Big thanks to SCslilangel1425 for seeing that I had a new chapter up and reviewing it. Thank you!!!
Now, it's high time for some action, wouldn't you say? : -)
Enjoy! --MK
See Chapter One for disclaimer
___________________________________________________________
Chapter 10
"Go to the main chamber on the top floor. There's a utility closet on the right of the turbolift-you know the one. It has a hidden door that will lead you to a staircase. You'll eventually wind up in the sewers; there are tunnels under the city that lead everywhere. Let the Force guide you to where you need to go." The dark, slender figure that spoke waved a hand in the direction of the turbolifts.
Another mysterious being, this one tall and musculature nodded gratefully. "Thank you. I know you'll take good care of them. May the Force be with you."
"May the Force be with you."
[|||||||||||||o]::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Obi-Wan pulled out the battered comlink he'd kept tucked in a tunic pocket since arriving. It had been blocked from use on the planet since he had landed here, but now he would use it to connect to the power generator. As soon as he pushed the activator button, the lights would go off.
[|||||||||||||o]::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The banquet hall was filled from wall to wall with people dressed in fancy clothing, milling about the room and chattering about the lastest gossip. Suddenly, spotlights danced to the door. Ceal emerged, dressed in a splendid silver dress, dotted with rare, clear gems called monadids. Her lips were painted bright red, her hair pulled back in a bun and braids. Men hurried forward to walk her to the small, round stage in the middle of the room, despite the dismayed looks from their wives or dates.
Ceal seemed completely oblivious to them. Her long, billowing dress made it look like she was floating. The stage allowed her to view everyone as her guests gathered around to hear. "Welcome, welcome!" she called excitedly. "First, I want to thank everyone for coming. It's an honor to see you all this evening."
Murmured responses emited friom the crowd. Ceal had become a well-respected politician during the short time she had been active on Choet, despite her young age of 17 years.
"Second, I am sorry to say that the Jedi you had all expected to see perform this evening will not be able to make it-"
Without warning, the lights completely went out. A bolt of lightning lit the sky outside and the light traveled through the floor to ceiling windows. The guests caught sight of the shiny glint of light against metal. Ceal uttered a small cry of shock. A dagger was pushed bluntly to her throat.
"On the contrary, Miss.Verune, I decided to come after all."
"It's the Jedi pup!" someone hissed in distaste.
Women shrieked in alarm at the sight before them. One man moved forward.
Obi-Wan would have none of it.
He stepped back, closer to the edge, and pushed the dagger closer to his prisoner's neck. Lightning flashed outside, illuminating the room and the wide eyes of Ceal Verune. The man backed off slowly and Ceal pushed herself further into Obi-Wan's chest to try to avoid the sharp weapon. What the crowd didn't know, however, was that he would never kill a living creature out of cold blood. He was a Jedi; he would never do such a thing.
Towards the back of the room, where the stairway for the servants stood hidden my small, planted trees, Garen slid to a frantic halt. He had just returned from searching their quarters and had found no lightsabers whatsoever. He had to warn Obi-Wan, but he could see it was already too late.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed on. In the large doorway through which Ceal had arrived stood Antiyo Ganfor. He pointed a long, thin finger at Obi-Wan. In the other hand he lightly held a blaster. Obi-Wan met his putrid gaze without so much as blinking.
Antiyo stood with his legs spread slightly and placed one hand on his hip. With the other, he waved his blaster at Obi-Wan. "That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a monster, a cold-blooded killer! He invaded our planet, attacked securtiy forces and innocent bystanders-" At this, the drunkard Obi-Wan had met on his first day in town stepped out from behind Antiyo. Lipa followed soon after, each holding a blaster loosely at their sides.
"-And plundered valuable goods from your fellow Choetians! The Jedi are a filthy race that should be disposed of immediately!"
Someone in the crowd pumped his fist in the air and began shouting. Soon, the entire group was chanting. "Kill the Jedi! Kill the Jedi!"
Garen groaned and moved further out of view, wondering when he might have a chance to get those two out of there. It seemed Obi-Wan's rescue mission had turned into Garen's.
Antiyo smiled from his place just inside the doorway, proud of what he had done. He allowed it to continue a few more moments, reveling in the desperate look that passed briefly over Obi-Wan's face every now and then before he held up a hand. The crowd slowly hushed. "But my friends, that is not all!" he exclaimed. "You have all been deceived by another foul-smelling rat! Observe!"
A dark, blurry man leapt from the crowd and onto the stage. With expert ease, he swung a vibro-axe towards the two figures on the platform. Sensing the move, Ceal, along with Obi-Wan and his excellent reflexes, dived to the floor. Another man, this one wielding a wicked-looking, jagged-edged vibro-shiv danced towards Obi-Wan's neck.
Ceal murmured something unintelligiable and rolled away from the man, allowing her former slave to do the same and avoid the sharp weapon. Deciding it had to end, she stretched her arm out. The vibro-shiv flew into her open palm. The crowd reeled in shock.
By now, Antiyo was laughing heartily. He spread his arms wide to take in the crowd and the two figures, who were quickly standing. "Do you see? Ceal Verune is not the daughter of a wealthy diplomatic family. She is just another pawn in the disgusting Jedi Order." Here he dropped his arm, leveling the one with the blaster at Obi-Wan's head. Lipa raised his to Ceal's. "And we are here to put them both out of their misery."
With the cheering of the crowd ringing in their ears, Antiyo and Lipa closed their fingers around the triggers. Ceal and Obi-Wan traded fleeting glances, then jerked and fell in a heap on the stage floor. Before anyone could move towards them, however, Garen somersaulted over the guests' heads. He reached the two Jedi and tugged at their hands. Both arose swiftly with no obvious injuries.
As the three Jedi raced through the shocked party-goers and out the door, Antiyo calmly reached out and shot the drunkard in the foot.
[|||||||||||||o]::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"This way, hurry! Through the hatch!"
Garen jumped blindly into the small hatch Ceal had indicated, and immediately found himself sliding through years of accumulated dust. He heard his two comrades soon follow.
When the chute finally ended, he was thrown into a stream of murky, brown water. Something he didn't want to identify floated past. With a large gasp to pull in fresh air, Garen leapt to his feet and immediately regretted it. His head hit roughly against the low, stone ceiling. Wondering where in the galaxy they were, he turned around in search of Ceal. Instead, he came face to face with a very wet, very dirty, and very peeved looking Obi-Wan Kenobi. It was all he could do to keep from laughing and somehow he managed to gather enough seriousness to blurt out, "I *lo-o-ove* your new look, Obi-Wan!"
With a mischievious glint in his eyes, he ducked the incoming punch and turned his attention to Ceal, whom was busy ripping the lower-half of her dress off so that it came to her knees and made it easier for her to walk through the slimy water. She nodded towards the dark tunnel behind her and motioned for them to follow quietly. Seeing as it was their only option, the two young men trailed after her.
[|||||||||||||o]::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"I don't like this. Not one bit," Obi-Wan was saying the following day. Ceal had led them through twisting, maze-like sewer tunnels until they'd eventually ended up at their current location: A large, vault-like are that was free of the offending brown water. Ceal had disappeared behind a half-wall that night for privacy, but when Obi-Wan had awaken, she was no where to be seen.
Garen didn't seem to share his worries.
"Really, Obi-Wan, haven't you learned anything in your eight years as an apprentice?"
"Obviously not if you think I'm over-reacting."
Garen sighed loudly and leaned against the sewer wall. He started to run a hand through his thick, black hair when he remembered all the things possibly dried in it. That in itself made him shudder. "That's not what I meant and you know it," he began. "What I mean is that you should learn to have more trust in people."
"I usually leave that up to Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan murmured in disgust. "He seems to give more trust-and time-to total strangers than his own Padawan."
"You're not being fair, Obi-Wan."
He sighed. "I know, I know. But even though there seems to be all this evidence leading to the idea Ceal is a Jedi, I just can't get it out of my mind that there's still a piece missing from the puzzle. I know the Jedi Order is big, but she's only a few years younger than us-a year younger than Bant in fact-so why wouldn't we recognize her? Not to mention, her lightsaber skills are exceptionall if what you tell me is correct. Shouldn't she have been in the advanecd saber classes while we were taking them?"
Garen shrugged. "I see your point, but she's probably part of that new program started a few years ago that trains undercover Jedi. 'Ceal' most likely isn't her real name."
Obi-Wan nodded. "I figured as much, but there's still something about her I can't quite place…"
The young Jedi tensed and turned to his companion. "Garen, why do I suddenly get the sensation we're being watched?"
"Because maybe you are, *Yoda*. Geez, if you get any smarter, they'll have to kick the *real* green troll off the Council and put *you* there in his place. Now move the braid, Kenobi. That is, unless you want it cut off, and it's much too pretty to do that."
Obi-Wan froze and blinked in surprise as the hum of a lightsaber igniting reached his ears. He knew that voice and he knew it well. It was the *last* voice he'd ever expected to hear again…
Now, it's high time for some action, wouldn't you say? : -)
Enjoy! --MK
See Chapter One for disclaimer
___________________________________________________________
Chapter 10
"Go to the main chamber on the top floor. There's a utility closet on the right of the turbolift-you know the one. It has a hidden door that will lead you to a staircase. You'll eventually wind up in the sewers; there are tunnels under the city that lead everywhere. Let the Force guide you to where you need to go." The dark, slender figure that spoke waved a hand in the direction of the turbolifts.
Another mysterious being, this one tall and musculature nodded gratefully. "Thank you. I know you'll take good care of them. May the Force be with you."
"May the Force be with you."
[|||||||||||||o]::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Obi-Wan pulled out the battered comlink he'd kept tucked in a tunic pocket since arriving. It had been blocked from use on the planet since he had landed here, but now he would use it to connect to the power generator. As soon as he pushed the activator button, the lights would go off.
[|||||||||||||o]::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The banquet hall was filled from wall to wall with people dressed in fancy clothing, milling about the room and chattering about the lastest gossip. Suddenly, spotlights danced to the door. Ceal emerged, dressed in a splendid silver dress, dotted with rare, clear gems called monadids. Her lips were painted bright red, her hair pulled back in a bun and braids. Men hurried forward to walk her to the small, round stage in the middle of the room, despite the dismayed looks from their wives or dates.
Ceal seemed completely oblivious to them. Her long, billowing dress made it look like she was floating. The stage allowed her to view everyone as her guests gathered around to hear. "Welcome, welcome!" she called excitedly. "First, I want to thank everyone for coming. It's an honor to see you all this evening."
Murmured responses emited friom the crowd. Ceal had become a well-respected politician during the short time she had been active on Choet, despite her young age of 17 years.
"Second, I am sorry to say that the Jedi you had all expected to see perform this evening will not be able to make it-"
Without warning, the lights completely went out. A bolt of lightning lit the sky outside and the light traveled through the floor to ceiling windows. The guests caught sight of the shiny glint of light against metal. Ceal uttered a small cry of shock. A dagger was pushed bluntly to her throat.
"On the contrary, Miss.Verune, I decided to come after all."
"It's the Jedi pup!" someone hissed in distaste.
Women shrieked in alarm at the sight before them. One man moved forward.
Obi-Wan would have none of it.
He stepped back, closer to the edge, and pushed the dagger closer to his prisoner's neck. Lightning flashed outside, illuminating the room and the wide eyes of Ceal Verune. The man backed off slowly and Ceal pushed herself further into Obi-Wan's chest to try to avoid the sharp weapon. What the crowd didn't know, however, was that he would never kill a living creature out of cold blood. He was a Jedi; he would never do such a thing.
Towards the back of the room, where the stairway for the servants stood hidden my small, planted trees, Garen slid to a frantic halt. He had just returned from searching their quarters and had found no lightsabers whatsoever. He had to warn Obi-Wan, but he could see it was already too late.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed on. In the large doorway through which Ceal had arrived stood Antiyo Ganfor. He pointed a long, thin finger at Obi-Wan. In the other hand he lightly held a blaster. Obi-Wan met his putrid gaze without so much as blinking.
Antiyo stood with his legs spread slightly and placed one hand on his hip. With the other, he waved his blaster at Obi-Wan. "That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a monster, a cold-blooded killer! He invaded our planet, attacked securtiy forces and innocent bystanders-" At this, the drunkard Obi-Wan had met on his first day in town stepped out from behind Antiyo. Lipa followed soon after, each holding a blaster loosely at their sides.
"-And plundered valuable goods from your fellow Choetians! The Jedi are a filthy race that should be disposed of immediately!"
Someone in the crowd pumped his fist in the air and began shouting. Soon, the entire group was chanting. "Kill the Jedi! Kill the Jedi!"
Garen groaned and moved further out of view, wondering when he might have a chance to get those two out of there. It seemed Obi-Wan's rescue mission had turned into Garen's.
Antiyo smiled from his place just inside the doorway, proud of what he had done. He allowed it to continue a few more moments, reveling in the desperate look that passed briefly over Obi-Wan's face every now and then before he held up a hand. The crowd slowly hushed. "But my friends, that is not all!" he exclaimed. "You have all been deceived by another foul-smelling rat! Observe!"
A dark, blurry man leapt from the crowd and onto the stage. With expert ease, he swung a vibro-axe towards the two figures on the platform. Sensing the move, Ceal, along with Obi-Wan and his excellent reflexes, dived to the floor. Another man, this one wielding a wicked-looking, jagged-edged vibro-shiv danced towards Obi-Wan's neck.
Ceal murmured something unintelligiable and rolled away from the man, allowing her former slave to do the same and avoid the sharp weapon. Deciding it had to end, she stretched her arm out. The vibro-shiv flew into her open palm. The crowd reeled in shock.
By now, Antiyo was laughing heartily. He spread his arms wide to take in the crowd and the two figures, who were quickly standing. "Do you see? Ceal Verune is not the daughter of a wealthy diplomatic family. She is just another pawn in the disgusting Jedi Order." Here he dropped his arm, leveling the one with the blaster at Obi-Wan's head. Lipa raised his to Ceal's. "And we are here to put them both out of their misery."
With the cheering of the crowd ringing in their ears, Antiyo and Lipa closed their fingers around the triggers. Ceal and Obi-Wan traded fleeting glances, then jerked and fell in a heap on the stage floor. Before anyone could move towards them, however, Garen somersaulted over the guests' heads. He reached the two Jedi and tugged at their hands. Both arose swiftly with no obvious injuries.
As the three Jedi raced through the shocked party-goers and out the door, Antiyo calmly reached out and shot the drunkard in the foot.
[|||||||||||||o]::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"This way, hurry! Through the hatch!"
Garen jumped blindly into the small hatch Ceal had indicated, and immediately found himself sliding through years of accumulated dust. He heard his two comrades soon follow.
When the chute finally ended, he was thrown into a stream of murky, brown water. Something he didn't want to identify floated past. With a large gasp to pull in fresh air, Garen leapt to his feet and immediately regretted it. His head hit roughly against the low, stone ceiling. Wondering where in the galaxy they were, he turned around in search of Ceal. Instead, he came face to face with a very wet, very dirty, and very peeved looking Obi-Wan Kenobi. It was all he could do to keep from laughing and somehow he managed to gather enough seriousness to blurt out, "I *lo-o-ove* your new look, Obi-Wan!"
With a mischievious glint in his eyes, he ducked the incoming punch and turned his attention to Ceal, whom was busy ripping the lower-half of her dress off so that it came to her knees and made it easier for her to walk through the slimy water. She nodded towards the dark tunnel behind her and motioned for them to follow quietly. Seeing as it was their only option, the two young men trailed after her.
[|||||||||||||o]::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"I don't like this. Not one bit," Obi-Wan was saying the following day. Ceal had led them through twisting, maze-like sewer tunnels until they'd eventually ended up at their current location: A large, vault-like are that was free of the offending brown water. Ceal had disappeared behind a half-wall that night for privacy, but when Obi-Wan had awaken, she was no where to be seen.
Garen didn't seem to share his worries.
"Really, Obi-Wan, haven't you learned anything in your eight years as an apprentice?"
"Obviously not if you think I'm over-reacting."
Garen sighed loudly and leaned against the sewer wall. He started to run a hand through his thick, black hair when he remembered all the things possibly dried in it. That in itself made him shudder. "That's not what I meant and you know it," he began. "What I mean is that you should learn to have more trust in people."
"I usually leave that up to Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan murmured in disgust. "He seems to give more trust-and time-to total strangers than his own Padawan."
"You're not being fair, Obi-Wan."
He sighed. "I know, I know. But even though there seems to be all this evidence leading to the idea Ceal is a Jedi, I just can't get it out of my mind that there's still a piece missing from the puzzle. I know the Jedi Order is big, but she's only a few years younger than us-a year younger than Bant in fact-so why wouldn't we recognize her? Not to mention, her lightsaber skills are exceptionall if what you tell me is correct. Shouldn't she have been in the advanecd saber classes while we were taking them?"
Garen shrugged. "I see your point, but she's probably part of that new program started a few years ago that trains undercover Jedi. 'Ceal' most likely isn't her real name."
Obi-Wan nodded. "I figured as much, but there's still something about her I can't quite place…"
The young Jedi tensed and turned to his companion. "Garen, why do I suddenly get the sensation we're being watched?"
"Because maybe you are, *Yoda*. Geez, if you get any smarter, they'll have to kick the *real* green troll off the Council and put *you* there in his place. Now move the braid, Kenobi. That is, unless you want it cut off, and it's much too pretty to do that."
Obi-Wan froze and blinked in surprise as the hum of a lightsaber igniting reached his ears. He knew that voice and he knew it well. It was the *last* voice he'd ever expected to hear again…