AKwxlady Obi Wans Daughter Part four Chapter two

The following winter Ki’tia was escorting Jorj and five of the other children about his age up one of the mountains near the Lake House for a day of sledding. The plan was to get Jorj out of the house so the others could set up a surprise 12th birthday party for him, but Jorj was strong in the Force and had known about the party for weeks. Still, a day in the sunshine and snow sounded like fun. The hike up the mountain was about 2.5 clicks to the sledding location. The children were aged 13 to 16 and in excellent physical condition. They were dressed warmly and carrying backpacks with food and drinks. The bead comlink in Ki’tia’s ear was the same one she used when she accompanied the men on missions, and kept her in contact with the Lake House.

The children were: Ny, age 16, daughter of Niner and Shae;  Walon, age 15, son of Atin and Laseema;  Gar, age 13, son of Rav and Varek, Rav being the daughter of Fi and Parja;  Jayn, age 16, daughter of Prudii and Vaaren ; and Jos, age 14, son of Kom’rk and Mari. Walon and Jorj were best friends, but all the children got along. It was a close knit clan.

“How come Etain couldn’t come?” Gar asked. “She’s taller than your mom.”

“Etain is helping to plan…ah,” Jorj stopped what he was about to say. “Etain is helping out in the kitchen.” Jorj’s glowing red eyes dimmed, as he tried to control his emotions. It was amazing how Ki’tia could understand the changes in her son’s Chiss eyes. Most people had trouble even looking at them because they glowed like red gems. She found them quite expressive, even beautiful. Like his father’s, the late Grand Admiral Thrawn of the Imperial Navy.

It was midafternoon, they had built a fire and were having lunch. It was a beautiful day. Ki’tia thought she heard a starship in the distance, but this was not the normal route for traffic between the spaceports. Offworld ships were strictly controlled. Planetary defenses were monitored at both the Lake House and the main spaceport near the ocean. Only ships with permission to land were allowed within the atmosphere and their exit routes were strictly detailed and monitored. Yet, she was sure the starship was getting closer.

Ki’tia clicked her back teeth to activate comlink, “Lake House, this is Ki’tia.” There was no response. “Lake House, please respond.” There was still no answer. “Ordo, Kal, can anyone hear me? This is Ki’tia. I think we have an offworld starship heading toward us.” She removed the bead. Its tiny light indicated it was working. She replaced it in her ear. It could not be seen from the outside. “Lake House, any of the Nulls or Omega can anyone hear me?” There was no answer.

“Mother,” Jorj came to her looking worried. “I sense danger.”

“So do I Jorj,” she replied. There was definitely the sound of a landing ship nearby. “Children listen to me! I think someone is coming to harm us. I want you all to run for the Lake House. Run in the trees as much as possible. If anyone makes it home. Tell them my comlink wasn’t working. Now, run! Go!”

Six children jumped to their feet and started running down the mountain, just as two speeders came over the top of the mountain. The speeders circled around the children forcing them to stop. Only Jayn and Jorj got away. The men on the speeders gathered the children back around the fire, where Ki’tia was, at blaster point.

“Well, well, two girls and three boys,” one of the men said. “I would have liked more girls, they go for more, but at least these are pretty.” Ki’tia realized the men though she was a child. She was the shortest in the group. She hoped the children wouldn’t give her away.

“Should we go after the two that got away?” another man asked.

“No, get these to the ship,” the first commanded. “Let’s get out of here, before help arrives. You know how these people are.”

The men forced Ki’tia and the children into the speeders and took off over the mountain. They drove the speeders directly onto a freighter.

“Get off,” the leader said to her and the children. “No talking.”

Ki’tia could feel the children’s fear. She used her Force powers and the A’nir to send calming sensations to the children. They moved quietly in the direction the men told them to go. They were put in the freighter’s hold with other cargo and locked in. She could feel the ship take off and accelerate through the atmosphere. Ki’tia decided to risk trying the comlink again. She clicked her back teeth to activate the comlink and spoke softly. “Lake House come in. Nulls, Omega do you copy?”

“Ordo here, Ki’tia. Jorj just arrived and told us what happened. We’ve cleared the jamming and are tracking you. We’re getting ready to pursue.”

“Ordo, I think they are slavers,” Ki’tia whispered. “They were looking for young girls, especially.”

“We will get you back,” Ordo said. “I think they are about to go to hyper…” He was cut off as the ship Ki’tia and the children were in made the jump to hyperspace.

“We’ll be okay children,” she tried to reassure them. “The family knows we’ve been taken. They will come for us.”  The kids moved closer to her. “Don’t let them know that I’m an adult. I need to stay with you all.”

“We understand, Ki’tia,” Walon said. “Did Jorj make it home okay?”

“Yes he did, he’s fine.” She pulled Gar onto her lap. She could feel his fear. “We’ll be fine, too.”

Back at the Lake House at the Planetary Defense Center they were going over the location data.

“I’ve got a direction of their jump,” Kom’rk reported. “Let’s go!” He’d jumped up from the console.

“Hold on a minute Kom’rk,” Prudii put a hand on his brother’s arm.

“No, Prudii!” Kom’rk shook off his brother’s hand. “My son is out there! I say we go. Now!”

“Udesii, ner vod, ” Ordo said, “Calm down, brother. Let’s get a better idea of where we are going, first.” Kom’rk nodded. “That ship had to have clearance to be in our atmosphere. What ships landed in the last two days.”

“Other than our people from Kyrimorut,” Jaing read off his datapad, “just one delivery of nerf meat from the Dwaag Brothers on Taanab.”

“Taanab is in the Inner Rim,” Prudii brought up a holo map of the area, “and is along the hyperspace jump trajectory of the ship that took Ki’tia and the children.”

“Get the rest of the Nulls and Omega together,” Ordo commanded. “Now, we go!” The brothers slapped each other on their backs, to general shouts of agreement.

The mothers of the missing children wanted to accompany the men on the rescue mission.

“Absolutely not,” Ordo commanded. “You ladies are not combat trained, and I will not put you at risk.” The mothers continued to complain.

“Ladies, I agree with Ordo,” Kal interrupted their arguments, “but, I am coming along.”

“Buir, no,” Ordo turned to him. “You haven’t been on a mission in years.”

“Someone may need to intervene with Taanab security at Pandath,” Kal explained. “I’m still better qualified to engage bureaucrats than any of you. I’m coming.” Kal’s expression left nothing to be discussed. He boarded Aay’han, the DeepWater-class, heavily armed, light freighter used by Clan Skirata.

Ki’tia and the children remained locked in the hold throughout the long flight. After the ship landed the man who had been in charge opened the hold door.

“You, the oldest,” he pointed at Ki’tia, “get the others and get out the door here.” He indicated the way with his blaster.

“Come on everyone,” Ki’tia gathered the children and made their way out of the hold. When they exited the freighter, she noticed they were on a narrow strip of beach next to an ocean. They were being marched toward a large building that looked like it had been built for storage.

“Derim, get the door,” the man with the blaster behind them said to the other man who had been on the freighter. Derim opened the door to the storage building. Ki’tia could hear voices inside, and she felt terror from many children.

“Shut-up you kids!” Derim yelled into the storage building. “Or, I’ll let Tinlow loose on you, again.” The children’s voices ceased and the level of terror in the Force rapidly increased. Whoever Tinlow was the children inside the building were terrified of him, or her.

Ki’tia reached the door by Derim, the children behind her. “Welcome to your new home,” Derim sneered. He pushed Ki’tia through the door. She was amazed at the size. There were over fifty children, mostly teenagers, sitting or lying on cots. The room was crowded, and littered with plate of half-eaten food and drink bottles on the cots and floor. “I only got three more cots,” Derim said, “so some of you’ll have to share.” He pushed Ny and Gar toward three empty cots off to the right.

The other man from the ship came in the building and looked around. “I told you kids to clean this place up!” He yelled. He grabbed one of the girls sitting on a cot and threw her toward a pile of plates.

“Careful not to hurt her Pumm,” Derim said. “Tinlow said they’d only pay if they was in good shape.”

Pumm walked over to Ki’tia. She and the Munin children were sitting on two of the empty cots. He grabbed Ki’tia by the chin and held her face up to look at it. “You look older than the rest,” he leered at her. “Maybe too old for what Tinlow wants. Maybe I keep you for myself, we got three extra anyway.” Pumm licked his lips and turned Ki’tia’s head side to side. “Why don’t you take your hair out of that braid and let me see how soft it is?” He started to pull at Ki’tia’s hair.

“Maybe you should let Tinlow see me first,” Ki’tia said. “He might decide he wants me for himself. You wouldn’t want to take a prize like me from Tinlow.” She was taking a chance, but the sense she was getting through the Force whenever anyone said Tinlow’s name was definitely male, and aggressive.

The door to the building slammed open. “Get away from that girl!” A man yelled as he came over toward Ki’tia and Pumm. He backhanded Pumm away from her. “I told you not to touch the girls!”

“This one’s older, Tinlow,” Pumm whined, rubbing his face, “and we got three extra now. You wanted sixty-five and we got sixty-eight.”

“You’ll get paid for the three extra,” Tinlow said. He looked at Ki’tia. “How old are you girl?”

As an A’nir she could not lie, but she could be vague. “I don’t know my exact age,” Ki’tia replied, looking demure.

Tinlow studied her a little longer, then looked at the other children from Munin. “She’s fine.” He turned to Pumm. “The transport ship will be here in forty-three hours. You and your stupid brother will get your credits then. Make sure the children are ready.” He left.

“Yes, Tinlow,” Pumm replied, practically saluting. “They’ll be ready.”

When Pumm and Derim left the storage building they turned off the lights. It was getting dark outside. Ki’tia waited over an hour and then went to talk with the other children. She made her way to the center of the room. “How long have most of you been here?” She asked.

A young male voice in the dark relied, “most of us have been here about two to three weeks. Who are you?”

“Ki’tia, and I’m going to help you all.” Ki’tia answered. “Does anyone know what they have planned for us?”

A scared female voice near her said, “Derim and Pumm stole us from our homes. Tinlow is selling us to slavers.” Ki’tia felt a hand reach out to her. She took the young girl’s hand in her own and squeezed it.

“Listen,” Ki’tia said a little louder so the children could hear. “Our people know we were taken and are following. They will come for us.”

The little girl holding her hand said, “Will they take all of us home?”

“They won’t leave any of you here to be taken by Tinlow or his slaver friends,” Ki’tia said. “I promise.” She spent several hours walking among the children comforting them. She listened to their fears and let them cry on her shoulder. She held the smaller ones until they fell asleep and held the hands of the older ones. It was a long night. About 7 hours after dark she heard a familiar click in her ear.

“Ki’tia, Ordo here,” she heard in here bead comlink. “We’re in the Taanab system. On our way to you. Do you have a sitrep?”

“Three men on site,” Ki’tia reported. “Sixty-seven, repeat sixty-seven children being held captive. Slaver transport ship due in approximately thirty-six hours…” The door to the storage building burst open and the lights came on. Ki’tia dove under the nearest cot.

“Who’s got the comlink?” Tinlow yelled. “Come out now or I start blasting kids.” He walked over to the three cots with the children from Munin. “Where’s the older girl?” He grabbed Gar, the youngest, and held him up above the cots. He held his blaster to Gar’s head. “Come out girl. You’ve got to be the one with the comlink. Give it to me now or I slot this kid.”

Ki’tia stood up and popped the comlink out of her ear. She held it out in her hand. “Here it is,” she said. “Here is my comlink.” She was walking through the cots toward Tinlow. He met her and took the comlink from her hand. He dropped it to the floor and stomped on it with the heel of his boot, crushing it. Then he backhanded Ki’tia, knocking her to the floor. Tinlow tried to kick her in the head, but she anticipated the kick and moved out of the path of his boot. He lost his balance and she pushed with the Force, causing him to land on the floor and lose his blaster. Ki’tia pulled the blaster to her hand and held it on Tinlow. “That’s enough,” she said to Tinlow. “Jos, Walon, Ny, Gar,” she called the Munin children. They came running to her. “Find something to bind his hand and legs. The cords from your jackets might work.” The kids quickly pulled the cords from their jackets and started binding Tinlow’s hands behind his back. They bound his legs and feet.

“What about the other two?” Jos asked.

“Do Pumm and Derim know about the transmission?” Ki’tia asked Tinlow. He just looked at her and spit. Ki’tia shook her head. “My guess is he didn’t have time to tell anyone else about it.”

“Pumm and Derim usually come in about this time with our breakfast,” one of the other children said.

“Ny,” Ki’tia said, “find something to cover his mouth, to keep him from talking.” She pointed to Tinlow. Ny nodded and stuffed a glove into Tinlow’s mouth. He struggled and Jos held his head. She tied the glove in place with more cord. “Everyone get back to bed and someone turn off the lights. Hide Tinlow under our cots.” 	Walon and Jos lugged Tinlow over to their cots and rolled him underneath. One of the other children turned off the lights and everyone tried to settle down.

Earlier onboard Aay’han, “Coming out of hyperspace in the Taanab system,” Mereel reported.

“I’ve got a lock on Ki’tia’s comlink,” Jaing said. “The signal is coming from a small island on Taanab near the equator.”

“Ki’tia, Ordo here,” he tried her comlink code. “We’re in the Taanab system. On our way to you. Do you have a sitrep?”

“Three men on site,” Ki’tia reported. The men in Aay’han cheered. “Sixty-seven, repeat sixty-seven children being held captive. Slaver transport ship due in approximately thirty-six hours…” She stopped talking. A man was yelling in the background. They couldn’t make out all of what he was saying  “Come out now or I start blasting kids.”  “Come out girl. You’ve got to be the one with the comlink. Give it to me now or I slot this kid.” Then they heard Ki’tia’s voice once more. “Here it is,” she said. “Here is my comlink.”

Ki’tia’s comlink went dead. The men stared at each other.

“She can handle herself,” Kal said. “She’ll be fine.”

“Did she say sixty-seven children?” Niner asked.

“And the Slaver ship will be there in thirty-six hours,” Atin added.

“Get us there, Mereel,” Ordo ordered.

About an hour later Derim and Pumm pushed big food service carts into the building with Ki’tia and the children. “Okay, kids, breakfast,” Derim yelled, turning on the lights. “You all know the drill.” The children lined up to get bottles of water and juice, and trays with cereals and fruits.

“I tell ya, it’s strange Tinlow disappearing like this on the last day,” Derim said to Pumm. “He’s never done nothin’ like this before.”

“And I say he’s just walkin’ around the island,” Pumm argued. “Maybe he took that older blond with him, after all.” Pumm looked around the room. “I don’t see her in here, anywhere.” Ki’tia was on the floor with Tinlow, making sure he kept quiet. She was hidden by the other Munin children on their cots. “I’m gon’na make him pay me extra for her, I am.”

They left the food service carts and walked to the door. “You kids be ready to leave tonight after dark.” Derim yelled to the room. “That’s when your ride’ll be here.” The two brothers laughed as they exited the building and locked the door.

“When will your people be here?” one of the children ask Ki’tia.

“In a few hours,” Ki’tia answered. She had no way to contact them. She had changed the setting on Tinlow’s blaster to stun. The only Axiom of the A’nir was that she must not cause mortal harm to sentient beings. If she had to use the blaster, she could only do so with it set on stun. Tinlow didn’t know that, he just glared at her, his murderous feelings coming toward her through the Force.

Before midday Ki’tia and the children heard a starship fly overhead and land in the water nearby. There was a brief battle of blaster fire. The children were frightened. Then it was quiet outside.

“Children, get away from the door!” Ki’tia yelled. She and all the kids gathered against the back wall. In a moment the door to the building exploded open. Niner and Kom’rk rushed into the room. Jos and Gar jumped up and ran to them. “Buir.” “Ba’buir.”

Ordo entered next. “Where is the third man?” He asked looking around, his Verpine shatter gun pointing in all directions.

Ki’tia ran to Ordo. “Ordo!” she threw her arms around him and he struggled to catch her. “You don’t know how glad I am to see you!” The rest of the clone fathers had come into the building and were hugging their children. Ki’tia released Ordo and with a big smile said, “I have a surprise for you.” She took his gauntleted hand and led him over to where Tinlow was lying on the floor. “This is Tinlow.” Tinlow looked up at the towering man in full Mandalorian armor, and fear swept across his face.

“You should have seen Aunt Ki’tia, Uncle Ordo,” Walon was excitedly explaining. “She took Tinlow down. She really did!” Ordo removed his helmet and returned Ki’tia’s smile.

“He lost his balance trying to kick me in the head,” Ki’tia explained, “I just took advantage of the situation.” Ki’tia blushed at Walon’s exuberance.

“Nice job,” Ordo said, noticing the size of Tinlow. “We’ll see if we can get some answers out of him about who’s coming for all these children.”  Now Tinlow really looked scared. Kom’rk and Niner grabbed him and hauled him outside.

Ki’tia noticed Kal walking through the door. “Kal’buir!” She ran to him. “What are you doing here?”

“Just helping out, ad’ika,” he hugged Ki’tia, then he pointed to the rest of the children in the room. “You weren’t kidding about the sixty-seven children.”

“Sixty-three, with ours taken care of,” Ki’tia corrected. “We’ve got to get them back to their homes, Kal’buir. I promised.”  Kal pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Let me go contact security at Pandath,” he said. “That’s the main city on Taanab. They should be able to send someone to take the children out of here and see they get home.” Kal looked at all the kids one more time, shook his head and walked out of the building.

“Atin and Jaing are pulling data from the Dwaag Brothers’ freighter,” Ordo told Ki’tia, “and your friend Tinlow’s starship. They’re looking for any information about who might be coming to collect these children. When did you say the transport ship was due?”

“Sometime after dark,” Ki’tia told him as they walked toward the children. “Kids, this is Ordo, one of my brothers.” The children looked at Ordo in awe.

“Master Ordo,” one of the girls said. “Are you going to take us home?”

“You all won’t fit in our ship,” Ordo answered, “but, we’re going to find someone who will take you back home.”

Kal returned several minutes later looking furious. Ordo and Ki’tia rushed to him. “We’d better step outside,” he said to them. When they were far enough away from the door that the children inside could not overhear, he stopped.

“What’s wrong, Buir?” Ordo put a hand on his father’s arm, brow knitted in concern.

Kal pursed his lips. “Pandath Security referred me to Taanab Central Control,” Kal was practically spitting the words. “Taanab Central Control referred me to Taanab Children’s Services. Taanab Children’s Services inquired as to whether or not I had a permit to house sixty-three children on Taanab. When I explained we were not housing the sixty-three children, but that we discovered them when we were rescuing five of our own children who had been kidnapped by the Dwaag brothers. Then Taanab Children’s Services asked me if the Dwaag brothers have a permit to house sixty-three children, and I answered ‘I don’t know and the Dwaag brothers are dead.’ At that point Taanab Children’s Services ended our discussion.” Kal slapped one fist into his other hand.

Ki’tia buried her face in her hands, to keep Kal from seeing the laughter about to burst out. Ordo was furious like his father.

“Bureaucrats!” Ordo exclaimed. “We could take them a few at a time to the Pandath port and drop them off. Then Pandath Security would have to deal with them.”

“No!” Ki’tia said firmly. “I promised those children we would help get them home.” She looked Kal in the eyes. “Kal, they’re just kids, and they’re scared. Most of them have been here for two or more weeks. They’ve been very brave. We’ve got to help them get home.” She looked at Ordo. “Please.”

“Ki’tia, I’ll do what I can,” Ordo replied. “What do you suggest?”

Ki’tia thought for a moment. “These children are all from planets that belong to the New Republic. Let me call Coruscant and get them to help the children.”

“What makes you think Coruscant will listen to you?” Ordo asked her.

“I’ll do a little name dropping,” Ki’tia replied. Ordo and Kal looked confused. “My father’s name,” she added.

“That should get their attention,” Kal agreed. “Are you sure you want to do this, ad’ika? You won’t be able to hide from the Jedi any longer.”

“They still won’t know the location of our home world,” she answered, “and I can deal with the Jedi for as long as it takes to get these children back to their homes.” She looked at Kal and Ordo. “Just one thing,” Ki’tia hesitated, “when the Jedi learn about my existence, will Munin still be my home?” There were suddenly tears in her eyes.

“Always,” Kal took her into his arms. “You will always be my daughter and Munin will always be your home.” He hugged her tightly and wiped away a tear that had escaped down her cheek.

“And what about you, Ordo?” Ki’tia asked. “Will this come between us?”

Ordo placed a gloved hand on her shoulder. “We will deal with the Jedi, together,” he assured her, “and the Coruscanti.”

Ki’tia went aboard Aay’han and Mereel put through a communication signal to Coruscant Central Command.

“Urgent request to Coruscant Central Command from the daughter of the late Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. My family and I have rescued sixty-three children from slavers. At the time of the rescue we were seeking five of our own children. The additional children are being cared for, but we are not equipped to offer them transportation back to their home worlds. These children were taken from worlds belonging to the New Republic. I request your assistance to return them to their homes. The children are now located at coordinates transmitted with this message on the planet Taanab. Local resources are unwilling help. Please reply immediately with your availability to assist in this endeavor.”

“Now we wait,” Mereel said.

“Now we wait,” Ki’tia repeated.

They didn’t wait long. Within five minutes the following reply was received.

“Reply to Kenobi on Taanab. Two transport vessels will arrive at your coordinates in five hours. They will be accompanied by a fighter squadron. Thank you for your assistance on behalf of the children of the New Republic. Leia Organa Solo, Chief of State.”

Mereel broke into laughter when he read the message. “Chief of State,” he read. “You got their attention!” He patted Ki’tia on the back. She exchanged glances with Kal. He looked worried.

“I’m going to take a shower and change,” Ki’tia said. She headed to one of the refreshers on Aay’han. It was still morning after she had put on a clean tunic and pants. The rotation of Taanab was forty-six hours, so it was not even midday. Ki’tia encouraged the children to come out of the building to play on the beach. Fi and Atin built a fire in the sand and the kids started relaxing, feeling for the first time in weeks that they might truly be going home.

Just after midday there was a flyover of X-wing Starfighters. They dipped their wings at Aay’han. Before too long a YT-1300 Light Freighter landed on the grass just off the beach.

“I think I know that ship,” Ki’tia said as it settled.

“Where would you know it from?” Kal asked.

“I’m not sure,” she replied. “It just looks familiar.” Ki’tia, Kal and Ordo walked toward the ship. Most of the clones, dressed in full Mandalorian armor, followed closely behind.

The ship’s ramp descended and a couple walked down. The man was tall, with dark hair and a blaster in a holster slung low on his hip. The woman was dressed in white, with dark hair, braided into a crown on top of her head. Ki’tia watch the woman. She was very pretty, almost regal. Then she noticed the man again.

“Captain Solo?” she said in amazement. “Captain Han Solo?”

“Don’t I know you?” Solo pointed at Ki’tia.

“You know her?” The woman in white asked Solo. “How do you know her?”

“Chewy, get down here,” Solo yelled back into the ship. A Wookiee came down the ramp.

“Chewbacca!” Ki’tia called. Chewbacca looked at Ki’tia, recognized her, and then ran down the ramp, past the couple. He grabbed Ki’tia and wrapped her in a Wookiee hug, lifting her off the ground and growled a hello. “Yes it has been a long time. About thirteen years.” Kal, Ordo and the rest of the clones were looking on the scene in disbelief.

“Now I remember you,” Solo said, snapping his fingers at Ki’tia. “You were that girl we gave a ride to from Kashyyyk to Nal Hutta.”

“Would someone mind introducing her to me?” the woman in white said.

“I’m sorry,” Ki’tia removed herself from Chewbacca’s grasp and walked over to the other woman. She extended her hand. “I’m Ki’tia Skirata. I sent the message regarding the children.”

“Leia Organa Solo,” the woman said, taking Ki’tia’s hand. “Chief of State of the New Republic. I thought you said your father was Obi-Wan Kenobi. You just said your name is Skirata.”

“Obi-Wan Kenobi was my father,” Ki’tia assured her. “Allow me to introduce you to my adoptive father,” she took Organa Solo over to Kal and Ordo, “this is Kal Skirata, and his son Ordo.” Organa Solo shook hands with Kal and Ordo. Ordo was not wearing his helmet, but the other clones behind him were.

“Very pleased to meet you Ma’am,” Kal said.

“You’re Mandalorian,” Organa Solo said, indicating their armor.

“Not exactly,” Kal replied. “I’d like you to meet the rest of my sons. Buckets off!” The clones removed their helmets. Han and Leia’s mouths dropped open.

“You’re clones,” Han said.

“Former commandos of the Grand Army of the Republic to be exact,” Fi said, smiling. “I’m Fi Skirata.” He held out his hand to Han. Han shook hands with Fi and general introductions were made all around.

“Where are you all from?” Leia asked.

“We’d like to keep our home system private,” Ki’tia replied. “These men have not experienced the best treatment by the governments of the galaxy. I’m sure you understand. Right now, let’s see to getting these children off Taanab.” She looked at the Solo’s ship. “How many can you take in your ship?”

“Not nearly all of them,” Leia answered, “but we do have another transport ship on the way.” The engines of another ship could be heard approaching. Leia look skyward. “Here comes our second transport vessel,” Leia pointed to heavily modified Corellian Action VI transport vessel making an approach. Ki’tia watched the ship land and thought to herself, the Force certainly works in mysterious ways.

Leia led the way over to the newly arrived vessel as the captain and some of the crew disembarked. Leia said extending a hand, “Allow me to introduce…”

“Talon Karrde,” Ki’tia interrupted Leia, “it’s so good to see you, again.”

Karrde looked confused at Ki’tia, then his eyes widen as he recognized her. “Ki’tia!” he shouted and grabbed her hands. “It is good to see you! What in the stars are you doing here?”

Leia turned to Han, “Does everybody know her?” Han just shrugged his shoulders.

Kal and Ordo were coming up behind Ki’tia. “Talon, let me introduce you to some of my family.” She motioned to Kal, “this is my adoptive father, Kal Skirata,” Kal shook hands with Karrde. Then Ki’tia pulled Ordo forward, “and this is one of his sons, Ordo.” Ordo likewise shook hands with Karrde, his expression wary.

“But, I thought we were meeting the daughter of Obi-Wan Kenobi?” Karrde questioned.

“Oh, that’s me,” she replied.

“You didn’t tell me that bit of information the last time we met,” Karrde scolded her, “and you owe me for an escape pod.” Karrde was smiling at Ki’tia, but the reference to escape pod made the connection clear to Ordo. He took Ki’tia by the arm.

“May I see you for a moment?” Ordo was pulling Ki’tia away from the others, with Kal following them.

“Excuse me,” Ki’tia called over her shoulder. “We’ll be right back. Family business.”  They walked along the beach for several meters, until finally Ordo stopped and turned Ki’tia to face him. “Before you get any angrier,” she cutoff Ordo, “yes, Talon Karrde was the pilot who first brought me to Munin. No, I don’t know if he remembers where the planet is, he said he would erase it from his navigation system. Please, don’t be angry with me. There is no way I could have known this was going to happen.” She stood looking up into Ordo’s face.

Ordo gritted his teeth and exhaled sharply. Kal was standing next to them, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “It’s not your fault,” Ordo said, rubbing her arm where he had held it too tightly. Kal looked between the two of them, amazed at Ordo’s lack of fury, and slightly puzzled.

Several of the kidnapped children came running up to Ki’tia. “Ki’tia you said you’d go with us.” “This man wants us to get on that big ship, should we go?” “Ki’tia you promised we wouldn’t be alone.”  “Where are they taking us?”

“Children, children, just a minute,” Ki’tia tried to calm the dozens of children swarming around her, Ordo and Kal. She looked up and noticed another familiar face. “Chin!” She exclaimed recognizing one of Karrde’s crew.

“Miss Ki’tia, hee!” Chin smiled as he waded through the children. The large man enveloped Ki’tia in a hug. “Gee, it’s good to see you. You lookin’ fine, miss.” He waved his arms at the children and added, “Capt’n say’s I’s to start gettin’ these kids on the ship, but they won’t come within’ out you, Ma’am.”

“Just a minute, Chin,” Ki’tia told him. “Children, come with me.” She took them back to the storage building. The Solo’s and Talon Karrde were standing nearby. “Okay, kids. Everyone quickly into the refreshers to wash up. I don’t want you getting sand all over Captain Solo and Captain Karrde’s starships.” She hustled the children into the building.

“Thank you,” Karrde said to her, gratefully. “I was not looking forward to that mess.”

“There are several refreshers in there,” Ki’tia said, “but it will likely take at least an hour to get them all cleaned up.”

“Better than having all that sand in our ships,” Han agreed. “Good idea.”

“I have three of my own,” Ki’tia smiled, “and I know what a mess sand can make.”

“You have three children?” Karrde questioned. “I knew you were pregnant when you left us, but…”

“Well,” she looked at him, raising her eyebrows, “life goes on. Right now I need to see to these children, Talon.” Kal and Ordo had joined them. She turned to them. “Kal’buir, I promised the kidnapped children I would see them safely home. They’re frightened and they trust me. May I accompany them to Coruscant?”

Kal’s brow creased in concern. “Are you sure, ad’ika?” he asked. “Can you face the Jetiise?” He used the Mandalorian word for Jedi.

“There is one here, Buir,” Ki’tia turned her head slightly in the direction of Leia Organa Solo. “I will be careful.” Kal and Ordo now looked even more worried.

Getting the children ready to go took the better part of two standard hours. “Twenty children will accompany Captain Solo, Chewbacca, and me in the Millennium Falcon.” Leia directed. “The remainder will go with Captain Karrde and Ki’tia in the Wild Karrde.” She turned to Ki’tia. “I can’t tell you how much the New Republic appreciates your efforts in the returning of these children to us, and your willingness to accompany them to Coruscant is most welcome.”

“I am only doing what I can to end this terrible ordeal for these children,” Ki’tia replied. “I promised them I would help, and I keep my promises.”

“I’m looking forward to hearing more of your history on Coruscant,” Leia said to Ki’tia.

“Of course,” Ki’tia responded. At that moment Ordo approached the group. He had changed out of his Mandalorian armor. He was now wearing a dark tunic and pants, and carrying a military type duffle bag.

“I’ll be joining you on this mission,” Ordo said to Ki’tia. He turned to Karrde. “Captain Karrde, is there space for me to accompany Ki’tia on board your vessel?”

“There is always room for Ki’tia’s family on the Wild Karrde, Master Skirata,” Karrde answered Ordo. “Shall we all board?” He gestured everyone onto the ship.

Chapter 1, Chapter 3,  Obi-Wan’s Daughter main page