Leannon stood over the kneeling, armored man, her red lightsaber blazing, as the soldier who'd been bear-hugged by Zed began moaning. Zed put her down after she surrendered and she certainly looked injured.
"I can't breath," she gasped for air, "I can't," she struggled and rolled on the ground, "breathe."
Headless, with his voice coming from his chest, Zed said, "Apologies, masters, I did not intend permanent damage to this being. I am still compiling strength data for my new frame and…"
Ahlea walked up. Hoffen sat on her shoulders and growled at the kneeling man. She said, "It's ok, Zed, we know you didn't mean it." She knelt by the woman, who pulled off her helmet in an attempt to catch more air. No longer feeling threatened, Ahlea said, "It's ok, I'm here to help. I can help you. Try to hold still." Ahlea touched the struggling woman's chest and tried to calm her. The trees to the east of the glade began to burn. Ash and embers fell to the pine needles covering the forest floor. Small fires started.
With her helmet off, Ahlea could see that the warrior looked young, with short black hair, brown skin and eyes. The woman, perhaps not much older than Ahlea, still struggling for breath, looked into Ahlea's eyes with a plaintive expression and held still as she could while continuing to gasp.
Ahlea touched her former adversary on the neck and chest and closed her eyes. Zed's bear hug cracked the warrior's armor along every joint. "Many broken ribs. I think I can heal you." She began to focus on healing the warrior through the Force.
Leannon growled, "Hold still, bug brain," when her captive tried to turn and see what was happening.
Hoffen stayed on Ahlea's shoulders as the young Jedi focused on healing. He made a few nervous mewling noises before settling onto her shoulders. He looked down at the woman laying on the ground and she stared at Hoffen and Ahlea with wide eyes.
As Ahlea focused, the young woman put a hand on Ahlea's arm and her breathing began to relax as a warm, comforting sensation filled her chest. She felt Ahlea somehow hugged her heart and soul. Meanwhile, she couldn't take her eyes away from Hoffen's golden stare. She felt like the little animal looked right through her. She began to blink as tears came to her eyes and her lips trembled.
Ahlea sat back and took a deep breath, gave the young woman a kind look and said, "How are you feeling?"
Before the girl could respond, Leannon said, "These people just attacked us. Be careful."
The young woman sat up. She touched her chest and took two deep breaths. Her cracked, metal armor moved up and down smoothly. She looked earnestly at Ahlea. "I promise I will not hurt you. Ever. I think you just saved my life." Then she caught Hoffen's eyes again. She swallowed and looked down.
Ahlea smiled. "Glad to help."
The warrior under Leannon's lightsaber, said, "Are you ok, Strathi?"
"Yes. She healed me. She must be a Jedi." Eyes wide with wonder, she added, "And the Kuninkaan, it's sitting on her shoulders. Like a pet."
The kneeling man said, "You've beaten us and saved my friend. I swear I won't hurt you."
Leannon said, "Take off your helmet. Drop your weapons." The warrior wearing the bug helmet did as he was told and then Leannon turned off her lightsaber. Ahlea still sat on the ground, her eyes out of focus, despite the growing fire nearby.
Strathi started to lift her arm towards Hoffen before thinking better of it. "Boss, do you know what this means?"
After taking off his helmet, the other soldier, an older man with dark skin, gave Strathi a cold glare and then said, "Can I check on my other friend?" Leannon nodded and he walked over to the warrior Zed had punched in the head and knelt beside him.
Strathi looked at Ahlea with wide-eyed wonder. "This animal, it's your pet?"
Ahlea snapped back into the moment. "He just started following us around yesterday, we named him Hoffen." She smiled and reached up to scratch Hoffen's head.
Strathi looked pointedly at the older man, who ignored her and said, his finger on the third warrior's neck, "He's dead."
5R-Zed said, "Oh my, I do apologize. You see, my masters recently gave me a new body and did not give me enough time to compile my new parameters before setting out. I certainly did not intend to crush the skull of your comrade, only render him unconscious. I am a protocol and nurse droid at heart, despite…"
The man squinted at Zed and said, "It was a fight. We lost. That's how these things go."
Kura called out from the woods, "Zed, would you mind coming over here, please?" She'd been left in the woods by Ahlea.
"Oh, sorry, Kura, I'll come," Ahlea said.
"No, it's ok, Zed can handle it, you stay there," Kura shouted.
Zed hesitated for a moment before saying, "Apologies," and marching off into the woods towards Kura.
Strathi said, "Boss, the Kuninkaan. Look at it."
Leannon, frowning, said, "What are you talking about? What about Hoffen, uh, the Kuninkaan."
The older man glared at Strathi again, but she ignored him, "That animal, it's really rare and valuable and usually it runs from people or, when they get older, kill people. They can be really vicious. They never make friends with people unless…"
The man spoke up, "Quiet, Strathi." The small fires on the forest floor not far to the east grew and some tongues of flame began lapping at the trees nearby.
"They're Jedi, Boss. We can trust them. Maybe they can help us," Strathi said.
He shook his head, looked at Leannon and said, "What are you going to do with us now?"
"I think Strathi should keep talking." Leannon gave the man a hard stare until he looked down.
The armored woman looked around the clearing from her 'Boss' to Leannon and Ahlea. Hoffen watched her suspiciously.
Ahlea said, "Were you hunting Hoffen? Why?"
Withering under Leannon's hard gaze, Strathi said, "The Hutts pay big for Kuninkaan. I think they eat them. It's because the rulers of this planet used to always have one, you know, before the Hutts came."
The man said, "That's just a legend."
Leannon snapped at him, "Quiet. You will speak when spoken to."
Strathi, nervous, fidgeted with her broken armor. Ahlea said, "It's ok, we won't hurt you. My sister can be a little rough around the edges, that's all." As she spoke, they could hear Kura and Zed arguing about how to get Kura properly inside Zed's robotic body. Leannon gave her sister an annoyed look.
"Well," Strathi said, "that's what the legends say, anyway. Not much proof left. The Hutts destroyed all our history."
Ahlea reached up and pet Hoffen, "So, Hoffen belongs to the king of Aylayl?"
"We haven't had a king for hundreds of years," said Strathi. "And, um, it's kind of the other way around. The Kuninkaan chose our kings. If the Kuninkaan didn't choose you, you couldn't rule."
Ahlea looked at Leannon, surprise on her face.
Leannon walked up to the old man, getting right in his face. "What's your name?"
The old man, his face scarred and worn, said, "Ruhtin."
"Ruhtin, how old are you?" Leannon looked right into his eyes and held his gaze.
Ruhtin said, "Fifty-six."
"And how long have you been hunting animals for the Hutts?"
Looking back at Leannon with defiance, Ruhtin replied, "Twelve years."
"What she said about the animal. Is it true?"
Ruhtin said, "According to the legends, yes."
"So this creature is basically your royalty?"
Ruhtin nodded, frowning.
Leannon said, "Are you from Aylayl, is your family from Aylayl?"
Ruhtin nodded again, frowning more deeply, his body tense.
"And you sold these animals to the Hutts for food?" Leannon spoke with disgust. Fire climbed down the tall pine trees nearby as flames started to climb up from the forest floor. They all began to feel the heat.
Ruhtin said nothing.
Strathi said, "We thought they were just animals. We didn't believe the legends. You know, no one has ever seen a Kuninkaan choose anyone. Not that I know of."
They all heard Kura approach, crashing through the brush. Now back inside Zed, her head appearing above the bulky droid body, she stood on the edge of the small clearing and looked around with interest. Orange firelight reflected off her armor.
"Strathi," Ahlea said, "What else do the legends say?"
Strathi gave Ruhtin a glance, but he ignored her. She thought for a moment, fixing her eyes on the ground before saying, "The legends say that one day a hero will return with a Kunikaan and free Aylayl from Hutt slavery." She looked up at Ahlea, her brows raised in a question.
"Wow," Ahlea said, "this isn't… this isn't the hike I expected." She looked at Kura, who gave a jerky shrug of her metal shoulders.
Leannon grinned, "Makes sense, Alli. You always were a little princess."
"Hey," Ahlea retorted, "Hoffen found you first. Maybe you're the princess."
Leannon bowed into an exaggerated curtsy, making Ahlea grin.
Ruhtin watched them both with slitted eyes. Hoffen returned the favor and growled at Ruhtin.
Kura said, "My ladies, that ship could return at any moment and this fire is growing quickly. I suggest we make ourselves scarce."
"Let's tie them up their hands, take their weapons, and leave them, c'mon." Leannon walked over to her pack and started looking for a rope.
"No," Strathi said, "let me come with you. You don't know what the Hutts have done to us. Both my parents are slaves. I'm a slave. They killed my brother. If, if you," she paused and swallowed, "Will you fight the Hutts?"
Ahlea and Leannon looked at each other. Leannon gave Ahlea a quick tilt of her head.
Ahlea looked at Kura. "I'm not sure. We just got here, but I try to help people when I can. I don't know about being a Queen or anything, but I'll help if I can." She tried to hide a grimace. Not an inspiring speech.
Strathi stood up and said, "I know I'm asking a lot of you, but we haven't had any hope for generations. I swear on the life of my parents, I'll help you."
"I'll let my sister decide on Strathi, but you, bug brain," Leannon said, "pretty sure we are leaving you here. Just be happy I'm not leaving you in pieces."
Ruhtin put his hands out for Leannon to tie. "Don't be stupid, Strathi. They'll track you."
Strathi hit herself on the forehead. "He's right. I'm sorry, I can't go with you. The Hutts installed a tracking device and a bomb in my chest somewhere. Sorry. I want to help. Please, don't give up on Aylayl. Help us."
Ahlea's face fell. She swallowed and looked at Kura. Kura gave Ahlea a slight smile and nodded in encouragement.
A tinge of nervousness in her voice, Ahlea said, "Take off your breastplate."
Strathi, her eyes wide, unstrapped her broken armor and let it fall on the forest floor. Ahlea put a hand on her chest, just under her neck and closed her eyes. Strathi closed her eyes and shivered. The warm feeling came back. She had a sudden urge to hug Ahlea, who still had Hoffen on her shoulders.
Ahlea, looking at Strathi with worry in her eyes, said in a low voice, "I found it. I think I can take it out, but it will hurt. A lot."
Strathi put both of her hands on Ahlea's arm. She licked her lips and swallowed. Her eyes tightened into a deep frown. "Do it."
Ahlea put both her hands on Strathi's chest and focused. After a long moment, a bloody object shot out of Strathis' chest. Strathi screamed and fell to her knees, letting go of Ahlea's arm. The object flew quickly into the forest and exploded, causing everyone but Kura to lean and stumble from the force of the blast. Hoffen jumped off Ahlea's shoulders and ran into the woods.
Kneeling, Ahlea put her fingers by the hole in Strathi's chest. The wound healed in moments.
Leannon stood watching, impressed, with the rope in her hands. She hadn't tied up Ruhtin yet.
Strathi, tears in her eyes, stumbled to her feet and hugged Ahlea, "Thank you. Thank you so much."
Ruhtin, a hungry look on his face, stepped forward. "Me. Do it for me." He started unclasping his armor. Ahlea looked up at him, exhaustion plain on her face.
Leannon stepped towards Ruhtin. "Now just wait a minute, bug brain here just tried to kill us. And Hoffen, for that matter."
Ruhtin knelt in front of Ahlea and Strathi, his eyes intense. "I hate the Hutts. I hate them more than anything. If you free me, I will die for you, as long as you fight them." He fumbled with the last clasp of his breastplate and then threw it into the woods, away from the fire.
Ahlea stood up. The sunlight filtered through the trees onto her solemn face. She let the Force fill her as she examined his face. Flames burned in the forest behind her. Smoke began to drift up above the forest canopy. "Stand."
Ruhtin stood, breathing heavily, his arms stiff at his sides. Ahlea put her hands on his chest. Leannon frowned. Ahlea closed her eyes again and concentrated. Another bloody object, the size of a small stone, shot out into the forest and exploded. Ruhtin stood rooted to the spot, staring at nothing, his jaw clenched, the hole in his chest bleeding. Ahlea still held her hands on his chest. The wound closed, his skin reforming smooth over the hole near his sternum.
Ahlea's knees buckled, but before she could fall, Ruhtin grabbed her arms and held her up. He stared at her with wide eyes, his jaw trembling.
Leannon stepped forward and pulled out her lightsaber.
Ruhtin's jaw worked, his eyes were wide. Ahlea looked back at him, exhausted. Ruhtin said, "Thank you." He paused and slowly lowered his head, "My Lady."
Strathi lowered her head as well and murmured, "My Queen."
"Whaoh, there, bug brain, calm down. No royalty here." Leannon walked over to Ahlea and took her from Ruhtin's hands. "Come on, sis, we better move before more of these bug-brains show up and start worshiping you." She looked at Ruhtin and said, "Haven't you ever seen a Jedi heal someone before?"
Ruhtin glowered at Leannon before walking off into the woods to the west.
"Hey, where do you think you are going," Leannon set Ahlea down, who seemed a bit dazed, and followed after Ruhtin, who bent over and picked up his breastplate. He gave Leannon an angry look and started strapping it on.
Strathi said, "Your friend is right. We should leave. I bet the Hutt's enforcers will know the bombs went off. They'll be out to investigate." She went over to Ahlea and gently helped her to her feet.
Leannon spun around. "Are you all crazy? We can't fight the Hutts. They control an entire sector of the galaxy! We need to get out of here. Off this planet. We should never have come."
No one answered Leannon. Strathi picked up her helmet and put it on. She left the broken chest armor on the ground. Ruhtin walked back into the camp and started picking up his helmet and weapons. Leannon looked to Kura, who shrugged again. Leannon muttered under her breath, "This is crazy."
Ruhtin, fastening his weapons to his belt and checking his rifle, said, "They'll be here any minute. I know a place we can hide. Follow me." He paused to kneel by the body of the third warrior, before setting off into the trees at a jog, heading away from the growing forest fire. Smoke filled the glade.
Strathi, supporting Ahlea started following him.
Leannon stomped her foot and clenched her fists. She looked at Kura again.
Kura said, "Let's get to safety and then make a plan."
"What if they aren't leading us to safety?"
"What do your feelings tell you?"
Leannon breathed out through her nose and grumbled, "We can trust them."
Kura nodded. "They won't betray us to the Hutts, but we should still be careful. This is a very dangerous situation. Watch after you sister."
Leannon hefted her backpack on, her face sour, and gave Ahlea's bag to Kura, who used Zed's metal arms to accept it, and they both set off into the forest after Ahlea.
The fire crept towards the clearing. A slight breeze began to hum through the crackling pine needles.
Hoffen leapt up onto a branch of a tree on the opposite side of the fire and looked around, his golden eyes glinting orange in the flames. The fire crackled and sizzled as it spread.
In the dancing shadows cast by the fire, near the bottom of an ancient tree, a larger pair of golden eyes opened.