Authors Note/ I updated, I updated!
I'm so happy! I've been working at this for a few weeks but keep loosing my time to revision, but here it is!
I tried to make a long chapter, because you all deserve it for reading and reviewing, and for me making you wait for a long period.
A word of warning to all readers, my exams begin in just over a month so during May and June, and most probably before, there will be a time where I won't be updating but afterwards it will be back to my normal self!
Please R&R and enjoy!
Purplewillowtrees xxx
(I ended up doing some research (I know, how 'professional') about Serenno and realized that in the last chapter that I had spelt it wrong. Whoops!)
Chapter 9: Different Path.
Kia watched as Obi Wan slept, one breath, two breaths, a small gap.
It was always at these moments Kia held her breath back and lent forward slightly, placing a gentle hand upon the Jedi's chest to feel his chest still moving allowing her to relax back into the wall.
It was the most peace he had, had within the past few days, no voices passing through his head, no 'sessions' with the Count of Serenno which left him dead for the world for a few minutes, but a few minutes in which each time Kia saw that the Jedi were just as human as her.
She'd asked where Serenno was after announcing that they were to arrive there, and she'd watched the Jedi's face turn pale white.
A planet, he had said, filled with rainforests, mountains and many oceans, poisoned by the Sith, Darth Malgus and the riches of a power hungry Count.
She shivered.
A power hungry Count who had two new slaves to add to his collection, two more for humiliation.
No.
She wouldn't allow it, the young Jedi was to be protected from this brutality of which she had grown with.
"Kia, control your thoughts" the sound of Kenobi's voice from beside her, his body stirring into an upward position.
"I apologise young Jedi" Kia replied, crawling forward on her muddied knees and placing her hand carefully onto his forehead, moving a small strand of hair from his eyes. She felt a faint blush appear on her faint green face as she moved her face away and pulled her ponytail back. "We've been given some water young Jedi, but it is of the poisoned kind that is back on Zygerria."
She shook her head in dismay and handed over the small can, carefully opening his hands and placing it between his grip, "Drink."
"And you?"
He finally spoke after his few minutes of silence, looking down towards the can and giving it a small sniff.
"I have drunk. Now it is your turn."
His nose turned away from the water as his mouth twisted into a look of disgust, "It is what must be done to survive."
Obi Wan felt as Kia's hands gently held his and placed the can to his lips, the rusting side giving the water at least some form of flavour to the sickly smelling liquid. He felt his throat repulse at the water but held it down as it slid down into his stomach.
"How do you swallow this?" Obi Wan asked after placing the can to the side and holding back his stomach.
"In the first few terms of drinking it, you are sick" Kia explained in her tinted accent, "But once you are used to it, the water becomes everyday life. Though too much and it is deadly."
She shook her head and moved the can further from them as though she was disgusted by its very presence.
The sound of footsteps from outside their cell brought the tone of their speech down as they listened carefully. It came closer until it stopped outside their cell, a silent heavy breathing projecting from the other side.
"It is time young Jedi" Kia whispered to Obi Wan, leaning in slowly as he face began to pale.
Obi Wan opened his mouth to speak but was stopped by the opening of the door and a bright light reflecting off the walls that surrounded them, a pair of rough hands grabbed him under the arms and pulled him to his feet, he noticed Kia received the same treatment, but she appeared to brush it off.
"Kia?" Obi Wan asked before receiving a sharp hit around the head, small stars buzzing around him.
"You don't speak Jedi" a voice spoke, tightening the grip around his arms, "A few good whips will teach you that."
'You poor Jedi' Kia thought to herself sadly before receiving a small push and a nudge to move herself forward, her muddied feet cracking upon the ground.
"Young Jedi, is this the place of Serenno?" Kia asked, turning her neck slightly to a now force drugged Obi Wan, who's eyes were becoming blood shot.
"Yes" he replied weakly, nodding his head clumsily before being prodded forward into the sunlight.
The planet would have been beautiful like Zygerria if it had not been for the situation both Obi Wan and Kia found themselves in.
Tall mountains surrounded them and cooled the air around them; the air itself was a soft taste to the tongue, whilst the dew of the mountainside left small droplets of water on their skin.
"Welcome to Serenno, Obi Wan Kenobi" a voice boomed, a voice which sent chills running down Obi Wan's spine.
"It's been while hasn't it?"
Anakin placed a cloak silently over his shoulders, keeping his breath calm and controlled.
He felt a small snort rise in his throat.
Calm and controlled.
Those were not his initial feelings at the current moment, and though his face bore the signs of a collected and ordered mind, it was his fear that gave him away as nervous and uncontrolled with his emotions.
Beside him Ahsoka repeated his actions, swinging a cloak almost gracefully onto her bare shoulders, lifting up the hood to cover her montrals.
"What's the plan Master" she asked looking up towards him with a look of anxiety, taking care to hide her sabres underneath her cloak.
"We find the Queen, make her talk, find Obi Wan. Simple."
Ahsoka rose an eye marking and tugged at the cloth on her shoulders, shaking her head slightly as she looked back at Anakin, "You say it is simple, but it is the finer details that must be seen. You may not like what you find in the minds of slavers, I would have thought you would have known this."
Ahsoka bluntness and perhaps deep thinking shook Anakin slightly, but in time gave him a small smile onto his face as he placed a gentle hand onto his apprentices shoulder.
"You've been talking with Obi Wan a lot lately haven't you?"
"I value his teaching as much as you value it" Ahsoka explained giving a small smile back and resisting the urge to.
Anakin let out a small smirk and stepped out into the light, feeling the heat drive into the back of his neck as he pulled up his hood.
The skies above them were blue, laced with crimson clouds as the sun began to lower behind the tall towers of the Zygerrian Empire, showing the shadows of tall flowering plants.
The scent was untainted from the outside; perfumes drifting from these tall plants were intoxicating for Ahsoka as she stepped out beside her Master and gazed around.
"Ahsoka, I want you by my side at all times" Anakin whispered, a tone of hissing creeping into his voice making Ahsoka shiver with dread. "No matter what you see, stay by my side."
Ahsoka gave a small nod and silently followed her Master through the cream gates, eyes following them as they walked through the streets.
Ahsoka felt her vision dart from one side to another; slaves of all species watched her walk by, the feeling of desperation sparking off each of the slaves. Her legs slowed into a slow paced walk as she took in the sights around her.
She was surprised by the amount of flowers there were around her, as though the people of slavery were inviting her to join in a flowered parade, instead of showing off new slaves or buying those who should be free.
To her left were a few slaves of unfamiliar species, each had a radiating beauty about them, but were sad. She turned again to her right, seeing a togruta female looking towards her with a look of sorrow.
Ahsoka turned away and began to quicken her pace but felt a warm, clammy hand intertwine with her own and pull her back. The female had grasped at her hand and pulled her back with a surprise amount of strength and looked at her.
"Naarsu, narsu fa'kan san."
For a moment or two Ahsoka didn't understand the tongue of which the woman spoke, it appeared the slave realised this and loosened her grip slightly.
"Please, please help me" she whispered in togruti, looking pleadingly towards Ahsoka.
"I'm sorry, there is nothing I can do" Ahsoka replied in the same tongue, shaking her head slightly and looking round for her Master. "If I could, I would."
She broke off hand-connection with the women before she turned around and felt her head go into a muscular stomach.
"Ahsoka, what did I say before."
"Look I'm sorry" Ahsoka snapped, looking up towards Anakin and pushing past him, following the dusty path towards the Queens palace. "Just sometimes a distraction is what I need."
Anakin sighed and sped walked up behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder, stopping her and bring Ahsoka round to face him. "Look, I need you in this. Once we find Obi Wan we can talk."
His young Padawan nodded, biting her lip slightly, "It's just seeing some of my people in chains, when we are so peaceful. It is not right."
"Slavery isn't right Ahsoka."
The duo reached a large door beautifully decorated to the standard of Zygerrians, Ahsoka stood in awe for a few moments whilst Anakin's stomach seemed to lurch for a second.
"Something's not right here" he whispered to Ahsoka feeling her stare turn towards the side of his face, "Obi Wan, he isn't here."
"What do you mean" Ahsoka asked suddenly, an edge of worry creeping into her voice.
"I mean he's not here, not on the planet."
He moved Ahsoka roughly to the side and made his way to the large door, knocking on it hard.
He took a small step back and watched it open slowly for him, a feeling of surprise obvious on his face as he turned around to face Ahsoka.
"You didn't expect that to work, did you?" Ahsoka asked jokingly joining Anakin at his side and walking through the brightly lit corridors.
"Not really, but expect the unexpected."
They walked for a few moments in silence, taking in the warmth reflected off the walls and the perfumed air that seemed to float around them, before being stopped by two guards.
Their armour was clean, a clear sign of protecting a high power, or pride, their eyes were dull however, dirty and grimy to look at.
"We're here to see the Queen" Anakin hissed, biting back his tongue before he said something inappropriate.
"Her majesty does not like to be disturbed" one of the guards replied giving Ahsoka a sharp jab in the side with his blaster making her give a small jump of shock.
"Well she's going to need to be disturbed. We're here on Republic business."
The guard's eyes seemed to light up in sudden fear, it was obvious they knew why the two were here as they went up ahead and opened a smaller door and bade them to enter.
"Who is it?"
"Ahsoka, I want you to stay outside for a few minutes."
Ahsoka felt her eyes rise in disapproval, darkening them in the light that shined upon them. "Are you sure? I could…"
"Ahsoka, wait outside."
Ouch.
His snap had shut her silent; perhaps he had learnt something from Obi Wan besides his sabre skills. Her eyes followed him as he walked through the door, feeling the air compress into her face until his shadow was taken by the light.