters to new heights. We've got plenty more to explore here at GoldenHeart Stories and the journey's only beginning. Want more updates? You can follow _goldenheart_stories on Instagram for "The Frozen Force" and other story info!
Now for next week's preview: Two Padawans missing in action! Pirates caught in a power struggle! A dark secret swirling on the planet of Bogden. It all happens on the next Frozen Force Friday in Chapter 32: The Extraction!
Long Live Imagination!
~ Michael