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Great, I'm her friend. Why aren't I happier? It's a start. And Alee has been so much more relaxed these last few days. But still not talking. At least I know her Qui-Gon can't be the one who died on Naboo. He only died four years ago, not 36. But there's still so much I want to ask ... like if we ever have a hope of moving beyond friendship. I don't think she even sees me. It's the only time I ever remember not wanting to be tall - or have blue eyes. Maybe if I didn't have his eyes ...
Druce watched Alee pilot through the turbulent atmosphere of Umgul. She kept the course smooth and true, heading for the spaceport set into the side of the mountain. Below, everything was lush and green and wet. It was always wet on Umgul. That's why his client was having system problems.
Mist snaked up from the ground to kiss the nose of the ship, then melted away as Alee glided the craft into the enormous grotto and and slipped into their docking bay near the mouth of the cave.
Dru left the cockpit as Alee ran through shutdown. He sat at the table and rechecked his portable slicer kit. Alee came in and sat across from him.
"I'd like to come with you," Alee said, "unless I'd be in your way."
Dru looked up and let his eyes roam over her outfit. "Not a problem, except this particular client is one of my, ah, less savoury ones. If he's ever had dealings with Jedi, your outfit might create tension where there doesn't need to be any. No offense."
"Give me ten minutes." Alee jumped up, grabbed a bag from her locker, and disappeared into the refresher. Dru frowned after her.
When Alee emerged, Dru gaped. He shook his head and clamped his mouth shut. Alee was wearing a mossy green outfit. With the tunic tucked in and a wide brown leather belt cinched around her waist, she looked decidedly more feminine than he'd ever seen her. Her leggings flared slightly to accommodate pockets that ran the length of her thighs, then narrowed below the knees to disappear just above the ankles into supple-looking brown boots. Her hair was swept up into a simple bun with a few escaped tendrils framing her face. Curves and softness. Druce swallowed hard.
"Is this okay?" Alee's voice sounded hesitant.
"Ah, yeah. Great. Just, well, ... surprising. But, fine." Dru cut off abruptly, then asked, " What about your lightsaber? Leaving it behind?"
Alee smiled. "Never." She patted on the right thigh pocket. Dru nodded slowly. He'd been so distracted by the whole outfit, that he hadn't noticed the slight bulge - maybe that was intentional.
"How should I introduce you?" Dru asked. "If it comes up."
"Doesn't matter," Alee replied. "Partner. Bodyguard. Whatever."
A smile crept onto Dru's face and he leaned forward. "Bodyguard? I like the sound of that. Are you going to guard my body ... diligently?"
Alee braced her hands on the table and bent over so they were almost nose to nose. She whispered, "Get smart and I might have to hurt you instead of guarding you."
Dru ran his finger along Alee's jaw. "Your threat is hollow, Jedi, and you know it."
He quickly brushed his lips against hers, then stood and picked up his kit and slid it into a backpack. He regarded Alee's shocked expression for a second, then said, "Let's get going."
As he headed for the boarding ramp, he heard a sputter that suddenly cut short. He smiled. Nice to have the tables turned. Let her be the one off balance for once.
Druce was ten meters from the ship before Alee caught up. Her mask of composure was back in place and she adjusted her stride to match his. Dru strode purposefully toward the main entrance, inhaling the exhaust fumes from a hundred ships of every size and description. He was relieved to reach the entrance without a single hawker trying to sell him something. Nice change.
Alee grabbed his arm and regarded Dru with concern.
He frowned. "What is it, Alee?"
"There's a lot of tension in the air. Fear. Uncertainty," she replied
Dru scanned the spaceport. Ugnaughts huddled in small groups, where they usually mobbed every being with sales pitches. The few pilots in sight were sticking close to their ships. Unease swept through the slicer. He turned to look at the gates. Extra security. What is happening?
When he returned his attention to Alee, she nodded and said, "We must be cautious."
"I agree. But, why?"
"Let's find out, shall we?"
"Do you ever say: let's just forget about it and go home?" Dru asked.
Alee appeared genuinely puzzled. "No. Is that what you want to do?"
He shook his head. "Never mind."
Dru took Alee's elbow and steered her through the gates and onto the transport platform. Security ignored them. A unirail transport was waiting and Dru hustled her on board. They settled into a small seat and Dru draped his arm across her shoulders to make a little more room. He smiled inwardly.
"Where are we going?" Alee whispered.
"To the races," Dru replied.
"How do you know this is the right transport?"
"Only place anyone goes when they come to Umgul."
"Do you have to sit so ... close?" Alee gently nudged him.
"You'll appreciate it in a few minutes," Dru replied.
"Why?"
Instead of answering Dru said, "Just hang on."
The transport pulled out of the station slowly, then quickly picked up speed. Soon it was flashing through patches of fog and emerging to hug precarious perches along the cliffs. Climbing, twisting and turning at speeds that made Dru's stomach clench. The transport was swallowed by more mist and plunged sharply. Alee drew in a sharp breath and Dru pulled her closer.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" she asked.
"Sure am. Though it doesn't come close to that little pirate chase you put me through."
" Yes, well. I was in control of that situation."
"You can't always be in control, Alee. Sometimes you have to just sit back and let things happen. Enjoy the ride," Dru said.
"How are you at enjoying the ride, Dru?" she asked.
"Terrible. I'm a slicer. I like to account for every variable. But I'm finding that the really interesting things in life don't fit the moulds I try to make for them." Like you, Alee.
Alee turned her attention to the passing scenery, though there was little to see with mists obscuring everything. As the transport climbed, it seemed to be ascending an island surrounded by a sea of shifting white. They approached the summit of the mountain, finally slowing and stopping at an almost empty platform.
Druce and Alee stood amongst a handful of beings and examined their surroundings. Everyone was drifting towards the exits, so they followed suit. The boulevard beyond the station was broad and provided a gauntlet of shops and hawkers for the tourists to brave before reaching their destination. At the end of the street stood the main entrance to the racetrack which ran along the floor of a huge crater that had formed when the mountain top collapsed in on itself.
Dru was always fascinated by the multitude of beings, not to mention the vast numbers, that attended the races. He knew the viewing areas were carved out of the crater walls and were fashioned to suit almost any type of being.
"What type of racing?" whispered Alee.
Dru was surprised. "You've never heard of the Umgullian blob races?"
"No. I don't get out much, apparently."
"I'll say." Never seen the Imperial palace. Never heard of this gambling haven. Where have you been the last couple decades?
"So what does a slicer have to do with all this?" Alee interrupted Dru's thoughts.
"My client runs a little side-betting operation," replied Dru. "Well, that and a bit of loansharking, so I'm told."
Alee snorted. "What did you do? Fall in with Hutts?"
Dru ran his fingers through his hair and looked away, hoping, in vain, that she wouldn't notice his sudden discomfort.
Alee shook her head sadly. "You did, didn't you? I thought you were smarter than that, Druce."
"Thanks. I think." He took her arm and started moved forward slowly. "Actually, I owed someone a favor. Unfortunately for me, they owed this Hutt a favor. And here I am."
"But you talk like you've already done work for him. Why are you back?"
"I have a certain reputation to maintain. If I don't keep this Hutt happy, he might adversely influence potential clients."
Alee squinted up at the slicer. "Not to mention the fact that he might get irritated and decide he prefers you dead."
"Yes. There is that." Dru sighed. "And on that cheerful note, let's go."
The crowd was getting heavier. They wove in and out of milling groups, wending their way forward. Someone bumped into Alee and she fell against Dru. He steadied her and craned his neck to see over the mob.
Beings were pressing out of the track, pushed and prodded by security. Some of them started pushing back. Murmuring grew louder, spreading over the crowd, sweeping over Dru and Alee. They exchanged concerned glances.
People and aliens were flooding onto the boulevard from all sides as the forced evacuation proceeded at every entrance. The discontent was growing louder.
"There's a lot of anger here," Alee said.
"Don't need to be a Jedi to see that." Dru grabbed a human pushing past him. "What's going on, mister?"
The small man began to struggle, then looked up and appeared startled. He blurted, "Cancelled the races for three days. Some sort of virus has attacked the blobs." With that, he wrenched away and disappeared in the crowd.
Dru pointed. "My client has a private entrance about a block to the right. Let's head for it."
They tried to force their way toward the edge of the crowd, but were getting nowhere fast. The press of bodies was like a solid wall. A Twilek pushed between them, and Alee was lost in the mob for a moment. Growing tension clamped around Dru's heart, making it beat harder and faster. A green-clad arm appeared and Dru grabbed it, hauling it toward him. Alee tumbled against him and Dru held her close.
Alee looked up into his face, a twinkle in her eye. "Did you miss me?"
A growl sounded deep in his throat. "This isn't a game, Alee. We have to get out of here."
"We're in no particular danger, Dru."
He started to speak, then shook his head. "I'd still feel better if we were somewhere else, so humor me."
Screams erupted near the gates. Blaster fire reverberated. Panic swept over the crowd, turning it into a writhing, twisting mass. Dru and Alee were jostled and bumped from all sides. A Wookiee burst through the mob, mowing down anyone in his way, swinging his arms and roaring as he ran. His flailing arm caught the side of Dru's head in a backhand swing. Light exploded in front of Dru's eyes and he dropped to his knees. Alee bent protectively over him.
As his vision cleared, he focused his gaze on her face. His speech was slightly slurred. "My loyal bodyguard."
"Dru, you have to get up before you get trampled," Alee said.
"Thought you said there was no particular danger."
"I changed my mind."
"Typical woman," he muttered.
A jab in his ribs was her only response. He grunted, but accepted her help getting to his feet. Panic was grabbing hold of the crowd. Beings were striking out at anything or anyone that touched them. The sound of more blaster fire caused another wave of pushing and shouting.
Over the pandemonium, Alee shouted, "Go back to back. Ward off blows while we move."
At first they were losing ground, being forced into the middle of the crowd. Druce put all his frustration into his shoulders and started wedging a path. His height afforded him the chance to spot easier paths and avoid larger, meaner-looking beings. He blocked blows where he could and tried to ignore the ones he couldn't. Alee's presence warmed his back.
As Dru bent over to help a frightened woman to her feet, a clawed fist breezed through the air above his head. He felt, more than heard, Alee's hiss of pain. He spun around to see a diagonal slash across her back. Blood was soaking her tunic and oozing downwards like a burning lava flow. She turned to catch his eye. Her hands clasped his arms tightly and gave him physical reassurance of her strength.
"It's not bad, Dru," Alee said. "The bleeding will stop in a minute."
Facing each other, they continued to side-step nearer to the shops bordering the street. A laser bolt whined above Dru's head. He ducked as Alee reached with her left hand and used the Force to jerk the offending weapon out of a startled human's hands.
Shrill prolonged whistles pierced the mob. Shouts and screams echoed across the boulevard as the Umgul military forces announced their presence. Dru and Alee broke through the crowd and were immediately crushed up against a ferrocrete wall. He saw Alee wince as her back scraped the rough surface. Her face immediately cleared and she held his gaze.
"Where now?" Dru asked. "Here we'll either be flattened ''til we suffocate or get arrested."
"Up," Alee clipped.
Dru scanned the four meter storefront. "No ledges. No handholds. How do we go up?" Alee interlaced her fingers and held her hands out. "I'll boost you, then jump up." A burly human slammed against her and she paled for a micron. "Now, Dru. Don't think, just do it."
It always comes down to trust. If she could save me in the power plant, this should be easy. Druce nodded and braced one hand against the wall. Someone pushed him from behind. He pushed back.
Dru had barely lifted his boot and stepped onto Alee's hands when he felt himself being propelled upwards. He grabbed the lip of the roof and swung his legs over, rolling away from the edge. Alee flipped over him, landing softly by his feet. I don't know if I'll ever get used to that. But, right now, I definitely appreciate it.
"Aren't you afraid someone might have seen you?" Dru asked.
Alee shook her head. "In that mob? Not likely. Everyone's too busy trying to stay on their feet to bother looking up."
Dru nodded agreement. "Thanks, by the way. I appreciate you humoring me and getting us out of that 'not particularly dangerous' situation."
Alee pinned him with an exaggerated fierce stare. "Enough already or I'll throw you back down there."
Dru cocked his head and listened to the clamouring crowd and the familiar sizzle of blasters set to stun. He took in Alee's dishevelled state and winked. "You win. I'll shut up."
Alee tossed him a small smile and stood. As she pivoted, taking in the rooftop layout, Dru caught a glimpse of her back. He popped to his feet and clamped his hands on her shoulders so he could examine it. Bits of ferrocrete seemed to be ground into the wound, which was still trickling blood here and there. He gingerly touched one end of the cut and Alee pulled away.
"It's fine. Let's go. We have company." Alee strode away as a shout issued from the far end of the line of rooftops.
Dru glanced over his shoulder to see an Umgul soldier heading their way. Blast. Someone did spot our escape. He jogged to join Alee and shot her a questioning look. When she mouthed 'run', he didn't need any prompting. They burst into action like two pod-racers at the starting line. The yelling behind them prodded them to greater speed.
A red dart streaked between the two runners. That's no stun blast.
Alee shouted, "Keep going!"
The Jedi planted her feet and changed directions, back towards their pursuer. Dru skidded to a halt and yanked his blaster from its holster. He turned to see Alee somersaulting through the air, her lightsaber a blue halo around her spinning form. She landed and deflected a laser bolt. The next shot was directed right back at the soldier and he dropped. She slid her weapon back into its pocket and jogged back to Dru's side.
"I told you to keep going," Alee said.
"I'm not going to let you fight all my battles, woman. I'm not a helpless child," he muttered.
Alee brushed a loose strand of hair behind his ear. Her eyes softened and her voice was gently teasing. "Definitely not a child. But childish? ..."
Dru grabbed her wrist and turned her hand over. He softly kissed the center of her palm, then the throbbing vein on her wrist. He was gratified to see her eyes widen ever so slightly. He wouldn't let her pull away, but took her index finger and pressed it against his lips. He teased the fingertip with his tongue, releasing her hand when she gasped a sharp intake of air.
"Not a child. Not childish," Dru whispered. "But a man, Alee. Don't ever forget it."
He watched her throat convulse as she nodded. Alee snapped around and headed down the roof. Dru's long strides barely allowed him to keep pace with her. As they passed over the rooftops, Dru tried to catch her eye, but Alee kept her gaze firmly averted.
I'm following my instincts. I hope they aren't driving her away.
What an infuriating man. He is purposely trying to ... to provoke me. The scoundrel is taking advantage of our friendship to tease me very cruelly and I will not give him the satisfaction of seeing me react. Confusion pulsed through Alee's body, as her mind refused to acknowledge the way Dru moved her. Attracted her. It's just his slight physical resemblance to Qui-Gon. Isn't it? Of course it is.
They ran out of rooftops and looked down to the avenue bordering the racetrack. Alee squatted and began tapping her teeth. Dru crouched beside her. The roadway was almost empty, except for a few soldiers. The crowd had been contained in the main street and was being escorted or dragged away. Druce pointed to an entrance across the way where two soldiers stood talking to a couple of Grans. The Umgullians moved down the street and the Grans began to scan the avenue with their three eyestalks. Dru flattened himself against the roof and pulled Alee down beside him.
"What - or who - are they looking for?" whispered Dru. "Did you kill that soldier back there?"
Alee sighed. "Yes. But no one else has come up onto the rooftops looking for him. Maybe they're just looking for anyone who escaped their net."
"Yeah. It would be real handy to blame the riot on some slob who slipped past them then got captured. The old 'running makes them look guilty' routine. They have a scapegoat and the gamblers are all happy again."
"On that cheerful note, shall we drop in on your friend?"
"Reega the Hutt is no friend of mine. So I suppose we just float over to the doorway?"
"I think not. Those Grans don't look overly open to any visitors right now. I think they'd shoot first and ask you in for a lomin ale after." Alee studied the avenue, then pointed to the next building. "Look how much the path narrows. From that building to the outcropping of rock on the crater is an easy jump."
"You're right. But how do we get to that building? It's a good five meters from this one," Dru pointed out.
Alee stared hard at him. She felt a smile tug at her mouth when Dru's face blossomed in alarm.
"Oh, no. Not again. You expect me to launch myself over thin air and hope you can slam me onto the roof of that building. Just like on Naboo." He shook his head vigorously. "You're crazy. Are all Jedi crazy?"
Alee felt a pinprick of sadness. She replied softly, "Some of us were. I'm very conservative, actually." She paused. "And I don't have to collide mid-air with you. I can use the Force by itself to get you there."
"Why'd you use your body on Naboo?"
"In case I miscalculated. I wanted to be with you if you fell to redirect the fall if necessary."
Alee watched Dru silently weigh the options.
"So I run and jump, and you do your magic, and I land like a feather," Dru said.
"Can't guarantee the landing. Sorry. But that's the idea," Alee replied.
Dru backed away from the edge on his hands and knees, then climbed to his feet. He nodded at Alee and raised his eyebrows into a question mark. She waved him to go. She watched him inhale deeply, then take off full tilt. His boot hit the edge and he thrust himself high. Alee drew on the Force and gave him a boost. He flipped through the air and hit the far roof running. Three steps and he lost his balance, dove and skidded to a stop. He lay unmoving. Alee didn't realize she was holding her breath until Dru eased himself to his hands and knees, then pushed up and started brushing off his grey tunic. He readjusted the black backpack and waved at her.
Alee crawled away from the edge and crouched for a moment. She centered her thoughts, then dashed across the roof, sailed through the air and dropped to land beside Druce.
He regarded her sardonically. "I think I preferred your landing. Any chance you can just teach me to do that myself?"
"Sorry. But maybe if we practice you'll catch on. Be landing like an ace pilot in no time."
"Thanks, but no thanks." He rubbed at a dark smudge on his knee.
"Were you expected at a certain time?" Alee asked.
"About a week ago. Let's go."
Without waiting, Dru charged toward the outcropping of rock. He jumped the narrow divide with ease and motioned for Alee to join him. When she did, they scrambled up the outer wall of the crater and over the rim.
The empty track lay below them, a deserted bog. Alee marvelled at the giant fans ringing the facility, keeping the mists of Umgul at bay. Dru tugged on her sleeve and they headed down, skirting viewing boxes that were carved into the rock, jumping over bench seating, running along narrow aisles. Dru called a halt.
"The Hutt's private box is directly below us," he said quietly.
"Open or glassed in?"
"Transparisteel. But there is an outer door onto a small balcony."
"Can you pick the lock?"
"Do I want to?"
"Your ingenuity in the face of adversity might impress him," Alee said.
"It's not like I want any more work from the slime. But you might be right," Dru replied.
They dropped silently onto the balcony, hugging the wall. Alee stood between the door and the large windows, keeping watch. She listened to him remove his backpack and retrieve some tools. A minute of humming and buzzing and she heard a click. She smiled. No security system if it went that fast. She could have done it almost as quickly, but this way Dru's aura radiated confidence. You needed every possible advantage facing a Hutt.
They slipped into a large room, stone walls polished smooth. The far wall sported a large computer console. A human was hunched over it, muttering and typing code. He swore and hit the restart toggle. Alee grabbed Dru's arm to stop him from charging forward. Voices turned their attention to double doors in the back wall. As the doors retracted into the wall, Huttese preceded the huddle of shadows moving into the room.
Alee tugged Dru sideways so they stood silhouetted against the window. Dru frowned at her then returned his attention to the gravsled gliding into the light. Alee's nostrils flared as the rancid smell of Hutt wafted through the air to wrap around them.
Shouts and the snapping of blasters into the ready position told Alee they had finally been spotted. The computer tech spun around and shouted his surprise.
"You're on," she whispered out of the side of her mouth.
Dru stepped forward. "Hello, Reega. Sorry I couldn't get here when I promised. Unexpected mechanical difficulties caused me to lay up in Naboo for a few days."
[Ho. Ho. If it isn't my pet slicer. I never expected you to be this sneaky.] Reega boomed in Huttese. His bodyguards lowered their weapons. Alee noticed Dru clenching his jaw as the Hutt continued, [There was no need to break in, my boy.]
"Your pet mercs at the front door didn't look too friendly today," Dru replied.
[True. The riot has them nervous.] Alee felt the Hutt's attention shift. [You aren't alone, Nardo? Come away from the window so I can get a look.]
As Dru and Alee moved into the room, toward the computer bank, a guard turned up the overhead lighting. Alee stood with eyes downcast as the Hutt's bulbous gaze raked over her.
[A woman. Ho, Ho. Who is she?] Reega's tone was demanding.
Dru hesitated a micron. "This is Alee. She is ... my lifemate."
Alee froze and worked to keep her features bland. How dare he. Scoundrel.
[Ho. Ho. Ho. The woman's favorite has finally been caught. Look up, lifemate of Nardo. Let me see the face of the conqueror.]
Alee pretended to not understand. Dru leaned over and whispered, "He wants to see your face, Alee. Look up. Please."
Alee slowly raised her head and stared at the Hutt. She was thankful for her training that allowed her to hide her revulsion deep inside. The Hutt's huge head, dominated by bulging eyes, sat on a huge slug-like body. Reega clasped his stubby hands together and examined her face. Alee stared at a spot just beyond his head.
[Pretty, by human standards, but not beautiful. Why settle for the commonplace, Nardo?] Reega refocused on Dru.
"Her inner beauty is like a star gone nova, Great One," Dru replied. "But this computer I set up for you - I fear its inner beauty has been greatly tarnished. Am I right?"
[Ho. Ho. Always with the computers. So, look at it, slicer. Tell us what is wrong.]
"I know what's wrong," declared Dru. "This moist climate is death to computers. I wanted you to install special waterproof casings, but you refused. I left you with specific maintenance instructions, which you ignored. Am I right?"
[Of course, you're right, Fix it. And show my tech how to do this maintenance.]
Dru crossed his arms and gave the Hutt a disdainful look.
Reega laughed. [Very wise. My major domo will pay you in advance. Just like last time.]
A pasty-faced, cadaverous human shuffled forward and handed Druce a small purse. He examined the contents before it disappeared inside his tunic.
The Hutt and his entourage moved to the far side of the room and fell into conversation. Alee was content to squat down and watch Dru work. He patiently explained several things to the tech and while the Hutt's man applied sealant to several cracks, Dru set to work reprogramming corrupted portions of various applications.
Occasionally Alee felt the Hutt's eyes on her. As time wore on, he studied her more frequently and for longer periods. She kept her head averted, seemingly engrossed in her lifemate's activities. Indeed, she was finding it fascinating to see Dru in his element. He radiated a strength born of confidence that she had rarely noticed before, and that was very appealing. Woman's favorite, indeed. But nothing could stem her growing uneasiness. Each time she felt the Hutt's gaze, the hair on her neck stood on end.
The group around the Hutt was growing and getting louder. A mix of humans and aliens were coming and going, shifting and jostling to gain better position around Reega. He was basking in the attention, laughing and encouraging his followers to excess. A party was in the making. As it swung into full gear, so did Alee's inner agitation. She surreptiously scanned the crowd. A scruffy, dangerous looking lot, armed to the teeth. Even the females had a hard edge that fed into the sense Alee had of being surrounded by the Dark Side. Surrounded and hunted down.
Dru's absorption in his task made him deaf and blind what was happening just behind him. Alee stood. Time to wake him up to the situation. She sidled up behind him and started to gently massage his neck and shoulders. Dru stretched a little and Alee heard a small sound of contentment. He kept working. A smile crept into her eyes. He wants the Hutt to believe I'm his lifemate? We don't want to disappoint him.
Alee kissed the base of Dru's neck. He stopped entering data. She nipped his ear with her teeth. His breath caught and his head swivelled her direction. Alee kissed him on the lips, withdrawing as he finally got over his shock and started to respond.
Arms wrapped around his neck and mouth at his ear, Alee breathed, "I have a bad feeling about this, Dru. How much longer?"
Druce pulled her onto his lap and pressed his forehead against hers. "I'm done. I was just fine-tuning a few things. Nothing critical. When did the party start?"
"Close to an hour ago," replied Alee.
Surprise rippled over Dru's features. He kissed her lightly. "Shall we join it?"
"I'd rather wrestle with a Wookiee."
He touched his temple. "I did. It's not all it's cracked up to be."
Alee felt concern welling up. She brushed her fingers over the bruise decorating Dru's forehead. "Are you okay? Headache?"
"I'm fine. Though at the time I had a hallucination." Dru gave her a crooked smile. "I saw stars and a beautiful angel bending over me."
Alee scowled. "Flattery will not make up for this lifemate business, Druce."
"Maybe not. But I really appreciate how you are willing to throw yourself into the part." He pulled her closer.
Alee touched her nose to his. "We'd better go before I have to hurt you."
Druce stood up and set Alee on her feet. He whispered, "False threats are most unbecoming on those lovely lips, my sweet Jedi. But please continue firing them my way. It gives me an excuse to do this." His kiss was gentle - and most distracting.
The Hutt's booming laughter broke them apart. Druce turned to face Reega, half shielding Alee from the alien gangster's gaze.
[Are you finished, slicer. Or just taking a break.] Laughter rolled over the pair.
"All done, Reega. And now your tech knows just what to do if anything else goes wrong. We'll be going and let you get back to your party," Dru said, moving slowly toward the open doors and the room beyond.
[Not so fast, Nardo.] Druce halted as Reega continued, [Come over here. Bring your woman.]
Alee felt Dru's grip tighten. She stayed behind him, their fingers intertwined, as they cautiously approached the Hutt. They had suddenly become the center of attention, and it was making Alee even more apprehensive.
When the Hutt ordered her to step forward, she did so stiffly, fighting the urge to flee. She was buoyed by the reluctance she'd felt when Dru had let go of her hand. When Alee slowly raised her eyes to meet the Hutt's stare, her nerves clenched at the cunning she saw lurking there.
A protocol droid stepped up to stand beside Reega. The Hutt said, [You must be special indeed. Not only inner beauty, but inner strength. A wound on your back remains untended and you act as though it doesn't exist.]
Alee waited for the droid to translate. "A souvenir of the riot. Nothing serious. Dru will tend to it at our ship."
[What part of the galaxy breeds such tough female humans?]
The droid translated. Alee replied, "Many places, I'm sure. Your ... Greatness."
[And where do you come from?] Reega's voice was terse.
Alee almost forgot to wait for the droid. "Most recently, Tatooine."
[Don't be coy. You know I meant originally.] Alee detected a touch of ire.
The droid repeated the statement. Alee hesitated, then replied, "It was so long ago and so many planets have made themselves known to me, it is lost in the mists of time and space."
The Hutt hunched down slightly and narrowed his large eyes. [You are very arrogant.]
Before the droid could translate, a backhand from Reega sent it flying. [Enough! She needs no translator.]
Alee heard a quiet hiss behind her. She sensed two of Reega's guards move to flank Druce.
The Hutt stared hard at her before speaking again. [You remind me of a female I had dealings with close to 40 standard years ago. She was foolishly proud and stubborn, too. In fact, you even look a little like her.] He paused. [She was a prisoner on a nothing planet called Keedad.]
Alee kept her reaction buried deep. She remembered well the criminal that had tried to take over that planet and subjugate the Keed. That Reega was that Hutt was a little surprising, though Hutts are quite long-lived - his added corpulence, to the extent of using a gravsled, had changed his appearance somewhat. Like it was yesterday, her desire for justice flared to life. The Hutt had fled when his plan collapsed and was never brought up on charges, as Nal Hutta was never part of the Republic.
Alee raised a brow. "Did you kill her, Reega?"
[No. She escaped. But perhaps you knew that. Perhaps you are family. Perhaps you only used Nardo to get close to me so you could try to extract some petty revenge.] Slyness oiled the Hutt's voice.
"Perhaps you overestimate your importance in this woman's, or anyone else's, eyes," Alee said.
The Jedi felt anger oozing from the Hutt's pores like the drool from his mouth. She knew she'd never back down and she hoped it didn't cost Dru his life. I really should've stayed on the ship.
[Search her,] Reega ordered.
The human guards that had been flanking Druce stepped forward, and two Grans moved in beside the slicer. One guard held a blaster to Alee's head while the other frisked her. She flinched imperceptibly when he slapped her back. She sighed quietly when he produced her lightsaber.
[Well, well,] boomed Reega. [The weapon of a Jedi knight. Did I fail to mention that my prisoner on Keedad was a Jedi?]
"It must have slipped your mind," Alee muttered.
[How did you come by this weapon? Was it your mother's?]
"No. Perhaps I killed a Jedi and kept that lightsword as a trophy."
[Lightsword. A very old and uncommon phrase. I don't think I've heard it since the Old Republic was done away with.] Alee could almost hear his thoughts racing.
"I heard the term from some old timer," Alee said.
[Who are you?] demanded Reega.
"Alee ... Nardo."
[You aren't his lifemate. You're just like me - using the fool until he is no longer useful.]
Alee clenched and unclenched her jaw. "I am nothing like you. I do not use people. He is a friend who sought to protect me from the likes of you by lending me his name. Unfortunately, he has no conception of a being as depraved as you, or of one so totally lacking in conscience."
A blaster dug into Alee's ribs and she clamped her mouth shut.
A sneer crept into the Hutt's voice. [What would you do to save your friend's life?]
"Give my own," clipped Alee.
Alee heard a scuffle behind her, Dru's grunt of protest, then silence. She felt a pang of regret that she might have to do just as she said. What she would have welcomed days ago was now, for some unknown reason, the last thing she desired. She may have promised Qui-Gon she'd move on, but now she actually wanted to - but on to what?
[Tell me who and what you are, and I'll let you both go,] Reega said.
"Let Druce go first," countered Alee.
The Hutt's laughter hit Alee like a blow.
[Who are you?]
Silence.
[Are you a Jedi?]
Alee stared straight ahead. The blow to her kidney dropped her to her knees. Alee pressed her forehead to the floor and bit back a scream as agony radiated out from her lower back. She heard Dru struggling to get free. She let the pain flow through her body, accepting it, and forced herself to sit back on her heels and lift her chin.
[You handle pain like a Jedi. Are you one?]
Alee's silence brought a guard to stand in front of her. He raised an armored glove and paused. When she still didn't answer, the hand cracked against her cheekbone and her head snapped to the right. Blood trickled from a cut on her cheekbone.
[Answer,] barked Reega.
Alee glanced wistfully at her lightsaber for the second before a heavy black boot sank into her stomach and drove the air out of her body. She doubled over, wheezing.
"Stop it, you animals!" shouted Dru. "What difference does it make? Leave her be."
Alee was yanked by the collar to a sitting position and a blaster barrel was pressed to her head. Reega motioned and Druce was dragged around so he faced Alee.
[Look at the calm acceptance in that face, Nardo. She is far less upset than you at the prospect of death. Is she a Jedi?] the Hutt prodded.
Alee returned Dru's stare and tried to shake her head. Don't tell them, Dru.
Dru looked at Reega. "Let her go."
The blaster forced her head to the side.
[Tell me, Nardo. Five seconds.]
Dru's chest heaved. His eyes pleaded forgiveness. The blaster was cocked and Dru blurted, "Yes. She's a Jedi."
Alee's shoulders sagged a micron as a murmur swept through those watching. The Hutt would find a way to profit from that information. They always did.
The Hutt's laughter was heavy, slumping Dru's shoulders as he refused to meet Alee's eyes. She felt forgiveness wash over her thoughts - forgiveness and ... longing. She wanted nothing more than to step into his arms and feel their strength as they wrapped around her. She marvelled at the way his touch could revive her, invigorate her, ... set her on fire. But Dru's a friend. Just a friend. That's all I really want from him. Isn't it?
Huttese knifed through Alee's thoughts. [Put your hair in a braid, Jedi.]
"What kind of a request is that?" she asked sharply.
This time a blaster pressed to Dru's temple, hot against his bruise. Alee closed her eyes and nodded, then undid the bun and ran her fingers through her hair. Of their own accord, from long habit, her fingers wove the simple hairstyle in moments. She used the thong from the bun to tie off the braid and opened her eyes to meet the Hutt's bulbous stare.
[Bring her here,] Reega ordered.
Alee was hauled to her feet and dragged to the Hutt. Vise-like grips on her arms held her less than a meter from Reega. The odor of his slimy skin mixed with the vile stench puffing out of his mouth. Alee's eyes watered.
[How did you do this thing?] Reega demanded to know. [It is like you haven't aged at all. Is this some sort of Jedi trick?]
"You don't know what you're talking about, Reega," Alee said. "You're mixing me up with a woman you saw once 40 years ago."
[Ho. Ho. I watched that Jedi, through surveillance, every moment she was my prisoner. You walk and talk like her. You crouch down and tap your teeth like her. And you are her twin in looks. Shall we do a voice analysis? I still have the surveillance holos. Perhaps you would like to see them?]
Alee shook her head and looked away. She could sense Dru's confusion rolling off him in waves. Confusion and something else. Revulsion? I won't even be able to hold his friendship,now.
[You cost me a lot of profit, Jedi.] Reega's voice tugged her eyes back to his face. [I think you will have to die.]
The spellbound audience erupted in loud approval.
"You're an even bigger fool than I thought, Reega." Alee's declaration brought instant silence. "I'm far more valuable to you alive."
[You would work for me?] The Hutt's reply was filled with surprise - and greed.
"Never."
Her reply brought a slap to the back of her head. She shook her vision clear and continued to meet Reega's assessing stare. After a long moment he nodded his head.
[Of course. The scattered Imperial forces might find you very interesting indeed. But how do I keep you safe until delivery?]
A rusty voice piped up from behind the Hutt. "I saw Solo at Jabba's palace before he was destroyed, Master. The smuggler was encased in carbonite."
The Hutt's laughter made his body shake. [Find a freezing unit, then. And quickly. We don't want our Jedi to attempt escape.] After a pause he added, [And kill the slicer.]
"No!" Alee wrenched her arms from their grip and kicked one guard away. She downed the other with a jab to his throat. Weapons snapped to their ready positions around the room.
Alee ignored them and stood tall to face the Hutt. "Safely deliver the slicer to his ship, and show me the proof. Do that, Reega, and I will not attempt escape."
Reega's eyes narrowed to slits. [I have your word as a Jedi?]
"Yes." Alee took a step back. "May I say good-bye to him?"
The Hutt waved his arm and Alee moved to face Dru. His face was shuttered. Except for his eyes. They were slightly glazed, but the depths flared with anger. Can I blame him? She wrapped her arms around him and pressed herself against him, eyes squeezed shut. His arms hung limp.
Alee looked up into those flashing blue eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry, Dru. So sorry. Maybe its better this way."
As she turned away, Alee felt Dru's hot gaze on the back of
her head. It burned into her soul and left left a heap of ashes
in its wake. Ashes for mourning. Will you mourn me, Dru?
