Chapter 20

Cort tried to roll with the impact as Daruc threw him against the wall. His hands were bound behind his back, causing his injured shoulder to slam into the wall. The painful muscle strain from the banquet hall explosion had not yet fully healed. He was barely able to remain on his feet, swaying slightly as little flashes of light danced in front of his eyes. Daruc reached forward and grabbed the prince's collar, pulling him closer.

"Now I will repeat my question again," Daruc said through gritted teeth. "Will you abdicate and pass the throne to me?"

Cort forced his eyes to focus and managed to glare at the man. "No."

Daruc cried out in frustration and threw the prince to the ground. Cort let out a moan and curled up on the floor.

I have to get out of here. His gaze drifted around the room, searching for the silver glint of his lightsaber. He finally spotted it on top of some crates. There you are. He tried to stretch out with his mind to call the saber to him. It rattled and moved around a bit. Come on! Come here! A sweat was breaking out on his forehead, but Cort did not want to stop and think about how weak he was at the moment. His sinking spirits suddenly started to lift, though, as the saber jumped into the air. . .

. . .and was intercepted by Daruc's hand.

"Tsk-tsk, your highness," he mocked, shaking the saber in front of Cort's face. "You wouldn't be trying to escape on us, now would you?" He turned around and spoke to two of his guards. "Gentlemen, why don't we make him a little more comfortable? Tie him up over there."

The two burly men grabbed Cort by the arms and hoisted him up. Cort groaned as fresh pain shot through his shoulder.

Ben. . . Ben, please help me. . . I can't get out of this one on my own. . .

His plea was too weak, though. It never reached Obi-Wan.

* * *

Obi-Wan felt it coming only seconds before it hit.

"Everyone duck!" he screamed as he ran over towards Anakin's couch. The security men threw themselves under the table. Just as Obi-Wan got near Anakin, the detonator burst through the window. The intense heat flung Obi-Wan forward as he attempted to shield the injured boy's body with his own. He crashed hard into the couch, but he grabbed hold of Anakin and crouched over him, blocking the boy from the flames that licked the room.

Obi-Wan coughed and brought his head up. "Artoo? Artoo, where are you?" He coughed again as the smoke tickled his nose. As he was blinking his eyes to clear his vision, the droid rolled forward out of the smoke.

"Artoo! There you are! Listen, I need you to see if we can get out of this room." The droid beeped an affirmative and then started to twitter about something else. Obi-Wan had no patience at the moment though. "Just go! Now!"

R2-D2 turned and sped off towards the doors. Being careful not to harm Anakin, Obi-Wan picked up the Padawan and moved towards the table. "Hey! Can you hear me under there?"

In reply, the men started crawling out from underneath the smoldering table. They were soot covered and some had minor burns, but other than that they seemed to be fine. One guard came and stood before the Jedi with the singed robes.

"Jedi Kenobi, we thank you for your help." The man looked towards Anakin sympathetically. "However, you should not stay here. This is not a battle that we can win. By remaining here, you are only endangering the boy's life."

The expression on Obi-Wan's face pained the security guard. "But I promised. . ."

"I know you did, sir. I heard your conversation with Jedi Master Windu. But Prince Raifen is not here. I fear the worst in his absence."

"That is why I must stay."

The guard held up his hand. "I beg your pardon, Jedi Kenobi, but I do not believe that his highness would want you to remain if your Padawan's life was in danger."

Obi-Wan looked down at the boy in his arms. He didn't know what to say to the man addressing him. He thought that by staying he was helping them, but these men appeared to be just as concerned about Anakin and himself as he was about them. "I'm sorry. . ." he began.

"You don't have to apologize, sir. Just go, now, while you can still get to your ship."

Obi-Wan couldn't think how to answer. He bowed his head in thanks and left to retreat from the room and find his ship.

* * *

The two guards tied Cort's wrists above his head to the rectangular metal frame that rose from the ground. Beneath Cort's feet were two metal plates that appeared to be able to slide apart. The captive prince had no idea what the contraption was, but he did not want to find out.

A low pitched laugh caused him to look back up.

"Why the confused look, your highness? Don't you know what this is?" Daruc walked over and laid a hand on the side of the metal frame.

"This," he continued with a pride filled smile, "is a little bit of technology that I have been tinkering with in my free time down here. Once I am in control of the planet, I plan to sell this invention to other planets. Planets with mining colonies, especially gas mining colonies, should find it to be particularly useful."

He paused for effect, noting that he had Cort's full attention.

"You see, this device has the ability to freeze and preserve products for shipping and storage. I've finished building it. All that is left now is to test it."

Daruc began to laugh again as Cort's eyes opened wide. He reached over and flipped a switch to start up the carbon freeze unit.

No, Cort thought, feeling his heart sink to his feet. No. . . no. . . oh, by the Force, no. . .

"One last chance, your highness," Daruc offered. Explosions from above rocked the ceiling and walls around them. He raised his arms up. "Can't you see? It's over! My forces have won." He leaned towards Cort and extended and open palm. "Now, the crown. Give it to me."

The prince's eyes only narrowed in response. "I will never turn my people over to you by my own free will," Cort growled, his voice remaining steady despite his failing position.

"Never."

A shadow seemed to pass over Daruc's face at that declaration.

"Fine. I'll take it without your permission then."

Daruc whirled around and pulled a lever located near the carbon freeze unit. The floor panels beneath Cort slid open and steam rose up to meet him. He lowered his head and saw the nozzles, pipes, and sprays that were meant to coat him with the carbonite.

The various gears started to turn and the metal frame that Cort was bound to lowered into the opening. Liquid carbonite began to pour out, filling the rectangular frame. The sensation of his body slowing down and freezing in time was so odd. A sharp gasp escaped his mouth as he felt intense pain and then nothing as the carbonite quickly filled the frame and crept up his body. Cort squeezed his eyes shut and screamed as the numbing pain crept into his mind.

And then it was over, and Cort's cry melted away with the hissing steam of the cooling carbonite.

* * *

Obi-Wan had managed to get safely to his ship with Anakin and R2-D2. Anakin was securely strapped into a bunk and Obi-Wan was piloting the ship into open space so that he could make the jump to lightspeed.

I'll send help as soon as I can. I promise, he thought as he looked back at the planet. A beeping at his right elbow called his attention away from the receding view of Alonia. R2-D2 was serving as his co-pilot for the trip back to Coruscant due to Anakin being incapacitated at the moment.

"Yes, Artoo, go ahead and plug those coordinates into the hyperdri-"

A scream tore through Obi-Wan's mind, knocking him out of his seat and to the floor. R2-D2 squealed in alarm and wheeled over to the stricken Jedi. It was some time before Obi-Wan looked up, and when he finally did raise his head, his eyes were wet.

"It's over," he whispered hoarsely. "Jidora has fallen. And Cort is. . ." Obi-Wan's voice cracked as he choked back tears. "Cort is gone."

The droid let out a mournful tone. Obi-Wan slowly climbed back into the pilot's seat. He reached forward and pulled the lever for the hyperdrive. As the starfield ahead of him blurred, he rested his elbows on the control panel and let his head sink into his hands. A single tear escaped from his eyes and traced its way down his cheek and off his chin until it splashed on the metal panel below, reminding him that once again he had failed to save someone he cared about.