AKwxlady Obi Wans Daughter Part two Chapter six

The official log entry read as follows: Due to events following the armory explosions and subsequent fire, the prisoner Ki’tia has been deemed dangerous and will be immediately transferred to a secured detention facility within Unknown Space. So as not to further endanger the crew of the Admonitor, Grand Admiral Thrawn will take charge of the prisoner transfer. After completion of prisoner transfer, Grand Admiral Thrawn will take shore leave of approximately four weeks. He will remain in contact with the Admonitor via normal communication channels.

Thrawn and Ki’tia departed the Admonitor aboard Thrawn’s command cruiser, the Outer Way, shortly after noon the day after the armory explosions. For appearances, Ki’tia was wearing binders while boarding. As soon as they were underway, Thrawn went back to the passenger area to release her, only to find her already free of the binders. She smiled, a mischievous grin, “May I come forward to watch you pilot the ship?”

“I was just coming back to get you,” he shook his head and smiled. “I should have known those wouldn’t stay on long.” He nodded toward the binders on the floor. She picked them up and handed them to him. He placed the binders in a cabinet. Then he took her hand. “This way to the bridge, my dear one,” he kissed her hand and led her forward.

On the bridge Thrawn showed Ki’tia to the co-pilot’s seat and resumed the pilot’s seat himself. “I’m just about to put us into hyperspace,” he said. “The navcomputer calculates the coordinates, and feeds them to the navigation system. When ready, that light flashes (the light was already flashing) and I flip this lever.” Thrawn lifted a cover over a lever and moved it to its other position. The stars outside the window stretched into lines then blurred into the mottled sky of hyperspace. “We have about ten hours in this jump. What would you like to do?”

“Could you tell me about all these buttons?” Ki’tia asked looking at the pilot’s console.

“There is a manual next to your seat,” he pointed to a space next to her. She reached down and pulled out a flip page manual. “It explains everything except the weapons systems. If there is ever an emergency, it should be enough to get you by.” Ki’tia looked at a few of the flip pages, then Thrawn took the manual from her. He took her hands and stood her up. “Let me show you around my ship.” He slipped her arm through his and walked off the bridge.

Thrawn showed her the galley area, the refresher, the medbay, and the guest quarters. Then he opened a rather large suite. “This is the Admiral’s Cabin,” he said, and he escorted her into the suite. The suite had a conversation area, a comm center, a private refresher, walk-in closet, and a large bed. Thrawn walked to the closet removing his belt as he did. He opened the door and started to remove his uniform tunic. Ki’tia was staring at him. Her eyes wide and her breath starting to quicken. Thrawn noticed her as he turned to hang up his uniform. “I’m just getting into more comfortable clothes, Ki’tia.” He stepped into the closet and closed the door. In a few minutes he came back into the room wearing casual pants, a tunic and shoes. “It is nice to get out of that uniform and boots,” he said. Ki’tia was still standing in the same place, looking scared. He crossed to her and took her hands in his. “You are welcome to stay in one of the guest rooms, if you would be more comfortable. I’m not going to rush you into anything you are not ready for, Ki’tia.”

She was looking at their hands. Then she looked up into Thrawn’s glowing red eyes. “I am ready,” she said. She moved her arms to around his neck and reached up to kiss him. He bent to meet her in the kiss and wrapped his arms around her. He wrapped his hand in her hair at the back of her head and gently pulled her head back, then he trailed kisses down the side of her neck. With his other hand he found her breast and felt the hardness of her nipple through her tunic. Her breathing was becoming heavy, “Oh, Mitth’raw’nuruodo,” she whispered.

“Perfect,” he whispered, and bit her gently on the side of her neck. “Lights, one quarter,” Thrawn said, and the lights in the room dimmed. He led her to the bed. “Are you sure, my dear one?” Thrawn asked.

“I’m sure,” she smiled at him and reached up to unfasten the zipseam of his tunic. Her fingers followed the seam to the bottom and she pushed his tunic off his shoulders. She placed her hands on the muscles of his chest and felt the tiny hairs there. She moved her hands across his nipples and he sucked in a sharp breath. Her hand moved lower, across the fabric of his pants. She felt his hardness under the fabric. Her hands were shaking as she unfastened his belt and slid open the zipseam. She slid his pants over down over his hips. Thrawn kicked off his shoes and stepped out of his pants. He stood before her in just his shorts, stretched tight across his erection. Ki’tia hesitated.

Thrawn took her into his arm and bent to kiss her. He caressed the side of her face with one hand and opened her tunic with the other. He removed her tunic and cupped her breast in his hand. He caressed her nipple and she moaned. Next he removed her pants and helped her remove her shoes. He kissed her again and removed her underwear. He picked her up and laid her in the bed. He laid next to her and started caressing her body. They kissed, at first gently, then passionately. Ki’tia turned toward Thrawn and started pushing down his shorts. He helped her remove them. “Touch me, Ki’tia,” he whispered. She put her hand on his stomach and slowly moved lower. She ran her fingers through his dark curly hair. She touched him, allowing her fingers to follow the veins and contours of his erection to the end. Thrawn moved her onto her back. He kissed her. His hand caressed her body until it was at the top of her legs. “Open your legs for me,” he asked. She did. He felt her readiness. “This will hurt your first time, my dear one. Are you ready?” She nodded her head and smiled. “I will be as gentle as possible,” he whispered. He moved on top of her and kissed her mouth as he entered her. She gasp. He moved slowly and gently at first, eventually building to a crescendo experienced by both of them. He finished and moved to her side. “Are you hurt badly?” he asked, taking her hand in his and kissing it.

“Oh no, Mitth’raw’nuruodo,” Ki’tia said. “That was wonderful. It did hurt at first, but not at the end.”

“The next time will be even better,” he said.

“Can we do it again?” Ki’tia asked raising up on her elbow and smiling at Thrawn.

“Not for a while,” Thrawn laughed. “It doesn’t work like that for men.” He turned and took her into his arms. “You are my dear one.”

Thrawn did make love to her several more times in the ship on the way to his planet. They ate, slept, made love. Thrawn flew the ship when necessary, then they made love again. He made her feel so special, the way his hands caressed her body. They had landed an hour ago and Thrawn was giving instructions to the two droids that worked at the house, but even now, with him away from her, she could still feel his hands on her skin. She could so easily picture in her mind his blue skin against hers. His blue hands moving over her stomach and cupping her breasts. His blue fingers teasing her nipples.

Ki’tia had taken a shower and was wrapped in a towel. She was sitting at a dressing table, just starting to brush out her hair when Thrawn came into the room.

“Let me help you with that?” he said taking the brush from her and softly brushing her hair. “Your hair is like fine silk.” He ran his fingers through her milk white hair. “The CE-CE droid will have dinner ready in about an hour.” His fingers traced down the side of her neck and along her shoulder. He moved his hand along her arm and took her hand in his. Thrawn kissed her hand and with his other gently lifted her out of the chair. Her towel fell to the floor and he brought her to him. They kissed and he picked her up into his arms. Thrawn carried Ki’tia into the bedroom. He made love to her.

Afterwards, with his arm around Ki’tia and her head on his shoulder, Thrawn asked, “Is this the A’nir making me want you the way I do? This need for you?”

“I don’t know,” Ki’tia whispered. “I know I love you, but…” She hesitated. “I guess I just don’t understand everything that’s happening between us.”

Thrawn kissed her on the head. “Don’t worry. We’ll just take it one day at a time and enjoy what we have.” He placed a finger beneath her chin to raise it then kissed her gently. “We should get dressed for dinner. Would you like another shower?” He grinned at her and she laughed.

“The scan shows the woman, Ki’tia, has entered her fertial cycle,” ME-2B, the medical droid, reported to Thrawn on the fourth day after their arrival at SH-58. “Optimum time for conception is within the next thirty hours.”

“That will be all,” Thrawn dismissed the droid. Ki’tia was still in bed. He would have the CE-CE droid serve them breakfast in bed and he would keep her there, all day if necessary.

What a day it had been. Thrawn was, finally, sleeping. He’d kept her in bed all day. Making love to her over and over. It was wonderful, but Ki’tia wondered what had come over him. Maybe it was her hormones. They had conceived a new life this morning the first time they made love today. Maybe that had changed something about the way he was reacting to her, but she didn’t think it worked that fast. She wanted to tell Thrawn right away about the baby, but she remembered her mother’s problem with her first embryo not implanting in her womb. Ki’tia didn’t want to tell Thrawn until she was sure she was pregnant. Would he be as happy as she was? He had to know this was possible, they just hadn’t had time to talk about it. Well, the Force would guide her. For now, she just had her love to guide the embryo to her womb. Would the baby look like Thrawn? She hoped so.

“The scan shows the woman, Ki’tia, has conceived an embryo,” ME-2B reported to Thrawn the next morning. “Implantation into her womb and determination of pregnancy can occur within 12 days. After that time the embryo is no longer viable. Extraction of the embryo to the external cloning cylinder should proceed no later than 10 days after conception.”

“Make sure she gets the proper food for a pregnant woman,” Thrawn ordered the droid. “Is rest necessary for implantation?”

“Not necessary, sir,” ME-2B replied. “Normal activity is recommended.”

“How often can she be scanned without her knowledge?” Thrawn asked.

“I can scan the woman at each encounter without her knowledge,” ME-2B responded.

“Do so,” Thrawn ordered, “and let me know immediately, in private, when implantation occurs.”

“Yes, sir,” ME-2B bowed his golden head slightly.

That day Thrawn took her for a walk around the grounds surrounding the house, something they had not done since arriving at the planet he called SH-58. He held her hand and kissed her gently, but nothing else. They ate lunch and he worried she wasn’t eating enough. That night they went to bed and Thrawn made love to her, but he seemed to be holding back. He was so very tender, as if he was afraid he might hurt her.

The next day, he made love to her in the afternoon and again when they went to bed. The following day, their love making was almost back to normal. They made love in the morning, sometime during the day and again at night. Thrawn seemed distracted, like he was upset with himself for not being able to resist her.

Seven days after conception the embryo still had not implanted in her womb. Ki’tia awoke in the middle of the night. Thrawn was not in their bed. She sensed in the Force something was wrong. Ki’tia rose and put on a robe. The robe didn’t do much to cover her nakedness, being sheer, but it was something to wear around the droids. She stepped out into the hallway. It was dark, except for a light coming from a room at the end of the hall Ki’tia had never been in. She had never seen that door open. She moved quietly down the hall and peered into the room. It was a nursery! How could he know she would need a nursery? Thrawn was inside speaking with ME-2B. They were standing next to a glass cylinder with tubes connected to it.

“ME-2B prepare the cylinder with the amniotic fluid,” Thrawn said to the droid. “If the embryo has not implanted in Ki’tia’s womb within six hours you will take it from her and bring my child to term in the cloning cylinder.”

Ki’tia’s hands went to cover her mouth. She could not scream. Thrawn knew about the baby. If he had all this equipment here, he must have planned for her to have his child. Her mind was racing. How long would it take to gather all this medical equipment? Did he even love her? Had he ever told her he loved her? He was going to take her child? Why? What did he want? She was still standing in the hallway outside the nursery. She had to get away. She had to get off this planet. Ki’tia turned and quietly walked out of the house. Once she was outside, she ran to the landing field. She opened the door to the Outer Way. She closed the door from the inside and pushed the ‘Lock’ indicator on the panel. She ran to the bridge and pulled out the flip manual. There were start-up instructions. She read them through quickly then started the procedures. She could not make any mistakes. Once Thrawn heard the engines, he would know what she was doing. She didn’t know if he had a way to stop the ship, but she had to get away.

Thrawn returned to their bedroom after making plans with ME-2B for the embryo retrieval. He had a decision to make. Would it be better to tell Ki’tia of the baby and his efforts to save it, or should he just keep it a secret from her until the fetus was safely growing outside of her body? It would still be their child. She could still be near it during its development. He looked in the bed. Ki’tia was not there. Maybe she was in the refresher. He listened for her. There were no sounds in the house. Then he heard the sounds of his star cruiser engines. No!

Thrawn ran outside just in time to see the lights of the Outer Way lift off from the landing pad. He swore.

He rushed back into the house to the comm center. He powered on the system and keyed in the channel for the Outer Way.

“Ki’tia!” he ordered, “turn my cruiser around and land immediately!”

Ki’tia heard Thrawn from the comm panel. She pushed the button and responded. “How could you?” she cried. “How could you betray me so? You never loved me. You just wanted a Force sensitive Chiss child. You wanted a child from Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Jedi bloodline!” She was crying. “You planned this from the beginning.”

“Ki’tia, my dear one,” Thrawn tried to calm her. “Please come back. We’ll raise our child together.”

“You’re going to take it from me,” she accused him. “I heard you talking to ME-2B. Telling him to fill the cloning cylinder.”

“Only if the embryo didn’t implant,” Thrawn tried to explain. “Only to save the baby.”

“Oh, Mitth’raw’nuruodo,” Ki’tia sobbed. “Why didn’t you talk with me about this? A force sensitive baby can’t be grown outside the mother. They must have the physical contact for the Force connection to form. Why didn’t you trust me?” The light on the navcomputer flashed. Ki’tia transferred the coordinates and lifted the cover on the hyperdrive.

“Ki’tia,” Thrawn said. “Please, come back…”

She flipped the hyperdrive lever. The stars stretched into the mottled sky of hyperspace.

Thrawn slammed his fist down on the comm console. He keyed in the channel for the Admonitor. “Admonitor, this is Grand Admiral Thrawn. You will proceed immediately to SH-58 to retrieve me. My command cruiser, Outer Way, has been stolen. Alert all ships and ports of the fleet. When the Outer Way is captured it is to be detained, not boarded, not destroyed. No captives are to be allowed to exit the Outer Way.

“Welcome aboard the Admonitor, Grand Admiral Thrawn,” Captain Niriz greeted Thrawn as he exited the shuttle from SH-58. Thrawn’s eyes flashed and his lips were tight. “There is no information, as yet, on the location of the Outer Way.”

“She is likely still in hyperspace,” Thrawn responded to Niriz as they walked off the hangar deck. “Set course for Ord Mantell, Captain.”

“Ord Mantell, sir?” Niriz questioned.

“It is a port Ki’tia is familiar with,” Thrawn answered, “and I doubt she will take my ship to Kashyyyk. She won’t want to bring trouble to beings she cares for.” They entered the turbolift.

“Bridge,” Niriz said. “Are there any other ships in the area that could beat her to Ord Mantell?”

“Unlikely,” Thrawn replied, “most of the fleet is with the Emperor at Endor. We will handle this discreetly.” They arrived on the command bridge.

Captain Niriz took his command chair. “Navigation,” he ordered. “Set course for Ord Mantell.”

Thrawn was at the display monitors in his Ready Room when Commander Parck entered. “Voss,” he said, “it’s good to see you. You’re looking much better.”

“Thank you, sir,” Parck replied, “my lungs are better than before Ki’tia saved my life.” He paused and offered Thrawn a data card. “The Outer Way made a hard landing at Ord Mantell an hour ago.”

“Hard landing?” Thrawn repeated. “What was the damage?”

“Evidently the ship came into port not completely under control.” Parck began. “There was damage to the landing bay as well as damage to the Outer Way, mostly to the landing systems.”

Thrawn pinched the bridge of his nose. “Has any one left the ship?” he asked.

“No, sir,” Parck answered. “It was placed under immediate quarantine by local command.”

“Good,” said Thrawn. “Order all departing traffic from Ord Mantell halted until further notice. Make it immediate. No exceptions.”

“I’ll get right on it.” Parck left the room.

“Captain Niriz?” Thrawn called the bridge on his comm station.

“Yes, Grand Admiral?” Niriz responded.

“What is the Admonitor ETA to Ord Mantell?” Thrawn asked.

“Three hours, sir,” Niriz replied.

“Make all haste, captain,” Thrawn ordered.

Thrawn carried a blaster at the ready as he entered the Outer Way alone. “Ki’tia,” he called, not expecting her to still be onboard. He found her robe and a holo projector card on the bed in his cabin. The only item missing was one of his shirts. He put the card on the holo projector and flicked the switch.

A quarter size image of Ki’tia appeared before him. She was still wearing the shear robe, now lying on his bed. “Mitth’raw’nuruodo,” Ki’tia began, “It’s about an hour before I get to Ord Mantell. I’m not planning on staying there. I have a safe place to go. It is no place we have talked about, so you’ve never heard me speak of it. As of now the embryo has not implanted in my womb. I’m not doing anything to prevent it. I wouldn’t do that. I’ve known about this baby since the moment of conception, and I’ve love it just as long. As I love you. A Force sensitive child can’t be grown in a cylinder, not properly, and I wouldn’t want a child of mine to go through that. If this child is meant to be, it’s meant to be inside me. I hope you understand that. This is what is best for our child.” Ki’tia paused. “I realized on this voyage how long you must have been planning to impregnate me. The steps you must have taken long before you ever cared for me. I know you did eventually care for me, but that you don’t love me. I was a plan, a strategy. If this baby is born, I hope someday to tell him, or her,” she smile and tried to laugh, “you know, I’ll know soon what it is, but not yet. I want to tell our child how happy you’ve made me. How safe you made me feel,” Ki’tia started to cry. “I want our child to know how wonderful I felt in your arms and how you protected me. I want him or her to know these things, not how you deceived me.” Tears were falling down her cheeks. “I love you, Mitth’raw’nuruodo. I know in my heart that I always will, but, know this, I will go on, without you.” The holo ended. Thrawn took the card and put it in his pocket. He left the Outer Way.

Ki’tia watched Thrawn leave the Outer Way from her hiding place on the landing bay. He looked angry. Shortly before her arrival at Ord Mantell she had seen the TOS order for her come over the comm system. Terminate on Site, with the stipulation that she was to be arrested if she was pregnant. She placed her hand on her abdomen. The embryo had implanted a short time ago. She was pregnant with his child. If she told him now, he would have no choice but to arrest her. She had escaped his custody, stolen his ship and crashed it into a port. It would be best for her, and for the child, for her to make her way to Munin. She had escaped from the Outer Way before the officials came to quarantine the ship and had been hiding since then. She heard people talking about the Imperials closing down all departures. Certainly, once they had searched the port for her, the Imperials would lift that restriction. Then she would just need to find a ship to take her to Munin.

“There is no sign of Ki’tia on Ord Mantell station or the surrounding area,” Commander Daric LaRone of the 501st Legion reported to Captain Niriz and Grand Admiral Thrawn on the bridge of the Admonitor. “Grave, Brightwater, Marcross, Quiller and I personally searched the station after the other troops had been pulled out. Thinking Ki’tia might come out of hiding for us. We didn’t see, or hear, anything. She might have left the planet before the departure stop order went through, sir.”

“We’ve done all we can concerning this matter, Captain,” Thrawn said. “It’s important now we learn more about what has occurred at Endor. As soon as the Outer Way is back in the shuttle bay, proceed at once to rendezvous with the remains of the fleet. I’ll be in my quarters.” Thrawn turned and walked off the bridge.

Ki’tia had moved around the station during the search. She was good at hiding from Imperials, something she remembered from her childhood on Kashyyyk. She watch LaRone, Quiller and the rest of the 501st guys who were her trainers on board the Admonitor walk the station. She wished she could speak to them, but they were Thrawn’s men, not her friends any longer.

She was hungry. The last she’d eaten was aboard the Outer Way. That was almost two days ago. There was a man sitting at a table near her. He had food and he looked clean. Maybe if he left some of it, or if he turned away, she could take some. Ki’tia was watching him. The man turned around and looked at her. She ducked back into her hiding place.

“Hee, little one,” he said. “What cha’ doin’ in there?” He looked after her, then picked up a piece of bread. “You hungry, hai little one? Chin’ll share his lunch with you.” Ki’tia looked out from her hiding place at the man. He waved the bread at her. “Come on out. Chin no hurt you, hee.”

The man obviously though she was a child. She was barefoot and dirty, wearing only Thrawn’s shirt, which was also dirty and hung down to her knees, and being as small as she was, it was no wonder. Ki’tia came out toward the man. She could still run if he grabbed her. Chin just wiggled the bread at her. Ki’tia reached out and took the piece of bread. She took a big bite and coughed swallowing it.

“You sit down here with Chin and he’ll get you som’ thin’ to drink, hee,” Chin motioned her to the chair next to him. Ki’tia sat down. Chin called the wait-bot over and ordered, “Hot chocolate,” for her. “You’ll like it,” he winked at her. She kept chewing on the bread and watching the big man. “You from around here?” he asked her. Ki’tia shook her head ‘no.’ The drink came and Chin pushed it toward her. “Try it.” Ki’tia took a sip, then a bigger drink. “Chin told ya, good huh.” He nodded at her and smiled. Ki’tia smiled back. Another man approached the table.

“Who’s your little friend, Chin?” Talon Karrde asked.

“Don’t know, Capt’n” Chin answered. “She just sharin’ my lunch, hai. What’s you name, little one?”

“Ki’tia,” she answered. Ki’tia swallowed the last of her bread, and gulped the hot chocolate. If she was going to need to run, at least she’d had some food.

Karrde looked her over. “Ki’tia, are you running from someone?” he asked. She shook her head, ‘yes.’ “Are you a slave?”  She shook her head, ‘no.’  “Did you do something illegal?”

Ki’tia looked down. “I’m wanted by the Imperial Navy and I need help.” She looked up at Karrde. “And I’m not a child, but I hadn’t eaten in two days. I appreciate your food.” She got up and started to leave.

“That wasn’t much of a meal,” Karrde called after her. Ki’tia turned and looked at him. “Why don’t you come aboard my ship and tell me your story? We can get you some more food and find you something more to wear.”

“Why should help me?” she asked. “I told you, I’m wanted by the Imperials. You could get into a lot of trouble.”

“Most of us on the fringe are wanted by the Imperials for one thing or another,” Karrde said with a smirk. “We on the fringe help each other.” He held out a hand to her. “Welcome to the fringe, Miss Ki’tia.” She took his hand.

On board Talon Karrde’s ship, the Wild Karrde, Ki’tia was able to use the refresher and get cleaned up. The ship departed Ord Mantell and she was asked to join Karrde in his office.

Chin escorted Ki’tia to Karrde’s office. “Please sit down, Ki’tia,” Karrde said, gesturing to a couch along one side of the office. Ki’tia sat down. “Now, tell me your story and where I can take you.”

“As I said,” Ki’tia began, “I’m wanted by the Imperial Navy and I’d like to go to a planet located between Yavin and Keyorin.” Karrde was studying her.

“Yavin and Keyorin?” he repeated. “Are you sure? There’s not much out that way.”

“The planet is uncharted,” she said. “I have the coordinates. The people who live there want to keep their world as secret as possible.”

“There are places like that,” he mused. “Okay, why do the Imperials want you?” Karrde leaned back in his chair and tented his fingers. He looked at her expectantly over his hands.

“Well,” Ki’tia hesitated, “I escaped from them.” Karrde raised his eyebrow. “I stole a ship,” she continued, “and sort of crashed it into the landing platform at Ord Mantell.” Ki’tia looked at the floor.

“That was you!” Karrde stood up. “You caused all that mess on Ord Mantell!” Ki’tia covered her face with her hands. “Ha! Ha! Ha!” Karrde laughed heartily. “A little thing like you, causing all that trouble.” He was smiling and shaking his head. “There are a lot of people who would like to get their hands on you.” Ki’tia looked up at Karrde, her eyes wide with fright. He noticed he’d frightened her and sat down next to her. “Hey, I’m just kidding. Don’t worry.” He patted her on the leg and then stood up. “Well, let’s see what we can do about getting you to your mystery planet.” He was walking back over to his desk. “I’m sure we can arrange something.”

“Oh, I understand,” Ki’tia said. She slipped off her shirt and laid back naked on the couch. “I’m ready, Captain.”

Karrde turned around and saw her lying naked on his couch. His mouth dropped open. “Ready for what?” he asked. He stared at her. She was beautiful. Full breasts, round hips, definitely not a child. He knew what she was ready for.

“Payment for my voyage, of course,” Ki’tia said. “I thought this was the usual arrangement.”

“Where did you get that idea?” he asked, trying to look away. “Put your clothes back on!” Karrde ordered.

“But, I was told this was the standard payment,” she said pulling her shirt over her and sounding confused.

“Not aboard this vessel. Who told you that?” Karrde demanded, looking at her to make sure she was covered.

“I think his name was Ferrier,” Ki’tia answered. “Niles Ferrier. He offered me a ride in his ship a while ago and said this was the standard fee.”

“Did you go with him?” Karrde asked, looking angry.

“No,” Ki’tia replied. “I told him I thought he was disgusting.” Karrde’s anger disappeared and he laughed.

“Good girl!” he smiled at Ki’tia. “Or, maybe I should say, wise woman. You are definitely not a little girl, and I may never look at that couch the same way again.” He shook his head.

“So what are we going to do about payment for my trip?” Ki’tia asked.

“Let’s just call it a favor,” Karrde said, smiling at Ki’tia.

“I may never see you again,” she said.

“Never is a long time,” he said. “And don’t you ever do that again!” He pointed at his couch.

Karrde and Chin were the only crewmembers of the Wild Karrde who knew the name and location of the planet Munin. Ki’tia was in her quarters when the Wild Karrde approached the planet, using the false transponder name Wayward Wynd.

“Planet Munin,” Karrde contacted their comm center, “this is the freighter, Wayward Wynd, requesting landing instructions.” There was an unusually long delay in their response.

“Planet control,” Karrde tried again. “This is the freighter, Wayward Wynd, requesting landing instructions, please advise.”

“Freighter Wayward Wynd,” the comm sounded, “this is Munin Control. Be advised we do not accept unauthorized landings and you are transmitting false transponder identification.”

Karrde muted the comm frequency. “So much for the best transponder encryption … Chin, go tell Ki’tia there is a problem getting them to allow us to land and have her come forward.”

“Right Capt’n,” Chin left the bridge.

“Munin Control,” Karrde tried again, “listen I’m not who I say I am and you’re not listed on any star charts. Maybe we both have something we’d rather the other not know, but I’ve got a passenger who knows your name and location. So, why don’t you just let us land, she can disembark and then we’ll be on our way and forget we ever heard of you.”

“Hold Wayward Wynd,” Munin Control responded.

Chin returned to the bridge. “Ki’tia is on her way. How’s it look?”

“Not good,” Karrde said. “It seems they don’t like visitors.”

“We could keep her with us,” Chin said. “She nice girl and a good cook.” Chin looked at his board. “Capt’n! One our escape pods just launch, hee!”

“Damn,” Karrde said. “Now, she’s done it!”

“Wayward Wynd this is Munin Control. Our sensors indicate you just launched an escape pod. You will retrieve that pod before it enters our atmosphere or it will be destroyed.”

“Munin Control,” Karrde replied, “Wayward Wynd. You know we don’t have any way of stopping that pod. The pod contains the passenger I was telling you about. She is a young woman. I don’t know much about her, except that she knows the name of your world and its location. She seems nice. I was just trying to help her out when she was in need. If you want to kill her that is up to you. She is your problem now. Wayward Wynd out.” Karrde cut the comm channel.

“Are we just goin’ let her go?” Chin asked.

“There is nothing else we can do, Chin,” Karrde answered. “Set course and get us out of here.”

“Ah, Capt’n?” Chin looked at Karrde. “Look at this.” He was pointing at his board.

“What is it Chin?” he asked.

“The medical readout from the escape pod,” Chin answered. “Ki’tia, she pregnant, just a few days pregnant.” Karrde looked at the readout and frowned.

“After we jump to hyperspace,” Karrde said, “have all the men meet in my office.” Chin nodded.

The male crew members of the Wile Karrde were facing Talon Karrde across his desk in his office. Chin stood by the door with his big knife in his hand.

“The medical scan of Ki’tia in the escape pod showed she was pregnant, recently pregnant.” Karrde said. The men looked at each other. “I want to know right now if any of you touched her, because if I find out at a later time that one of you fathered that child and didn’t admit to it, I’ll kill you.”

“Not me, Captain,” Aves said. He removed his blaster and laid it on Karrde’s desk. “She was like a little sister.”

“Me neither, Captain,” Lachton said. “I never touched her.” He, too, laid his weapon on the desk.

Torve just shook his head and removed his blaster. He laid it on Karrde’s desk. Dankin said, “I know the rules about guests, you think I touched her, you shoot me now.” He stared Karrde in the eyes and dropped his blaster on the desk, too.

Karrde looked each man in the eye. Then he picked up each weapon and handed it back to the owner. “Thank you, gentlemen, for your service and your loyalty.”

“What about Ki’tia, Captain?” Aves asked. “Are we just going to let her go?”

“That’s where she wanted to be,” Karrde replied. “Maybe it’s some sort of family on that planet, but she is not our problem.”

“There be more to her than just a little bit of a girl,” Chin mused. “I’z feel it,” he pointed to his head, “up here.”

“You may be right, Chin,” Karrde agreed. “I wouldn’t bet the Wild Karrde we don’t see Ki’tia again, someday.” He glanced at his couch. “I certainly hope to, anyway.”

Chapter 5, Obi-Wan’s Daughter main page