|
|
Alee crouched in the engine compartment. She closed her eyes and listened to the engine. Sounds okay. What I wouldn't give to have Obi-Wan here to check it out. I wonder if the old Obi-Wan was as good a mechanic as the young one? She sighed. Guess I'll never know. At least Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are together again. They'll like that. Like father and son. Poor Obi-Wan. He barely tolerated me - only put up with me because he knew how much I loved his Master. Oh Qui-Gon, I did love you so. You were my soul. You'd urge me to look with compassion at this prickly slicer I've hooked up with. If only he didn't have your eyes ...
Alee stretched out her senses through the Force and located Dru in the lounge. Blast. He left the cockpit. She wiped her hands on a rag and hoisted herself out of the cramped area. She walked quickly forward, automatically reaching for her lightsaber. Not there. It pressed against the small of her back, reminding her of its concealment. Alee flexed her fingers in frustration. Passing the lounge she saw Druce had fallen asleep again. Must be in bad shape. But that's no reason to leave his post. She derailed her thoughts. This was no military operation.
Alee instinctively buckled herself into the pilot seat and ran a weapons check. Lasers. That's it? Lasers? She scanned the monitoring systems, then searched the yawning space before her. Nothing. Her gut tightened. Nothing yet. Alee decided not to tax her reserves searching with the Force and settled in to wait.
Twenty minutes later a blip appeared over the topside horizon of the moon. Alee nodded.
"Computer. Get Dru in here. Now," she ordered.
Two more blips appeared along the bottom horizon. A warning blared in the lounge and Alee smiled at the sound of the prolonged moan it caused. A moment later Dru stumbled into the cockpit and collapsed into the empty chair beside Alee.
"I hope there's good reason for that rude awakening," Dru muttered.
"We've got company," Alee replied.
Dru sat up straight and stared at the monitor. He glanced at Alee's tight features then looked back at the screen. He buckled in.
"Any chance they're friendly?" he asked.
"There's always a chance."
"I'll take that as a 'no'."
Alee looked at Druce. "Now who's being paranoid?"
"Not paranoid," Dru said. "Realistic." After a pause he asked, "Pirates?"
"Probably. We aren't far from the Corellian Run - it's a fairly major trade route."
"So why would they bother with a small private vessel like this one?"
"We're too close to their hideout."
"Game plan?"
Alee narrowed her eyes. "We're going in closer."
"Closer?" Dru's voice rose. "Did you breathe vacuum when you were a kid?"
Alee smiled.
"We don't even have all our shields," Dru said. "The left wing is exposed."
"The port wing."
"Whatever. It still means we're so much space debris." Dru pointed at the screen. "There's three of them, Alee. Can't we just run?"
"No hyperspace. Remember? Besides," Alee said, "two of those blips are uglies, and one of those is powered by an eyeball. We can't outrun that."
"Uglies? Eyeball?" Dru sighed in confusion. "Are you speaking in code?"
"Sorry. Pilot-speak. I used to hang around them a bit on Tatooine. Uglies are ships made by fusing two into one. The most common uglies are x-wing bodies with TIE solar panels, and TIE bodies with x-wings. Eyeballs are TIE fighters. Fast. Very fast."
"How'd you know one is a TIE?"
"Scanned them."
"With what? The computer is still out of range," Dru said.
Alee clenched her jaw. Blast. After a moment she said, "They're in range now."
Dru looked at the monitor. Sure enough. The ships were listed as two uglies and one Corellian freighter. Alee felt his gaze as she ran another weapons check.
She flashed him a frustrated look. "Why don't you have any proton torpedoes?"
"Why would I need torpedoes?"
Alee pointed at the viewscreen.
Dru shrugged. "This isn't a military craft, Alee. And the military snatches up every weapon it comes across. That makes them very pricey for the rest of us." He stared at the fast approaching ships. "Ah. Alee. You're headed straight at that ... um ... ugly."
"Right. Put shields double front. That's the eyeball. It may have quad lasers, but it has no shielding."
"Sure. What about the ... port wing?"
"Hang on," was Alee's only reply.
The ugly came into range and started firing its lasers. Alee put the ship into a slow spiral. The shields sparked once, twice. She toggled the weapons switch and returned fire. The eyeball exploded and the four wings shot out like giant shrapnel. Alee pushed the ship into a steep dive, straight toward the surface of the moon. She heard Dru swallow loudly.
Alee pulled up and levelled off. The other ugly was on her tail. She realigned the shields and vectored up 45 degrees. Dodging right and right again to protect the port wing, she looped up and over the enemy craft. It followed. She veered away.
The freighter was drawing closer. Not good. Pirates would have a larger ship armed to the hilt.
The hailing frequency burst to life. "Hey, Kuat ship. Make this easy on yourselves and prepare to be boarded."
Alee held down the transmit button. "What for? We have nothing of value."
"Then we'll just have to take your ship, won't we?" A rough laugh punctuated the statement.
"Not today, laser-brain." Alee cut the transmission.
"You're crazy," whispered Dru.
"You want to see crazy?"
"Ah. Not really."
"Hang on," Alee warned.
"I knew you were going to say that," Dru replied.
Alee threw the ship into a sharp barrel roll. Once. Twice. She dove for the moon's surface. The ugly followed.
The rock raced up to meet them. It filled the viewscreen. At the last possible second Alee reefed back on the controls and pulled the ship out of its screaming dive. They dropped into a jagged canyon, drifted right so Dru could see the metallic veins in the rock, then straightened out. Alee heard Dru exhale.
The ugly's blip disappeared from the screen.
Alee smiled. "I knew that ship couldn't take the strain of that kind of maneuver."
"What about our ship?" Dru asked through clenched teeth.
"Kuat Drive Yards made a good ship when they made this one."
"Great. What now?"
"Now we drop in on our hosts."
Dru sighed.
Alee shot him a sideways glance. "Well, if you don't want to know, don't ask."
"Right. Do I want to know why the freighter isn't attacking?"
"They think we're heading into their trap."
"Are we?"
"Of course."
"I had to ask."
The ship rocketed through the canyon. An opening grew on the horizon. Buildings encased in atmosphere bubbles appeared. Lasers streaked towards them from the top of the canyon walls. Alee rolled the ship so the port wing was pointing at the ground.
"There." She pointed at what appeared to be the landing field.
"We're landing?" Dru sounded shocked.
"Why would we do that?"
Alee opened the throttle. They shot across the valley floor. Several uglies were just lifting off. Alee strafed them, damaging two, then swung around for another pass. She ignored the ships and zeroed in on several large storage tanks on the edge of the field.
"Hang on," she whispered.
She opened fire, then tilted the ship so the starboard wing was pointing down. They were going full throttle when the explosion swallowed them. Alee barely heard Dru's hiss.
Eyes closed, she pulled back on the controls. They erupted from the fireball and shot passed the freighter which was wobbling from the shock waves. Alee knew their speed was the only thing that saved them. The blast gave them a boost as it pushed them away from the moon.
"Emperor's bones. Don't do that to me again, woman," said Druce. "Is there anything left back there?"
"The freighter was damaged but flyable. That's all I know," replied Alee.
"69% of the base was destroyed," interjected VAL. "100% of the small vessels."
Alee winced. That would explain the wave of pain she'd felt as they'd escaped.
"Was the ship damaged, VAL?" asked Dru.
"Negative. Only some blast scoring on the unshielded wing."
Alee unstrapped and stood. "We're back on course. Let's get a bite to eat."
"What about the freighter?" Dru asked.
"Your girlfriend will warn us if it gives chase."
"Cute."
Druce followed Alee into the lounge and stretched out, hands clasped behind his head.
"That was some cure for a hangover," he commented.
"That ride cured your hangover?" Alee asked, her tone curious.
"Sure did. Scared it away, I think. Along with a couple years of my life."
"Yet you stayed pretty quiet through the whole thing. Didn't even clutch the console," Alee said.
Dru shrugged. "I learned real early that staying quiet can save your life."
Alee leaned forward and rested her arms on the table. She closed her eyes for a second, then opened them and looked at Dru. In the eyes. He held her gaze and waited.
"Tell me about yourself, Dru," Alee coaxed.
"Why?"
"Because we've been together for days and I hardly know a thing about you. Because I'd like to at least make an attempt to be friends."
Dru heard the sincerity in her tone and found himself wanting to be friends with this mysterious woman. Trust your instincts, circuit boy. Trust her. Dru looked away.
"I'm a 37 year-old slicer with an apartment on Coruscant that I never see. End of story."
Alee raised one brow. "That may be the end, but what about the beginning or middle? What about that cryptic remark about staying quiet?"
Dru scanned her face. "I don't generally talk about myself."
"Try. Please."
He rolled his eyes. "Do you always get your way?"
"Not always. But ... now?" Her expression was quizzical.
Dru felt the knot inside loosen a little. "Okay."
He was rewarded with a happy smile. His eyes echoed it back.
"My home system is Corellia."
"And you were worried about three to one odds back there?" Alee was incredulous.
Dru frowned. "I've had odds stacked against me and lost. I'm not much of a gambler. Do you want to hear this?"
"Sorry."
"My dad was a farmer and small time politician on Selonia. Until I was eleven, I thought the galaxy was a perfect place - or maybe it was just my home. Dad was able to keep the ugliness at bay. Funny how fast things can change." Druce paused and drew a deep breath. "Our farm was set at the base of a small cliff. I used to love climbing. Gave my mother fits. I had this one special cave I'd discovered. Hidden from view by scrub. My own private getaway."
Dru could feel the cool air of the cave. And he could still smell the acrid smoke - it made his eyes water. He opened them to see the concern on Alee's face. She waited for him to continue.
"I was in the cave - dodging some chore or other - when they came. A whole squad of stormtroopers. They hauled my family into the yard and began questioning them. I couldn't hear a lot - just enough to know they were accused of aiding fugitive rebels or something. I didn't even know there was a rebellion until that point."
"They were taken away?" Alee's eyes were wide.
"No. They were slaughtered. The whole family - brother, sister, parents. Then they torched the farm. Every building. I wanted to shout and scream and attack them with my bare hands. Instead, I sat in that cave, clutching a rock, watching everything and everyone I loved being destroyed."
"The silence that saved you. Oh, Dru. I am so sorry," she whispered. Dru watched Alee blink back tears.
He shrugged. "It was a long time ago."
"Where did you go? You were too young to join the rebellion."
"As if I would." Bitterness laced Dru's words. "I hated that rebellion as much as I hated the Empire. If not for my parents supposed involvement with rebels, they would still be alive. The Empire even blamed the attack on rebels. Not that I cared - it didn't bring my family back." He paused. "I hid out for days. Stealing food. Moving around. Snuck onto a freighter that landed on a refueling station run by folks who knew my parents. Decided I had to trust someone, so I made myself known. They took me in. Somehow they got a hold of some funds - sent me to school. I always came back, though. Holidays. Whatever. They became my new family."
"Do you keep in touch?" Alee asked.
"Hmmm?" Dru shook away the memories crowding in. "I still see their son once in a while. But, no. The station was destroyed in an explosion ten years ago. Jagged and Zena were both killed."
"It's a hard thing. Losing everyone you love," whispered Alee.
"Yeah. Well. It won't happen again."
Alee nodded. "Because you won't let anyone get close again. You keep to yourself and maintain a nice safe distance from anyone you come in contact with."
Druce frowned. "Something like that. How'd you know that?"
"Because, I just realized," replied Alee, "it's how I live my life."
Silence filled the cabin. He was startled at how easy Alee was to talk to. The telling had taken the edge off his adrenaline rush. And softened the memories. Just a little. But this stillness between them felt like ... old friends.
He studied Alee. From her knee-high boots to her belted tunic, she gave off the aura of being time-worn and, somehow, out of place - more so when she donned that cloak. She seemed ... vulnerable. But it all added to the mystery. He wondered if she ever wore her hair in anything but that single braid. With an oval face sporting a clear healthy complexion and eyes that sometimes looked very, very old, she was like a magnet to him.
"Your turn." Dru broke the silence.
"What?" Alee blinked.
"You heard me."
"I didn't say anything about reciprocating."
"Isn't that what friends do? Or were you just curious and not really seeking friendship?" Druce challenged Alee.
She scowled. "That's not fair."
"Life's not fair."
"Aren't you a font of wisdom?" Alee said dryly.
"Quit stalling and start spewing."
"Start what?"
"Spewing. You know. The data. Your story."
"Oh, right. I'm talking to a slicer."
"Alee ..." Dru let the word hang in the air.
"Okay. Okay." She looked into the distance for a moment. "I was sent to a training academy of sorts at a very young age. Lost contact with my family."
After a pause Dru asked, "Why wouldn't they keep in touch?"
"My father was a hard man. When I left he declared me to be cut off from the family."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."
Dru sighed. This was going to be like extracting a Shistavanen's front tooth. "So this academy. Was it where you learned your piloting skills?"
Alee nodded.
"You're very good," Dru added.
"Thanks."
"But I'll do the repair work. Okay?"
"Hey," Alee protested. "I do well enough to get by."
"And I fly well enough to get by," Dru said.
"Point taken. You fix. I fly."
Dru felt a smile tugging at his mouth. She made it sound like they were a team, not just a temporary arrangement. "So. The academy?"
Alee looked away. "My friends there became my family. Now they're all gone." She returned her gaze and centered it somewhere above Dru's eyes. "Like you, I lost two families."
"The Empire?"
The slightest hesitation and Alee said, "Yes."
What was she leaving out with that answer? "There was someone special, wasn't there?"
Her eyes zeroed in on his. "Why do you say that?"
"This morning. When I ... ah ... embarrassed you. Was he from this academy?"
She nodded.
"What happened?"
"Dead." Her expression became shuttered and she looked down at her hands.
"How?"
"What does it matter? Dead is dead."
"And not very long ago, I think. Your pain seems very ... fresh." Dru softly added, "I'm sorry."
Alee looked away. He barely heard her whisper, "It was longer ago than you'd even believe."
Alee stood. "I'm not very hungry. I'm going to sit up front for a while."
After she disappeared into the cockpit, Dru fished around in a compartment behind his head. He brought out a fist-sized rock and brushed his thumb over the smooth surface.
She didn't reveal much. Not even where she's from, or the name of the academy, or how old she is. I think I was lucky to learn as much as I did. At least she doesn't hate me. But she seems ... afraid, somehow. Of what? My eyes? Yeah. Right. I don't think she's afraid of very much at all.
I am. I'm afraid I might lose my heart, if I'm not careful. And I won't even know who to.
This is all getting very complicated. He's so easy to talk to. It would be easy to tell him the whole truth. But would he believe it? Some days I don't believe it. I don't think I have even been living these past four years - just existing. Now a pair of impossibly blue eyes are trying to coax me back to life and I don't think I'm ready for it. I don't know if I'll ever be ready. I said I wanted to be friends but ... but why does it feel like I'm betraying your memory, Qui-Gon? What's the big deal about being friends? Oh, Qui-Gon. We started out as friends.
Alee stared out the viewscreen and tapped her teeth with her thumb. Six days away. Only six. From the one place in the galaxy she least wanted to be. Naboo. A shiver ran down her arms and she hugged them close to her body. The cold was pressing in.
Dru ground his teeth together in frustration. For two days he'd gotten nothing but monosyllabic responses from Alee. When he'd reminded her that she was the one who wanted to be friends, she'd looked at him blankly, then left the room. It was driving him nuts.
He'd even suggested she give him some flying lessons. No go. She'd muttered something about not being a master - whatever that meant. Then she'd left the room. Again. She seemed to be working at being where he wasn't . Except for meals. When she kept her eyes glued to her plate.
Which was where they were right now. He glowered at the top of her head. Something had been niggling in the back of his mind. Something he had to know. He cleared his throat.
"Alee." Her head stayed down.
Dru continued, "Alee, I want to know how you knew what kind of ships were attacking us."
Alee looked up.
"You knew before the computer did. How?" he persisted.
"Instinct. Luck. Knowing the enemy. Take your pick." She looked back down at her food.
Dru felt anger sparking deep in his mind. "I'll pick luck. You must have lots of that. You could close your eyes and navigate a meteor storm. You could fly out of a fireball and just miss the ship that was hunting you down."
Alee raised her head again. "Luck is a good thing."
"Sure. But that's not what's at work here, is it, Alee? The question is: what is? Any guesses?"
"Why don't you just be thankful your alive to ask me such asinine questions?"
Oh, you're a master, all right. A master of avoidance. "What happened to friendship, Alee? What happened to opening up?"
"I made a mistake." Alee crossed her arms.
His breathing became heavy. Dru spoke in slow, measured tones. "You made a mistake? What am I? Hutt pus?"
Alee stood and slipped behind her chair. She clasped the back tightly. "It's not you, Druce. It's me. I'm not ready for this."
Dru felt the heavy frown creasing his forehead and couldn't seem to smooth it out. "Ready for what? We're talking about being friends, not lifemates."
"You don't understand."
Dru rose and moved to stand in front of her. "Then help me understand."
"I ... I can't."
With his finger under her chin, Dru tipped her head so he could look into her eyes. "Why?"
Alee just blinked.
How can one person be so stubborn? "You think you're betraying your dead lover, don't you?" Alee paled and Dru knew he'd hit the mark. Why did that knowledge sting so much? He felt his anger igniting, flaring.
"Do you think you're the only one who ever lost someone they love?" Dru's voice was harsh. "Did you even listen to my story? Almost every being I know can tell you similar tales. The Empire was brutal. Your loss is no more special than ten thousand others."
"Don't." Alee tried to turn her head. Dru slipped his fingers along her jaw and held fast.
"He's dead, Alee. You're not. You only act as if you are."
"Stop." Tears gathered on the rims of her eyes.
Her stricken features doused his anger. He rubbed his thumb over her cheek and spoke softly, "Oh, Alee. What will it take to make you realize we aren't made to be alone. The longer you're alone, the more hollow you become. I don't feel hollow when I'm with you. You have a vibrancy - a boldness when you act - that should be used to touch others. I'm not asking for a lifetime, Alee. Not even a day. Just a moment."
Alee sobbed.
"Concentrate on this moment, Alee," Dru pleaded. "Here. Now. The rest will take care of itself."
Dru lowered his head slowly. He watched her eyes grow big, then clamp shut as his lips touched hers. His kiss was soft, searching for a response. Alee moaned deep in her throat. Dru felt her melting under his onslaught. He pressed his lips firmly against hers. He felt her hands against his chest and he softened the kiss once more. His spirit soared when her hands glided up and wrapped around his neck. Dru ran his hand down her neck, then locked both arms around her waist and pulled Alee close. It felt like ... like they were a perfect fit. Dru groaned.
Alee broke away and buried her face in his chest. Her arms floated down and found their way around his waist. Dru rested his cheek on the top of her head and lifted his right hand to unfasten her braid. He dropped the clasp on the floor and ran his fingers through her hair, working it loose so it flowed and spread across her back like a thick auburn curtain that ended just below her shoulder blades. So soft. Like Alee. If you caught her at the right moment. Like now.
Maybe she's right. Maybe we can't be friends. It would never be enough.
Alee awoke when she usually rose to meditate. She didn't move, but lay on her back and stared at the ceiling she couldn't see. The last two days had been ... confusing. She and Dru were sharing an easy banter since that second kiss. But it was everything that wasn't said that confused her. They never mentioned the kiss, or repeated it. Her Jedi abilities were not brought up, yet she knew he still wanted to know. It was like he was waiting for her to trust him, to tell him on her own.
But it was her inner torment ... one minute she wanted to be friends, the next minute she wanted more, the next minute she wanted nothing. She'd be fine, then suddenly pain would lance through her, reminding her of how she was betraying Qui-Gon. But how? By daring to live? By wanting to feel alive? Yes, and yes.
And each moment brought her closer to Naboo. The moment. Why did Dru have to use that phrase? Qui-Gon always urged me to focus on the moment, on the Living Force. The moments I am with Dru feel so right. The moments we are apart, I feel so ... unworthy - of Qui-Gon, of his love. I'm turning my back on my past. What if I have no future? What if Master Yoda is right and I am the past? Then I have no part in Dru's life or anyone else's. Maybe I should return to Tatooine and just disappear... Yet the Force led me to this moment. I'm sure of it. But, why?
Alee drifted to sleep and was awakened by that annoying computer making the announcement of breakfast sound sexy. As if breakfast could be sexy. She tucked her lightsaber under her belt and dropped to the floor to endure a teasing comment from Dru about wasting daylight.
Puttering about took up most of the morning. Just before lunch, Alee emerged from the unlocked storage bay where she'd been organizing computer bits and bytes. She entered the lounge and saw Druce sitting cross-legged in front of the table, engrossed in building a 3-D puzzle of some sort of building.
Without thinking, she dropped on her knees behind him and watched over his shoulder. Her fingers moved of their own volition - undoing the leather thong holding that stubby black ponytail, running through Dru's hair, weaving tiny braids here and there.
When Druce finally shifted positions, Alee sat back on her heels and stared in horror at what she'd done. Qui-Gon had let her do that. In moments of indulgence. It had always amused him, how much she had loved his hair. Force help me, I'm going crazy. Her breathing became shallow and tears welled up.
"It doesn't look that bad, does it?" Dru asked. He had twisted around and was smiling at her.
Alee blinked. Don't act so foolish, girl. So he let you play with his hair. So what? Oh, Qui-Gon.
"Alee?" Dru interrupted her thoughts. "It's okay. I'm not upset. You can just undo them."
He straightened and leaned back on his hands. His head floated in her vision, the braids blurring. She looked past him at the almost-finished miniature building on the table. Her fingers fumbled as she struggled to undo the first braid. Slowly, she brought her focus to bear on the puzzle and let her fingers work unheeded. The building was a fascinating structure, full of towers and balconies and inner gardens.
"What is it?" Alee asked.
"What?"
"The building. I don't recognize it."
Dru's voice sounded odd. "You don't recognize the Imperial Palace?"
Alee's fingers froze. She searched her memory. News reports she'd scanned. Docuvids. She remembered references to the palace, but no holos. She'd never seen a single holo of the Emperor's home.
"I ... I guess I don't pay much attention to newsvids." Alee tried to recover.
"I'll say. What with the New Republic taking it over for their official residence of high-ranking officials like Mon Mothma and the Skywalker clan."
"Oh, I knew that." Her fingers started unweaving again. "I just get my news in written reports. No pictures."
Dru cleared his throat. "So you've never been to Coruscant?"
Her fingers stopped again. Alee hesitated. "Well, yes. Just not that part, apparently."
"How could you be to Coruscant and not see the palace? Isn't that illegal or something?"
Alee tried to interject a teasing note into her reply. "Maybe the last time I was there it hadn't been built yet." And it wasn't - 36 years ago - when I was 30 years old. Do I tell you that, Dru?
"Yeah. Right. I'm 37 and it's been around most of my life." He paused. "This is where you tell me how old you are, Alee."
She sighed. "I've lived through 34 standard years." Just don't ask when I was born.
"There. That didn't hurt, did it?" Now he was teasing.
Alee yanked a braid and got a yelp. She leaned over and whispered in his ear. "Not much at all, Dru. How about you?"
"I might have a headache coming on."
"Fried circuits?" she asked lightly.
"Well ... you certainly do seem to do that to me a lot," Dru replied.
Alee gave the braid another jerk.
"Ouch. I'd prefer you undid those things, not remove them."
"Maybe I'll leave them in. They're kind of cute."
Dru snorted. "That'll do my tough-guy image wonders."
Alee chuckled and silently began undoing her handiwork.
What galaxy is my mystery lady from? How could she go through her whole life and never see any kind of holo of the Imperial palace? And she answers questions - when she answers them - so evasively. Oddly. I've lived through 34 standard years. Why not just, I'm 34? Maybe it's the twist her home world puts on Basic. Maybe she's from a world that was outside Imperial control - that might explain a lot. But not all.
Druce sat in the pilot seat watching Naboo. They were two days out. And the closer they drew, the jumpier Alee grew. What is waiting for her there? He tapped his fingers on the console.
"VAL. Run that holo of Alee."
This was one of the keys to the mystery. He was sure of it. His fingers moved to his jaw and he rubbed it absently as the screen came to life and Alee moved through her paces. He watched her speed increase. And increase. How does she do it? So fluid. So effortless. He got lost in the rhythm of the motion.
A gasp jerked his awareness back to the present. He spun in his seat to see Alee standing in the doorway, trembling.
She pointed. "What is that?"
His reply was flat, guarded. "Surveillance holo."
"You've been spying on me?"
"VAL always records cabin activity. She's programmed to."
"And do you replay your kisses, too?"
Druce stood. "That's not fair, Alee. Of course I haven't watched them. Didn't even save them."
"So what's fair? Is this fair?" Alee pointed at the screen again. "I wasn't hurting anything. But you were spying on me. Where's the trust, Druce? Where's the ... the friendship in that?"
"So what were you doing, Alee?" Dru crossed his arms.
Alee went still. "Exercise routine."
"That's some routine. Ranks right up there with closed eyes and ship IDs."
"Back off, Druce."
Irritation swept over Dru. "Where's the trust, Alee? Why won't you tell me what this is all about? You want me to trust you. All this trust only seems to be flowing one way."
"I trust you," Alee said softly.
"You have a funny way of showing it."
"You're not being fair. I have my reasons. Let them be." She pivoted and walked away.
Three long strides and Dru spun Alee around. He pinned her with a glare. She held his gaze but quivered under his touch. What is she afraid of?
"I want answers, Alee."
"Please let me go, Druce."
"Answers, Alee. Who are you?"
Her voice was monotone. "Alee-Nedra cy Nerac."
Hurt prickled over his emotions. His voice was raw as he asked, "Where's the trust? Why won't you let me in?"
Dru watched as her eyes glazed over, though she still stared deep into his. After a prolonged moment she whispered, "You are in."
"Alee ..."
"Oh, Qui-Gon." She ran her fingers over his brow.
Druce froze. "Who?" he ground out.
Alee dropped her hand and blinked. "I, I mean Dru ... I ..."
Anger exploded in his mind and Dru gave her a shake. "Was that his name?"
"I ... yes ... but, I ..."
He shook her again. "Can't you tell us apart? Do you even know who I am, Alee?"
"You're Druce. I know ..." Tears streaked down her cheeks.
Dru tightened his grip. "Then what is it? What is it?" He towered over her, glowering, holding her gaze captive.
"I ... it's your eyes. You have his eyes."
"That's why you avoid looking at me? Because I have his eyes?"
Alee nodded. "It hurts so much, seeing ..."
"Seeing him? When you look at me?"
She tore her gaze away and nodded again.
Dru pushed her away from him. Alee stumbled and grabbed a chair to right herself.
"Get out of my sight," Dru hissed, the anger leaking from him as his shoulders slumped.
Alee sobbed and ran down the hall and into the storage bay. Dru slumped into the nearest chair when he heard the lock slide home.
How can I compete with a dead guy? His eyes. Emperor's bones.
How will I ever get her to see me? Druce. Not, not Qui-Gon. Whoever
in the Five Brothers he is. Was.
