"Looks like Zygerria's a popular place nowadays." Qui-Gon mused as they entered the atmosphere, spotting the ships all around them, all going to the same place.
On the orders of the Council, it was to be a small, covert mission.
Anakin was too emotionally close to the ideas of slavery and probably wouldn't be able to keep his cool, so he remained on the colonist planet, cleaning up after the Separatists.
Commander Cody was with them, as was Obi-Wan.
Personally, Qui-Gon would have preferred to leave Obi-Wan behind as well on account of his injuries, but they were so short on available, skilled Masters and Knights, so, he had very little choice.
"Looks like it's attracting all sorts of high-class… scum." Obi-Wan chuckled from his own seat.
They cleared the atmosphere and landed in an empty spot, donning their disguises.
"Let's just hope that the information our spies brought up about the Queen is correct." Qui-Gon frowned, "Obi-Wan, are you sure you're okay to keep the Queen distracted whilst Commander Cody and I search for the colonists?"
"We both know my injuries have limited me slightly." Obi-Wan sighed, "Besides, talking is one of my strong points."
"Hmmm, it always was."
Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes, but remained silent as they stepped out of the ship and entered the city.
"How can an advanced civilisation like this still practice slavery?" Cody whispered.
"It makes them wealthy and powerful at the expense of others." Qui-Gon answered, eyes darting around for any threats.
Well, any immediate threats to themselves.
A little ahead of them, a Twi'lek slave fell to the ground, clearly exhausted and weakened by the hot sun.
"Get up you worthless piece of filth!" Growled the Zygerrian slave owner.
"Master… the bonds… they- they're too heavy!"
The owner's hand immediately went to his whip, until he caught sight of Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Cody standing nearby.
"And who do we have here?" His rage at the slave seemed to have been forgotten, "You wear Zygerrian armour, but you're not one of us. Who are you?"
"We've come for an audience with the Queen." Obi-Wan answered, taking the lead as planned.
"Then you have an invitation? We can't just let anyone in to see Her Royal Highness."
"No invitation, but we do bring some news for her. News I'm sure her Royal Highness will be pleased to hear."
"I doubt that." The slaver sneered, "You're nothing more than a brigand!"
"I wouldn't be so hasty…" Obi-Wan smirked, "… I'm sure her Highness wouldn't be pleased to hear that you've prevented her from learning about Bruno Denturri?"
Nobody noticed Qui-Gon and Cody sneaking away.
As the slaver stepped forwards, a small, spherical camera droid floated in front of him, stopping him in his tracks.
"Cease all violence. This man is too be escorted to palace, on orders of the Queen."
….…
"Make certain all preparations are ready for this evening."
Even on first glance, the Queen exuded power.
As she glanced over Obi-Wan, her eyes widened slightly, before a small smile appeared on her face. "And fetch us some refreshments."
"My Queen." The slaver stepped forwards with a bow, gesturing at Obi-Wan, "May I present, Lars Q'ell."
The Queen raised an eyebrow, "And you are the one who claims to be acquainted with Bruno Denturri?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"… Has he told you about my intense hatred for him?!"
The slaver pointed a gun at Obi-Wan's face, a sly smirk on his face.
"He didn't mention it." Obi-Wan stated nonchalantly, gently pushing the gun away, "And he won't be, ever again."
The Queen frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Bruno Denturri is dead… by my hand."
Slowly, the Queen rose to her feet. "Impressive… though you bring no prize? No compensation for your troubles."
"Alas, all compensation I would have liked decided death was the best option."
She started to make her way down the steps, "And to have defeated Bruno Denturri in combat? You must be quite the warrior." She ran her hand down Obi-Wan's arm and across his shoulder, humming in appreciation. "Come, walk with me."
Her grip on his arm was tight, claws digging in as Obi-Wan resisted the urge to wince in pain.
"By the way…" She continued, "… Have you ever considered shaving that handsome beard of yours?"
"I… find people take me more seriously with it." Obi-Wan felt slightly thrown by the line of questioning.
"Hmmm… pity."
…..…
Hutts.
It was a good thing Anakin wasn't permitted to join them.
"General, come and have a look at this." Cody waved him over, pointing into one of the cells, where a Togruta could vaguely be seen.
"Keep watch, I'll get a closer look." Qui-Gon jumped into the hole, only for his eyes to widen behind the helmet, "Governor Roshti!"
Upon seeing him in the uniform, the man shrank back, crying out in alarm.
"I'm a friend!" Qui-Gon rushed to remove his helmet, "A Jedi, here to help. Where are your people?"
"They're- they're- " Roshti passed out, as Qui-Gon sighed wearily. He lifted the man into his arms and jumped out of the cell.
"Did you find out where the other colonists are General?"
"Not yet…" Qui-Gon glanced around, "… We need to get him of here." Spotting a winged creature up above them, with a guard on the saddle, he jumped up to it, throwing the guard into one of the cells, before bringing the creature down.
"YOU THERE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT SLAVE?!"
For a moment, it looked like they were going to get away… and the shot hit Qui-Gon in the back, sending him and Roshti crashing back to the ground, leaving Cody to get away.
Within seconds, Qui-Gon was surrounded, guns aimed at him from every angle.
Kriff.
…
"Slavery is the natural order of things." The Queen gracefully took a sip of her drink, "The weak deserve nothing more than to bow before the strong! Bow to our service, and I will need a man of your… talents to help spread our ways across the galaxy."
Obi-Wan forced himself to nod in agreement, before catching movement out of the corner of his eye.
Quickly, he grabbed the Twi'lek's wrists, seconds before she stabbed the Queen in the back.
"GET OFF ME!" The poor girl pulled away from Obi-Wan and fell down the steps, shrinking back in fear.
"You dare raise a hand against your Master!" The Queen growled, "Clearly you need further processing!"
"No!" The girl climbed onto the ledge, "I won't go back there!"
"Wait!" Obi-Wan couldn't stop himself, "Stop!"
But it was too late. With a desperate scream, she jumped off of the ledge and landed with a sickening thud down below.
"What a waste." The Queen hissed, taking a seat and glancing down at the body. There wasn't even a hint of remorse in her voice, "But perhaps she was more trouble than she was worth."
Obi-Wan forced himself to remain calm as the Queen smirked at him.
"But you Lars… you are proving yourself to be quite resourceful." She then sighed, "But it appears as though I am in need of a new… pleasure slave. If only you had brought one as a gift."
"My apologies my Queen." Obi-Wan ignored the shudder running up his spine, "Were it possible, I would bring you a thousand of the highest quality slaves."
"Your words are pleasing… you will be at my side during the Slave Auctions. I can't wait to see everyone else's face twist in jealousy when they see you." She waved her hand as two guards moved forwards and grabbed Obi-Wan's arms, much to his surprise, "Get rid of that beard on his face." She ordered them, "Find some more… flattering clothing for him as well."
"Wait!" Obi-Wan hissed in pain as his arms were forced up behind his back, "Wait, I- "
"-If he resists, you know what to do." The Queen made her way over, running her fingers along Obi-Wan's cheek, "You are going to be the envy of my empire."
….…..
"YOUR HIGHNESS! ZYGERRIANS! ESTEEMED GUESTS!" The announcer cried out, "TODAY, WE PRESENT SLAVES OF UNMATCHED QUALITY!"
Obi-Wan couldn't focus on the words.
The wounds on his back stung fiercely from the whipping, the chains around his neck were heavy and he'd barely slept for hours.
The Force was just out of reach and he was concerned.
As the announcer revealed the starting bid, Obi-Wan glanced around the upper levels, eyes widening slightly as he saw the familiar gaunt of Cody moving through the screaming crowds. Seconds later, they met eyes and Cody tensed up, hands drifting over to the weapon at his side.
Obi-Wan could only silently plead with him, begging him not to get involved, not now.
They had to find out where the colonists were being held.
Perched uncomfortably on a tiny cushion, Obi-Wan watched as another slaver made his way into the room.
"Your Highness, I have some urgent news." He bent over slightly to whisper in the Queen's ear. She smirked, before getting to her feet and heading over to the balcony, dragging Obi-Wan along with her, ignoring his yelps of pain.
"Before we begin the auction…" she began, raising her hands high into the high, so that everyone could see her clearly, "… I would like to welcome a special guest. Qui-Gon Jinn, Jedi Master!"
Obi-Wan tried not to tense up at the mention of the name, hearing the crowd booing as his Master was led out towards the platform.
The man looked like he'd gone through some of the Queen's special treatment himself.
"My friends!" The Queen seemed amused at the response, "My good friends! Do not fear the Jedi! They are no different from others we have forced into submission! For they have forsaken their ideals to serve a corrupt Senate! The Jedi are now slaves to the Republic, the Jedi Order is weak and we will help break it!"
Obi-Wan could only watch as his Master gazed around the arena in curiosity before their eyes met, and Qui-Gon visibly tensed up.
"Ah!" The Queen spotted this instantly, pulling Obi-Wan to his feet, "I see you've spotted my new… pet. Isn't he lovely?"
Qui-Gon only tensed up further, fists tightening until his knuckles were bright white.
'Please don't' Obi-Wan silently begged, 'Please don't do it.'
"Oh, how I wish I could offer you the opportunity to let you play with him… "The Queen didn't seem to notice the building tension, that or she didn't care, "… the two of you would look perfect together."
She then glanced around at the whooping crowd, "Maybe one of these lovely gentlemen would prefer the chance instead. A special auction… one night with my new slave!"
The crowd only seemed to get louder at the suggestion, with many already crying out how much they would pay for the 'honour.'
Two things happened.
Qui-Gon jumped to his feet and held out his hand to the right, a lightsabre flying to his hands as he sliced through the chains.
There was a shot from the balcony, as Cody also decided that he'd had enough, taking out as many guards as he could until he was tackled into the arena.
Obi-Wan moved to jump down and join them, his dignity be damned to hell.
However, when he moved to his knees, a sharp pain shot through his entire body, causing him to convulse and scream, falling onto his face as his vision blurred and darkened.
…
"Where's Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon clutched at his lightsabre as guards poured into the arena, "Surely he had enough of a distraction to subdue the Queen?"
Cody glanced up at the balcony, "I don't see him!" He then yelped as a whip wrapped around his arm, sending a bolt of electricity charging through him.
With Cody down, Qui-Gon struggled to keep the rest of the whips at bay, eventually having two wrap around each wrist. His lightsabre went flying off to the side, as his arms were forced to his sides, followed by his ankles, electricity coursing through him before he finally lost consciousness.
'Obi-Wan' He though desperately to himself, before blacking out, 'Where are you?'
…
It was the sensation of something pecking against his face that woke him up. Slowly, as he came too, he realised he was lying on a soft bed, with silk covers.
Not something he was especially used to.
"My customers were threatened, my auction ruined." The Queen hissed angrily, clearly having seen that he was awake, "Darth Tyranus has already informed me who you really are, and is calling for your death, and the death of your precious Master… in fact, half my kingdom is."
Desperately, Obi-Wan reached out with the Force, only receive another electric shock.
"Ah, ah, ah, don't be naughty." She whispered, "I've had to bring quite a few Force users to their knees before. Now, continue to misbehave and your friends will die… Am I understood?"
"I…will not… serve you." Obi-Wan gasped, his limbs feeling like jelly without the soothing presence of the Force.
"Oh, but I think you will." The Queen chuckled, "You shall be at my side, as a show of just how powerful I have become!" She smirked down at him, "And don't worry about your friends. I promise they will be quite safe."
….
"Let's recap." Qui-Gon sighed as the ship they were in approached the planet, "We have no back-up, Obi-Wan is in the company of the Queen, possibly as a- " He caught the look on Cody's voice, and quickly cut himself off, "- Well, that doesn't matter. And we're being taken away from him, possibly to some sort of mining planet, if my past experience with slavery has given me any sort of knowledge."
"So, to sum it up…" Cody sighed, "… this mission has gone from bad to worse, right?"
"… Yes."
Cody buried his head in his shackled hands in despair.
"They shaved his beard again." Qui-Gon continued, almost nonchalantly, "He's only really just grown it back from the last time."
"Somehow, that doesn't make me feel any better."
The ship doors opened up to reveal the other Togruta standing in the courtyard.
"My people!" The elderly Togruta cried out, "We've found them!"
"MOVE IT!"
They were pushed out into the courtyard, where another slaver was waiting for them, sat in a floating chair.
"General Jinn!" The man cried out, "You are the first Jedi I have had the pleasure of entertaining at our education centre. Few possess a Jedi's resolve, and strength of will is my greatest enemy!" He pressed a button, opening up the floor under some of the Togruta's feet, sending them screaming to their deaths.
"Now that I have your attention Jedi, be aware that it will not be you who suffers should you defy me."
…..
Obi-Wan resisted clinging onto the Queen as they flew through the air on one of the winged creatures that the guards used.
"Such pride." The Queen muttered with a soft chuckle, "Did you not used to cling onto your Master as a child?"
"Never." Obi-Wan lied through his teeth, remembering several occasions where he used to do such a thing, "We were trained to maintain perfect balance at all times."
"Hmmmm." The Queen seemed amused by the answer, turning her attention back to the skies.
When they arrived back at the palace, they dismounted. Before Obi-Wan could head back inside, his hand was grabbed, preventing him from going any further.
"If I freed your friends and Master…" She looked him right in the eyes, "… would you promise to stay? Commit to being mine and mine only."
"Forgive me when I say that I don't trust you."
The Queen scoffed, "What reason do I have to lie to you?" She moved to stand in front of him, gripping his chin tightly, "Now… the fate of your friends lies in your hands. If they were to leave as slaves, then it'll be you who keeps them that way."
