The twins are nineteen. They are sent on a mission
to investigate claims of slavery on a New Republic planet called Tindor.
What they discover will change all their lives. Oh, and I'd rate this about
R, since there is hinting at sexual abuse and later there are a few violent
and otherwise questionable scenes.
Part 1
On Tindor there was a joke; There were three seasons
on this planet; Hot, Muggy and, Hot and Muggy. all right, so it wasn't
a very funny joke, but it was accurate. Tindor was a Rainforrest world.
Hotter and more humid than most, but still within the range that most species
could live in. This morning, as Ania left her hut, she knew it was going
to be
a hot day. The morning was misty, and the sun not
yet risen completely. The morning dew still clung everywhere. And yet,
the normally cool morning was already a little warm. Today was definitely
going to be hot. This would not make the day's work easier.
Jacen, Jaina and their friends were camping out in
the forests of Yavin 4 again. Jacen and Jaina had set up camp and were
waiting for their friends to arrive. Somehow these outings always managed
to be cut short...maybe this time, mused Jacen. He never completed the
thought. He was interrupted by a noise in the bushes. He jumped to an
attentive stance as Zekk stumbled into the clearing.
Relieved, Jacen smiled, "You startled me, Zekk. I'm glad you were finally
able to make it, though."
"Me too," Jaina joined in, "I'm really tired of
animal attacks. I love the academy, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I
wish my Uncle had chosen a spot without so much....um..violent life."
"Sorry to disappoint you guys, but your uncle sent
me to get you. It would appear we have a mission." As Zekk spoke, he caught
Jaina out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't help it, he had to turn
and stare. Her soft features were lit in a gentle light from the fire.
She was wearing shorts and a tank top, exposing her shoulders and legs
to the warm light....this was insane. This was not a sappy romance novel.
This was his best friend and they were about to go on a mission, and all
he could think about was how the fire light made her look? He had to stop
this.
Jacen did not like the look passing between Jaina
and Zekk. As cliched as the overprotective brother thing was...this was
his sister. He knew she was capable of taking care of herself, but...He
looked at Jaina, then at Zekk, and back at Jaina again. "I guess we should
go see Uncle Luke then, hmm?"
The comment broke the look. As they walked back
to the temple, though, Jacen saw them glancing at each other whenever they
got a chance. It had been obvious that they had a thing for each other
for a while, but this was a little much. He was beginning to get nervous.
And he couldn't be sure, it was dark, after all, but Jaina and Zekk both
looked like they were blushing...
Ania thought she had better get started waking everyone. Living with her in the one room hut were two other girls about her age, one boy about three years old, another boy about eight, and two girls about five. They were sleeping on the floor, or ground rather, huddled together with a blanket here and there, not really covering anyone. They were all thin and pale. The two older girls were Ania's best friends. The children, she tried not to get too attached to. They never seemed to live very long. Why anyone would buy slaves this young only to watch them die within a month, or a week more likely, was beyond her. Some of the prettier girls sometimes survived. They were taken away as concubines. she couldn't decide which was a worse fate. Memories inevitably were stirred by this train of thought...
...She was dressed in strange clothing. She was sitting on a bed, with thick purple curtains. Still bearly more than a child, tears stained her painted face. She didn't know what was going to happen, but she felt alone and scared...
Ania shook her head. She was not some sentimental sap. She was wasting time and energy. Besides, what was the point, the past cant be changed. She wasn't that girl anymore. Ania thought of her father as she woke the others and went about morning chores. Would life have been different with him? Probably, she admitted. It was strange to think of a man she had never known, and who had never known her. She was not a child anymore. She did not need a father. Still, her thoughts slipped to Jedi Master, Luke Skywalker.
Jacen definitely did not like this. In his Uncle's
office he could definitely tell that Jaina, and Zekk too for that matter,
were
blushing. This was not good. He liked Zekk. but
he didn't like Zekk liking his sister. At least, not like this. They were
staring at each other again...
Jaina was watching Zekk tie his hair back. She had
noticed that becoming a nervous habit of his. She wondered why he was doing
that now. Was he worried about the mission? Or perhaps...no, better not
to go there. After all, Jaina thought, this is your best friend, and as
attractive as he is, this was probably not a good idea. Zekk couldn't really
do anything but watch Jaina. He tried to look at other things, pay attention
to what was being said, but he couldn't help it, she was intoxicating,
addictive. The more he was with her, the more he wanted...OK, Zekk, back
off now. No doubt you like Jaina, but this could ruin your friendship.
He'd seen it happen to other people. He definitely could not stand to loose
Jaina. Tanel Ka was watching Jacen sulking. He was no doubt worried
about the obvious attraction between Jaina and Zekk. She couldn't help
but smile. It was just so...amusing. Jacen caught something out of the
corner of his eye. He
turned around and saw a rare sight indeed. Tanel
Ka was smiling. He began to smile as well. He was just upset about something
a moment ago....what could that be?...
"Hello, are any of you paying attention besides
Lowie?" Luke said, "Lowie can't even go with you, he has to go home, his
father is sick, so don't think you can rely on him to tell you what's going
on. You have to investigate claims of slavery on the Tibor, remember?"
"Sure Uncle Luke, we were listening," Jacen said,
"Tibor, slavery, investigate. Got it. Well I'll see you tomorrow morning."
Jacen feigned a yawn and stretched.
"Not so fast," Luke said, "Where is Tibor located
Jacen?"
Luke saw Tanel Ka open her mouth. "No help Tanel
Ka."
Jacen thought he was caught for sure. "Umm...Just
outside the Hapes cluster?"
"Lucky guess," Luke muttered, "OK. get some sleep.
I'll have some information about your mission entered into the Rock Dragon
computer. You know, just in case you forgot something I said."
Everyone smiled. Even Tanel Ka. Wow, twice in one
night, Jacen thought. This must be some sort of record.
"Hormones," Luke muttered. Actually his voice was
laced with amusement, not annoyment. Things were getting pretty intense
with his niece and nephew and their friends. Should be an interesting trip,
he mused. He had no idea how interesting it would be.
Ania pushed her dirty blond hair out of her face,
and tied it back in a simple knot. It was midday, and too hot for even
the cruelest of masters to make their slaves work, so the slaves were given
a measly midday meal. Ania forwent her food, and gave it to the children
she shared a hut with. Maybe she was just prolonging a miserable existence.
It wasn't worth thinking about. She made the grass blow back and
forth with the force. She couldn't remember learning the trick, but it
was relaxing. She thought again of how life would have been with her father,
or even her mother had she not been insane, or had she survived. She could
have lived with her mother and brother and visited her father. Now she
had no
mother, no brother, and really, no father. In a
lot of ways this was actually a lucky life. She was supposed to have been
a concubine. A lot of the mothers paint their daughters' faces hoping they
will be chosen as concubines and survive.
The concubines know better. Should a daughter inherit
their beauty, they slash their faces. The field slaves say it's jealousy.
They couldn't possibly know. It was time to work again. Ania helped up
a five year old girl. She was weak and skinny. Her skin was sunburned,
and she was suffering severely from malnutrition. She wouldn't make it
to the end
of the week.
Jaina slept deeply, and dreamed. She dreamed of a
girl with long, dirty blond hair, and green/grey eyes. She was skinny and
pale, obviously sickly. She was working, picking something thread-like.
Talking to a friend working near her. She was laughing quietly, and singing
a little. Her singing became odd...a flat tone, then beeping. Jaina awoke.
It was her alarm. Later that morning Jaina checked in on her brother, making
sure he was almost ready to leave. She poked his head in her brother's
room to see him feeding his animals.
"Oh, good morning, Jaina. I had the weirdest dream
last night. About a girl, with long dirty blond hair." Jacen said absent
mindedly. He continued talking. Something about his animals. Jaina wasn'treally
listening. She had a feeling this was going to be an interesting mission.