Cadet Captured

6. Supply Lines

In the bathroom of my small quarters, I try to wash the filth from my body, and end up scrubbing away a layer of skin. Two months I've been a slave for King Katuunko of Toydaria, and last night was the first time he asked me to go to bed with him. Of course, asking is more like forcing. I had tried to refuse, and now have the bruises to prove it.

To my relief, he hadn't wanted too much. Not to say that what he did was ok. Because it wasn't. He had forced me into his bed and touched me. He didn't go any farther, but I couldn't shake the feeling of being completely violated. All night he made me lay beside him while his hands roamed my naked body. I had cried and begged him to stop, but that only earned me more bruises.

Now, however, I knew I would be wanted in the throne room, to serve whatever purposes he wanted.

I entered the throne room from a door on the side, to see King Katuunko talking to a man, a male Gungan, and Lott Dod, the leader of the Trade Federation. The man and Gungan seemed to be requesting supplies be sent to Ryloth, the people of which were starving. Lott Dod, however, mentions the Separatist blockade on the planet, and the king immediately becomes very angry and uncertain.

I stop in my tracks, only halfway to the throne. All eyes divert to me as the king adresses me, however.

"Sarli," he greets. "Come, come, my dear. Do not worry."

"Yes, master," I say quietly.

I finish walking to his side, and he turns his cheek to me. I know what he wants, but I don't want to give it. But I also do not want to be beaten in front of these strangers. Trying to hide the shiver that passes through me, I kiss King Katuunko's cheek.

"Ooh, a kiss," the Gungan exclaims. "But she no look like sheesa in love."

I groan inwardly. I had heard stories of Gungans' annoying speech patterns and statement of the obvious. King Katuunko, however, ignores him.

"Sarli, tell me," he says, "what do you think of this? Asking for my aid to Ryloth without mentioning the blockade around the planet."

I meet eyes with the man beside the Gungan. Assumably, he's the one who made the request. He looks like a senator, judging by his robes and clean face. He watches me, his face a mixture of concern and vague recognition. I look back to the king.

"I think it unceasingly rude to leave out such a detail, master," I admit, trying to copy the way a senator would speak, so I don't sound quite so stupid in my clone speech. "But, even still, lives are at stake, and Ryloth needs the supplies if its people are to continue on."

The king nods. "Wise words, girl," he agrees. "We will speak to my council. Sarli, make sure our guests are comfortable until then."

I nod and lead the senator and the Gungan to a waiting area. Lott Dod follows, but keeps his distance.

"I am Senator Organa. You look familiar, Sarli," the senator tells me, eyeing the bruises on my arms and the burn scars from Ventress' saber on my sides. "Do you know anyone from the Senate?"

I shake my head. I don't. But I should say something. If he thinks I look familiar, maybe he could help me...

"I am a clone cadet," I say in a hushed voice. "A mutation. Thats probably why I look familiar. Do you know General Skywalker? Is he safe?"

"General Skywalker is fine for the time being," the senator assures. "He is one of the Jedi who sent me here, to get supplies for Ryloth. Now tell me, how did a clone cadet get sold into slavery?"

I briefly explain of my capture and the trap set for General Skywalker. I leave out details of my torture and time as a slave. He doesn't need to know everything.

"You have been through much, little one," Senator Organa sighs. "Master Skywalker and Captain Rex are still looking for you. Tell me your true name, and maybe I can give them a message."

"CT-7897," I answer quietly. "My brothers, the clones, call me Blitz."

The council gathers shortly thereafter, and I am ordered back to the king's side.

"We will now hear arguments in the matter of using Toydarian territory to aid the shipment of relief supplies to the citizens of Ryloth," King Katuunko explains to the council. "Senator Organa."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," the senator begins. "The operation the Republic proposes is purely humanitarian. We wish to deliver food and medical supplies to the people of Ryloth. But if you won't listen to me, Wise King, listen to Senator Orn Free Taa of Ryloth, who is well aware of the suffering of his people."

A hologram appears before the king of a rather large Twi'lek.

"Your Highness," the Twi'lek greets. "Our cities lie in ruins. Our transportation hubs are all but destroyed, so I cannot return home. Our crops burn. The Twi'lek people are starving. And they will die if no aid comes to them. I appeal you, Great King."

The hologram finishes and disappears.

"We must act," a council member says. "This is a crisis of planetary proportions. The basic tenets of our morality and even our constitution demand that we help those in need."

"Those ideals are noble," another councilman starts, "but we must be careful that our compassion does not draw us into this war."

"Senator Dod, if you please," the king continues.

"Great King," Lott Dod beseeches. "Senator Organa is deceiving you. The inconvenient fact remains that this is a war, and Ryloth is a battlefield. The planet is under a Separatist blockade because Jedi Knights and clone soldiers are battling the droid army for control of the surface. This will not be a humanitarian base. It will be a military base. The Separatist Senate will see it as a violation of your neutrality. That, in turn, will expose the Trade Federation's ships to attacks from the Separatists and force us to cease trade with Toydaria, a situation desirable to no one."

"We must consider how it will effect our economy," a councilman points out.

"Your Majesty," Senator Organa calls out. "The people of Ryloth did not ask to be invaded. Do not let them suffer because war came to them."

"I sympathize with the plight of the Twi'leks," Lott Dod interupts. "But this is not about saving them when they are fighting against the Separatists."

"Thank you, Senators," King Katuunko says, cutting off the debate. "You have given us much to consider. I will summon you once I have made my decision."