Path of Destiny - Chapter 12
The Path of Destiny
Chapter Twelve
Part One
Infirmary
After performing the initial death ritual for Nayda, Gadi
then requested Tribune Pallaton and Advisor Durriken�s presence in the
infirmary. The elder healer began a preliminary post mortem on Nayda with
Kaylar assisting him.
About
fifteen minutes later, the healers knew how she had died. At that point,
Pallaton and Durriken entered the room. The two healers turn around to face
them, but remained in front of the bed.
Durriken
sighed. �Why have we been summoned here?� He questioned, annoyed.
Before
either healer could answer, the doors parted and Qui-Gon Jinn entered.
�Ah...Master
Jinn,� Gadi began. �We have need of your counsel in this discussion.�
The
tall Jedi slipped his hands inside the sleeves of his cloak. �I will assist in
whatever capacity that you require,� he replied, bowing slightly.
Gadi
looked at Kaylar and the two healers stepped apart to reveal Nayda�s body.
�Advisor
Nayda was found dead,� Gadi said in a sad tone.
Pallaton�s
eyes widened. �WHAT? HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?� He shouted at the elder healer in an
angry yet anguished tone.
�She
was strangled, Tribune Pallaton.�
�This
is terrible,� Durriken said in a low voice, looking shocked.
�She
was found in a storage area,� Kaylar began. �But I believe that she was killed
elsewhere.�
Durriken�s
eyes narrowed a bit. �Are you certain?�
�Would
Advisor Nayda have any reason to be in a storage area?� Qui-Gon questioned,
looking at Durriken.
Durriken
met Qui-Gon�s unwavering gaze with an even look of his own. It was as though
neither man wanted to back down. Finally, he conceded, saying: �Ah...I see your
point, Master Jinn.�
Pallaton
walked over to Nayda�s body, gently touching her now cold face. �Why would anyone
want to kill her?� The Tribune reverently folded the late advisor�s hands
across her waist, blinking back the tears that were forming.
�This
is something that we need to investigate,� Qui-Gon suggested.
�However,
finding Ryvinia should take precedence.� Pallaton�s voice sounded hollow.
�With
your permission, since I am here anyway, I will start the investigation.�
The
Tribune brushed a few unruly tears from his cheeks, before turning to the Jedi
Master. �Your assistance is greatly appreciated, Master Jinn.� He took a deep
breath, exhaling slowly. �Durriken and I need time to mourn.�
Qui-Gon
bowed. �As you wish, Tribune.� He looked over at Kaylar. �Would you care to
accompany me?�
Kaylar
nodded. �I will do anything I can to help,� he replied.
Qui-Gon
merely smiled, as he and Kaylar left the room.
�I
will leave you to your mourning,� Gadi said to Pallaton and Durriken, then
walked over to another part of the infirmary.
As
Durriken moved up next Pallaton at Nayda�s body, he noticed Jalerin�s
unconscious form with Entok standing over her. His eyes widened slightly in
surprise. However, upon seeing Entok look his way, Durriken quickly hid his
surprise and gave the guard a firm nod, then joined Pallaton in a death ritual.
Part Two
Passageway/open area
After
quickly retracing their steps, Archer, Malcolm and the others found themselves
back in the area where they were attacked earlier by the other Exoians.
Malcolm
pointed to the side corridor. �The other Exoians went that way. We should as
well,� the tactical officer suggested.
Archer
looked around. �Okay...but where would Trip and Krysira be?� He questioned.
�I
can find out, Captain Archer,� the young Padawan said, then closed his eyes.
After about a minute, he opened his eyes. �They are at a side corridor near
where Drayce is located.�
The
starship captain smiled. �That�s good enough for me,� he replied, then to
himself: �I have to find out how these Jedi can do that mental communication.�
At
that point, Malcolm and Elkan charged down the indicated corridor with the rest
of the group behind them.
Part Three
Dwelling
While
Jeyzen stood to one side, Drayce seated himself in front of the computer,
touching a button. Once again he watched his words appear on the screen as he
spoke: �Durriken...we have a problem. One of the guests has been captured. You
will make certain that she does not talk.� He touched another button, seeing
his words disappear.
He
got up, not waiting for a response. He looked at Jeyzen. �Alert me at once,
when I receive a reply,� Drayce said, then walked out of the room without
waiting for an answer.
Jeyzen
merely walked over to the computer, sitting in front of it.
Part Four
Alcove outside dwelling
Krysira was once again crouched near the door to Drayce�s
dwelling, listening with her Force-induced senses. Her eyes widened upon
hearing Drayce tell Durriken about the capture of �one of the guests� and
particularly at the words: �Make certain that she does not talk.�
She
frowned slightly. Uncertain of what Drayce meant, Krysira closed her eyes and
sought out Qui-Gon over their bond.
/�Qui-Gon!�/
Krysira said.
The
reply was instantaneous. /�Krysira? What is it?�/ Qui-Gon�s voice sounded
puzzled.
/�Drayce
just contacted Durriken.�/
/�I
see.�/
/�But
what puzzles me is that Drayce told Durriken that someone was captured and
ordered him not to let her talk.�/
Qui-Gon
was silent for a moment, then: /�I understand, Krysira.�/
Krysira
felt the connection close between them, confident that the Jedi Master would
take care of matters on his end. The pretty Jedi Knight continued to listen for
any further developments.
Part Five
Jinix government center � small office
After performing the death ritual, which he considered
meaningless, Durriken sought solace in his little known office. He made sure
that the door was secured so that he would not have any other unexpected
visitors. Nayda�s death was not planned, but necessary nonetheless.
As
his computer booted up, he saw that he had a message. Durriken touched a
button, watching the message reveal itself word by word on the screen. He
sighed heavily.
Touching
another button, Durriken spoke: �But she is being guarded, Drayce.� He watched
his words appear on the screen, then touched a third button, seeing the words
disappear.
After
about a minute, a reply appeared. [�That has never stopped you before,
Durriken.�]
Durriken
then leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful.
Part Six
Infirmary
After receiving Krysira's telepathic message, Qui-Gon,
along with Kaylar, entered the room to see Gadi covering Advisor Nayda�s body
with a sheet. The elder healer turned to face the two men. They could see
sorrow in Gadi�s eyes, before his expression became puzzled.
�Master Jinn? Kaylar? What brings you back here?� Gadi
questioned curiously.
Qui-Gon scanned the area, seeing Entok still standing over
the unconscious Jalerin. �Where are Tribune Pallaton and Advisor Durriken?� The
Jedi Master questioned.
�After finishing the initial death ritual, each went to
mourn privately.�
�I see.� Qui-Gon took a deep breath, letting it out
slowly. �Something is about to happen.� He saw that he now had Entok�s
attention, even though the guard did not move. �It will not be safe here. You
must leave until I call you.�
Gadi�s expression turned worried. �What is it? What is
wrong?� He questioned.
�It is best that the fewer people who know, the better.�
The elder healer nodded, seeing the wisdom of the Jedi�s
words. �As you wish, Master Jinn.�
�We will await your call,� Kaylar added.
Qui-Gon waited until the two men left before going over to
Entok. He looked down at Jalerin as the woman moaned softly, beginning to wake
up. He laid a hand on her shoulder, and channeling the Force through himself
into her, once again induced sleep on the Exoian woman. He looked up to see
Entok gazing at him.
�It appears that you have a plan, Master Jinn,� Entok
assumed.
The Jedi Master merely smiled at the guard�s
perceptiveness.�
�What do you wish me to do?�
The doors slid open and Durriken walked into the semi-lit
almost deserted room. He noted that neither healer was around, but knew that it
was not unusual. He saw that there was a lone guard with a helmet on sitting in
a chair facing away from the door in front of a bed.
Durriken noted that the guard did not move when the door
slid open and closed. He came to the conclusion that the guard was asleep. He
grinned maliciously. That would cost the guard.
Durriken took a few more steps towards the sleeping guard
and raising a blaster, fired. But much to Durriken�s astonishment, the guard
leapt up out of the chair and whirling around, deflected the blast with a
glowing green lightsabre.
His bottom jaw dropped open at the reaction of the guard,
who apparently wasn�t a guard but a Jedi. Realizing that this was a set up,
Durriken whirled around to race out of the infirmary, knowing that whoever set
him up would pay. However, much to his surprise, he found that he wasn�t going
anywhere. His feet were stuck to the floor...but how?
Durriken looked over one shoulder to see Qui-Gon, minus
helmet, holding out his hand, palm out. He glared malevolently at the Jedi
Master, whose face remained passive.
Coming out from behind a solid partition, Entok walked
over to Durriken and bound the advisor�s hands behind his back none too gently
as he stated: �Advisor Durriken, you are under arrest for attempted murder!�