Bonadan

Time...I don't have enough time...

Miles shoulders felt heavy, too heavy, all of him felt..heavy. Yet he did not let this show within his expression, keeping all that he had to uphold and attend to inside himself. He kept his heavy feelings within because he had to, there was no time to let such feelings be known. There was a time to let go and a time to press on. He would press on and so would Yana..

He made a curt nod toward Yana, not meaning to be rude but time was of the essence, and at the moment, someone else needed his time more, the guard.

His eyes settled tiredly on the guard, though the expression in his eyes went unnoticed as he blinked, being replaced with a more attentive, alert look, mixed in with a sense of awareness, reaching his eyes just as the guard spoke.

The looking glass...The sands of time...

The other comm went off, this time Yana's, the one that was obviously expected, yet the one Miles still was not prepared for.

Miles kept his eyes on Yana as she spoke, almost as if he could not look anywhere else, even if he had tried. The conversation between Yana and those whom had now become her not so friendly adversaries, not that they were ever friendly to begin with...

The conversation had gone well(better than what Miles himself had expected), much to Miles astonishment. He smiled lightly at Yana, reassurance crossing his face.

"..You did well.." He spoke quietly.

He turned to the guard once more, giving him the go ahead.

"Make it so..."

He paused, his eyes seemed to dart back and forth as he looked onward, onto the table.

Who can I get to help me out here?...

Miles knew just about everyone who worked at or for Vinda Corp, well, Yana and a few others being minor exceptions.

He spent a very many a time with Mr. Vinda, talking of this or that. Mr. Vinda was often excited to speak of new employees, no matter what branch of Vinda Corp they worked for. He was quite glad he paied attention to every word Mr. Vinda said to him.

"I can't be fully assured that the task force will be used to its fullest of capabilities, not until I speak with someone in charge of the defense fleet, I need to know that everything will be well taken care of..."

He diverted his gaze back to the guard.

"I do not care whom you get to speak with me, but find me someone. Arrangements must be made for that fleet, and I wish to make very sure that those arrangements are met."

He had learned a thing or two from Mr. Vinda. He watched him communicate with his fleet members, watched as Mr. Vinda went and double checked through all the arrangements. He would do that same, regardless if he knew what he was doing or not. If Mr. Vinda did it, it was good enough for Miles, and that was all that Miles knew how to be and do...

Follow by example...

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Bonadan<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


"..You did well.."


Yana looked up at Miles as he spoke...relaxing her grip on the Comm unit ..

His words helped..

despite this whole situation , three simple words already made her feel ...better...
...the more they rushed about her head the more reassured she felt..

She smiled nervously , and overlooked as Miles spoke to the Guard...

As the Guard nodded furtively , he swung around and left for the door..stopping just before it, he turned around , and with a small smile on his face spoke...(his voice a little sheepish...)

"..the names.. Andersan...by the way..."

Before anyone could respond, the Guard turned and left...


It was just Miles and Yana in the room now..Yana shifted on her chair slightly, as she watched Miles with his back to her , he appeared to be deep in thought...She looked around the room absently as the silence started to feel awkward...

Yana's thoughts switched to her life before.., her childrens faces...as she watched them play , watched them learn, watched them grow...it all seemed so long ago...

..and she hoped with every fibre of her being that they were still alive and well...

she hoped she wouldn't watch them die...

Yana felt the wave of anger swell up inside her...she felt it boil through her veins...

whoever did this would pay...



...pay in blood....

Tallien was walking behind the captives, his razor-like fingers contracting and expanding as he passed each person.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> So... you think you control death do you? You think you can dictate to the God's when you wish your life's greatest sacrifice to take place?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


The girl was shaking and he could smell each captive's fear.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> This is a galaxy of weaklings!<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


As Leia spoke softly, wincing from the pain.


He stopped at her last words and turned to her.


"I lie?" the near accusation, especially from an infidel, was surprising to his ears.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Did she take him for a servant of Yun-Harla?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


"Woman, what possible reason would I have to lie to you?"

He stopped at the old man and thrust out his hand, grasping the back of the captive's neck. His eyes bored into Leia's.

"Listen to me carefully, Jeedai. I will let you go, if you choose one to die in your place."


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Take away her convenient excuse, Xanadal. Let's see if she welcomes death willingly, of her own mind's volition...or if she grasps on the the dying embers of her life's ashes as her kind are known to do...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Do I have to spell it out to this idiot?


Or is he just relishing the moment...?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Leia didn't bother to turn her head back around to face Tallien. She therefore found herself shouting her answer at the feet of the warrior standing a few feet away in front of her, keeping a close watch on her.

....as if she was really going anywhere now.


"I told you, no!"

Her voice grew considerably softer, more resigned.

"....I won't choose...."

"So be it... Jeedai."


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> I am winning, Xanadal. These primitives can be made to embrace our way of life. They merely need the proper .. motivation.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Tallien released the old man and his razor fingers were rammed into the base of the Bothan's neck, severing his nerve endings in one stroke.

The Bothan slid to the floor instantly paralyzed.

The boy cried out at the sight and the girl started to sweat blood. The old man closed his eyes resigned to what would come next but Tallien had the guards take them away.

Turning to two other warriors, //Take the Jeedai to the holding cell. See that she gains her strength back to stand on her own. I wish her to see the destruction of this world and our final victory enacted. Bring her back at midday.//


The warriors knodded and drug the weakened Leia through a corridor and threw her into a holding cell. A membrane slid over the area that served as a "door" sealing her off on all sides.

The membrane of this ship's area was semi transparent and Leia could see the outline of warriors standing on all four sides.

A Leia drifted in and out, a voice whispered from above, "Who's there?"

The voice sounded like a teenage male.

"Anyone there?" came the dry whisper.

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Sevarcos<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->




Richter awoke in a dim candle-lit room, blinking slowly he squinted as he found it hard to focus. The sound of his own breathing filled his ears, ( he was still wearing the oxygen mask ) and purely out of instinct he reached up to remove it.

"..I wouldn't do that if I were you..."

Turning to face the direction the voice had come from, Richter drew himself up, and winced as his head pounded..he groaned a little..

"...unless of course you want a repeat performance..."

(the voice continued)

Rubbing his eyes Richter took in the shape of the person speaking , and familiarity dawned as he recognised the figure of Ordobis standing beside him...Richter replied, his voice hoarse..

"..what happened?..."

(Ordobis laughed)

"..lets just say I think you had your first experience with spice.."

Richter shifted up right so he was sitting upright on the make-shift bunk, rubbing his neck, he spoke..

"..how long?.."

Ordobis smiled a little...

"..quite some hours, you had us all worried Corporation man...you know... if you are going to represent us , you might want to get used to our spice first..."

Richter's face at first , showed he was somewhat unimpressed with that remark..then he sighed, looked at Ordobis, and smiled wearily..then flinched as he used his hand to lean on, remembering why, he inspected his now bandaged hand...

"...first time for everything I suppose...where is everyone else?.."

Ordobis replied..

"..the rest of your people are finishing their preparations...I have a message from one of your clansmen...Tellum..."

(Richter's face seemed to sober up..)

"..Repairs have been completed to a sufficient level...enough for you to be able to leave ....you have very efficient people .."

Richter nodded...then looked towards Ordobis, slightly concerned...
"..what about you?.. are you ready?...you are going to be leaving a lot behind..."

Ordobis straightened himself , and raised his head, looking every part the proud leader...

"...what will be... will be...everything I do is for my people...I am ready...the shuttle is prepared..."

Richter smiled .. then looked around...

"...let us waste no more time then..."

Richter slowly moved off of the bunk and glanced around the domed room, checking for all his things, then gestured for Ordobis to lead the way...
Ordobis shook his head and handed Richter a plate..

"..first you eat...then we leave... you are too impatient..."

Richter laughed a little and nodded...

"..you will have to eat it in the main hall...as there it is sealed and you can remove your mask, (Ordobis paused)...unlike the negotiation chamber...and here..."

Richter smiled wryly and responded...

"..don't worry..I'm not gonna forget in a hurry..."

Ordobis laughed again and shook his head...

"..then I shall leave you , make your way when you are ready the others are in the main hall...see you there....<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> brother<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->.."

With that, Ordobis turned and abruptly left the room..
Richter glanced back round after hearing the last word Ordobis had spoken, and groaned again shaking his head..

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Brother!?..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




Hours later, after meeting the others in the main hall Richter slowly gathered his things...and indeed himself..

...and eventually made his way to the shuttle....

The death of the Bothan played over and over in Leia's mind as she was drug to her cell. She had not seen it happen, as her head had been turned away, but she had felt it through the Force, which was actually much worse. The Bothan had been at peace with the situation, but Leia certainly was not.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> That contemptible, ugly, dirty, lying, piece of filth!

He chose for me.

And he didn't kill me. They must not be done with me... yet.

What next....?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Leia fast ran out of steam for her musings as she lay flat on her stomach in her cell, as still as her trembling body could manage. Her mind was fatigued and heavily ridden with pain, she couldn't process thoughts properly. She began to drift on the edge of consciousness fitfully....

During her few, short periods of coherence in her drifting, she thought she heard a tapping noise, that echoed in her cell. Sometimes she could have sworn she heard a voice, too.

After a few times of this, she groggily dismissed both as figments of her imagination, and fell into full unconsciousness at last.


Some time later, the membrane that was her cell door retracted, and a Vong stepped in, clutching a living bowl of some sort. Leia was still laying flat on her stomach, the position that she had found gave her the least pain.

The Warrior lifted a foot and kicked one of her hands, which aroused an instant reaction from Leia.

She let out a sound that seemed like a cross between a groan and a strained gurgle, and her entire body jolted. Her eyes snapped open and she lifted her head to glare venemously at the offender. The Vong merely smiled gleefully at her pained expession.

He knelt beside her and put a scarred and tattooed hand under her head to support it, then pressed the bowl to her lips and forced to her swallow a bland tasting mixture that had the consistency of runny oatmeal. She choked it down obediently, knowing that it would not kill her, and that she desperately needed the nutrition. Next down her throat was lukewarm water from some sort of pouch, and then the Vong rose and exited quickly without a word, leaving Leia alone again.

Or perhaps not. The tapping began again almost as soon as the membrane sealed shut.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> What the frell <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> is<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> that!?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Irritated, she began a more thorough visual search of the cell. Leia's head was clearing rapidly, and she first noted that her head felt different as she turned it. Half of her face had apparently stopped bleeding and had swelled, where Tallien had struck her earlier.

Reluctantly she next tried to wiggle her fingers. Her hands had gone completely numb, but her wrists, arms and shoulders were still causing her a great deal of pain.

"..hey, I know there's someone down there... are you ok?" The voice said. The hope was so thick in the tone of the voice that Leia figured if she looked hard enough she could see it.

It was coming from above, she had noted. It hadn't really occurred to her to look up before, in her dazed stupor. Leia rolled onto her side and looked up at the ceiling. It was translucent like the walls, and she could see the blurry outline of a figure laying prone on the floor. He didn't appear to be bound either, all four limbs she could see spread out. Lucky him.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> I'm not alone, and I'm not having delusions... I'm better off than I thought. Er, maybe.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

She cleared her throat, and carefully measured both herself and what she intended to say before she replied to the eager and hopeful presence in the cell above her. The voice sounded very young and she didn't want to start off too badly, yet it seemed to carry a surprising amount of wisdom in it.

"I'll live, though your guess is as good as mine as to how much longer..."

She grunted.

There was a long silence, as if now that the boy had a reply he didn't quite know what to do next. Leia found a smile fighting it's way onto her lips despite all of her troubles. Now it was her turn to do the prodding.

"Hey, you still up there?"

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Aboard the Religious Command Ship.... holding 100 meters off the surface of Capricia.<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->



Vuas was in time to witness the exchange between the Master Shaper and the Jeedai. She discreetly followed the guards escorting (or dragging) Leia to the holding chamber. They threw her in and the hazily transparent membrane closed shut.

Vuas was noticed by the guards as she approached, staring at the form of the human.


After moments, she returned to Tallien who was watching the
Coralskippers deploy to harrass the infidels line of abominations.


It was strange how something so evil as the infidel machines
could hurt them.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> But then Yun Yuuzhan gives nothing without sacrifice. Perhaps Yun Harla had a hand in these abominations being so effective.

Who knew what the trickster goddess had up her sleeve.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


She entered and Tallien, his back to her, spoke.


//How is the infidel?// he asked.


//Her eyes indicated betrayal.// she responded.


Tallien laughed softly.

//I gave her the choice. To continue living, one must make the sacrifice. If she wished to even flee, she could have. Did she think that Yun Yuuzhan would stay his hand if she refused to decide?//


//I do not know how she thinks, Eminence.//


Tallien sighed. //No, that these creatures think at all is a
mystery only the gods have answer for. Yet, I see this more and more. If given two choices that the infidels consider
unacceptable, they decide not to decide. As if that will stay
consequence.//


//Perhaps the Jeedai was addled due to the pain inflicted. Their skin seems .. soft.//


//Perhaps the Jeedai did not realize that she was still alive. A
situation that warranted consequence.//Tallien said dryly.


Vuas gave a dismissive gesture with her hand, effectively
changing the subject.


//Her presence changes nothing of our most glorious conquest.//


//Truth.// Tallien agreed. //The War Coordinator grows restless. With the colonies attacked, there is little support
Kapreeesseeea can expect.//


//We should irradicated them all.//


Tallien's eyes narrowed slightly at the impertinent tone his
devotee took.


But Vuas paid him no mind, her mind already on her rant. //This fascination with their ability may prove to undo our efforts. The infidels machines fall to our armies. The Jeedai's magic cannot be used against us...only the magic from these Kapreeessseeeans. If they have all been offerend in sacrifice to the gods, then nothing will be able to be used against us.//


//That we know of.// he admonished and then backhanded her.


//You are not War Coordinator and therefore unknowledgeable about such things. Know your place, female.//


Vuas licked her lips, stopping the flow of blood that had come
from the Master Shaper's strike.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Yun Harla, protect me to carry out your will.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Vuas stood slowly but Tallien was already intent on other things.


//Their abominations are being aimed at us.// he said
matter-of-factly.


Then his eyes blazed at the infidel's insolence in refusing to
take their part in the great sacrifice to Yun Yuuzhan.


//It is time we showed them the power of Truth.//

"Yeah..." was all Leia got in response to her question. Slightly concerned, she reached out to the boy in the cell above her with the Force.

She felt potent fear, and anxiety. But hope and a miniscule amount of comfort seemed to reside within the young boy as well.

He seemed to be hoping against hope that she would be able to do something...

Does he know who I am?

No, he couldn't....

Then why does he think any differently of me than the last person in this cell? How come I am the one who he puts hope in?

Is there really anything I could do?

Leia had strong doubts, which were further reinforced as she looked around at her surroundings once again.

Why the hell am I here, anyways? I can't do anything, I...

In a sudden rage Leia lashed out and drove her boot into the transparent wall nearest her. The wall gave way under the blow with surprising elasticity, and did not break.

The outburst got the attention of the guards outside, who looked at her with amused expressions on their faces. Leia had surprised herself, even. She felt a pang from the young presence above, but paid no mind to it, she suddenly had other things to focus on at the moment.

Stunned, her mind began to race. Something within had broken free of her strict self disciplines that she had erected as a Jedi. She couldn't track it, couldn't find it... She knew it was something that she was often Forced to keep bridled, but what was it...?

It coursed through her, seeming to carry with it the silent message that there was a such thing as too much control...

It registered, she remembered and recognized. That now free something was her spirit...

There was a time to be a Jedi, and a time to be... Leia.

She had realized this on Endor, and had strained to unlearn the mental disciplines that had robbed her of her Self. But since then she had not gotten an ample opportunity to learn whether or not she had been successful, as there had been no need to summon that sort of strength....

With a considerable effort Leia rolled onto her stomach and awkwardly lifted herself into a standing position, which proved rather difficult. She took a deep breath, and calmed herself.

Why am I here?

<font color=red>To do what I am best at: Lead, fight... and win.</font>

She looked up to the figure above, and spoke softly to the boy. He was still silent. She felt he was troubled, disturbed. But not because of her...

"Don't worry, everything will be just fine soon..."

<font color=red>I'm going to get us out of here, one way or another...</font>

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Holding Cell above Leia<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


The boy lay on his stomach, his body aching from the beatings he had taken and shivering uncontrollably at the sights he had witnessed.


<!--EZCODE HTML START--> <font color="blue">He was supposed to meet the famous Jedi Master and her companion, Tyscio Korban as they arrived from Naboo.


He had left his father's friends, the Regent Gomorran Kay and his Minister of Defense, Leantre Vio at the Galactic Board.

Little did he know that the person who escorted him to meet the powerful leader of the New Republic when they arrived at the Military Command Center in Antioch was also a spy for the invaders.</font><!--EZCODE HTML END-->


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Who would have thought that?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


<!--EZCODE HTML START--> <font color="blue">Invaders, as ugly and mutilated as they were, could actually move undetected among the Capricians.

But the news regarding the Jedi Master's arrival was too important to simply pass up for the spy. He needed to relay the information immediately to Master Shaper Tallien...

..for Leia Organa Solo was one of the most famous Jeedai in this galaxy.

What set her apart in the Yuuzhan Vong mind though was her lineage... or, more precisely, the fact that she was a twin.

An apparent rarity to the invaders.

The spy had kidnapped him and with the attacks going on, no one seemed the wiser. He was presented to Tallien as the Command Ship dropped from it's orbit by the spy. The invader put him through experiences he would rather forget, if the pain and scars would let him.</font><!--EZCODE HTML END-->


And so here he was, sitting out the war in a cell, wondering if his father, if his sister, if he home still stood.

The fact that he saw the Jedi Master thrown into a holding cell under him gave him cause for sorrow for things must truly be desperate.

At first, he hadn't seen her, his eyes were still stinging from the solution applied by some sort of torture creature but as he kept his hand from rubbing them, his sight slowly returned on it's own.

He heard her voice but as he opened his mouth, he felt his throat go dry. Asking his own quesitons, small as they were, drained the boy completely.

"Yeah.." he managed to get out.


There were tiny openings all around the edge of the floor membrane and the wall membrane, possibly to allow oxygen to flow through. The roof was similarly made though he noted that no one was above him.

As his eye stared down at Leia, he noted her lashing out and realized that her hands were bound by her wrists.

He looked at the scabs on his own wrists and remembered the pain.

"Knock the tip of the creature against a wall hard. Break off the tip but do not break the creature's spine binding your wrists. If the tip breaks, the creature's hold will loosen and you will be able to pull your hands free."

..and as an afterthought.

"It will hurt tho.."

Suddenly, he was quiet.. nearly blacking out as the effort used to say that much.

His body seemed to be dehydrating slowly and the effort nearly caused him to fall asleep.

He pinched a cut and gritted his teeth to remain awake.


<!--EZCODE HTML START--> <font color="red">"Everything will be just fine soon.."</font><!--EZCODE HTML END-->

And the boy, his neck starting to hurt, rolled over onto his back.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Fine?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->