Star Wars: Torn

Chapter 8

Chapter 8
“So you think the princess will get married?”, Jade finally asked. “That is definitely the most likely scenario: the princess will get married and the one she should get married too will try to kill her. It’s the tradition of this Planet that the oldest child of the king and queen gets married when he or she turns eighteen. As soon as the child is married it becomes the ruler of the planet.”, Qui Gon sighed:” Monarchy is so predictable. I’m not saying that can’t be practically but it's quite often practical for the wrong people.” Jade only laughed and kicked a stone against an old tree:” don’t say the republic is any better! Most of the senators are rich, arrogant Idiots!” Qui-gon took his time to answer. He watched the clouds move by and take on the shape of a tree, the next moment a gust of wind blew it apart into many little clouds. “I can’t disagree”, the Jedi then finally answered:” the shape the republic is in now, isn’t so much better, but at least some senators are trying.” “Yes, trying to bribe the others into voting for what they want!”, Jade snorted. “But in a Monarchy only one person has to be bribed.”,  Qui-gon said. Jade rolled her eye:” of course you defend the republic! You serve them!” “No I don’t. I serve the force.”, he denied. Jade wanted to laugh, but she stopped herself. “If you really did, why are you in this Mission then. This is quite a common political problem. I don’t even get why they sent a Jedi. A few days ago they said only I would go, then suddenly they said some Jedi would come with me!” “It’s complicated”, the Jedi master answered:” and we should concentrate on the Mission. Let’s go back to the club and see if the princess is there again. Then we can ask her.” Jade smiled: “great idea! And on the way you can tell me why it’s “complicated”!” Qui-gon sighed. He looked uncomfortable and Jade tensed. “What if he is actually here to kill me! I am only a pilot and part time bounty hunter. But maybe the Jedi want to kill me for stealing from them”, she thought. “You wouldn’t understand”, Qui-gon sighed. Jade didn’t answer. She only signaled a taxi to stop. “Where do you need to go?”, it asked. “To the club: The dancing Wookie”, the pilot answered shortly and gave it some credits.
They got into the speeder in silence, as if no one dared to speak a word. Jade closed her eyes as the speeder started driving. Her heart was pounding. “Stop it! Why would the Jedi wanna kill you?”, she told herself: “ Yes you nearly killed one of them, but he nearly killed you in return! Oh I hate Ki adi Mundi so much! He probably hates me too! Maybe he’s friends with Qui Gon. But if Qui Gon wanted me dead he would have let me drown! Or maybe he’s waiting for something?!” Jade opened her eyes and tried to focus on her surrounding. The forest blurred as they sped past tall trees. The shadows became longer, as the sky grew darker. A storm was coming. “I couldn’t win”, Jade whispered quietly. “What, do you mean?”, Qui-gon asked confused. “Do you like Ki adi Mundi?”, Jade backfired. “To be honest, I really dislike him. But that is only my opinion. Many Jedi, especially the council, don’t really agree with me.” “So he didn’t give you this mission”, Jade continued carefully. “No, he didn't”, the Jedi replied shortly. “Why are you here then”, Jade asked trying to suppress her fear. “It’s none….”, Qui-gon started, but Jade interrupted him:” just tell me why!” “Before you became a pilot you where a thief, right? You stole something from the forbidden section of the Jedi achieves.”, the Jedi master began. “Can I win, against a Jedi?”, Jade though starting to panick. “Yes I did steal something!”, she answered coldly: “I stole something for an anonymous client. A paper scroll, really, really ancient! Put Ki Adi Mundi caught me. We fought and he hit me with his lightsaber. As I was on the floor he was ready to deliver the finishing blow. He would have killed me. But my loyal Varactyl saved me. She bit him really badly. I am surprised that idiot survived! Then we fled together, I don’t know how I made it to my ship, but on the way I lost the paper. And just that you know; if you kill me sunshine, my Varactyl, will find you and kill you and then eat you!”
“Whoa, I don’t want to kill you!”, Qui-gon quickly replied. Jade felt a huge weight lift of her chest, she really wasn’t sure if she could win against Qui-gon. “I probably could. I am a great fighter but why take chances”, she thought to herself with a slightly arrogant smile.
Qui-gon glanced at Jade. He wasn’t sure what to do. If he told Jade the truth it could complicate things, but she had a right to know. “You saw this paper, right?”, he continued cautiously. “Yes, it was a map, really boring. It shows the way to some journal or so, also boring!”, she shrugged. “And as you can still remember it cause you have photographic memory I believe you could be in danger. I had a vision. I saw you, even though I had never seen you before. You where surrounded by darkness, there where screams in the distance, then I saw this planet covered in dark webs.
Before my Vision the council actually said I should accompany you on this mission but I declined for the reasons you said before, but after my vision I knew I had to go. I suspect this whole mission is just a distraction and a bait for you.”
Jade stared at him in disbelief:” so you let us walk right into a trap?!” “The danger to this planet is still real, we still have to help them, but I’m sorry I didn’t warn you.”, he apologized. “It’s fine”, Jade sighed: “I would have gone anyway, regardless of what you told me beforehand, I want to help the people of this planet. Let’s just continue as planned and see what happens!” “Agreed”, the Jedi nodded. “That wasn’t a question, I am still leading”, Jade grinned. Qui-gon smiled, maybe he had a chance of her not hating him after all.