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We must be cautious, he says. He doesn't know the half of it. I feel like I'm wading through a dianoga pit with a blindfold on. I'm attacked by conflicting emotions at every turn. Anger at those arrogant women. Frustration with Obi-Wan's thickheadedness. And Qui-Gon ... I don't even want to go there. I don't know what I feel, but it must be wrong. Something right wouldn't cause this much confusion. The only constant I sense right now is the Force, but it wavers just out of reach. If only I could know where it is leading me.
Alee tried to sit still. Her attendant had already admonished her twice for fidgeting. The tangle of curls she had been subjected to the previous night was simplicity itself compared to the complicated braid pattern the young woman was weaving into her hair tonight. Her skull was capped with minute auburn braids interwoven and overlapping, their precision broken by a few wisps of hair, curled and artfully framing her face and tickling her neck. This is ridiculous. No woman should have to go through this to eat a meal. At least I won't be subjected to the embarrassment of a different outfit. This one is bad enough. She smiled, knowing it was the last time she'd ever have to lay eyes on the vaporous dress of russet shimmersilk. Her attendant's reflection smiled back. Think what you want, girl, we are not even on the same comlink frequency.
Her traitorous thoughts meandered back to Qui-Gon and the smile dropped from her lips. I heard his whisper in my mind last night, warning me away from anger. How could that be? How could he enter where even my own Master had trouble going? She had wanted to ask him. Had wanted the answer and feared it as well. But he had spent the day at the ship. The void created by his absence had left her restless, unable to concentrate, and unable to fully connect with the Force. Irritation was cresting in her mind, threatening to wash over her barriers and soak everyone within reach. The absurdity of the situation suddenly struck her. She was letting the presence - or absence - of a person control her thoughts and actions. No person was more important than communion with the Force. Is Qui-Gon important to me? She shunted the question aside and her focus reasserted itself. She found her center within easy reach. The Force rushed in and irritation ebbed away, though it still lapped tenuously on the edges of consciousness.
"We are finished, Mistress," the young attendant declared.
Alee stared at the lovely stranger in the mirror. "Perfect timing. Thank you."
The blond beauty nodded politely and left.
Alee closed her eyes and sighed. Here we go again.
The meal was worse than she'd imagined it would be. Tension imbued the air in the dining hall with a heaviness that made every inquiry seem pointed, every reply curt. Alee puzzled over the charged atmosphere. She was sure there was something happening that went beyond displeasure over her little skirmish with Matron Dectee the evening before, but it was insubstantial, unfocused.
Alee sensed Qui-Gon's caution, as well. He wasn't about to invite a repeat attack from another electro-jabber, not that anyone would dare after the brash ultimatum she had issued last night. Still, he managed to comfort her with his presence. A brush of his fingertips when he refilled her water goblet. A hand resting gently on her shoulder as he served her next dish. A smile in his eyes each time they met hers. She knew he was doing everything he could to get her through the evening unscathed.
Qui-Gon placed dessert before her. She glanced up to find Matron Gadlow's ebony-skinned man servant surreptitiously watching her. It was the third time she'd caught the short, powerfully-built man's eye. Was he curious or trying to warn her about something?
Qui-Gon poured the obligatory wine into her chalice. She flared her nostrils slightly to prevent her nose from wrinkling in distaste. She started to reach for the wine and hesitated. Every eye honed in on her with the precision of a laser beam. A ripple in the Force radiated out from her fingertips. A shallow trap, Mater. She kept her face blank and flicked the chalice over even as she pretended to try and recover from her clumsiness. A burgundy stain leapt onto the white table covering, forming a dark halo for the silver cup.
In a blink one feline creature appeared by the spill. It sniffed, wiggled its whiskers and dropped onto the floor. Its twitching tale tapped a rhythm on the other creature's tail, as if telling it not to bother. Both animals slunk under the table.
Alee raised one eyebrow and met the mater's hostile stare. "My apologies, Mater, for my awkwardness. A hazard of being unbecomingly tall, I'm afraid."
The older woman's violet eyes darkened. "Insolence adds to the insult, Mistress."
"Yes, well, I'd rather be insolent than poisoned," replied Alee.
"You misunderstand what you saw. My pets never drink spilled wine, only that which is offered."
Alee remained silent.
The mater cleared her throat. "We must speak of a business proposition."
Alee narrowed her eyes. If you can't get want you want one way... She remained quiet.
Mater Cedony continued, "I have decided upon the price of your ship's repairs."
Alee waited.
"Your ship will be ready tomorrow morning, I'm told. You may leave as soon as it is able," the mater said with a tight smile. "But your concubines will remain. Both of them."
Alee sensed Qui-Gon tense. She clenched and unclenched her jaw. Why am I not surprised?
"I will not part with them." Alee's voice rang clear.
"You have no choice, Mistress," said Mater Cedony.
"You always have a choice, Mater," replied Alee. "Besides, as I do not actually own them, I cannot actually sell them."
"Nevertheless, you have my price." Mater Cedony paused. "I am doing you a favor, Mistress. You seem uncommonly fond of them. It is always dangerous to become emotionally involved with one's trifles. It makes one vulnerable."
"The risk is sometimes worth the reward, Mater," Alee said softly.
The mater snorted. "Foolish child. You understand nothing - about males or about power. What sort of report will you make to your Republic masters, I wonder? How will you distort the truth about Nekton IV?"
"I do not distort truth. I tell it." Alee felt her indignation surge. She quashed it.
"Will you tell your masters the Nekton system is ready to be approached for membership in your patriarchal prison?"
"You have imprisoned yourselves well enough, I expect, in narrow minds and shackled thinking. You flatter yourselves if you think the Republic would even want you. Power built on the backs of slaves is power shunned on Coruscant."
The mater's eyes became slits. "You have insulted this court enough for one evening."
Alee stood. She glanced at Qui-Gon's impassive face and imperceptible battle stance. Without a word she turned to leave. Mater Cedony's voice broke her stride.
"You will join me when the sun breaks the horizon and I break my fast. I will have your answer concerning payment, Mistress Alee."
Both Jedi kept their backs to the older woman. Alee replied, "There is no need. You have my answer, Mater Cedony."
They strode out of the room without looking back.
The turbolift door hissed open and Alee stepped on. A black hand grabbed her arm and swung her around. She stared into the face of Matron Gadlow's servant. He glanced both ways and tightened his grip, then locked his black gaze onto her face.
"You have decreed your own death this eve, Mistress. It will not be pleasant." He ran his finger under his electro-collar. "Meet me in the garden in 20 minutes. I will do what I can for you." He dropped his hand and whispered, "Beware the execution squad."
The door closed in his face. Qui-Gon leaned against the back wall and crossed his arms.
Alee gave him a crooked smile. "That went well, don't you think?"
He raised one brow. "You have an uncommon gift for wielding the truth like a weapon." He slid her lightsaber out from under his sash and tossed it to her. "You made no friends tonight."
"A friend who cannot hear the truth is no friend at all."
"Does that mean you play sabaac with an enemy who holds all the cards?" His voice was bland.
She matched his tone. "No. But it does mean you stop playing the game by their rules."
"If Obi-Wan is on schedule, maybe we can withdraw from the game altogether."
"Exactly what I was gambling on, my friend." They shared a smile.
"Remind me never to play sabaac with you, my friend."
She nodded. "You'd lose."
He snorted.
The door whooshed open. Qui-Gon checked the hall and motioned all clear. Alee sprinted down the hall and burst into the apartment with Qui-Gon on her heels. Empty.
"Get changed," Qui-Gon ordered. "I'll contact the ship."
Alee slipped into the bedchamber and hastily changed into her Jedi gear. She tossed the dress on the bed and clipped her lightsaber to her belt with a satisfied sigh.
The sitting room was dark. With his cloak on, Qui-Gon was nothing more than a shadow at the window. He flicked his eyes over her silhouette, then looked back into the night.
Urgency filled his words. "We must hurry. Obi-Wan reported that security floodlights were turned on the ship a few minutes ago, along with the targeting scopes of a couple of laser cannons. Captain Lekk has full shielding up, but they will be forced to take off if fired upon."
"They're hyperspace capable?" asked Alee.
"Repairs are complete."
"Then what are we waiting for? We have a ride to catch."
The light from the bedchamber illuminated his half smile. Qui-Gon crossed the room and held out her cloak. Alee slipped into it. He gripped her shoulders and gazed solemnly at her, then brushed his lips lightly on her forehead.
"The game has ended," he whispered.
"Now the fun begins," she replied.
They turned to the sound of footsteps in the hall. Qui-Gon jerked his head at the window. Alee stepped up to it and ignited her lightsaber. She stabbed the weapon through the glass and melted a hole that grew with each circular pass of the blade. She turned to motion Qui-Gon through and frowned to see him exiting the bedchamber. What is he up to?
The door swung open. Alee dove through the hole, somersaulting to fall feet first. She gathered the Force to her and grabbed a tree branch to slow her rate of descent. The Force cushioned her landing and she rolled to the right, coming up in a crouch. Qui-Gon landed softly behind her.
The two Jedi stayed off the lit path and wove beneath the trees, their footfalls silent on the spongy ground cover. Qui-Gon pointed to a jittery silhouette against the outer wall. They emerged from the shadows, causing Gadlow's servant to recoil.
He motioned them to an alcove in the wall. Ignoring Qui-Gon, he grabbed Alee's hand.
"Please, Mistress. I know I ask too much, but I ask you to help us. Free us."
Alee hesitated, torn by the earnestness of his plea.
He continued, "You have shown your kindness to your own men. Extend it to the men of Nekton IV. We are dying in slavery. We only want to live in freedom."
Alee squeezed her eyes shut. A desire, strong and familiar, crashed over her. Justice. She felt anger building and fought to hold onto her calm. Flames licked her soul. She opened her eyes and met Qui-Gon's, which were simmering with the same light. An image of the cruiser slashed through her anger. Desire and action are not always wed.
Alee turned to the proud man before her and a tear ran down her cheek. Her whisper was raw. "I can't. We didn't come to free slaves. I'm sorry."
His spine stiffened. "I will not die a slave. It is time to end this."
Qui-Gon laid his hand on an ebony shoulder. "You are right. But you must be the one to do it, not us. There is no time; our ship is under attack. We can do only one thing to help."
Alee sensed him drawing on the Force. A moment passed. The servant's eyes grew wide. He clutched his collar.
"It has stopped. How did you do this thing?" His voice was filled with wonder.
"It doesn't matter," said Qui-Gon. "Find where they keep the transmitters. Destroy them. While they hunt for us you will have ample cover."
The servant nodded. "I am Cergoff. I will not fail. We have planned well for this day. We only needed to be freed from these rings of death."
Qui-Gon gave his shoulder a final squeeze and released the man. "The Force be with you."
Cergoff spun and activated a hidden door that opened to the street beyond. Qui-Gon stepped through. Alee turned the servant back around.
"Treat them kinder than they have treated you, Cergoff," she entreated. "I hope to stand witness at the ceremony that welcomes a proud and free Nekton IV into the Republic."
He looked deep into her eyes and nodded, then melted into the shadows.
As they jogged through the deserted streets, Alee tossed a whispered, "Thank you," to Qui-Gon.
"Thank you," he returned, "for not demanding justice be done. You heeded the Force's direction well."
Her words landed between footfalls. "Sometimes justice is done, even without my help."
"Imagine that."
She snorted and continued on in silence.
Several blocks later, Qui-Gon held up his hand. Alee halted and reached out through the Force. She sensed what Qui-Gon did, converging disturbances honing in on them. She unclipped her lightsaber. Qui-Gon did the same.
Back to back, they moved with synchronized steps into the intersection. Two swoops roared down on them from opposite directions. Lasers flashed towards them. Blue and green lightsabers ignited simultaneously, deflecting the deadly beams. The machines were almost upon them when vibroblades lanced out of the sides of the forward stabilizers. Alee and Qui-Gon launched themselves up and over the bikes. The move separated them, and the swoops circled tight, one aiming at each Jedi.
Alee opened herself fully to the Force. She deflected a barrage of shots, then dove and rolled as the swoop skimmed past her. The driver circled again and opened the throttle. Alee sensed the outward ripple as the swoop that Qui-Gon battled crashed into a durasteel wall. She leapt into the air, straight at her own opponent. As she flipped over the bike, she twisted and pulled the startled driver off the machine. Alee rolled through the air with the hapless driver and hit the ferrocrete back first. Her momentum propelled the driver under her as the explosion of the first bike swallowed the second and licked overtop of them.
Alee let the heat and pain pass through her to dissipate harmlessly into the Force. She lay very still as her body complained to her of its abused state. She ignored it and concentrated on the limp body under her. The lifeforce of the driver beat strong, despite unconsciousness.
Qui-Gon rolled her over, concern etched sharply into his features. He scanned her face.
"Don't scare me like that, Alee."
"Did I take a year off your life?" She smiled.
He shook his head. "More like ten. Let's go."
Qui-Gon pulled her to her feet and strode away. She winced and pressed a hand to the back curve of her ribs, then slowly followed him down the road. After a minute, he stopped and waited for her to catch up. They fell into step with a natural ease that caused Alee a micron of confusion. She focused instead on letting the bursts of heat radiating from her ribcage describe her injury to her. She answered by channeling the Force through her body.
Two blocks passed, her body quieted down and she spoke up. "That wasn't much of an execution squad. I expected something more ... brutal from Mater Cedony."
"There will be more, closer to the spaceport," Qui-Gon replied.
She sighed. "Do you think the blaster scoring on the gates was the work of this squad?"
He nodded. "A failed escape attempt, I would guess."
"Why wouldn't they simply trigger the electro-collars? End of escape. Period."
"Perhaps this squad enjoys the hunt."
"They won't this time."
Alee took stock of their surroundings. They were walking down a narrow side street that stretched before them like a canyon for at least three blocks, but there were no roads branching off, no breaks in the buildings on either side, and very few doors in the buildings. Warehouses? Factories? Alee frowned. The chute ended in an opening situated before a high wall, its top edge backlit by floodlights. The spaceport.
Qui-Gon's voice interrupted her scan. "We're being followed."
"Being herded, more likely," she replied. "There are more of them ahead, at the wall. So, do we fight through them and through the spaceport to the ship?"
"I think not. Let's take a detour."
Qui-Gon veered to the nearest door and found it locked. He powered up his lightsaber and pierced the door, then dragged the blade down through the locking mechanism. The door slid open. Shouts echoed down the street.
"You've upset our tourguides. Wasn't this side trip listed in the travel data?" asked Alee.
Qui-Gon grabbed her arm and pulled her inside.
"There are stairs to your left. Go." He gave her a small push.
Alee bolted up the open-runged durasteel steps with Qui-Gon right behind her. The clattering sound bounced around the building, making it sound like ten people instead of two. Four flights up they burst through a door onto the roof.
"Are they still behind us?" Alee crouched and worked to slow her breathing.
"Yes. But they don't seem to be in any hurry to join us." He squatted beside her.
She tapped her teeth with her thumb. "I don't like it."
Qui-Gon grabbed her hand. "I agree. We must be cautious."
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather flash down the roof and launch over the spaceport wall? Be a lot quicker." She raised her eyebrows.
"And the execution squad could call in the cleaning team to scrape us off the ferrocrete."
"A quibbling detail. I'm sure we'd think of something."
Qui-Gon grunted and headed down the roof in a crouch. Alee followed.
Soft clicks came from all around. The two Jedi instinctively went back-to-back. Whirring preceded dark figures detaching themselves from the shadows. The figures stepped forward with a precision snap as weapons were raised. Assassin droids. Alee's hiss matched the sound of her lightsaber igniting. She glimpsed the green shimmer from Qui-Gon's blade.
The Force swirled thick around them and Alee opened herself to the flow. As she sensed triggers being pulled she jumped into the air, somersaulting toward the nearest droid. She slammed into its front panel and decapitated it in one sweep. She spun and the momentum carried her blade through the next droid. Alee jumped back and left to avoid lasers. She dove and came up beside a droid, then sliced it in two. Pivoting, she beheaded another, then lunged and sank her blade into the body of the next. Circuitry sizzled and snapped and the droid froze. Alee ducked behind the machine to avoid more lasers. How many are there? She sensed Qui-Gon taking part in the same deadly dance.
Alee leapt from behind her cover and charged the nearest droid. It got off two shots before she sliced off its blaster arm. She rolled away and found herself against Qui-Gon's back once more. They moved as one, parrying red beams. Qui-Gon, she noted, was better at deflecting the lasers back at the droids. The shots became fewer.
"Finish it," he whispered.
Alee flipped into the air, and twisted to land behind a droid. An arcing sweep cleaved it in two. She turned to see Qui-Gon spinning, his long reach knifing through the last two droids. Alee side-stepped towards him, lightsaber at the ready, scanning the rooftop. Qui-Gon joined her.
Shouts. Running footsteps. Alee balanced on the balls of her feet, ready to strike. The comlink emergency signal erupted from Qui-Gon's belt. Alee sank back and lowered her weapon. They exchanged concerned glances.
Qui-Gon flipped the comlink open. "Speak." A pause. "I'm a little busy, Obi-Wan." A pause. "Take off. We'll meet you on the wall, port side of the gate." He flipped the link closed.
The footsteps grew louder. A laser cut through the dark. Alee deflected it.
"Obi-Wan thinks they are preparing to fire on the ship," Qui-Gon said. He parried a shot.
A loud hum and the sizzle of laser meeting deflector shield reached their ears.
"I'd say he's right," commented Alee. She deflected two lasers.
"Time to leave." Qui-Gon let his lightsaber go dark. Alee followed suit.
The two Jedi whirled and took off at Force-enhanced speed. Alee felt her toe touch the edge of the roof and thrust herself into the air. She gathered the Force to her and honed in on the spaceport wall. She flipped and came down on the middle of the wide wall's top surface. Only it wasn't there.
Alee grabbed the lip of the wall as she fell. The momentum yanked hard on her shoulders. Her ribs screamed. Her fingers slipped. The sound of bubbling below her and the burning sensation in her nose and eyes alerted her to the acid trapped in the hollow between the two narrow barriers that made up the spaceport bulwark. The coating on the walls made purchase difficult. Her fingers slipped another centimeter. Qui-Gon's hands wrapped around her wrists and he hauled her up.
"Next time, land on the wall," he chided.
"There won't be a next time," she muttered.
Alee ducked as a laser winged above her head. They kept low and ran along the narrow ledge. Ten meters away, the ship hovered above the wall and the open landing ramp called its invitation. Obi-Wan stood on the edge of the ramp. Three meters away Qui-Gon leapt into the air and alighted beside his Padawan. Alee joined them and the ramp raised behind them as they hustled into the depths of the ship.
As the cruiser banked and blasted through the atmosphere to open space, the Jedi made their way to the salon pod. Qui-Gon and Alee both collapsed into lounge chairs. Obi-Wan leaned against the table.
"Was that fun enough for you, Alee?" asked Qui-Gon.
"Almost." She winced and rubbed her ribs. "But I feel a little unscrupulous."
"How so?" he asked.
She raised one eyebrow. "We never paid for the repairs."
Obi-Wan cleared his throat. They both looked at him. He crossed his arms and a smug look settled on his features. "Yes, we did. Captain Lekk had some credits on hand for just such emergencies. We left them in a strong box on the ferrocrete before we sealed the ship."
Qui-Gon smiled. "Republic credits?"
Obi-Wan shrugged. "It's all we had."
Alee chuckled. "Maybe Cergoff will be able to make use of them some day."
Qui-Gon laughed. A comfortable silence settled over the three Jedi. Alee closed her eyes and let the quiet soothe her aches. Something niggled at the back of her mind. She sat up and frowned as she studied Qui-Gon.
He met her stare. "What now, Alee?
"What did you go back into the bedchamber for? Did you leave them a little surprise?"
His eyes widened innocently. "I almost forgot about that." He gave her a half smile. "I thought you might want a souvenir of our stay on Nekton IV."
Alee narrowed her eyes. He didn't.
Qui-Gon reached inside his tunic and pulled out a bundle of russet shimmersilk. He held it out to her and grinned. He did.
Alee glared at him. "You are despicable."
"So you say." Qui-Gon's eyes sparkled.
The floor hummed beneath their feet as the hyperdrive prepared
to engage. They braced themselves as the ship leapt into the star-lined
tunnel to Gandeal.
