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Not supposed to hurt this much. The Force shimmered
on the fringes of Alee's senses. She reached for it and groaned
as it slipped through her grasp. Nothingness pulled her back under.
Did someone get the operating number of that Coruscant taxi?
Alee forced her eyes open. She blinked at the light. Voices.
She tried to turn her head, speak. Nothing worked. Is this
what spaced feels like? A croak slipped past her lips. A softer,
smoother version of Chale appeared above her. A cool cloth brushed
across her brow.
"Shh," the female - must be a female - whispered.
"We've administered a healing agent that temporarily paralyzes
while it works. Don't fight it."
Don't want ... paralyzed. Want the Force. Can't touch it.
Consciousness faded.
"How's the patient, today?" Chale boomed as he breezed
into the hut.
Alee was sitting up, sipping on a fruity concoction. She brushed
aside annoyance at the sight of his cheery demeanor. "How
long have I been held prisoner in this place?" Alee demanded.
"Trussed up like a rack of nerf roast. Injected with some
vile drug every time I surfaced."
Chale grinned. "You've been a most co-operative patient
these last three days."
"Three days!" Alee jerked upright. She gasped and
slumped back, her body clamouring its protest at her sudden movement.
Chale frowned. "Do you need a few more days healing?"
"I'm fine. Fine. Just a ... tickle."
"Tickle?" Chale's brow shot up.
Alee narrowed her eyes. "Yes. What of it?"
He smiled. "Maybe you are feeling better. Your impertinence
is showing."
She crossed her arms and muttered, "But that's all, I
trust."
Chale threw his head back and laughed. Alee gave in to a smile.
I love a deep, rumbling laugh.
When his laughter had subsided to a chuckle, Alee asked, "What
has you so disgustingly cheerful? Is the battle over?"
He stopped. "By no means. But my favorite Jedi is healing
and the city is still ours. The victory you declared will soon
be reality."
One eyebrow shot up. "That I declared? You take
a moment of brashness and turn it into some sort of visionary
statement?"
Chale gave her a smug look. "Brashness has served us both
well, my Jedi."
"I take it your welcome was warmer than you expected?"
Chale grinned. "My people were most impressed I survived
that explosion. It has made them, ah, far more disposed to listen
to me. And, I have informed them that you will be treated
with the greatest respect."
She rolled her eyes. "I'd rather earn it, thanks."
"Don't worry, my Jedi, you will have plenty of opportunity
to do that."
She frowned. "What am I? Your pet?" Then she muttered,
"My Jedi, my foot."
"Your foot? It was your ankle, actually. Apparently you
suffered a small break, but it is mending nicely. The healers
think you can start putting weight on it today."
Alee sighed. "Now who is being purposely difficult?"
Chale shrugged and leaned back in the chair. He stretched out
his legs and clasped his hands behind his head. Alee tried to
ignore his smug countenance.
After a few moments she blurted, "Out with it."
He looked over his shoulder. "With what? Is something
in the room displeasing?"
"Chale," she spoke slowly, "you have something
else to tell me. So, instead of acting like a Hutt with a glitterstim
stash, just tell me."
"Well," Chale sat forward eagerly, "we have
used the last few nights to do some scouting of our own. We have
discovered their munitions dump and, I think, their primary base
of operations."
"You led these forays?" Her eyes skittered to the
door and back as Randu entered.
"Of course. I am the leader, and the leader, well, leads."
But who leads if the leader is struck down? She sighed.
"Did you run into any difficulties?"
"A few minor skirmishes on the plains - they are generally
afraid to follow us into the forest. One Keed injured. But we
captured one foe." His face fell. "He is proving most
uncooperative."
"I can't imagine why."
Chale scowled. "I thought you might try questioning him."
"It's your world. Your war. What could I ask that you
haven't already?"
A throat cleared. "I told you she would not help us,"
Randu declared.
Chale ignored him. He stared intently at Alee. "I am told
the Jedi have certain powers. They can plant ideas and read minds.
You could enter his mind and..."
"No!" Alee's cry startled him.
In an eyeblink Randu was at her side. He flexed his hand and
his claws doubled in length. This is new. Not sure I like it.
He pressed them against her chest, the claws forming a circle
above her heart. She remained outwardly calm. Would it be impolite
to shove him out that window?
Randu snarled into her face. "She is a spy, my lord. Let
me deal with her as such."
Chale reached over and gently pulled the hand away. Alee let
her breath out slowly.
"We will let her explain, friend, before we judge."
Alee blinked at Chale's cool tone.
Randu stepped back and stood rigidly, arms crossed. He did
not retract his claws.
Alee took a deep breath and centered herself. There was danger
here, but it did not seem life-threatening. Our friendship,
our trust is in peril. She tried to meet Chale's gaze, but
it was glued to the wall beyond her shoulder.
"How do I explain something so complicated?" she
asked herself aloud. "As with everyone, all Jedi are not
equally gifted. I ... I have never been able to plant ideas. My
master thought it was, for me, a deeply ingrained cultural prohibition."
"How so?" interrupted Chale, looking back at her.
"Well," Alee paused. "My people deeply distrust
this Jedi ability, and hence all Jedi."
"Smart," mumbled Randu.
Patience, Alee. "The courts of my home world are
heavy laden with deceit and treachery. Intrigue within conspiracy
within plots and counterplots. You need a databank to keep the
players and schemes straight. Enter the Jedi who can sense the
underlying intentions in a situation..." Alee trailed off
into her thoughts. She snapped back. "We are not welcome
on Tanaab. That attitude may have influenced me. Though I think
it is simple lack of talent."
"So you have no mind talents?"
She shot a sideways glance at him. "I wouldn't exactly
say that."
Randu snorted.
Chale narrowed his eyes. "Explain yourself, Jedi."
"Imagine, if you will, that every being is full of holes.
Emotions leak out and form an aura around that being. Jedi learn
how to control what leaks out. We also learn how to read other
beings by those auras. You do not have to be Force-sensitive to
pick up on Randu's anger and mistrust, though I probably have
a stronger sense of it. While your emotions are more controlled,
Chale, I can tell you are beset by uncertainty right now, but
it does not resemble fear."
Chale raised his eyebrows and waited for her to continue.
Randu scowled. "And that is not mind-reading?"
"No. I did not violate your person to learn this, Randu.
I did not enter your mind."
"Can you?" he growled.
Alee hesitated. "No, not your mind, Randu."
He stepped forward menacingly. "But other minds?"
Alee looked into Chale's darkening eyes. "With such a
powerful ability, comes equally powerful responsibilities and
guidelines. There are few situations entering another's mind is
even allowed."
His eyes stayed dark. "Answer the question, Jedi."
She sighed. "When I was training in the Temple, I could
sometimes enter the minds of other Jedi students. We were open
to one another. When I was under the tutelage of my master, we
shared a special bond. We could communicate without words, enter
the other's mind if necessary. Even so, my master found it easier
to let minuscule traces of emotion escape in a given situation
so I could read him. I can enter another's mind..."
"I knew it," stated Randu. Alee winced at the fury
building around him.
"But," interjected Alee, "only if the being
gives me ... permission. And only if it is someone I feel a positive
bond with." Her eyes pled for understanding. "I do not
know why this is so, Chale. I am completely unable to plant suggestions.
I cannot enter the mind of an unwilling being. I don't think your
prisoner will prove co-operative in that any more than he has
in anything else."
Alee lay back, feeling empty. The moment stretched into a parsec.
Alee let the Force wrap around her and restore her depleted
energy. She froze when Chale's eyes lightened slightly. He nodded.
Alee felt a tug at the corner of her mouth.
"Will you, at least, meet him?" he asked.
"Yes. I will meet him. Please don't expect too much."
Chale stood. "You will do what you are able. We will wait
for you outside." He spun and headed for the door. Randu
followed in his wake.
A whisper reached her ears. "Do not trust this Jedi, Chale.
She lies."
I never lie, Randu. No matter the cost.
Alee joined the two Keed on the wide walkway outside her circular
hut. Randu strode away purposefully. Amazement lit her features
as she stopped before Chale.
"My ankle and ribs. No pain at all. If they did not use
the Force, how did your healers do this in just three days?"
He smiled wryly. "That vile drug we pumped into you."
"The one that paralyzes?" Alee suppressed a shudder.
He nodded. "You may still find yourself aching and bruised.
Ruba extract only mends bones and cartilage. And if you overdo
it in the next week, the injuries will pain you, though the mending
will hold."
"That paste you used on my puncture wounds, the leaf you
bandaged me with, now this extract. All from the trees?"
she asked.
"Indeed. The pharmaceuticals we harvest here are our stock
in trade. Though some, like the ruba, we do not share with outlanders
for fear they would abuse the properties of the plant." He
turned and leaned on a polished railing. "We love and protect
the forest fiercely. In return it has yielded some of its secrets
and has given us a home."
Alee leaned beside him and followed his gaze. The walkway was
high above the ground, yet the trees still soared above them.
Huts nestled in the crooks of giant branches, amber circles against
the dark mahogany trunks. The translucent wood of the houses captured
the light and glowed from within. Barely distinguishable shadows
shimmered and swayed inside some of the dwellings. The huts were
joined by an intricate pattern of walkways and platforms. They
stood on an upper level. Alee could see at least two more levels
below them, one above. How are they joined vertically? She
watched the ebb and flow of Keed on the various levels, and sensed
Chale was pleased with her interest in his home. As she watched,
a youngster scurried up the trunk from the level below to pop
up beside Alee. Another use for those claws. The young
Keed's eyes grew round at the sight of Alee and he ran off.
Chale chuckled. "You scared him."
She snorted. "It was probably the sight of the great and
mighty Speaker that did that. Does everyone climb from one level
to the next like that?"
"Hardly." He pointed to a tree directly across from
them.
A long-robed figure - female? - activated some sort
of switch and steps popped out from the tree trunk. The figure
moved down the steps and pressed another switch so the steps disappeared.
Alee smiled.
"Another female invention?" she teased.
"One born of necessity, I'm afraid," a vaguely familiar
voice came from behind them.
Alee and Chale turned together. A Keed stood before them, hands
clasped together. At last, a female. The features were
less chiselled than Chale's, with no hair, but a cap of golden
fur covering her scalp. She gazed serenely at Alee.
"We have no claws, you see," she explained.
"You have made up for the lack admirably," Alee jerked
her head at Chale, "even if your males are too dense and
stubborn to notice. Makes you wonder who the smart ones are."
The female stifled a giggle. Chale glowered, "Don't put
such troublesome attitudes in my sister's head, Jedi."
"Sister?" She rolled her eyes and whispered conspiratorially,
"How do you put up with such a brother?"
His huff cut off another giggle. "Pay no attention to
this annoying human, Fi'Lora."
"I would prefer being called Alee. Much simpler than 'this
annoying human', don't you think?" They exchanged smiles.
Alee asked, "Were you at my bedside when I was, ah..."
"Trussed up like a rack of nerf roast?" supplied
Chale. Alee made a wry face.
Fi'Lora spoke, "I was your healer, if that is what you
are asking." She glanced at Chale. "I am sorry you found
the process unpleasant."
"Not unpleasant, exactly," she paused.
"I thought Jedi didn't lie," whispered Chale.
She frowned at him and continued, "The paralysis affected
my ability to connect with the Force. It was most disconcerting.
Definitely not an experience I want to repeat."
Fi'Lora gave her an understanding smile. "I must attend
a patient. May your roots grow deep and flourish, Alee."
"And yours, Fi'Lora." Alee watched her move away.
The high slits in her long robe fluttered open to allow for her
long, loose strides. "Your sister seems very nice."
"She has to be, to put up with one such as me."
"You have a databank for a brain, Speaker Chale. You remember
every little thing I say and spew it back at me with irksome regularity."
"But I enjoy seeing you, ah, irked. I had heard Jedi remain
serene and unruffled at all times."
Alee sighed. "Not this one, I'm afraid. It is one part
of the Jedi Code I struggle with constantly. My progress towards
perfect serenity is measured in microns."
"You must have sufficient control, otherwise you would
not be here alone," Chale pointed out.
"Sufficiency, yes. Mastery, no."
"You have time for that. How old are you, Alee?"
"26 standard years."
"Ha. The same as me. We will grow into mastery together."
He clasped her shoulder. "Come. We have a prisoner to visit."
They stood, looking at a platform suspended nine meters below
them. The prisoner was in the center of the platform on his hands
and knees, chained into immobility. On the deck, below his stomach,
was a branch festooned with deadly-looking spikes. His bare back
showed signs of welts and bruises. They expect him to co-operate
under these conditions?
"Release him," Alee said, calmly.
"This I cannot do," replied Chale.
"Release him."
"Tradition forbids it."
"Space tradition. Release him." Alee's nostrils flared.
"No."
"Fine." Alee vaulted the railing. She fell, her cloak
spread like out around her like wings. She somersaulted once and
landed lightly beside the chained human. She knelt and tilted
his head up with one finger. Wary eyes returned her look. She
felt the fear behind the look and winced. Why is it always
boys that pay the price in war? Clattering and shouts drew
her attention.
Chale halted at the edge of the platform, chest heaving. Randu
was a step behind. Chale shouted, "You overstep your bounds,
Jedi. What do you think to do?"
Her lightsaber hissed to life. "If you will not release
him, I will."
"If you do this thing, I cannot help you."
She shrugged. "Tell me why is he treated thus?"
"He shamed himself. He was captured uninjured."
"He is barely a man." She narrowed her eyes. "And
he appears injured, now, Speaker."
"He has been given the opportunity to redeem his honor,"
Chale's voice was firm.
"He is not an animal," Alee seethed. "He should
be treated with the dignity accorded all sentient beings. You
cannot make peace with a people when you treat them like this."
"And how do they behave towards us, Jedi? They ruthlessly
cut down unarmed citizens. They seek to enslave us." Chale's
darkened eyes bored into her.
"So you allow injustice to breed injustice. Where does
it stop, Speaker?" She stepped forward. "How about right
here?"
Alee flicked at the wrist shackles with her lightsaber. The
crowd that had gathered at the railings above hissed as one being.
She sliced off the leg irons. The crowd gasped. She powered down
the lightsaber and helped the shaky prisoner to his feet. As she
moved toward the glowering Speaker and his grimly smiling servant,
a roar erupted behind her. She froze. Chale nodded to two guards
who slipped to her side and took the prisoner from her grasp.
She turned slowly to face a furious Keed who was stripping off
his tunic. Two meters and built like a Wookie. I have a bad
feeling about this.
"Who is that?" she asked casually.
"Dorgo," was Randu's smug reply. "One of the
Speaker's personal guard."
"Why does he appear irritated?"
Chale sighed. "As the one who captured this prisoner,
only he can decide his fate. He is accepting your challenge."
"Ah, what did I challenge him to?" Alee drew on the
Force to remain calm.
"Unarmed combat," Randu gloated.
"Your death will automatically mean the prisoner's death.
Your defeat means the victor decides both your fates," added
Chale.
"And my victory?" asked Alee. She turned to seek
Chale's eyes.
"The prisoner is yours, as is Dorgo's life to do with
as you please."
"Is there an alternative to fighting?"
"No." Alee felt a ripple of sadness radiate from
him.
She gave him a small smile. "Well, you can't say I wasn't
warned." She slipped off her cloak and handed it to him.
Her lightsaber followed. She wheeled around.
"Alee," Chale said. She stopped. "Your boots."
"My boots are not weapons."
"No, but they can conceal them."
"Very well." She bent over and quickly undid the
five fasteners on each boot. She stepped out of them, pulled off
the liners and tossed everything backwards without looking.
The opponents circled each other, drawing slowly closer. Alee
eyed Dorgo's claws as he extended and retracted them, a snarling
smile on his face. She glanced at his feet. Do the toe claws
have poison in them, too? She set the thought aside and inhaled
the Force. She sensed his feint and lunge and spun out of harm's
way. She side-stepped a charge and heard a sweeping murmur of
disapproval from above.
"Fight, coward," Dorgo demanded.
"You've never dealt with Jedi before, have you?"
Alee asked.
She ran and jumped, driving both feet at his chest, twisting
sideways as soon as they struck. Dorgo sprawled backwards while
Alee landed on one hand and cartwheeled to her feet. She circled
him as he got to his feet. He lunged. His speed surprised her.
She slid right. He managed to shift mid-stride and caught her
in the mouth with his elbow. Her head snapped back. She followed
through and flipped backwards, landing two meters away. She tasted
blood and fought to push aside the dizziness swirling behind her
eyes.
The Keed's nostrils flared and he grinned. He came at her relentlessly.
She kept her focus on staying ahead of his blows - and his claws.
She landed a few weak hits as he moved past. As her vision cleared
she moved to attack. Dorgo rushed at her. She pivoted and landed
a blow in the middle of his back. He staggered and spun to face
her. Alee ran at him, launching herself and somersaulting overhead.
She twisted as she landed. His fist plowed into her stomach as
the balls of her feet touched down. Air whooshed out of her lungs.
Another punch sent her flying back.
Alee sensed the edge of the deck and seized it as she started
to fall. Her body weight made her arms jerk sharply. Her fingers
slipped, but held. She looked up into gloating eyes. He nudged
her fingers. She called on the Force and launched into the air.
She sailed over his head and landed in the middle of the platform
As the Keed charged her again, she stepped into it and jabbed
his jaw. As she spun away Alee felt claws rake her back. She continued
the spin and drove her heel into his midsection. He dropped to
his knees. Alee kicked again, connecting with his temple. Dorgo's
head snapped to the side and he crumpled. She bent over, breathing
hard, and focused on the prone form. Relief swept over her when
she sensed that his lifeforce remained vital.
Alee straightened slowly. Feels like I got caught in a bantha
stampede. Her ankle throbbed. Fire skimmed across her back.
A groan slipped past her lips as she hobbled over to Chale. He
helped her slip into her cloak and grasped her shoulders.
He answered the question in her eyes with a whisper. "Poison
is not allowed in this form of combat." She smiled weakly.
Louder Chale said, "You fought well, Jedi. What will you
do with Dorgo?"
"Nothing," she replied. "You can ill afford
to lose such a formidable warrior." Quietly she added, "Besides,
having to live with the knowledge that he was bested by a female
will be punishment enough."
Chale's eyes sparkled bright green. "And the prisoner?"
"Please have your healers care for him. Under guard, of
course. We can discuss his fate later."
Her boots were pressed into her hands as they moved away. Fingers grabbed her sleeve. She turned and looked into the prisoner's eyes. He whispered, "Thank you." She nodded and followed Chale into the trees.
