Cadet Captured

15. Camp on Kadavo

Captain Rex, General Kenobi, and I are sent to work in what appears to be one giant boiler room, shoveling rocks.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi," the head Zygerrian says from his floating chair. His name is Keeper Agruss. "Once a Jedi Master, now a Jedi slave. You couldn't even stop us from taking your young apprentice. Pitiful." He looks at me. "Speaking of which, how did such a fine creature get snatched up by the Jedi?" he asks, running a hand along my face.

I shiver, still only in my slave bikini, and Rex pulls me away from Agruss, pushing me behind him. The action earns Rex a whipping, but he says he doesn't regret it.

"Everything about this place is designed to shatter the will," General Kenobi sighs as another slave is whipped again. "It's already begun to affect these poor people."

A whip cracks across General Kenobi's shoulder. "Speech is forbidden!" a Zygerrian shouts.

"I'm sorry," Kenobi apologizes calmly. "It won't happen again."

"There will be punishment," the man spits, whipping the Togrutan on the general's other side.

"No, stop," General Kenobi pleads. "It's my mistake. Leave him alone!"

"Now a slave gives me commands?" the Zygerrian asks. He pushes his electrified spear to my throat, causing me to scream in pain. "Beg," he tells Kenobi as another Zygerrian whips the Togrutan again. "Beg me, before these two die because of you!"

"Please," Kenobi complies, kneeling on the ground. "Forgive me, Master."

The Zygerrian laughs and walks away. General Kenobi takes my shoulder. I shake my head, and he turns to the Togrutan.

"Stay away from me," the Togrutan begs. "Jedi only make things worse."

That evening, as we eat dinner, a horrible slop, a Zygerrian kicks over General Kenobi's bowl. Kenobi raises a fist, and the Zygerrian raises a whip. Kenobi lowers his fist, sighing, and retrieves his bowl. I look down, what little appetite I had gone. When the Zygerrians aren't watching, I pour what's left of my slop into the bowl of a teenage Togrutan beside me.

At night, laying on the cold floor between the general and captain , I fall into a nightmarish sleep, filled with images of King Katuunko and the Zygerrians. General Kenobi wakes me, but his soft words offer no comfort. Instead, Captain Rex silently places an arm around my shoulders and shakes his head at Kenobi, knowing from experience that I never want to talk about my nightmares.

The next morning, General Kenobi, Captain Rex, and I are brought before Keeper Agruss. We are shocked and pushed until we are on our knees in front of him.

"Someone wishes to speak with you," he tells us.

A hologram of Count Dooku appears before us.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi," Dooku greets. "And is that clone trooper Blitz? Or should I say Sarli? In chains once again, I see."

I flinch at the use of the name Katuunko had given me, but refuse to meet Captain Rex's eyes as he glances at me.

"Count Dooku," Kenobi adresses. "Still afraid to get your hands dirty."

"I would gladly make an exception in your case, my friend," Dooku says. "I wanted to say a proper farewell before Keeper Agruss puts you to death."

Agruss grins at us. "Except maybe not the girl," he smirks. "She would make a fine personl slave, I should think."

I feel Rex stiffen beside me. Then, another Zygerrian announces an unscheduled ship landing outside the base.

"Skywalker," Agruss guesses.