Chapter 6

(3,647 BBY - 16 years old)

"Mariatu, why aren't you packed?" Master Shadra stood in the doorway, hands on her hips with a look of exasperation on her face.

"What?" I asked. I had no idea what she was talking about.

"Did you not hear a word I said last night?" She shook her head. "Never mind, obviously you didn't." She sighed and surveyed my messy room. The blankets on the bed were twisted and balled up and dirty clothes were strewn across the floor. "Mariatu," she said in weary tones, "when we return, you will not leave this room until it is clean. Do you understand me?"

"Yes Master," I replied automatically. I tried to remember what she had said the night before, but she had lost my attention after telling me she still hadn't heard from Master Khen-jo and Z'myra. Their last message was over a month ago. I missed Z'myra more than I was willing to admit, and I couldn't help worrying about her. She'd been gone over 2 months helping Master Khen-jo heal the sick in the outlying villages where there was an outbreak of the Endregaad Plague.

Master Shadra crossed her arms and looked expectantly at me. I pulled a small pack out from under my bed and asked, "Where are we going?"

"To Thani, for a week, pack accordingly."

"Yes, Master… wait, we're going to Thani?" I dropped everything and rushed to the door calling after her, "Why are we going to Thani?"

Master Shadra was already halfway down the hall. "Just pack your bags," she called back over her shoulder, "We leave in half an hour."

Thani was the largest city I had ever seen. The buildings seemed to go on forever, the roads were crowded, and people were everywhere. And the sounds! It was so noisy. I couldn't understand how anyone could possibly get anything done, let alone think with all that noise. But the worst was the smells. I could barely breathe without being assaulted by some horrible new smell. After spending most of my life in the small secluded Jedi academy it was quite overwhelming.

My second day there found me sitting in the library searching holorecords for information on The Exile; a task my master set for me while she spent the day meeting with the senator and other dignitaries. By noon I was going crazy with boredom. I found a few articles that mentioned The Exile, but nothing of any interest. On a whim, I ran a search on the local news. I hadn't stepped foot in Thani in well over ten years and I was curious about the city I was born in. The latest news centered around the Senator's son. He'd been missing for about a week and turned up dead just two nights before, shot to death, his body hidden behind a dumpster in the back of an alley. I briefly wondered if that had been the reason we came to Thani, but why would the senator involve the Jedi? Surely the local police could handle a murder case.

Curiosity nagged the back of my mind as I continued scanning the local news reports. A name caught my attention, "V'rede." My family name. The small article was only a paragraph long and included a small picture of a child.

Local Girl Gone Missing

Sàdiya V'rede, ten year old daughter of Caalin & Koria V'rede, owners of The Last Chance Cantina, has been missing for a week now. She was last seen walking home from school wearing an orange shirt, light brown jacket, and dark brown pants. If you have seen this child, please contact your local police.

The picture showed a young mirialan girl. Her skin was almost the color of bronze with the slightest hint of green. She had shoulder length black hair and large blue eyes. She was smiling and it was obvious the image had been cropped so it only showed her, but I imagined it was a picture of her surrounded by her friends.

I stared at that picture for a long time. I couldn't believe she was my niece. Before Riyanne had contacted me I hadn't spared a thought for my family, but here was this girl, only a few years younger than me, and she was my family.

Almost without thought I looked up the address and directions to the cantina. I left the library, my assignment completely forgotten, and strode purposefully down the street. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Sàdiya was in trouble and I also knew that I had to find her. But in order to do that I would first have to confront my brother.

A taxi flew by me, its horn blaring as I stumbled to the side of the road. People pushed past me, not even glancing my way. It was like I was invisible. In a dark corner a disheveled man peered up at me, in his eyes I could see pain, desperation, and loneliness. He held out his gnarled hand, wordlessly asking for help, but I had nothing to give. I turned away, brushed the tears from my eyes and quickened my pace.

I found the cantina a few minutes later. Just one more place of business along the strip. I ignored the other shops for the most part and stood in the doorway of my childhood home. My eyes were drawn to the jukebox and automixer. They looked new, and I remembered the old ones had burned. They were still in the same place though; still with just enough space in between them for a small four year old girl to hide in the shadows.

It was early in the day so there were few customers. A tall man stood behind the counter in the center of the room. He swiped a cloth over the counter a few times then looked up, his eyes catching mine.

"Can I help you, Miss? Are you lost?"

I just stared at him, standing there with those green eyes, his short brown hair that no longer covered the top of his head. The scar near the corner of his left eye where I had hit him with… I can't remember… he had been tormenting me… but that doesn't matter.

"Caalin?" I asked tentatively, my heart pounding and my throat tight.

He set down the washcloth and walked over to me. He tilted his head slightly, his brows furrowed. "Do I know you child?"

"You don't recognize me, do you?" I admit I was disappointed. I'm not sure what I had been expecting, but it was humbling to think he had forgotten all about me.

He shook his head, "I'm sorry. Should I?" He looked me over then said, "Are you with the Jedi? Those are Jedi robes, aren't they?"

I swallowed down the knot in my throat and said, "I'm your sister."

"Mari?" I could hear the surprise in his voice. "Little Mari?" I nodded, a few tears escaping my eyes. "Is it really you?" He looked back over his shoulder and hollered, "Koria, come quick!" A mirialan woman appeared at the top of the stairs, her long black hair was pulled back in a knot and she wore light brown coveralls and held a greasy rag that she was using to wipe her hands clean.

"What?" she called down to Caalin.

"Just come here."

She sighed, tucked the rag in her back pocket and came over to us. She placed her hands on her hips and looked back and forth between us. "Well?"

Caalin started, and then smiled. "Koria, this is Mariatu, my little sister."

Koria smacked Caalin upside the head. "You idiot! Keeping the poor child standing here in the doorway. Come here, my dear. You!" She pointed at the two men sitting in the corner, each froze, a mug raised to their lips and a surprised look on their faces. "Out! We are closed." Obviously, they were familiar with my sister-in-law's moods because they both tipped their mugs and quickly finished their drinks before hurrying out the door. "Now that's better. Come, come. Sit down." She deposited me on a stool at the bar then poured me a glass of juice.

Caalin hovered nearby, wringing his hands, and glancing nervously at the door. Then, as if a thought struck him, he abruptly walked to the door and locked it.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"Nothing… nothing. Everything is fine." He glanced once more at the door.

"Then you've found your daughter?"

Caalin shook his head and looked away. Koria walked around the bar and took her husband's hand. Her face had transformed into one twisted with worry.

"Oh, I see. I am so sorry." I watched as Caalin put his arm around his wife to comfort her and I wondered what had happened to change him so much. Was it this Koria? Or perhaps having a child? I made up my mind right then and there to forgive my brother.

"What can I do to help?