Path of Destiny - Chapter 13
The Path of Destiny
Chapter Thirteen
Part One
Holding cells
Qui-Gon
put Jalerin’s sleeping form on a cot in a cell. After he walked out, a guard
activated the criss-cross beams over the entrance. Four guards heavily armed,
two on either side, stood outside the cell.
At
the same time at another cell, Entok unbound Durriken’s wrists and pushed him
into the cell. The advisor whirled around to face Entok, as he took a
threatening step towards the guard. But he went no further after he saw four
other guards aim their blaster rifles at him. As he put his hands up in front
of him, Durriken gave Entok a smile that had no warmth to it.
Entok
merely activated the criss-cross beams across the entrance of Durriken’s cell.
He met Durriken’s gaze with an impassive gaze of his own. He stepped aside, as
Qui-Gon joined him.
“Durriken...what
is your connection with Drayce?” Qui-Gon questioned evenly.
The
advisor looked bored as he crossed his arms over his chest, but said nothing,
as he merely gazed back, expressionless at Qui-Gon.
The
Jedi Master quirked an eyebrow then casually passed his hand in front of
Durriken as he invoked the Jedi mind control through the Force. “You will tell
me your connection with Drayce,” he said again firmly.
Durriken
merely grunted, turning away from the nonplussed Jedi.
Qui-Gon
sighed silently, frustrated. “We will speak later.” He turned and walked
out of the area.
“Guard
him well,” Entok told the four guards, then strode out of the area to see the
Jedi Master waiting for him. “Master Jinn?” He questioned, curiously, seeing
the slight frustrated look on the human’s face.
The
Jedi Master sighed heavily. “I must inform the others of this development.”
Entok
nodded as the two men strode down the corridor.
Part Two
Outside dwelling/corridor
In the alcove just a few meters outside the entrance to
the dwelling, Krysira continued to listen. But what she heard did not come from
inside the dwelling. It came from the opposite direction. She turned her head
and drew in the Force, heightening her senses even more to ascertain what she
heard: running footsteps.
Krysira
rose to her feet and smoothly and silently, moved out into the corridor towards
the noise she heard. One of her lightsabres was instantly in her hand, but
unlit. She moved past the side corridor where Trip and Sedona were waiting for
her.
Trip
looked concerned seeing Krysira head down the corridor away from the dwelling.
/”Krys?”/
Trip sent out along their bond, concerned. /”What is it?”/
/”Footsteps
running towards us, Trip,”/ Krysira replied, instantly, then closed the
connection between them, moving several meters past the side corridor to
protect Trip and Sedona.
The
footsteps came closer, becoming louder. Krysira assumed a defensive fighting
stance, both her hands on the hilt of her lightsabre, ready to ignite it. She
suddenly saw the familiar figure of young Obi-Wan Kenobi, leading Archer,
Malcolm, Elkan, Trey and Caden from around a bend in the corridor.
Krysira
held up one hand to stop the group. She then motioned for silence, and beckoned
the group to follow her, as she belted her lightsabre.
Trip
tensed upon hearing footsteps coming towards him. He eased Sedona back behind
him as he started to draw his blaster, but relaxed upon seeing that it was
Krysira. He grinned upon seeing the others behind her.
“Now
what?” Elkan questioned quietly.
“We
have to get Drayce and the others out of there,” Malcolm told them with an heir
of urgency in his British bred voice.
“How?”
Archer questioned. “Whatever we do, we must think of Counselor Ryvinia’s
safety.”
“Indeed,”
Krysira agreed, then looked at Trip, who was next to her. “What about your
device, Trip?”
Trip
looked puzzled at the gorgeous Jedi Knight for a few moments, and then a look
of realization crossed his handsome features. “Oh...you mean my scanner,” he
assumed, as he took out the device.
“Yes,”
she replied. “Will it detect something we can use against them without injuring
Counselor Ryvinia?”
The
chief engineer rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a few moments, then grinned at
Krysira. “I can overload anything electronic in there until it’s smoking,” he
replied.
“And
that would compel them to leave the dwelling,” Trey pointed out.
Archer
nodded in agreement. “Go ahead, Trip,” the captain ordered.
Trip
turned on the scanner and began to search for anything electronic to overload,
enjoying Krysira's proximity, as he worked.
Part Three
Dwelling
In
one large room, Makkor turned to his companions that were lounging on various
couches.
“This
is something I could get quite used to,” Makkor rumbled, giving them a big
smile, as he picked up a piece of meat, greedily biting into it.
Cluna
made a face. “You are such an animal,” she said with disgust.
Makkor
smirked. “Thank-you.”
She
rolled her eyes. “The man does not know an insult when he hears one.”
Narset
merely snickered, then took a long drink of a beverage.
Dalosi
dozed as she cuddled next to Riaden, who seemed distracted by something. His
older companions took no notice of him. He scowled upon hearing a noise.
“Does
anyone else hear something...sizzling?” Riaden questioned.
“You
are hearing things, boy,” Makkor rumbled, between bites of food.
Riaden
glared at the bigger Exoian then sniffed the air. “Is something...burning?”
“Now...he
is smelling things.” Makkor merely laughed.
“No,
he is not,” Cluna countered. “I smell smoke.”
Riaden
nudged Dalosi awake, as they looked around seeing anything that was electronic
sparking and smoking.
Makkor
threw aside his food. “Come on! I do not like the look of this!”
They
leapt up to their feet and rushed out of the room. They entered the main living
area to see Drayce looking around the room, as everything electronic went
haywire.
“I
DO NOT BELIEVE THIS!” Drayce thundered, throwing his hands up in the air in
disgust.
“What
do we do now?” Dalosi questioned, as she coughed a little, as a thin layer of
smoke began to fill the air.
Drayce
took a calming breath. “Very well.” His voice was now neutral. “We will go back
in the direction that you came.” He motioned to his five guests.
“But
that way takes us back to...Felorym,” Narset said in disgust.
“I
will not go back there!” Dalosi snapped.
Drayce
merely chuckled. “Then...remain here. It matters not to me,” he told them.
The
five guests looked at each other then started towards the door. Drayce motioned
for Jeyzen to follow them.
Myrek
came up beside Drayce. “What of her, my lord?” He questioned.
Drayce
shrugged indifferently. ”She is no longer of value,” he replied.
Myrek
merely nodded, as the two of them followed the others.
Ryvinia’s
sobs finally subsided, as she slowly regained her composure. “I cannot allow
myself to be weak like this,” she said aloud to no one. “What if Drayce were to
come in? He would see me as a weak pathetic female.” Her features hardened. “I
will not allow that to happen...ever!”
She
saw something coming up from under the door. Her eyes widened, when she
realized that it was smoke.
“So,”
she began in a subdued voice. “This is how I am to end my life.” She watched
the black smoke begin to fill the room.
Counselor
Ryvinia closed her eyes, accepting her fate.
Part Four
Outside dwelling/corridors
The group pressed themselves against the sides of the
corridor that they were in, as they saw a group of five Exoians race by,
followed by three more Exoians, one of whom was all too familiar to the group:
Drayce.
Elkan fought the urge to charge Drayce, remembering the
Jedi Master’s words even though visions from his memory of Vallen dying urged
him otherwise.
Malcolm’s dark eyes narrowed when the Exoian Counselor
failed to emerge with her captors. There would be hell to pay if he found out
that Ryvinia had been harmed in any way. To hell with orders and going
by the book; Malcolm would take Drayce out himself. These intense emotions
surprised the normally composed tactical officer. He edged up to the entrance
of the corridor, peering down the other corridor to see the Exoians disappear
around a far bend. The British tactical officer then dashed around the corridor
in the opposite direction towards the dwelling.
Before anyone could react, Sedona raced after Malcolm.
Archer sighed heavily and rolled his eyes. “Teenagers,” he
muttered, as he took off after the swift-footed Exoian page.
Krysira turned to the Jedi apprentice. “Obi-Wan,” she began,
seeing the youth focus his attention on her. “Take the others and follow at a
safe distance. I will contact Qui-Gon.”
Obi-Wan nodded. “Yes, Knight Krysira,” he replied, moving
towards the other corridor.
“However...” her even tone caught everyone else’s
attention. “Do not engage Drayce unless absolutely necessary.” She eyed Trey,
Caden and finally Elkan. Her gaze lingered on the resistance leader a bit
longer than the others did, feeling a building anger from him.
Elkan pressed his lips in a thin line, feeling Krysira’s
scrutiny, as a war raged over his face. “As you wish, Knight Krysira,” he
finally managed to say trying to keep control over his fragile emotions.
Krysira gave him an understanding nod, knowing that it had
to be difficult for Elkan not to exact revenge for Vallen’s death.
The three Exoians followed the Jedi youth down the
corridor and out of sight.
Krysira closed her eyes, as she sought Qui-Gon through
their bond, feeling Trip’s hand grasp her hand. /”Qui-Gon,”/ she thought.
/”Krysira?”/ Qui-Gon sounded concerned. /”What is it?”/
/”We have been able to flush out Drayce and his
associates. Obi-Wan, Elkan, Trey and Caden are following at a safe distance.
Trip and I will be joining them shortly. Captain Archer, Malcolm and Sedona are
locating Counselor Ryvinia. It appears that Drayce might be heading back in the
direction of the marketplace. We need you to intercept them before they reach
there, lest we lose them.”/
/”Understood,”/ Qui-Gon merely replied.
/”What of Durriken?”/
/”He has been detained in a holding cell. I will explain
later.”/ The Jedi Master closed the mental connection between them.
Krysira opened her eyes, looking at Trip. “Qui-Gon is on
his way to assist,” she explained.
Trip gave her a brief but tender kiss. “Good. Let’s get
going,” he suggested.
They headed down the corridor, then into the next one,
following in the wake of Obi-Wan and the Exoians.
Part Five
Corridor in Jinix government center
After closing the mental connection with his Jedi
companion, Qui-Gon opened his eyes to see Entok looking at his in a concerned
fashion.
“Is everything alright, Master Jinn?” Entok questioned,
wondering why Qui-Gon had stopped so suddenly.
“I am fine, Entok,” Qui-Gon assured the guard. “I have
just been informed that Drayce and his associates have been flushed out and are
on the run. It is imperative that we intercept them before they reach the
marketplace.”
“Therefore...we need to get back inside the passageway
before they are able to escape.”
“Precisely.”
The two men took off on a run towards Counselor Ryvinia’s
chambers.
Part Six
Dwelling
At
the same time, Malcolm arrived at the door of the dwelling. Much to his dismay,
the door did not open at his presence. Without hesitation, the British Enterprise officer pulled out his
blaster and fired at the door, which slid open. He ran inside the partially
smoke-filled room.
“RYVINIA!”
Malcolm shouted.
There
was no response.
Cursing
softly to himself, Malcolm placed his hand over his mouth, as he continued to
search the smoky rooms.
“RYVINIA!”
Malcolm continued to shout, alternately covering and uncovering his mouth.
Silence.
Sedona
skidded to a stop at the now open door seeing the smoke. A wave of fear passed
through the teenager.
Archer
stopped beside her. He touched her arm, seeing Sedona look at him. “Come on.
Let’s look for your aunt,” he said in a soothing yet encouraging tone.
Sedona
nodded, gathering her courage. Following Archer’s lead, she placed her hand
over her mouth, as she walked behind the starship captain.
Both
heard Malcolm calling for Ryvinia.
The
girl felt her chest tighten, fearing the worst. She could not fathom the idea
that her favorite aunt...could be...dead.
Malcolm
looked in one room, after the door slid open, but he did not see the counselor.
He moved to another room; however the door did not open. Taking a couple of
steps back, Malcolm once again fired his blaster at the door, which slid open.
He
went inside. His dark eyes widened upon seeing the attractive Exoian Counselor
bound and slumped on the couch. He ran over to her.
“No!
Ryvinia!” He gasped, fearing the worst.
Archer
and Sedona looked at each other worriedly upon hearing the second blast.
“MALCOLM!”
Archer managed to shout, before coughing a little.
“In
here!” Malcolm shouted back. “I found her!”
Malcolm
unbound Ryvinia, after holstering his blaster. He held her against him, as his
slightly trembling fingers checked for a pulse. Relief washed over his handsome
features upon finding one. He tenderly stroked a soft cheek. “Ryvinia?” He
questioned. There was no response. He looked up to see Archer and Sedona rush
in.
“She’s
alive,” Malcolm assured them, seeing the unasked question on each of their
faces, then coughed a bit more.
Archer
nodded, then making a split decision, tossed Malcolm his communicator. “Get
these two out of here,” he ordered, as he placed Sedona near Malcolm and
Ryvinia. “Don’t move.” He coughed harshly.
Malcolm
merely nodded once and opened the communicator. “Reed to transporter room!
Emergency transport of three on this signal now!” He ordered.
Archer
stepped back upon seeing a shimmer of lights surrounded the others, then fade
away, leaving no trace of the others. He coughed violently this time, knowing
that he had better get out of here fast. He whirled and ran out of the
smoke-filled area.