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Chapter 4 Katrina soon realized that she was glad for the complete and total neglect of the other students. When the only attention she received from all other than Tabi was negative she was glad to be ignored and avoided. After a few days the teacher and staff of the school grew tired of staring at the masked freak and the other girls finally realized that she was not going to react to their occasional tauntings. “Put a little fear in them,” Tabi advised with a chuckle. “When they try to stare at me I just look at them real mean-like and growl softly. They quake in their fancy little uniforms and turn away quick enough.” “I’d rather be ignored than feared,” Katrina answered as she struggled to keep her stitches straight and even, as Tabi’s were. “You’re too good,” Tabi chuckled. “Once one or two fear you, even just a little bit, you’ll see how good it feels, then you’ll be crying a different note.” “Palpatine ruled through fear. I never want to be like him in any way,” Katrina answered soberly, refusing to look at the puzzled Weequay. “So many fears, for one so young. You should be running and playing, having fun, flirting with boys and dreaming of exploring the galaxy. Why are you here, young Katrina?” “I’m hiding from the Empire,” Katrina answered honestly after hesitating for more than a minute. “That I can understand,” Tabi replied. “I came here for the same reason. Now I have nowhere to go, so I stay.” “You’re hiding from the Empire?” Katrina asked, amazed. “The Emperor and Lord Vader care little for citizens of the galaxy that are not 100% human. Many of us so-called “aliens” were killed or enslaved. They came for us, began rounding us up like animals ready to be slaughtered for a banquet. I escaped. Eventually I came here.” “I’m sorry, Tabi,” Katrina said solemnly. “So young! What have you to apologize to me for? You did not do it, you are in the same ship as I am!” “I’m still sorry.” Tabi touched Katrina’s hair lovingly and smiled at the girl. They moved on to discuss their work for a long while. Katrina realized that Tabi may just be her first true friend and could not keep from smiling at that thought. She enjoyed being with the Weequay and believed the feeling was mutual. Hours later Katrina helped Tabi deliver the newly mended clothing to their rightful owners. It was nearing lockdown time, when doors were mechanically sealed for the night, and Katrina looked forward to the soft mattress awaiting her. The pair parted ways at the public wash station, shared by all students between certain ages. Katrina washed herself quickly, enjoying the spray of water but not the feeling of vulnerability. She was nearly away with a group of three girls, several years older than the thirteen-year-old Katrina, stopped her. “Look who we have here,” the gang’s leader snickered to her companions. “It’s little Miss. Faceless.” “Just leave me alone,” Katrina tried to push past but was knocked back easily. “Not very friendly, is she?” One of the other two girls commented, her counterpart only nodded agreement. “Of course not, without her big bad Weequay protector she knows she’s easy pickings,” the leader spoke up again. “Not so tough without your ugly alien friend, are you?” “Tabi’s not ugly,” Katrina replied and tried again to pass the girls without success. “Compared to you, I’m sure she’s not. Wonder what’s under that mask. Must be pretty bad if even Madame Zinkrey makes you wear that thing. Come on, let’s see.” Katrina knew all three girls would lunge for her and managed to jump away just in time. They caught only air before stumbling and falling into one another. The leader caught herself first and looked up at Katrina. “That was luck,” she snarled before grabbing for the younger girl again. Katrina realized that the girl wasn’t likely to give up so easily and allowed herself to be caught on the second attempt. The larger one, the leader, stood smirking before Katrina as her two cronies came forward to flank her. As the leader reached down to pull off the thick leather mask Katrina closed her eyes and concentrated. Tentatively at first she touched the minds of the three older girls, feeling their emotions, fear, anger, excitement, wash over her but pressed on. Feeling bolder Katrina pushed her way into their conscious mind and touched the senses controlling their vision. The bully tore the mask away and dropped it with a scream. All three backed away in fear before turning to run. Katrina leaned back on her heels for a moment, feeling lightheaded and exhausted. She had conjured up the image of a snarling beast which she had once heard described by her half-sister Samantha in an attempt to scare the younger children. Though the story had given young Katrina nightmares for weeks, she suddenly felt glad to have heard it. Slowly she bent to pick up and replace her fallen mask. She wasn’t thrilled, still, to be forced to wear it, but she was growing used to it. The bell rang announcing the last few remaining minutes before lockdown. Katrina smiled to herself as she hurried to her bedroom, thinking of Tabi’s reaction when she heard the story. Somehow, Katrina knew the Weequay would laugh over it even harder than she had when she told the story of when Madame Zinkrey’s pants had split down the back seam during a school-wide assembly. |
