| Title: The World We Loved Author: Anna Disclaimer: On the first page! Nothing's changed since then; I haven't bought Obi or Qui or even Cerasi. So...uhm...yup. Just taking them for a walk and some torture. Notes: Basically the same as on Chapter One, but some violence in this chapter. Chapter Two Qui-Gon stood off to the side, watching his padawan spar with Bant. The two of them were trying hard to be serious, but every so often one of them would start laughing. What was so funny was beyond Qui-Gon; he was almost afraid to ask. Obi-Wan was sweating, after almost two hours of light saber practice, first with his Master and now with his best friend. At fifteen, Obi-Wan had proven a very capable warrior, something Qui-Gon was secretly very proud of. "Master Qui-Gon," Jedi Knight Lirana said softly. "There's something I think you ought to take a look at." when he turned away, about to call Obi-Wan, she added, "Alone." She led him to the communications room, which was almost deserted for the evening. Lirana looked up at him, sighed, and then pressed a button. A small holographic image popped up, broken by static. Qui-Gon felt the blood rush to his feet at the sight of the girl. She was bonier, slightly older, and paler, but even so he recognized Cerasi. "...so since you're back with the Jedi, I thought I'd just...say hi or something." he'd never known a hologram to look so uncomfortable. He'd never known brilliant, bold Cerasi to look uncomfortable, either. "Master Yoda thought you should see this before your padawan." Lirana said, turning off the message. Qui-Gon refused to look at her, knowing his irritation might well be noticed by her. Because they don't trust him? Qui-Gon wondered, not doubting it. "Very well. I've seen it." It's fine if they don't. "I'll go get my apprentice." A few minutes later, Qui-Gon was watching Obi-Wan stare at the message. His apprentice's expression was pure shock, and he worried for a moment that Obi-Wan would fall off his chair. "...Master..." Obi-Wan began hesitantly. "Yes?" Qui-Gon winced inwardly. His tone hadn't been as neutral as he'd hoped; the last thing he wanted Obi-Wan thinking was that he didn't trust him. "We need to bring her here." when Qui-Gon said nothing, he went on softly, "She can lobby to the Senate for intervention in the war." "Is this a new idea of yours?" Qui-Gon asked dryly. "No...I always wondered..." Obi-Wan trailed off, then stood up. "Please, Master." The two Jedi met each other's eyes. Qui-Gon could sense his padawan's longing and distress and...guilt... He sighed. "We could ask Chancellor Valorum for a transport to bring her here. The Melida and Daan senators were killed when they last returned--" "I know," Obi-Wan cut him off, then gave Qui-Gon an apologetic smile. "I heard about it last week. When do we speak with the Chancellor?" The best part about having convinced Chancellor Valorum to bring Cerasi to Coruscant, Obi-Wan thought, was not just that she was coming, or even that they would possibly be able to help end the bloodshed. It was that he could speak to her again. It was that she was alive, it was that he could do something to help her, it was that she could see something beyond a gray world filled with the tragedies of a ceaseless battle. Cerasi sat on the old bed in her 'temporary' room, glowering at nothing. "What's wrong?" Nield ventured. "What do you mean what's wrong?" Cerasi laughed, then groaned. "I'm supposed to go the capitol of the republic to speak with the leaders of the republic, and convince them-somehow-to help us when they haven't wanted to for years before we were born." "Wow." Nield said. Cerasi turned her glower on him. "I mean, stress gets to you? I think I'm getting-" Cerasi threw a ratty pillow at him. "You're trying to tell me that bothers you?" his dark eyes laughed at her. "Go on; try and lie to me!" "Alright, fine!" Cerasi drew in a deep breath, summoning all her dignity, and said in her most superior I-Don't-Care voice, "I don't have any clean clothes." Nield burst out in side-splitting mirth. "Shut up!" Cerasi cried desperately. "Tha-that..." he gasped, "Could...b-be because y-you don't" he paused, still laughing, "you don't ha-have any oth-other clothes." Cerasi raised her eyes heavenward. "But," Nield wiped away a few tears, "I have a solution." Cerasi looked at him skeptically. "Here. I grant you these credits, to buy a dress once you reach Coruscant, so that you may impress the Senate." he smiled devilishly. "And a certain Jedi." Cerasi snatched the credits from him with one hand and smacked him with the other. "Thank you, Nield," she said soberly. "But if you breathe a word of this..." "No, no! Don't worry. No one will know how truly girly you are." Nield snickered and backed away from his friend's fist. Cerasi sat nervously on the transport, hugging a small bag to her chest. Her friends had insisted she bring a blaster, and so now, against her wishes, she had one holstered at her waist. She'd felt very uneasy when they searched her over, found the blaster, but did not confiscate it. //What sort of security screening is that?// She'd thought, followed closely by, //What weapons do these other people have?// The other people were mainly humanoids on what looked like a business trip. There was also a young mother with a six-or-seven year old boy, but none of this put Cerasi at ease. She'd been trained in the use of weapons and the "art" of war from the time she could walk. "Now departing for Coruscant," the pilot's gruff voice called over the intercom. "Finally," the mother sighed. "Momma, how much longer?" the boy whined. "Seven more hours," she soothed. The child didn't like that answer, and began wailing. //He's six years old!// Cerasi marveled. //Why does she put up with that?// Over the next hour, the child threw two tantrums before falling asleep. Cerasi got a cramp in one leg, and found herself very bored. Right up until the ship was jerked to a stop, throwing all the passengers forward. "What's going on?" "Why did we stop?" "Engines..." "Mommmmaaa!" Cerasi looked up from her new spot on the floor, at all of the other travelers. ~Well, now, isn't this fun.~ //Maybe it's pirates...// ~Let's not overreact, hm? Stupid ship probably malfunctions all the time. Ugh...I want to shut that kid up so badly...~ //Funny...I was just starting to find it comforting...// "Everyone up!" a new voice commanded. Cerasi slowly rose to her feet, raising both hands into the air when she saw five uniformed gauds with blasters held at the ready. "You!" Guard One snapped when she saw Cerasi. //Why am I always the first one to stand up and be noticed?// "Where are you headed?" "The ship's taking us to Coruscant," Cerasi answered calmly. "Really?" the Guard's scarred face changed from cold to interested. "What are you going to do there?" "Nothing now," Cerasi replied, her voice taking on its usual sarcastic lilt. "Since you're going to rob me." "Thanks for the suggestion; I never would have imagined!" the pirate sneered. "So what were you going to do there?" "Visit the Senate. What are you going to do here?" "Senate, huh. Lyu, take her." one of the others started forward. "Don't worry, girl. You'll reach the Senate someday." Cerasi wore a mask of fear, but kept her hands hidden from view behind the tall seat backs. She gripped her blaster and waited. When Lyu stood in front of Cerasi, she reacted with blurring speed. First she grabbed Lyu's blaster hand, using her smaller size to maneuver out of his firing range. At the same time she fired her small, old blaster into the crook of his elbow; Lyu dropped his weapon automatically. At the same time, Cerasi had thrown her weight against him, counting on the pain and surprise to help toss them both to the ground and out of Guard One's sight. "Lyu!" another pirate yelled. "No," Guard One said, stopping the other pirate, Cerasi assumed. "Nice job, girl. You'll do well. Come on up." //Right. Do I have Stupid stamped on my forehead?// ~Oh, sure. I mean, we can really stay down here until they leave.~ "Come on, girl. Come willingly and I won't have to kill your companions here." ~Not unexpected, yet still unplanned for.~ Cerasi pushed herself up. "What do you want with me?" The pirate leader shoved away a businessman. "Just your skills. What's your name?" two other pirates moved forward, slapping cuffs on her wrists, and scooping up hers and Lyu's weapons. One pulled her forward while the other knelt to help their fallen compatriot. "Cerasi," she said reluctantly. "Oh. That's nice. Let's go!" she snapped to the others, and Cerasi followed them at gunpoint to the cargo room, where a small shuttle waited. "Like I said; you don't need to worry about reaching the Senate. We'll get you there soon enough." ***End Part Two*** |
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