Chapter 10

The feeling of falling caused his mind to register the fog it was clouded in but the feeling of hitting the ground woke him. Obi-Wan had been dragged out of his hiding place and thrown out in the cargo bay.

He couldn't move even if he wanted to. His body felt heavy, and his mind was caught in slow motion. He could barely register the crew members talking.

"Is he alive?"

"Barely, he bled all over the floor. Blasted stow away."

"You think he's an escaped slave from Kessel?"

"Look at him, of course he is. The kid won't last another day, let me put him out of his misery." The sound of a blaster being drawn made Obi-Wan flinch despite the pain that tore through him. Had he come all this way to die on this ship like a rat?

"Put that thing away before I put a hole through your head."

Obi-Wan opened his eyes to see a woman pointing a blaster at the crew member with his blaster on Obi-Wan. He slowly raised his hands before holstering his weapon.

"Didn't realise you would care, captain."

The other crew members shuffled nervously as the captain came down to the cargo bay. She knelt in front of Obi-Wan and lifted his chin up, but Obi-Wan couldn't hold it. His head slammed back onto the ground making him black out again for a moment.

"What are we gonna do with him?" One of the crew members dared to ask.

"Sorry kid, smuggling spice is dangerous enough without carrying unregistered stowaways. You see the authorities might think we did this and well, I'd rather get charged with a crime I actually committed, you know?"

"Please," Obi-Wan managed to get out.

"I sympathise, I really do."

"The airlock?" The only male crew member Obi-Wan could see asked.

Without taking her eyes off Obi-Wan the captain raised her blaster at him again. "Don't push your luck, Lincoln. You're only here so I don't look sexist. Someone prepare an escape pod."

She stood up and let two of her crew members drag Obi-Wan away. "I'll make sure they aim you at a planet."

o-O-o

Maison had been sure Obi-Wan was falling asleep. He hadn't seen him in a state like this since he had first brought him to the palace, and it worried him enough to make him cancel his plans for the day to simply hold him and make sure he was okay.

His fingers weaved through his hair. Maison loved the way it felt. The soft strands of ginger covered his face and Maison brushed it aside. Obi-Wan was truly beautiful. That was what had drawn Maison to him the day they met. He had seen it under all the dirt and exhaustion. It had taken its time, but he had his perfect Obi-Wan.

There was more to Obi-Wan than that though. He was clever. He was powerful, sarcastic, and funny. Maison had never known someone with such an infectious smile.

Over the years Maison had had many Zhelans but none of them got close to Obi-Wan. None of them understood Maison the way he did. None of them took care of Maison the way he did. He made him feel things he had never felt before and that was saying something.

Obi-Wan was one in a lifetime and Maison didn't think he could ever let him go.

A small crease appeared between Obi-Wan's eyebrows, breaking the serene look that hat settled over his features. He was waking up again. Why was he waking up?

"Shh, it's okay. Sleep, Obi-Wan," he whispered but it did no good.

Obi-Wan turned in Maison's arms and lifted a hand to press against his forehead.

"Obi-Wan?"

"Troobels ming," he muttered sleepily. Was that basic?

"What?"

Obi-Wan blinked and then his gaze cleared. "Trouble is coming." He sat up abruptly, his alarm transferring to Maison instantly.

"What kind of trouble? The Jedi?"

"No. This is new. I haven't sensed this before. New off-worlders. Powerful ones."

"More powerful than you?"

"I'd rather not find out."

Maison nodded. He didn't want to put his Zhelan in that kind of danger either.

"Stay here. I'll inform the guards to shoot any incoming ships down."

He stood up and got dressed before kissing Obi-Wan's forehead and then holding his gaze for a moment. "Stay here. I'll be back."

He waited for Obi-Wan to nod and then he left. His guards moved to follow him, but he ordered them to stay by the door. He needed to keep Obi-Wan safe.

o-O-o

"The King left. Obi-Wan's still in there though. Two guards by the door."

Qui-Gon looked up at Anakin who sat by the door in a meditative position.

"How do you know that?"

Anakin frowned as he thought. "I can feel it, can't you? I didn't realise how in tune with the Force everything here is," he flexed his hand testingly, "I feel stronger."

Qui-Gon had realised that he felt better on Beimeni than he had in a while, and he didn't think Obi-Wan being alive was the only reason, but he didn't feel a stronger connection to the Force.

"It's in the air," Obi-Wan had said. What if there was something in the atmosphere that made people delusional. He put that thought aside for now. They had more important things to do. If Obi-Wan really was alone again, this was their opportunity.

Qui-Gon opened the door to their balcony, the hot afternoon air hit him in the face.

"You're clear on the plan?"

Anakin nodded and pulled out the sedative Qui-Gon had retrieved from the ship when he sent the message to the Chancellor.

o-O-o

Obi-Wan pulled his knees up and rested his chin on them as he waited for Maison to come back. He considered taking the chamomile, but he had a feeling he needed to be alert.

The Force tugged his gaze to the ceiling. What were they up to? He stood up, making sure his clothes were straight and then took a few cautious steps towards the balcony.

When Qui-Gon appeared, he took a few steps back again.

"What are you doing?" He hissed. This man was insane.

"Obi-Wan, we're leaving for Coruscant in an hour. Come with us."

"What?" Obi-Wan wasn't sure whether he wanted to laugh or hit Qui-Gon over the head with a brick. "No. I told you. I belong here."

Out of the corner of his eye, Obi-Wan saw a shadow move through the room. He turned to intercept it, but Qui-Gon took hold of his hands. Obi-Wan freed himself with a strong jerked movement and caught Anakin's hand. The needle of a syringe hovered above his shoulder.

"What is this?" He couldn't make sense of it. Hadn't he and Qui-Gon come to an understanding?

"I'm not leaving you here."

Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes and sent Anakin flying backwards with a Force push.

"When will you learn to listen to me?!" The anger just came out of him, sending Qui-Gon backwards and then he felt the needle sink into his neck.

He turned to Anakin in disbelief. "How did you do that?" No one could sneak up on him. Not unless… "You drank the water?"

Anakin frowned but before he could speak Qui-Gon was by his side and caught him as his legs gave in.

"I'm sorry, Obi-Wan. This is for your own good." He lay Obi-Wan on the floor and held him down.

"What are you doing? Help!" He struggled under the influence of the sedative, but he sensed it now. No one was coming. Anakin had taken his guards out.

"Hold still, we're trying to free you."

Anakin pulled a thin knife out of his belt and Qui-Gon rolled up the sleeve to reveal his left forearm.

"No," he breathed before panic took him, "nonono!" He struggled as hard as he could, but Qui-Gon was stronger. "Please no." He was back in the tunnels on Kessel, it was happening again.

Anakin activated a device.

There's nothing there. There's nothing there! he yelled through his mind, but his mouth wouldn't move. Consciousness had left him.