Krysira’s Destiny
Chapter Seventeen
Hangar Bay
Qui-Gon’s group finally made their way to the hangar bay. As they entered, the two warriors that were left behind whirled, drawing their blasters.
Qui-Gon held up a large hand. “Easy,” he calmed. Both warriors relaxed, reholstering their weapons. “Forgive us, Master Jinn,” the male warrior began. “Even though we knew that you were coming here, we needed to be cautious.” The tall Jedi nodded. “I understand,” he replied. “Elkan went this way,” the female warrior said, indicating the far entranceway. “And we are to follow.” “Lead on.” Both warriors bowed and led the group across the hangar bay and through the entranceway.Corridor
Drayce stormed down the corridor.
“I can not believe what has happened,” he snarled softly outloud to himself. “I was given a useless data padd and cheated by a supposed ally.” He glanced at his now bandaged shoulder; his expression growing darker. “I have been shot and now I am on the run.” His temper flared. “What else could possibly go wrong?” He picked up his pace. “I must find my slaves.” His expression grew malicious. “Then someone will pay.” The furious Exoian went right at a nearby split in the corridor.Junction in corridor
Krysira and Trip led the rest of their group around a corner and towards a junction a few hundred feet away. The group slowed to a stop to look for any sign of the blood trail that they had been following.
Elkan’s sharp hearing and Krysira’s Force-induced senses both picked up the sound of a great deal of footsteps. They glanced at each other and moved towards the rear of the group. Trip followed to see Elkan draw his blaster. He was about to do the same, when he saw Krysira lay a hand on Elkan’s wrist, gently restraining the Exoian warrior. At that moment, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan came around the corner. They slowed to a stop, as the rest of their group stopped behind them. Everyone sighed with relief and weapons were reholstered. “Knight Krysira!” It was Obi-Wan. The beautiful Jedi smiled warmly at the youth who had hurried over to her. Qui-Gon followed at a slower pace. Krysira laid her hand gently on Obi-Wan’s cheek. “You are...well, Obi-Wan?” She questioned, withdrawing her hand. Obi-Wan’s hazel eyes sparkled. “I am fine, Knight Krysira,” he replied. “I am pleased that you are safe.” “As am I,” Qui-Gon said, laying a large hand on his Padawan’s shoulder. Krysira saw the depth of affection that the Jedi Master had for his apprentice. She could see that Obi-Wan practically beamed. It warmed her heart to see that Qui-Gon was allowing this talented youth more into his heart. Perhaps what happened in the past between them was fading to just a dim memory. She hoped so, for their sake. In the meantime, Hoshi and Malcolm headed over to Archer and Trip, bringing Lonan and Ca-Yanne with them. “Captain!” Malcolm exclaimed, relieved to see that his captain was free. Archer grinned. “Good to see you too, Malcolm,” he replied, then looked at his communications officer. “Hoshi?” Hoshi smiled. “No worse for wear, Captain,” she answered. Archer’s grin grew wider. “I know what you mean.” He looked at the two newcomers. “Who are our friends?” “This is Lonan,” Hoshi began, referring to the Exoian youth beside her. “And this is the Rybrillian Prefect, Ca-Yanne.” She gestured to the being in white next to Malcolm. “Captain Jonathan Archer.” “A pleasure, Captain Archer,” Ca-Yanne said softly. “Commander Tucker,” Lonan began, then continued seeing that he had Trip’s attention. “I never got to thank-you for...believing in me.” Trip thought for a moment or two, then realized what the teenager was talking about. He grinned. “My pleasure, Lonan,” he replied. Lonan practically beamed. Malcolm sidled up next to Trip. “Um, Commander. Have you had a chance to use your blaster?” He questioned in a low voice. Trip chuckled, shaking his head. “No. You?” Malcolm crossed his arms over his chest, looking disappointed. “Not once.” Archer finally noticed something about his chief engineer and tactical officer. “That’s not exactly regulation clothing, gentlemen,” he said, eyeing them. Both men looked sheepish. “Uh, just trying to blend in with the natives, sir,” Trip replied. Archer glanced at the Exoians, then back to his men. “Right,” he merely grunted with the slightest hint of a smile on his face. Hoshi pressed her lips together trying not to giggle, while Lonan covered his mouth. Ca-Yanne watched with a soft smile of amusement on her face. Qui-Gon stepped up next to Archer, while Krysira and Obi-Wan stood next to Trip and Lonan respectively. “Captain,” Hoshi began. “Did you ever find out who had a price on your head?” Archer glanced aside to see Qui-Gon looking at him with interest. He also noted that Malcolm has a puzzled look on his face. “Yes,” Archer replied. “Silik.” Malcolm’s expression darkened, at the memory of what the Suliban did to him back on Enterprise not all that long ago. “The Suliban?” Hoshi exclaimed. “What are they doing here?” Malcolm wanted to know. “It’s a rather long story, but Silik was getting me from Drayce in exchange for Dilithium,” Archer replied. “He’s giving away Dilithium?” “Not really,” Trip said. “Seems they found a huge deposit here on Exoia, according to this data padd I found.” “But here’s the kicker,” Archer continued. “Seems that here, it’s merely common rock known as Kraygoryte.” He grinned slightly. “Therefore, Drayce believes Silik cheated him.” “So neither one got what they wanted,” Malcolm stated. “That about sums it up.” At the same time, Vallen joined Elkan. Both men briefly clasped upper arms in greeting. “It is good to be back with you, my friend,” Elkan said. Vallen nodded. “And you as well,” he replied. “It is good that our missions were successful.” “Except one.” Vallen saw the puzzled look on his friend’s lean features. “Drayce.” Before Elkan could reply, there was a shout from one of the warriors. “Elkan! We’ve picked up the blood trail!” The warrior called. This statement caught everyone’s attention. Obi-Wan looked at Krysira, puzzled. “Blood trail?” He questioned. “It is apparent that Drayce was wounded in an earlier battle,” Krysira replied. “Are you certain?” Qui-Gon questioned. “It is Exoian blood.” Qui-Gon nodded trusting Krysira’s judgment. “Let us continue in our pursuit of Drayce,” Krysira said to the now reunited group. The three Jedi led the group down the indicated corridor.Cavern
Drayce paused only long enough to allow a door to slide open at his approach. He saw a very large group of Rybrillians getting up from the floor.
“All of you! Come with me!” Drayce demanded. The Rybrillians merely headed for a door opposite of the one Drayce came through. Drayce’s onyx-colored eyes widened. “Of all the impudence...OBEY ME!” One of the Rybrillians stopped, turned and snarled at the Exoian. Drayce’s mouth dropped open. “What do you mean...not follow me?” The Rybrillian merely followed its kin out the door. “I SAID OBEY ME, YOU MISERABLE CREATURES!” He screamed infuriated. There was no response from the now departed Rybrillians. Drayce merely stood there, trying to figure out why the Rybrillians didn’t obey him any longer. Then it hit him. The only reason they wouldn’t obey him was because their Prefect was free. He threw his hands up in disgust. “I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS!” he bellowed in frustration. He let loose a string of Exoian curses as he paced around the cavern. He stopped. “Wait! If the Rybrillian Prefect is free, that means that the other s could be free as well? But how can that be?” He sighed heavily. “I had better go find Ori. No telling what trouble that little Mesarian has gotten herself into.” He whirled and headed back out the way he came in.Corridor
It took a few minutes, but Ori Yigel finally realized that Caden was no longer following her. If she were lucky, the big Exoian would bleed to death. Her thoughts turned to her lover. Where was Drayce? She was hopelessly lost in these corridors. She slowed her pace, deep in thought.
She suddenly felt herself land on her bottom. Ori looked up and her emerald eyes widened upon seeing Drayce standing there, arms folded across his chest. “Drayce!” Ori squealed. The petite Mesarian woman leapt up to her feet and flung herself into Drayce’s now outstretched arms. He held her, as she kissed him repeatedly. He allowed her this pleasure for a few moments, actually enjoying her affection. Drayce gently disengaged himself from Ori. “I have been looking all over for you!” Ori exclaimed. Drayce frowned slightly. “Why did you not wait where I told you to?” He questioned. “The big Exoian, Caden came after me. What else could I do?” Drayce stared at her. “How did he escape?” “He had a female Jedi with him; she must have freed him and the others.” “What?” He sighed. “Then we must make good our escape. This way.” Drayce led Ori down the corridor.Suliban ship
The Suliban ship landed in the Trygor Desert that was located about five hundred kilometers west of the underground city of Tysag.
Raan stared out the viewport, then looked back at his leader. “Why are we here?” Raan wanted to know. “Aren’t we going back home?” “We can’t,” Silik replied. “Why not?” “Enterprise is more than likely waiting on the other side of the gateway.” “We’re not afraid of Enterprise...are we?” “Not when we have a ship equal to theirs.” Raan saw the logic in Silik’s words. “What about Archer?” Silik allowed a small smile to play on his lips. “There will be other opportunities.” “So...what do we do in the meantime?” “We wait.”
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