Woman without a Country

"I wish I hadn't let Goto go with them," grumbled Ludmilla. "Now I have no idea when they'll be back."
Atton handed her a cup of warm tea and a plate of food without speaking.
"I'm being early morning grumpy, aren't I," she laughed. "Sorry." She sipped the tea gratefully. "Oh, you are so good to me," she whispered, and kissed Atton on the cheek.
He grinned. "All I did was put extra sugar in it."
"And it's delicious!" Ludmilla ate her food, and looked over at Mical and Bao-Dur, who were still asleep. "I should wake them up."
"It's their own fault," said Kreia acidly. "They stayed up half the night talking."
"What were they talking about?" asked Atton curiously. "They just met."
"They were talking about broken things," Kreia answered.
Bao-Dur opened an eye, and looked at Kreia without speaking.
"Get up," Kreia snapped. "We have an idiot to rescue."
"Rescue? I'm just delivering a message," Ludmilla grumbled. "He can rescue himself."
Atton handed her a plate of berries drenched in honey.
"Oooh!"
Mical sat up in confusion, probably trying to figure out where the noise was coming from, and Atton handed him a cup of coffee. "Oh, thank you," said Mical. "Where - what - "
"Just drink the coffee," Atton suggested. "How long does it take you to wake up in the morning?" he asked curiously.
"I'm awake," said Mical blearily. "I need some water first. And a shave," he mumbled. He sniffed the coffee. "Oh, wonderful," he murmured happily, and wandered off to perform his morning ablutions.
"How did you know he was a coffee drinker?" asked Ludmilla.
Atton blushed. "I went through his stuff."
"Atton!" She shook her finger at him. "Bad!" She reached out and poked Bao-Dur. "Get up, old man, before the Republic spy drinks all the coffee."
Bao-Dur grumbled something uncomplimentary, and got up. "I'm getting too old to sleep on the ground."
"What are you talking about? Dantooine has the softest ground anywhere, except for the beach on Coruscant, which only wins because it's always the perfect temperature."
"It's too loud," he grumbled. "Skwirrets chattering, owls hunting, insects buzzing. Jedi throwing rocks."
Ludmilla snickered.
"What's a skwirret?" Atton asked.
Ludmilla and Bao-Dur pointed at the small fuzzy creature sitting next to Atton, waiting for another nut. It helpfully made a chattering noise, to remind Atton that it was waiting.
"Oh." Atton poked it, and it made even more noise, and he grinned before handing it some more food.
"You aren't supposed to feed those," said Mical as he returned from the small stream. "It just encourages them."
Atton shrugged. "Not much different from anyone else around here." He handed Mical a plate of fresh fruit and cream, with a gently warmed roll of buttered bread.
"Oh, thank you," Mical took the plate, and stared at it for a second.
"Just eat it," said Atton. "You can yell at me for violating your privacy after breakfast." He handed Mical a bowl of cream for his coffee.
Mical took the cream and sighed, then sat down to eat his breakfast. He looked up, and noticed Atton watching him. "What are you doing?"
Kreia sipped her chocolate. "The boy wants to know how you like your coffee," she explained. "That way he can have more time to annoy you in the morning."
Mical tried not to laugh. "Where did you find all this food?"
"Rations from the ship," said Atton calmly.
"This is your idea of rations?" Mical laughed. "That almost makes up for you reading all of my expense reports."
Atton grinned, and went to get Bao-Dur his coffee and breakfast.
They finished eating and broke up camp. "Would you like me to go back to the spaceport and wait for our companions?" asked Kreia.
"Please say yes," pleaded Atton.
Ludmilla tried to frown at Atton. "If you wouldn't mind, Kreia, I would really appreciate it. I'm a little worried about them."
Kreia nodded. "I shall return to Khoonda. And don't think I'm ignoring you, boy. I'm just giving you credit for that chocolate pastry."
Atton grinned, and they walked over to the kinrath caves while Kreia returned to the spaceport to wait for the return of the Ebon Hawk. The caves were somewhat foreboding, but the mercenaries had installed lighting throughout the cave system.
"Shouldn't there be a guard?" asked Bao-Dur.
"There's someone," Atton pointed at a mercenary who was carefully examining the walls. "But he's not guarding."
"It looks like he's taking samples," said Bao-Dur in confusion. "Excuse me, are you doing a survey on the geological deposits?"
The mercenary jumped in surprise, and turned around. "What the - don't sneak up on me like that," said the mercenary, a Twi'lek, holding a small sample case and a collection of datapads. "These tunnels are too dark, I've asked for more light but they're always complaining about power draw and resources. How is a man supposed to do any research under these conditions?"
"What are you doing?" asked Atton curiously.
"I'm taking samples from the bedrock here, trying to determine what causes the peculiar formations of crystals in this cave," the Twi'lek explained. "These caves are filled with kinrath, by the way. I hear they're pretty dangerous."
"They don't seem to be bothering you," Ludmilla observed. "Are you seriously studying rocks?"
"Geology is my passion," declared the mercenary seriously. "Working as a mercenary lets me travel all over the galaxy and research all kinds of strata and cave formations. This one is particularly interesting, I've never seen crystals like these. They seem to form spontaneously, and their composition is completely separate from the mineral deposits located in the cave."
"I don't think I've ever heard anything so boring in my life," said Atton quietly.
"Shhh," said Bao-Dur and Mical together. The mercenary continued talking about silicates and speleothems, and Atton turned to Ludmilla, who shrugged and held out her hand to him. While Mical and Bao-Dur began discussing the cave with the mercenary guard who wasn't guarding, she wrapped her arms around him, and held him close.
"How much longer can they talk about this stuff?" Atton whispered.
"I have no idea," Ludmilla confessed. "Do I sound like that when I talk about weapons?"
Atton shook his head. "You're always interesting to listen to. Do I sound like that when I talk about cooking?"
"Oh, no," she shook her head. "Just listening to you talk about a recipe makes me hungry."
"They're talking about rocks. What's that supposed to do?"
"It makes me want to throw one," Ludmilla grinned.
"Are we boring you, General?"
"Yes, but you knew that. So, how do you get past the kinrath, Mr. Geologist?"
"Oh, that's a trade secret," said the geologist mercenary. "I can't tell you."
"Sure you can," Ludmilla grinned. "We're all friends here. Right?"
"Oh, that is true. I suppose I could tell you. We all have glands taken from the kinrath. The scent makes the other kinrath think we are one of them."
"Did you just use the Force to change his mind?" Mical whispered in surprise.
Ludmilla smiled.
"I only have one gland on me, though. I could extract another for you if you need one, but it would take hours."
"Thank you for the offer, but we'll be fine. The camp is at the rear of the caves, right?"
"Yes," the geologist mercenary confirmed, "head a little to the west. If you go east, you'll walk into a nest of kinraths and the major crystal formations in the cave."
"Thanks again," Ludmilla waved to the mercenary and started walking away.
"General, I can't help but notice you're heading east."
"What are you planning to do about all the kinraths?" asked Mical.
Ludmilla activated her lightsaber. "We're on a Force-sensitive planet, and there are crystals. I could use some more crystals for my lightsaber."
The kinrath were fearsome great insects that hunted by scent and sound. They also bred quickly, infesting whatever area they nested in, and tended to swarm their foes. However, they were no match for a Jedi weapon master like Ludmilla – especially when her skills were being boosted by Combat Meditation.
Mical stared at Atton after Ludmilla cleared the first nest, and was happily looting the kinrath eggs and crystal clusters seeking more crystals for her lightsaber. "You know Battle Meditation."
"No, I don't," said Atton, opening his eyes. "Not yet, anyway. I'm still learning." Atton dusted off his hands and trousers where he had been leaning against the wall. He looked around curiously. "What is that noise?"
"It sounds like someone singing," said Mical. He wanted to ask Atton more questions, but knew that this wasn't the time. He looked around the cavern, and the noise stopped. "That's odd."
"What is?" Ludmilla walked over to them, and the noise started again.
"It's coming from that crystal," said Bao-Dur, pointing to a half-hidden cluster beneath a pile of kinrath bodies.
"And it's only doing in when you're nearby," Atton pointed out, and helped Ludmilla clear away the kinrath corpses. As she got closer to it, the noise, a sweet and balanced tone, got louder. "It's the same noise you were making yesterday." Atton looked at her. "When you were being happy."
"He's right," Mical agreed. "I think this crystal is attuned to you."
Ludmilla smiled, and gently touched the cluster, and a small chunk of crystal fell into her hands. It was the perfect shape and size for use in a lightsaber, bright and brilliant, shining softly with a few metallic shards glinting in the center. Ludmilla held it up to the light, checking the crystal with an experienced eye. "Okay, now that's pushing it," she said softly.
"What?" asked Atton.
"Nothing." She carefully put the crystal away in her bag. "I need a workbench."
Atton looked curiously at her. "You don't seem pleased."
"I am," she smiled, "But, sometimes, the Force pushes a little hard." She sighed. "Let's go find Master Vrook."
They retraced their steps, and came to the mercenary camp.
"What the hell? Who are you people and how did you get through the kinrath?" snarled a mercenary who appeared to be in charge. "How did you get past that idiot guard?" she hissed. "He was looking at the walls again, wasn't he? I'm going to rip out his eyes."
"You look familiar," said Ludmilla. "Have we met?"
"Her name is Cedra Toln," said Mical sternly. "She and her twin sister Ledra are Azkul's lieutenants, and they have been wreaking havoc on the settlers here. They are slavers of the worst stamp." Mical looked at the force cage, where Master Vrook was watching the scene with a sour expression on his face. "And now it appears they have branched out into kidnapping."
"This isn't kidnapping, this is bounty hunting. We're going to turn in the Jedi and Ledra and I are going to settle down. Maybe buy a few spice mines."
"Oh dear," said Ludmilla under her breath.
"None of which is any of your business. Now take your herd of kath hounds and get the hell out of here. Unless you want to die."
"There's so much wrong with that plan, I don't even know where to start," grinned Atton. "Were you and your sister really close?"
"What? What did you just say?" The mercenary paled, and took a step away from Atton.
"Atton," Ludmilla growled. "That wasn't necessary."
"What did he mean by that?" she demanded, glaring at Ludmilla. The mercenary was shaking with rage.
Ludmilla sighed. The six mercenaries in the room readied their weapons as it became clear that the intruders weren't going to walk away. She drew her lightsaber and activated it. "I don't suppose there's any way we could talk this over peacefully?"
"It's a Jedi!" said one of the mercenaries in shock.
"Kill her, quickly, before she tries anything! Keep the Corellian alive, so we can ask him a few questions," the mercenary lieutenant snarled.
Ludmilla blocked the first two shots the mercenaries fired, bouncing them off her lightsaber to hit the walls beyond. She was amused but not surprised to see Mical fire at the mercenary woman. "Yeah, didn't think so," Ludmilla muttered to herself, and charged the largest group, her lightsaber flashing swiftly. Their blaster fire landed harmlessly on her lightsaber, and she killed the first one before they could switch to their melee weapons. Behind her, she could hear Atton's blasters and the heavy rifles that Mical and Bao-Dur were carrying. Another mercenary screamed and fell under her lightsaber, and the last one tried to throw a grenade at her.
Swift as thought, she caught the flying missile and hurled it back, instead of dodging and letting the grenade land behind her where the others were fighting. The grenade exploded in mid-air, which she had been prepared for but the mercenary hadn't – shrapnel ripped his armor apart, and he staggered back, stunned. Ludmilla quickly finished him off, then turned to deal with the last mercenary that her crew hadn't killed yet.
With a wild scream, the mercenary lieutenant charged at her, and Ludmilla growled in surprise as their blades crossed and her lightsaber flickered. The woman had a cortosis blade.
"I've killed people like you before," sneered the mercenary. "During the wars, when there were enough of you to be interesting."
"You've never killed anyone like me before," said Ludmilla shortly, and deactivated her lightsaber, breaking away from their deadlock.
The woman started in surprise, then moved to attack again. Ludmilla let her get close, blocked the first strike with her forearm, trusting to her armor. She followed up with a brutal kick to the mercenary's midsection, then a downward strike at her neck. The blow landed with a gruesome crunching noise, and the woman crumpled and fell, her eyes staring sightlessly at the ceiling.
"I guess they really were twins," sighed Ludmilla. "Atton, turn around," she commanded sharply.
"What? Oh, sure, I'll just … sit here. Not looking at you." Atton walked carefully to the entrance of the chamber and sat down, shaking slightly.
Mical followed him. "Are you all right?" He looked at Atton. "You're hyperventilating."
"Yeah, wait – you're a medic?" Atton pushed Mical away. "Go help her!"
Mical looked over at Ludmilla in surprise. She was leaning on Bao-Dur, and pulling a short, wicked-looking knife from her stomach. Ludmilla coughed slightly, and wiped her mouth, frowning at the blood on her hand. She muttered something in Mandalorian under her breath.
"That didn't sound like a compliment, General," smiled Bao-Dur.
"Don't make me laugh," she gasped, and spat out a little more blood.
Mical rushed over in horror, and made her sit down on a nearby crate so that he could tend to her wound. He pulled out a medkit, and started working quickly. "That blade was poisoned," he said quietly. "It was a Sith blade, wasn't it?"
Bao-Dur walked to the controls of the force cage and deactivated it.
Master Vrook stepped out of the cage, and walked over to Ludmilla. "Excuse me, young man," he said sharply.
Mical stepped away, and let the Jedi Master use the Force to draw out the poison and heal the ugly wound. Ludmilla sighed in relief as some of her pain faded away.
"Thanks," she smiled ruefully at Master Vrook.
"Always rushing into action without thinking of the consequences," snapped Master Vrook. "Khoonda is in danger, and you just ruined the best chance to avoid a conflict!"
Mical picked up his medkit, and walked over to where Atton was sitting. He didn't trust himself to speak in front of Master Vrook. "Here, drink this," he handed a small cup to Atton. "It's a mild sedative," he said reassuringly.
Atton looked at him in surprise, and drank the medicine without comment.
"Good to see you, too," smiled Ludmilla. "It's good to know some things never change, and that you've managed to hold to your sunny disposition even in these trying times."
"Is this a joke to you?" Master Vrook glared at her. "People's lives are at stake."
"I noticed," Ludmilla said, still smiling. "And your defense of that cage was a remarkable effort to help. I'm glad I was in time to see it."
Bao-Dur turned away to hide a laugh, and Mical shook his head.
"Do you honestly believe six mercenaries could keep a Jedi master hostage? You still have no faith in the Jedi Council."
"I don't think you really followed that fight. I wasn't trying to rescue you. I wouldn't have let you out of that cage if it hadn't been for the Sith blade." Ludmilla stood up, towering over the older man. "If you really want to keep trying to save Dantooine from inside a cage, you're welcome to get back in there."
"When an opponent believes that you are defeated, they no longer consider you a threat - and they relax their guard, become bold. After I was captured, they talked freely of their plans, enough for me to learn their intentions."
"Oh," said Ludmilla in mocking surprise. "An actual plan. One second though, I want to read what the datapad on this woman's body says. I might learn something of their intentions." She picked up the datapad.
Master Vrook growled in irritation. "Right now Dantooine is at a critical moment. If Khoonda falls, then the Republic will lose control of this system. Every action has consequences, no matter how small or insignificant they seem - and even the smallest choice has the potential for harm. The Mandalorian conflict was proof of this. Intentions mean nothing if a greater tragedy is caused."
"Oh, look, the mercenaries are planning to attack Khoonda and take over the spaceport. Huh. Looks like the attack is planned for tomorrow. If only someone could walk back to the Administrator and let her know of Dantooine's danger!" Ludmilla glared at him. "Walking. Not sitting in a cage. What are your intentions going to cause, Master Vrook?"
"And you think rushing into battle does any good?" He gestured contemptuously at the blade on the floor. "You caused that blade to be here. Your actions in the Mandalorian conflict led to the Jedi Civil War, to the rise of the Sith in the galaxy, to this woman being here with a poisoned blade and ready to kill you. These are the echoes of your actions; these are the results of your choices."
Ludmilla snarled, trying to get through the blinders that he wore. "And you were sitting in a force cage. The entire time. How was that supposed to help? Who was that supposed to help? Inaction is a choice, just as much as fighting is."
"We have all seen and lived through the results of your choices. We will never know what would have happened if you had trusted to the wisdom of the Council."
"Well, I can tell you what's going to happen to Khoonda if you sit around and wait," Ludmilla retorted. "Or did you have an actual plan?"
Master Vrook frowned, and drew back slightly, as if struck.
Ludmilla smiled, and waited.
"I cannot deny that it seems that the Force has brought you here for a reason," he said reluctantly.
Bao-Dur laughed openly, then pretended it was a cough and walked over to join Mical and Atton at the entrance.
"Your companions seem to have the same level of respect for the Jedi Council that you do," said Master Vrook sharply. "Khoonda is in great danger. It seems that the mercenaries here have gotten secret backing, probably from the Exchange. No doubt they plan to turn Dantooine into a center for their illicit activities."
"Really?" said Ludmilla. "I'll have to ask Goto about that. He didn't mention it."
"What?
"Nothing," she grinned. "Never mind."
"I'm going to try and reach Administrator Adare, and start coordinating the station's defenses."
"Yeah, she was pretty – worried about you," Ludmilla coughed delicately.
"How dare you!" Master Vrook raged. "Do not seek to impose your own shameless nature on people who still respect the code of the Jedi."
"I'm just saying, you're not the only one who respects Jedi, if you know what I mean," Ludmilla snickered. "Go on, before you burst a blood vessel or something. I'll save your precious Khoonda, and your pretty – worried Administrator."
Master Vrook didn't bother to answer her, and walked out of the cave without another word.
Mical knelt down and started putting his things away in his pack so that Master Vrook wouldn't notice him. When the outraged Jedi Master was finally gone, he helped Atton to his feet as Ludmilla rushed over.
"Are you all right?" she asked worriedly.
Atton smiled at her. "I'm fine, just a little woozy from whatever Mical gave me. I can still cook though!"
Ludmilla laughed joyously, and let Atton lean on her, gently kissing his cheek.
"That guy is a piece of work," Atton laughed. "I was going to tell Mical to give him a dose of whatever he gave me, and see if it made him calm down." Atton snuggled closer to her, calmed and happy to be the center of attention.
"The only thing that would make Master Vrook calm down would be a bat to the back of the head," Mical snapped.
Atton looked at him in surprise, and Ludmilla laughed again.
"I apologize," said Mical with a sigh. "He gets on my nerves."
Atton tried standing on his own, as an experiment, and stumbled slightly. Mical caught him before he fell, and helped him stand properly. "Oh, thanks."
Ludmilla smiled, and walked over to search the bodies for any other datapads or useable equipment. Bao-Dur joined her, also grinning in quiet amusement.