Author's Note: Profuse apologies for leaving this so long. Thank 'Anonymous' for giving me the kick I needed. I'll try to finish this fic in the next few weeks/days.

And thank you, everyone who read or reviewed.

Chapter 4

"Master, I'm not so sure you did the right thing," Obi-wan said, as soon as Brigan's fearful presence receded from his mind. Amidst all the tension and Brigan's own wild panic, he'd had trouble sorting out all the emotions and, by Qui-gon's hesitation, could tell his Master had had an equally difficult time.

"I obeyed the will of the Force, nothing more, Obi-wan. If the Force had told me to get him away, I would've done so," Qui-gon said sternly. His gaze softened when he realized his harshness, but Obi-wan merely nodded at his comments.

"Yes, Master."

"That aside, Obi-wan, I should contact the Jedi Temple and report what we know. And then you and I have to figure out a safe way of getting Brigan off of here. We'll also need to contact the government on sending aide—this place is far beyond negotiations."

Obi-wan raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Do you really think it's hopeless, Master?" He'd never heard of any Jedi abandoning their duty as mediators.

"I feel it may be, Padawan. The frustration is at boiling point, and when it's there it almost always erupts in violence. I fear General Raladar is too overconfident. Now, I better contact the Council."

Qui-gon picked up his communicator and stood in the middle of the room, as serene and calm as ever, but his brow was furrowed slightly in his worry. Seconds later a holo of Mace Windu sitting in his chair appeared, and Qui-gon bowed. "Master Windu."

"Qui-gon. What of the situation on Phiranus?"

"General Raladar didn't tell the whole truth to the Senate and divulged it to us. I cannot say everything, but he fears his son is in grave danger and requested our guard—."

"It is against the Code to be bodyguards unless this boy is helpless."

"Yes, Mace, and I told him as much. However, the situation has changed. His son, Brigan, is force-sensitive, powerful enough to train. The atmosphere here is very tense, Mace, and I fear a war will break out any day now. The boy is helpless and Phiranus' resources are spread too thin; any attack could send this world into chaos."

Despite the miniature size of the holo, Obi-wan clearly saw Mace's eyes narrow at these words and he said, "If the situation is that serious then we will try to send help immediately to stabilize th—." Obi-wan, who'd been sitting respectfully quiet suddenly sat up straight when the holo started stuttering. His alarm further increased when it completely vanished.

"A communications blackout," the tall Jedi muttered then he looked at Obi-wan resolutely. "Padawan, we must find General Raladar. I'm afraid the war is here."

Obi-wan hopped up immediately, but before they reached the door they felt two people coming toward them in a rush. General Raladar and Commander Segis burst into the room without bothering to knock. Wyler's face was so pale he looked much like a corpse, and he seemed to be struggling to remain calm even as his eyes bulged and he trembled. "Jedi! Jedi, Forworth has kidnapped Brigan!"

The apprentice wanted to slap a hand to his forehead, but desperately fought the overwhelming urge. They didn't think Forworth trustworthy, but… If it was the will of the Force then there was nothing to do about it, Obi-wan thought, but then grimaced. I hope its will was not to have Brigan die.

Wyler seemed to see this noticeable darkening and didn't take long to make the connections in his mind. "Brigan. He was here, wasn't he?"

"Yes," Qui-gon said, "Forworth came to take him. Amidst the emotions here, I followed the Force and allowed Brigan to go."

Perath suddenly jumped up and grabbed Wyler's arm when the General seemed ready to swoon. He swayed unsteadily on his heels and almost fainted dead away, but came back enough to look at the Jedi with a pained expression. It tore at Obi-wan to see unshed tears spring to the General's eye. "H-how could you?" The question came out as a choked sob, and Wyler had to put his hands over his face.

"I trusted in the Force, General."

Words suddenly seemed beyond Wyler and at that moment all he could do was breath through his hands. Obi-wan's heart ached at the torment the General was no doubt enduring and couldn't help the twinge of guilt. Though his hand remained on Wyler's shoulder, Perath was shaking with rage and he ground his teeth. "How could you be so daft! Forworth doesn't even appear trustworthy."

Qui-gon did not return the dagger look, but remained calm and said, "I trusted in the Force when I gave up Brigan. That does not mean that it's the will of the Force for him to die. Come! We don't have much time!" The Jedi Master darted for the door with nimbleness that seemed to surprise Perath and was ready to open it, but turned back to stare at the General.

Wyler had removed his hands from his face and was now staring at him dully with one hand on his temple. Once again Obi-wan winced at the hopelessness on his face, but he steeled himself and said, "General Raladar, we cannot get your son back without your help. Where is Forworth?"

A spark of life seemed to return to his blue eyes and he immediately said, "I'm not sure where he is, but I can find out easily enough. I doubt he's left the castle—it would be far too hard—and I'm sure my soldiers can help me find him. If he's doing what I think he's doing he'll be on the third floor at the north end of the building. There's a balcony overlooking the public, and he'll be announcing his capture of Brigan. If he knows he's blind and says so then the Phiranus Resistance will be behind him in an instant, and call for both of our heads."

"Then there's no time to lose. Call what soldiers you can. We'll see if we can negotiate with Forworth for his life." The Commander laughed at this and the General gave him a rueful smile.

"He'll never concede him."

"We have to try! It's part of the Code we follow," Obi-wan said. "If that doesn't work we'll have to take him back and escape to Coruscant. It's the only way."

"I hate running." It was the only comment Wyler made before he brought a comlink to his mouth and said, "Captain Faust?"

"Yes, sir?"

"I want a score of soldiers over at the north balcony on the third floor immediately and wait for me at the doors there. Be wary of Resistance loyalists."

"Yes, sir!"

Forworth couldn't believe his good fortune! Those foolish Jedi! He couldn't believe he'd ever been afraid they'd botch his plan with their arrival. When the gluttonous monarch had seen the feeds of Brigan heading, alone, toward the Jedi's room he thought his luck was too good to be true. He knew right then that it was time to spring the trap he'd been working so meticulously on, but when it came to snatching up the boy he feared the only chance would pretend to be an escort.

He was so sure he'd be caught when he knocked on the door and was nearly flabbergasted when the Jedi handed over Brigan without any protest at all. They're not a bad sort, really, the man mused as he looked over the frothing public below him, preparing to make his announcement. Maybe they really want Raladar out of power.

"My father will kill you."

Forworth turned disdainfully to the miniature replica of Raladar and smirked at the stone-faced front the child was attempting with him. His blue eyes were completely blank, focused at the sky over the balcony railing, and a grim frown was on his face, but he could see the boy shift uneasily.

"I beg to differ, young Brigan. When the Resistance hears about your blindness your father won't stand a chance. He'll be ousted from office and you'll both be killed. You might as well not fight it," he said in a simpering tone, bending down to talk to the child.

Brigan somehow remained unfazed and turned his head slightly. Forworth's breath caught when, for one instant, those blue eyes locked onto his and he could see the stubborn determination and anger burning behind them. Then he turned back to looking out over the balcony. Despite his hate of Wyler, Forworth wavered.

If the concealment of the blindness had been a hoax then the Resistance would have his head for lying to them! They wouldn't stand for another liar as ruler. He was brought out of his fearful reverie when he suddenly heard a large object hit the balcony doors, causing them to shudder momentarily.

Forworth stood bolt upright. He had to make that announcement now! He turned to the loyalist soldiers with him and snapped, "Bar the door! Make sure they don't get in!"

He turned to the multitude of faces below the balcony that craned their necks to hear what he might have to say, and smiled joyously. "People of Phiranus, today is a glorious day! Today you will be free from the military's oppression, for today Wyler Raladar and Perath Segis shall fall!"

The audience roared their approval from below and Forworth couldn't contain the leering smile sweeping across his face. "After all this time there is finally proof of their lies and double-crossing; you have been supporting a crippled heir!" The crowd rippled like a pond, as the people stirred and muttered to one another, not believing their ears at what the monarch was saying. "Brigan Raladar is blind! He is unfit to rule this world! Wyler Raladar must step down if he does not want his son to be killed." A chorus of boos issued from below and Forworth stepped back, content that the message he'd been eager to spread for who knew how many years was seizing the crowd. In their justified anger there would be a coup, and a rapid movement to elect a new leader. A strong leader.

"Oh yes, they'll be calling me a hero. The next election will be no contest," Forworth muttered to himself after he closed his eyes and continued to smile.

"You might get that far."

The monarch jumped a foot in the air when a dark form suddenly fell from above and landed easily in a crouch, with a small blaster already drawn and leveled at the traitor. Six more people followed from above: the irritating Commander, the pilot Kail Voron, Captain Faust, another soldier and…the two Jedi. Their feet hadn't touched the ground before the humming of their lightsabers could be heard on the relatively small balcony. Wyler Raladar slowly rose from his crouching position, never taking his burning eyes off Forworth.

The blood drained from Forworth's face in a rush and he stepped back, blustering as the blind boy broke out into a skip and bounded to his father. Brigan hugged Wyler's leg, but the General did not return his affection and merely said, "Jedi, take Brigan."

Forworth's eyes darted to the door. The soldiers there seemed torn between making sure the door was blockaded and dashing to his rescue. It was only for a moment, though, as suddenly fighting broke out on the inside of the castle. Blaster bolts could be heard careening off of the walls and the dying screams of soldiers could be heard through the door.

"The tables have turned, Wyler," Captain Faust said suddenly then pulled out his own hand blaster and aimed it at the General's head. While he'd been preoccupied with his attention on Forworth, the Captain had inched away from the group until he was out of even the Jedi's reach, and positioned himself next to Forworth. "It's over. Why don't you just make this easier and drop the gun."

"It's not done yet!" Perath leapt forward to stand next to Raladar and aim at the former captain.

"There are still some who are loyal to Raladar," Kail said and also stepped forward, adding a third muzzle to the line aimed at the two traitors.

For a moment they seemed to reconsider their decision.

"Commander!"

But Qui-gon was too late. The forgotten soldier had crept up behind the short human and bludgeoned him on the back of the neck with an electrojabber.

"Aahhh!" Perath crumpled into a convulsing mass on the tile then lie unmoving.

Distracted, Raladar turned his gaze to his friend. Forworth seized the opportunity to snatch the blaster from Captain Faust's hand and—screaming angrily—fired. The bolt hit the General full in the chest and he stumbled back and was dead before he hit the ground, his eyes wide open from the surprise. Kail managed to recover from his shock quicker and fired at the two in front of them. His bolt hit the captain square in the forehead, but Forworth, having lost his nerve, dropped the blaster, turned, and ran down the balcony.

The loyalists that had been at the door moved on the Jedi and Brigan in the same instant. Qui-gon turned to Obi-wan, "Hold off the guards for a moment." He ran to the balcony and peered over looking for an escape, and was relieved to see that there was a landing on the second floor. Once he was sure they could get down he leapt back next to Obi-wan and shouted, "Kail, take Brigan and get to the balcony below. We'll be right behind you!"

The pilot didn't hesitate and bent down to allow the child to climb onto his shoulders then he took a grappling attachment to his blaster and shot it into the third floor balcony before jumping over the side. When Qui-gon was certain they were safe he turned to Obi-wan and said, "You go last. I cannot leave Commander Segis!"

"Yes, Master," the young Jedi said though he never took his eyes off the guards. He'd been dodging and slashing for only a few second and already two guards were dead at his blade, but it would not last. Through the warning of the Force he knew that Resistance reinforcements were hammering at the door and that if Qui-gon didn't get to the balcony in the next few moments, Obi-wan would be lying next to Wyler.

Breathing deeply he threw himself into the Force, and then launched himself at an approaching soldier and, with a flash, sliced through the barrel of his blaster. A tug from the Force caused Obi-wan to twirl to the side and the blaster bolt hit the soldier in the shoulder, but the Jedi was already at the next man and slashed him across the chest. Obi-wan was flowing into his next attack when he felt a tug from Qui-gon through their bond and, with practiced grace, diverted his path to the balcony and back-flipped off in the span of a second. The Padawan managed to catch the shock on some of their faces before he fell below the railing and smoothly landed on the railing below.

Once his boots touched rock he launched himself off and toward the door, taking in the situation as he passed his friends. Brigan was up and standing much to Obi-wan's relief and, though he seemed wrung of energy, he walked on his own. Kail had his small blaster and appeared determined to fight his way out, and Qui-gon stood slightly hunched with Commander Segis lying on his back, still unconscious from the electro-jabber.

Qui-gon gave him a significant look that was full of all his trust. Obi-wan's heart lightened but what faced him was a challenge greater beyond any. It was up to him to get them through the castle.