Chap 2
Thanks for picking up on all my mistakes; I was never that brilliant with proper sentence structures and punctuations. Nevertheless, I have edited this second chapter. I know I shouldn't rush the story. Hopefully chapter three will be better.
Gone but not forgotten
Obi-wan lifted his eyes; the man was holding something in his hand and talking to him.
"This collar is extra insurance to make sure you don't run off at the first chance you get" he said as he fitted a metal collar around Obi-Wan's neck.
It hissed and Obi-Wan could hear a locking mechanism closing around his neck. At first Obi-Wan thought it was a force inhibitor, yet it wasn't, and he wondered if this Gerota knew he was force sensitive. He doubted it otherwise he would have made sure Obi-Wan couldn't use the force.
The man motioned to Guntha to release his straps. Guntha undid them and Obi-Wan collapsed into his arms. He carried him to the table and laid Obi-wan on it face up. Obi-wan's arms and legs were aching and he could barely move them so he didn't try. The Slave Master pulled the sponge out of Obi-Wan's mouth, and stood there watching him. He could sense that the Man was waiting for Obi-wan to speak. Probably so he could punish him again. Obi-wan wasn't that stupid so he kept quiet.
The Zygerian tied Obi-Wan to the table, so his head was dangling over the edge. Soon he realised why, they were shaving his head. He closed his eyes to prevent the tears running down his face. When they were finished shaving him, the table was extended so Obi-wan's head was supported, and then the man went out of sight. However when he returned, he had a white hot branding iron in his hands.
He brought the iron up so Obi-wan could see it and then he said. "This is my brand. I have decided to keep you for myself." Before Obi-Wan could think of anything, the branding iron made its mark, causing Obi-Wan to hiss in pain yet he did not cry out.
"We will reach our destination soon, and you will be working in my stables. I have some fine horses, and they need a lot of care and grooming. So you will be my stable boy, and you will live in the barn." The man pointed to the collar Obi-Wan was wearing. "Besides the tag, this collar has a tracking, and paralysing device set in it. So I suggest you forget any foolish plans, you may have to escape, because you won't get far. Guntha clean him up, and tend his wounds" he snarled.
Guntha was not a gentle Zygerian, and he delighted in causing more pain to Obi-Wan, as he tended to his wounds. By the time Guntha had finished cleaning him up, the ship had landed. His new Master came in, and Obi-Wan dropped to his knees and bowed, he had learned his lessons well.
"Very good, you have learned your place 'boy' Guntha will take you to the stables, and he will show you what your duties are" Gerota snarled and strode out of the room.
"Follow me slave" Guntha sneered.
Obi-wan got up off the floor, and was yanked forward by the chain attached to his collar.
So began his decent into the world of slavery.
Qui-Gon returned to the temple with an unconscious Tahl. Her injuries were serious, yet after treatment she would live. He landed his ship and helped the healers carry Master Tahl into the Temple. Waiting at the entrance for him was Master Yoda and Master Windu.
"Trouble you had, I sense" remarked Yoda. "The planet of Melida/ Dann in great turmoil it was. Requested assistance they did…..Sent several teams to finish the job you and your apprentice started, we have." Yoda stated.
" What….. when?" Qui-Gon asked in shock. He had thought that the people of Melida/ Dann weren't their concern.
"Shortly after your apprentice sent word that he found Master Tahl. The communications were patchy; however Master Tahl explained that the leaders had asked for help, just before communications dropped out." Mace informed Qui-Gon. "By the way, where is your apprentice….we would like to congratulate him? Master Tahl was very impressed with him."
"I didn't know…I ..I thought…. I thought.. I had to get Tahl back she was injured!" he explained
sadly. "Obi-Wan…. I… left.. he argued…. I didn't know"… Qui-Gon stuttered.
Mace was beginning to worry. "Qui-Gon, where is your apprentice?"
Qui-Gon looked at his friend and slowly put his head in his hands. "What have I done, oh Force what have I done"
Both Masters knew something terrible had happened. The boy was not on the ship, and they both stretched out and could sense it. Mace pulled his friends hands away and guided him forward.
"Come on Qui-Gon we will go to my rooms, and then you will tell us what you have done!" Mace insisted.
Qui-Gon told them how he found fault with everything Obi-wan did, on that mission. He had found Tahl before Qui-Gon had sensed her, and it had irritated him, to think that the boy had been the one who found her, and not him. He should have been happy that she was found. However it was because he knew the boy would expect him to be happy, and be glad to have him around. That caused Qui-Gon to berate the boy for rushing ahead, and disobeying him. It was Qui-Gon's own doubts, and fears that had made him berate the boy time and time again. He wanted to prove to every one, that he was right, and Obi-wan would turn out just like his previous apprentice.
After many self incriminating minutes, telling Yoda and Mace of his own failure to protect and help the boy.
He broke down and cried.
"I must go back and get him" I have failed in my duty as his Master to protect and guide him." I should have been more understanding of the people's situation and of his feelings"
Later Qui-Gon was preparing to return to Melida/Dann, to bring Obi-Wan home. Mace contacted Qui-Gon with news. A communicate, had come from the Jedi teams who were sent to Melida/Dann. They confirmed that Obi-Wan had caught the ringleaders, who had caused all the fighting, and peace had been restored. The Jedi were helping finalise a treaty with the new leader Neild. However unfortunately, no one had seen Obi-Wan since the fighting had stopped. It appeared he had just vanished. Several days later, Qui-Gon and Mace arrived on Melida Dann, and they were greeted by two Jedi Masters. They confirmed that they hadn't had any luck in finding Obi-Wan.
A week of searching continued, and Qui-Gon sensed that the new leader of Melida Dann was hiding some vital information about Obi-wan. Neild would tense up every time they mentioned Obi-Wan's name. It was like a veil of shame blanked out Neild's features. They sensed he knew something about Obi-Wan's whereabouts, and they had to make him talk. The force was screaming it's warning that they were late, and maybe too late.
Eventually at a commemoration, to remember those lives that were lost, someone spoke of Cerasi and how Obi-wan had tried to protect her. Explaining that despite his efforts, she had been killed by a sniper, and that Obi-wan had done everything in his power to save her.
Neild could not take the guilt of his actions any longer, and he broke down and cried. He stood up and faced the Jedi "I am so sorry please forgive me, I was so devastated when Cerasi died, that I blamed Obi-wan. I blamed him for her death, I didn't mean to do it please forgive me"
"What did you do? Where is Obi-wan, where is my Padawan?" Qui-Gon demanded.
"I hit him, and while he was unconscious I cut off his braid, and sold him into slavery. I took him down to the Tavern at the space port. There was a Slave trader there, and I offered Obi-wan to him. I signed a paper and sold him to a Zygerian. I am so sorry" he cried, as he rushed out into the night.
Qui-Gon slumped into his chair. Slave trade in the outer rim was extensive, and there was, as many planets that sanctioned slavery, as there were planets that did not. There were thousands of Slave trading cities, and hundreds of Zygerian's who dealt in slaves, as it was a very lucrative business. The chances of finding one boy, in the millions of slaves in the galaxy would be near impossible. Where would he look first, there would be no records at the Tavern. This planet was not in the outer rim, yet it was close. The Tavern was frequented by many travellers, and no one would remember anything whether they did or not. They wouldn't admit knowing anything, for fear of being kidnapped, and turned into slaves themselves.