Chapter 28
Some time later, Jaina stirred softly, hearing voices conversing just outside the abandoned home. She raised her head, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
Her Master stood just outside the front door, his arms crossed as he spoke with Cody.
Obi-Wan's lips were set into a thin, grim line, the furrows between his brows even more pronounced in the low light as he listened intently to his clone commander. "How bad is it?"
"Waxer and Boil are not responding," Cody explained. "They never returned from scouting, it's been over fifteen minutes since the designated time."
The Jedi Master's frown deepened. "That isn't like them. They may have run into trouble."
Jaina stood from the overturned couch, walking towards the open front door. "Did the comms officer try the high-powered transmitter? Could just be atmospheric disturbance."
Cody shook his head. "He tried, sir. But he's not getting a clean signal."
Obi-Wan stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"…so we're being jammed," Jaina muttered grimly. "It was bound to happen."
"Unfortunately, that seems the most likely scenarios…" the Jedi Master muttered, his expression tight. "Waxer and Boil can take care of themselves for a while, but a prolonged silence like this isn't a good sign."
He sighed, then turned once more to Cody. "Let's get the rest of the men moving. The others will catch up."
"Right away, General." Cody replied, nodding and hurrying off towards the rest of Ghost Company.
Obi-Wan rubbed a hand over his chin in thought, then spoke without turning. "I'm afraid, my little one, we'll have to put our usual diversionary tactics into action."
Jaina quirked a teasing eyebrow. "You're going to let me go all by my lonesome, at this crucial junction? When we're going in blind, and have no enemy intel whatsoever? I'm impressed, Master."
The Jedi Master turned, staring down at her with an amused expression. "I'm going with you, of course," he said, his lips curling into a smirk. "But I thought I'd give your ego a bit of a boost by letting you think it was all your idea."
Jaina rolled her eyes, but she couldn't suppress the wry grin that tugged at her lips. "How thoughtful of you," she deadpanned.
"Your sarcasm is noted, my young, impudent Padawan." Obi-Wan teased in return, his tone dry, his eyes gleaming in silent amusement.
They lapsed into comfortable silence for a moment, watching as Ghost Company prepared to head into battle, the orange of the setting Ryloth sun casting a warm glow on the wide avenue.
Jaina tensed slightly, her eyes darting around as a high-pitching screeching noise echoed from several structures away. "…did you…hear that?"
Obi-Wan paused, his ears straining to pick up the noise again. After that strange, high-pitched shriek had died out in the still air, it was followed a by a long, tense silence.
The Jedi Master glanced back towards the troopers of Ghost Company. "Cody, get your men behind cover," he ordered calmly.
The troopers immediately rushed for cover behind the nearest buildings and rubble, weapons at the ready and pointed towards the source of the noise.
Obi-Wan's lightsaber ignited in his hand with a familiar hiss, the blue blade casting soft blue shadows on his frowning features.
Jaina hovered her thumb over the activation switch to her own saber. The air was eerily still as they waited.
Too still…
Her eyes drifted towards the ground, her senses flaring. She carefully lowered into a crouch, pressing her palm against the sand.
Obi-Wan's own gaze snapped over to her, watching her closely, seeing the crease between her brow grow more prominent as she concentrated on the ground.
"…something's…" Jaina paused. "…the ground's vibrating…" She glanced up towards the end of the avenue, as the reverberations beneath their feet grew even stronger.
The Padawan abruptly stood back up, igniting her lightsaber with a flourish as the faint rumbling suddenly grew louder.
Obi-Wan gripped his lightsaber in one hand as the ground began to shake, like the thunderous approach of a horde of beasts. But there was no wind, and the sky was still.
Jaina's eyes widened as the mysterious creatures rounded the corner. "Gutkurrs!" She yelled.
There was at least half a dozen of the reptilian creatures—great lumbering beasts that barreled through the town at dizzying speeds, trampling anything and everything in their path.
Obi-Wan turned to Cody. "All squads, open fire!"
The troopers scattered behind cover, weapons blazing as they aimed at the stampeding beasts, heading straight towards them. The blasts, however, did little to slow the gutkurrs down, their armored hides simply absorbing the blue energy.
"Incredible," Jaina murmured in awe, her eyes wide. "They're native to Ryloth, you know. Carnivorous, twenty-centimeter teeth, they can sprint up to thirty-five kilometers per hour! And while most people think they're mammals, they're actually insec—"
"—Padawan," Obi-Wan interrupted, his voice cutting in with an exasperated tone. "Now is not the time!"
The gutkurrs continued to crash through the town, smashing through structures like they were made of glass. He watched as one of the beasts ran straight through the broken remains of a shop, sending pieces of stone and debris flying. "Focus on the here and now!"
As the first gutkurr reached them and leapt forwards, teeth bared, Jaina's eyes widened. She leapt and rolled sideways, away from the hungry maw.
The beast crashed into the ground instead, letting out a loud, screeching snort, and instantly wheeled around in pursuit of its target.
It lunged forward again, swiping its clawed hands at the Padawan, who danced out of its reach just in time.
"Cody," Obi-Wan shouted. "Use the EMPs!"
"Yes, sir!"
A storm of droid poppers flew out towards the gutkurrs, hurtling a series of small electric bursts at the hungry creatures. The beasts squealed and growled, backing off as they were hit by the grenades.
But they continued to advance.
"Fire at will!" Obi-Wan called.
The troopers continued to fire, but the gutkurrs showed no signs of slowing, continuing to stampede forward, and grab the closest men.
"General, this isn't working!" Cody exclaimed.
One of the gutkurrs roared, its jaw opening wide as drool dripped from its gums. It lunged at one of the clones, snapping its jaws and nearly catching the soldier in its teeth.
Continuing to dodge and roll, Jaina hissed under her breath, fighting against her growing anguish at the screams of their loyal troopers. "Master, we must fall back!"
Obi-Wan shook his head vehemently. "Hold your positions!" He glanced at his little Padawan, her expression of utter horror as the gutkurrs mauled the clones around her, despite her attempts to help as many of the men find cover.
He could feel her concern, her anxiety.
Jaina grunted as she helped a wounded sergeant back to his feet, immediately raising her other hand to Force-push a piece of debris at the nearest gutkurr.
The chunk of metal crashed into the beast, sending the creature flying sideways, but it instantly scrambled back up, letting out an echoing roar of anger.
One of the gutkurr's tails suddenly whipped out, catching Jaina in the leg, and sending her slamming to the ground.
Obi-Wan continued to dodge the other two creatures, his heart leaping in his throat. "Jaina—"
Jaina scrambled back to her feet, but barely made it up, when a second gutkurr bounded up to her, snapping its jaws viciously. She rolled out of the way frantically, sending a Force-push at the sergeant to hurl him out of harm's way.
"Sir—!" The trooper went flying backward as the gutkurr advanced, its jaws snapping in an uncontrollable rage, its body slamming into her and knocking the lightsaber out of her palm.
Jaina grunted in alarm and fear—her hands only just barely holding back the beast's face from hers—the rancid stench from its fangs—overwhelming her senses. "No no no no no —"
Obi-Wan scowled, his heart racing at the sight of his little one in peril. He extended a hand towards the beast and reached out with the Force, focusing his mind on the creatures.
He could feel their wild, primal energy. Their hunger. Their fury. But beneath it all, he sensed something else.
Fear. Confusion. These creatures didn't want to be here. They had been driven to this. Starved for days.
Pushed by something—or someone—else.
Feeling a surge in the Force beginning to gather around her Master, Jaina glanced up at the entranced gutkurr in confusion, then turned towards him. "What are you…"
She fell silent as he raised his hands towards the gutkurrs, and they immediately all…
…stood still.
The troopers paused, staring dumbfounded at the scene before them—the beasts, frozen in place, their mouths open, the drool pooling from their gums.
The Jedi Master exhaled slowly, his eyes never leaving the creatures. He continued to stand calmly, his arms spread wide as the herd of gutkurrs froze around him.
As he began to take a few steps back, they all obediently followed, as if in a trance.
"Incredible…" One of the troopers murmured.
"Quiet, rookie," Cody snapped.
Jaina smiled softly, glancing at them for a moment, before turning back towards her Master's awe-inspiring display of the Force.
He didn't even seem to be breaking a sweat, even as he kept the entire herd of gutkurrs docile under his will.
The creatures simply obeyed. Following his every command like simple, obedient animals.
And that was what they were to the Jedi Master, Jaina supposed—mere animals.
"Everyone remain still and keep your weapons at the ready." His voice was calm and firm as he continued to lure the beasts away from the Republic soldiers, and into a narrow gap in between two cliff faces, and beneath a stone bridge.
The entire herd gathered into the small, narrow gap.
They'd all been trapped. All the creatures had been lured to a place of Obi-Wan's choosing—he merely needed to give a single command.
For now, the beasts simply looked on in mute terror.
"Cody," he said in a cold, emotionless tone. "Shoot the bridge."
Jaina glanced upwards, and gestured towards the stone structure.
A series of blaster bolts flew from the Ghost Company men, tearing through the foundations of the stone bridge.
Jaina watched in quiet awe as her Master dodged the falling rocks and immediately leapt away from the crevice (and the trapped gutkurrs), continuing to keep the creatures under his complete control.
As he dusted his robes, Jaina continued to stare at him. "So…if I continue to practice on the Tooka cats like you keep telling me…is that what I'll be able to—maybe—do one day?"
The Jedi Master gave her a weary, amused smile. "Maybe," he said, tapping gently on her round, freckled nose with a single, gloved finger. "If you can get past your impatience, and your whining, yes."
Jaina rolled her eyes playfully, then shook her head in disbelief, chuckling softly. "That was brilliant, Master, that was seven of them at the same time!"
Obi-Wan paused thoughtfully, then looked at the pile of rocks, the whimpers of the trapped gutkurrs still heard in the silence of the city. "Cody, tell the men to take a few minutes," he commanded softly, turning back. "Have the medics attend to the wounded."
Cody gave a nod, then barked out orders to his men.
Obi-Wan turned his gaze back towards his little Padawan, who was still staring at him with wide, starry eyes. He smirked. "You looked impressed, for once."
There was no sarcastic retort or eye-roll. Not that time.
Her expression of awe, of disbelief, almost reverence, was still there, as though she couldn't quite believe what she'd just seen.
She was still staring at him as though he'd just hung all the stars in the galaxy.
"I am." Her blue eyes sparkled, her words tumbling out in a rush before she could stop them. "You—you stopped them—! You just ordered them to stand down, and they listened to you—seven of them at the same time—why didn't you just do that from the very beginning?"
Obi-Wan chuckled softly as he knelt down in front of her, resting his hands on her forearms.
It was easy to forget how young she actually was on most days, but he treasured the moments when her youth shown through.
…As much as those moments also brought him a profound sense of melancholy, and dread…for all that she had already seen…and for all that he knew, she had yet to see.
"Because it is incredibly taxing," he teased gently, before his voice turned solemn once more. "And because it is a last resort. They are creatures, yes, but that is not all they are. I need you to understand something, my little Padawan."
Jaina nodded earnestly. "Master?"
Obi-Wan paused, taking a moment to choose his words carefully. "Control of the Force…the ability to affect the minds of other creatures, even to have them obey you entirely…this isn't something to be used lightly." His eyes bore into hers, his voice still gentle, but firm, and serious.
"I needed to stop the creatures, to protect us, and everyone here. But this is something to be wielded with caution. To be mindful of," he continued carefully. "The Force is to be used with respect, as I always tell you. It is not about subjugation—when it comes to people or to creatures. It must only be used as an alternative to violence. Do you understand?"
Jaina nodded slowly, her response sincere, her tone quiet and respectful. "Yes, Master. I understand."
Obi-Wan smiled, about to speak again when a loud clang from a nearby manhole made them both turn sharply, their lightsabers igniting on instinct.
"Wait," he murmured, resting a hand on her arm and lowering the blade.
Two familiar figures clambered out of the hole with great difficulty, their white armor stained with sand, mud, and sewage, as they fumbled to snap a stiff salute.
"Waxer," Jaina breathed. "Boil."
"There you two are!" Cody snapped sharply, walking back towards them. "Where have you slackers been?!"
"Sir, there is an explanation," Boil muttered swiftly.
"We got a little…" Waxer said. "…sidetracked."
Behind them, a small figure peeked out.
Jaina's eyes widened.
A little Twi'lek girl—no more than five or six years old—with pale green skin, short lekku, and a simple cloth dress climbed out of the tunnel, her eyes darting around at all the strange people.
Waxer gently helped her out of the hole.
Obi-Wan chuckled softly, watching as the girl clung to the trooper's leg. "I think I see what sidetracked you."
The Jedi Master knelt down, his face gentle as he spoke to the child. "Hello there, little one," he greeted softly, in perfect Twi'leki.
Jaina chuckled softly under her breath. Of course her Master could speak Twi'leki too…Every time she was almost certain her Master could no longer surprise her…
…Well, perhaps it was best to just never assume anything, as he himself often said.
"She brought us here through the tunnels," Waxer explained, glancing back down at the shy Twi'lek girl trembling behind his leg, and frantically clutching at his armor. "She knows her way around them pretty good, sir."
"The poor girl looks like she's had a rough couple of days…" Jaina murmured sadly. "Or weeks, even…"
Her eyes widened in realization. "Oh." She reached over her back pocket, pulling out a small pack of figda candy from the last trip to the commissary. She carefully opened the pack and knelt down next to them, keeping a respectful distance to not alarm the child.
Jaina extended a piece of candy towards the little Twi'lek girl. "These are pretty good, if you like sweet things," she said, keeping her voice soft and friendly (her own Twi'leki perhaps needing a little more practice). She popped a candy into her mouth. "They're my favorite."
The little girl's eyes darted between the candy piece, and the Jedi Padawan, and suddenly, she inched out from behind Waxer's leg, still gripping the trooper's hand.
Slowly—and with a nervous, shy look at Obi-Wan and all the other clones—she reached out and took the sweet, inspecting it carefully like it was the most fascinating thing she'd ever seen.
Jaina offered another bright smile, popping another piece of the figda candy into her mouth. "I often get into trouble for snacking on too many of these," she whispered conspiratorially. "Don't tell anyone you got it from me."
The little girl glanced up at her—her brown eyes wide and round—and then popped the candy into her mouth.
A beat of silence…then her entire face lit up, as she squeaked happily and clapped a tiny, little hand over her lips.
Obi-Wan smiled, watching the little girl and his apprentice for a moment, before turning back to the troopers.
"Commander," he said, as the child continued to munch happily on the sweet, her eyes still round with glee. "Prep the troops."
Cody nodded and turned away, already giving quick, efficient orders to the other troopers, who began gathering up their weapons and preparing to move out.
Obi-Wan returned his attention to the little Twi'lek, then gently addressed her. "What's your name, little one?"
The girl blinked, her eyes flicking between him and Jaina, then mumbled a barely-audible "Numa…"
"That's a beautiful name," Jaina murmured.
Numa's gaze slid back to the candy in her hand, and then up at Jaina, her eyes still a little wide. Her small voice was just a little stronger this time."Can I have another one please?"
Jaina gently placed the entire bag of candy into her little palm. "Here."
Numa's jaw dropped, staring in amazement at the candy packet. She clutched it close, her tiny body curling around it protectively, as she munched on another piece.
"Are you hiding in the tunnels by yourself, Numa?" Obi-Wan inquired softly. From her messy lekku, to the dirt and grime on her pale green face, and her simple cloth dress—she'd clearly seen better days. "Is your family in the city center, with the others?"
Numa nodded vigorously, but there was a hesitancy in her eyes, her lekku twitching nervously. She took another anxious look at Obi-Wan, then at Jaina, before she pointed down the avenue. "They took them…"
Jaina sighed softly. "I guess that's as much confirmation on our initial intel as we're going to get," she murmured, switching back to Basic and glancing down the avenue. "How should we proceed?"
There was a moment of silent contemplation in Obi-Wan's eyes as he looked down the dusty boulevard that led towards the city center. "It's too risky to approach solely from here, we'll need an alternative route."
He shifted his gaze over the troopers. Then, an idea seemed to come to him, and he turned back to Numa.
"Do you know your way through the tunnels, little one?" He asked, shifting to Twi'leki. "Can you lead us to your family? And to the bad men?"
Numa nodded vehemently once more, her small, pale, green hand still clutching the bag of candy. "Yes, yes, I can," she said eagerly, her face a much, much happier expression as she tugged at Waxer's hand back towards the manhole cover. "Let's go!"
Obi-Wan smiled, patting the girl's head affectionately as he and Jaina stood once more.
"The girl can lead us through the tunnels to the prisoners," he told Cody, who was walking back towards them. "Cody, Jaina. We're going to need a diversion…"