Chapter 4
Nicole raced through the hallways, trusting her memory of where the lightsabor duel would be held, by now Maul, Obi-wan and Qui-gon would be way to busy dealing with the other than tracking her. Besides even at the rate she was running their was no was Maul would see or sense her.
After a few minutes of running she realized that she had taken a wrong turn. She backtracked to the last room, but the time she had used to get back on the right path was lost costing her precious seconds.
Stupid wrong turn! Why can't there be signs? 'Sith Lord this way' would be helpful. Watch a lightsabor duel this way or something. This is not the same layout as the movie.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" The force hit her hard Nicole's knees nearly buckled. As Obi-wan's scream of horror, disbelief, and shock, permeated thru the force making the scream it's fade away with the raw disbelief that he master had been injured fatally.
That was Obi-wan! Qui-gon must have just got stabbed! Where is that reactor core?Following her gut she turned left, after a second of disbelief it sunk into her brain that this was the reactor core. Nicole took a deep breath in, and then used the force to jump to the next platform, the laser walls! She was too far away to help, not that she could even if she wanted to. She started running.
Obi-wan used the force to levitate himself up behind the sith, while calling Qui-gon's lightsabor to him, he landed behind the sith and cut him in two. The Sith fell into the pit, Obi-wan raced over to his Master.
I can't heal this!He looked up as he heard footfalls. Nicole was racing toward him, holding a med pack. Obi-wan watched, as she got closer he looked down at his Master who was still breathing, "Can you start a healing trance?"
Qui-gon closed his eyes and with a great deal of effort complied. Nicole ran over to them and held out the med pack, Obi-wan grabbed it and started using it on his master. Nicole was doubled over breathing heavily.
Obi-wan finished, then looked up at Nicole, who was still breathing heavily, she sighed and said in gasps, "You, should call, the other Jedi, to help Master Qui-gon."
Obi-wan really didn't want to leave his master, but had little choice. He ran off to call the council.
When Nicole finally got her breath back, she looked Qui-gon over. He looked fine except for the palm sized burnet hole in the middle of his chest. Nicole looked at his belt, then pulled on a few things, ration packs no, something I don't know, nope. What is this? No. Where is Ah ah!
Nicole pulled a comlink of Qui-gon's belt, "Hello?"
"Nicole? Why do you-" Came Planka's voice.
"Qui-gon got hurt by the sith. Can you get a medical team up here?"
"Where are you?"
"The reactor core. I think he needs a Bacta tank. Obi-wan went to call the Jedi council."
"The medical team is on their way."
Nicole turned of the comlink, then spoke to Qui-gon, "Running up a flight of stairs then running completely across the building isn't easy. I hope you're happy, because I hope to never do it again. And if you don't wake up I will be so mad at you for making me do all that extra work for nothing. So don't even think about dying on me."
Shoot! When I talked to Planka I said sith! Blast, well I guess I could put it to the fact the council said that word in front of me.Nicole didn't need to wait long; the medical team arrived in a minute, and carried Qui-gon to somewhere. Nicole followed them at a distance, keeping an eye out for Obi-wan.
Soon to be Knight. Not a padawan much longer, no more braid. I wonder what will happen to me after this. Probably both Anakin and I will be sent to Agi-courps. Because we are too old, the chameleons. I wonder what's keeping Obi-wan? Anakin should have landed by now. Talking to Padme most likely, gotta keep them away from each other.
Nicole spied Planka through the next room, she ran over, and asked, "Where is Anakin or Padme?"
"Padme is in a room off that way." He pointed.
Nicole walked over and opened and closed doors until she found Padme talking to Anakin, they both looked at the door when Nicole knocked, "Come in." Padme called.
Nicole opened the door, "I was wondering where you two were. Mind if I join you?"
Padme smiled, "Not at all. Anakin was just about to show me a force trick."
Anakin grinned at Nicole, "Nicole wasn't terrible at it either, why don't we both try?"
Nicole nodded, "What should we levitate Padme, uh your highness?"
"Padme is fine."
Padme held up a data pad and a tangled necklace. Both objects rose smoothly into the air, the necklace began to untangle itself, while the data pad flew slow circles around Padme's outstretched arm. Another knock was heard, "It's Obi-wan." Nicole said off hand.
Padme asked politely, "Who is it?"
Anakin hissed, "How do you know it's him?"
"It's Obi-wan. May I talk to you?"
Nicole shot an 'I told you it was him.' Look at Anakin.
Both objects flew into Anakin's or Nicole's outstretched hand.
"Come in, Obi-wan." Obi-wan opened the door and entered.
Then stated, "The council is on their way, Master Qui-gon will be taken to the Jedi temple for treatment form the Jedi healers. Anakin and Nicole will also be coming back to the Jedi temple with us." He looked at both of them, "Why am I not surprised? You two would be annoying the Queen."
"No we weren't!" Anakin and Nicole said at the same time, protesting defiantly.
"They were keeping me company, Obi-wan. I'll have someone watch them for you." Padme replied smoothly.
Obi-wan shook his head, "That's not necessary. The council will be here in a few hours."
Obi-wan bowed and left, Anakin and Nicole handed back the data pad and necklace (which was now untangled) before running out to meet Obi-wan.
"Like I said, the council is going to be here soon, so don't get lost." Obi-wan said sternly.
"Yes Obi-wan." Anakin responded almost auatamitacly in a chipper tone.
"That also includes don't get into trouble. Okay?" Obi-wan added as an after thought.
"Okey dokie artichokie." Nicole saluted him.
Obi-wan eyed the instant obedience and compliance with suspicion. He used the force to probe her, "What are you planning?" He queried warily.
"Nothing." Anakin said innocently.
"Honest." Nicole said sweetly.
Obi-wan was apparently unconvinced, but he really wanted to leave to watch his master.
"Don't blow anything up." Obi-wan ordered.
Nicole and Anakin just grinned, mischivsly.
"I mean it." Obi-wan said sternly.
Both grins got bigger.
Anakin chuckled, "Wouldn't dream of it, Obi-wan."
"Promise me you won't blow anything up in the palace. Or play with anything dangerous." Obi-wan said uneasily, unwilling to leave Nicole and Anakin alone for a few hours unsupervised. Partially for fear of the council coming and not finding a hanger to land. Or a palace, they had worked so hard to liberate in shambles, and smoldering.
"Very well. However please define playing with, and your definition of dangerous." Nicole said giggling.
"You should check on Master Qui-gon now, Obi-wan." Anakin informed him.
Obi-wan gave them both suspicious looks before leaving.
"So what are we gonna do Nicole?" Anakin asked conspiratorially whispering.
Nicole grinned, "Break into the holo vids security cameras for Obi-wan."
Anakin groaned disappointed, "That doesn't sound like much fun."
"We can sneak around." Nicole supplied.
"Okay lets go!" Anakin replied, "But I wanna see Qui-gon later." He added.
"After we get the holos we'll see Qui-gon and Obi-wan, deal?"
"Deal. Where are the holos?"
"I don't know." Nicole answered slowly.
Anakin incredulous nearly shouted, "What?"
"Part of the mission?" Nicole suggested hopefully. Before taking off. Anakin followed also eager to get this over with so as to see Qui-gon.
"Why can't we just ask Panaka?" Nicole asked exasperated.
"Because it's a secret remember?" Anakin repeated.
"I'm asking Panaka." Nicole marched over to the said person. While Anakin still running around, insisting that he could find it on his own. Nicole came back muttering, "What's with men and asking for directions? Anakin! It's this way."
Anakin ran over to her, "I could have found it myself." He said stubbornly sulking.
"Of course you could have." Nicole said consolingly.
After a minute, Nicole opened a door, and went inside Anakin followed her, "Whoa, look at all the buttons and computer screens."
Nicole sat at one of the chairs, "Let's see, let's try this one."
After a minute of unsuccessful luck Nicole shooed Anakin away, and told him to check on Qui-gon because this would take a while. Anakin delighted at seeing Qui-gon sooner than expected cheerfully ran to see him.
Nicole went through several more useless tapes, before coming across the one she wanted, the battle between Maul, Qui-gon, and Obi-wan. She burned it onto a chip and labeled it, 'Jedi council stuff'. Then chip in hand ran off to see Qui-gon.
Nicole ran through the hallways, occasionally asking for directions, It so different now. Everyone is happy to repair the palace. There are so many people; it's weird to think an hour ago this entire floor was deserted.
Nicole knocked on a door that sussposily hand Qui-gon in it.
"Come in." Came the calm voice of Obi-wan. Nicole pushed the button to open the door, then walked in. Obi-wan and Anakin were sitting in chairs next to a tank that held Qui-gon.
"Nicole! Took you long enough." Anakin greeted.
"Hey! Finding the right buttons was hard. I'd like you to try next time." Nicole answered defensively. Seeing Qui-gon she asked concerned, "How is he?"
"He'll be fine until the Jedi healers get here. There is no rush." Obi-wan said relived.
Anakin smiled jovially, "Apparently you got it."
Obi-wan was on alert instantly, "Got what?" He demanded.
Anakin and Nicole giggled, this caused Obi-wan to tense further, "It better not be destructive." He warned.
Anakin laughed harder at Obi-wan's tone.
Nicole however managed to refrain from laughing, said with a strait face "Why Obi-wan we just wanted to cause you some unnecessary worry and work."
"What did you two do?" His tone was your are in big trouble if you were somewhere you shouldn't be.
Anakin rolled on the floor snickering with laughter.
"Obi-wan I am shocked that you would think that two angles like us would do something awful. Truly shocked." Nicole responded in a mocking concerned offended tone.
"Do you really have that little faith in us?" She continued in a hurt tone, she gave the distinct impression that she was going to cry. Anakin would have fallen for it if she hadn't winked at him.
Obi-wan however took a deep breath, "I'm very sorry I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." He responded apologetically.
Nicole handed him the chip, "That is all I found on your battle with that guy. I hope it helps a little."
"Thank you both." Obi-wan said gratefully.
Nicole eyed Qui-gon in the tank, then tapped it hoping to get a responds, now board she asked, "So, when will sleeping beauty wake up?"
Obi-wan blinked confused, "Excuse me?"
"Master Qui-gon." Nicole clarified.
"Oh, a day after we arrive at the temple I think." Obi-wan replied.
After a few minutes of silence Obi-wan's comlink beeped, "Hello?"
"Jedi Obi-wan, the Jedi council is arriving in a few minutes." Answered a clipped business tone
"Thank you. Please tell them where Master Qui-gon is."
"Right away sir."
Another minute passed, "I think he's dead."
"Nicole, I can assure you he isn't dead. Look at the monitor." Obi-wan said pointing to the monitor it was showing vital signs and the like.
Nicole insisted without looking at the monitor, "But he looks dead."
"You would look dead too if you got run through with a lightsabor." Obi-wan replied.
Nicole huffed, "He still looks dead." Nicole said hopefully, "Maybe if I poured pink dye in he wouldn't loo-"
"You will not pour pink dye in my Master's bacta tank when he is unable to defend himself."
"He'll look less dead." Nicole quibbled.
Anakin walked over, "Your right he does look dead." He said cheerfully, "I'll pour in the dye."
"No you won't." Obi-wan stated.
"And you would stop us from doing a good deed? I am appalled Obi-wan simply appalled at your behavior." Nicole said waving a finger in his face, "You naughty boy, keeping us from helping."
Obi-wan finally broke down laughing, "You two." The rest of his sentence was muffed with laughter and Nicole's giggles.
When Obi-wan finally got his breath back he said humorously, "Thank you, both I really needed that."
"Having you mope around all day gets dull really fast huh?"
"Nicole."
She fluttered her eyelashes at Obi-wan, "Yes intelligent one?"
"Cut it out."
"Don't compliment you got it." Nicole turned to Anakin and started complimenting him, Anakin did the same to her both completely ignoring Obi-wan who was watching the deteriorating compliments struggling not to roll on the floor howling with laughter which was an unjedi like thing to do.
The Jedi council arrived a few minutes after that the healers got to work on Qui-gon almost instantly. Obi-wan was politely shooed out the door and informed that Yoda wanted to talk to him.
Yoda was walking down the hallway, "Seen Qui-gon I have. Safe he is. Lucky you we so quick he was."
Obi-wan grinned at the praise. Yoda continued, "When Qui-gon regains his strength your knighting ceremony shall he preside. Gather the younglings, leaving for Coursant we are. Back at the ship I will meet you."
Obi-wan bowed to Yoda before looking for Anakin and Nicole, unfortunately they had a habit of not being where they were supposed to be and had a knack for being where they shouldn't.
