Chapter Eleven: "Escape"

I had spent the entire night banging away at the data system in my office. I had to find some kind of evidence to explain what had happened to make those who used the Force seem so dangerous. Obi-Wan wasn't dangerous! Surely, there were more out there like him, but what had happened to them all? Had they been arrested as well? Possibly put to death? Just because nature had chosen them to be able to communicate with it?

It didn't seem fair! Instead of allowing them to use their talents, they had all been labeled as criminals and most of them probably hadn't even been offered a fair trial.

I had to do something to change that! And apparently, I would have to do so on my own.

The only thing I had been able to find so far was a quick reference to something called the Great Jedi Library. Every effort of trying to look further into the name was blocked. In fact, when I tried to find anything about the word Jedi, my search was fruitless. I'd never heard of the term before and was now more curious than when I'd first begun.

Perhaps, I'd been going about this wrong way, I'd decided after hours of no success. If I went through the Chancellor's personal account, I may have better luck.

I'd known what the Chancellor's access code was for years. He'd been so proud of his firstborn son, anything requiring a security number, he chose the boy's birth date for it.

Finally, I was making headway. The date had been corrected and I successfully hacked into the Chancellor's private files. I knew I could be arrested for espionage and perhaps treason, but what choice did I have?

First, I entered the term, Jedi, as I'd found before, which only circled me back to the same article listing the short blip about the Great Library. However, in Valorum's system, the mention of the building led to an entirely new datascreen I hadn't had access to before.

This is what I was searching for but it was so much information, I didn't have time to read it all.

After reading as much as I could, I downloaded it all onto a datachip. Information now in hand, I gathered my belongings and left the office, only to run right into Senator Organa.

"Arriving early or did you stay late?"

"Stayed late," I told him honestly. "You know us young senators, always eager to show off."

He smiled although it didn't seem genuine somehow. "You need to cut that out," he told me while walking away. "You're making us old folks look bad."

Once he was gone, I began to breathe regularly again and made my way to my private vehicle. After getting about two hours of rest at home, I ate a bite and then looked into the data once more.

It appeared as if I would be traveling to the planet Ossus in the Outer Rim. According to my research, there was an ancient stone structure there that contained the Jedi Hall of Records. Inside, I was hoping to find the history of what had happened to these people who called themselves Jedi, and what had turned them into criminals. Perhaps then I'd be able to help Obi-Wan. Only, I wanted Obi-Wan to come with me. And to do that, I'd have to break him out of jail.

I wasn't about to waste any more time, and I dressed for travel, packed a bag, loaded it into my ship, and visited the prison. However, once I'd checked in with the head clerk, I'd been informed Obi-Wan had been transferred to a Research Facility.

Once again, anger boiled up inside of me. What did they think he was? Some type of animal or a virus to study? This was insane!

I pulled into the Galactic Research Facility just as the city's evening glowlights flickered on. For a few minutes, I sat in my ship, contemplating a plan and weighing my chances. I wasn't sure if they allowed visitors or not, though perhaps I would be allowed entrance if I was representing one of the many committees I was a member of. Perhaps the Galactic City Beautification one. From the looks of the plain, pale structure which offered nothing of interest either architecturally or by landscaping, I figured it was my best bet.

I stepped into the building, immediately encountering a security droid that required proof of my identity. I offered it up readily and proceeded inside. So far, so good.

"Hello," I said in my most kind tone of voice to the receptionist behind the first desk I came to. "I am Senator Padmé Amidala and am here representing the Galactic City Beautification Committee. It has come to our attention that your facility is in need of some upgrades and landscaping. Something to make the outer structure more appealing to potential developers in the area."

The older woman gazed at me as if I were wasting her precious time. Either that, or she absolutely hated her job.

"You'll need to speak with my supervisor," she said dully, without lifting her exhausted head from her hand.

I waited a moment for her to move and when she didn't, offered a suggestion. "Perhaps you could go get her for me?"

Following a loud and long sigh, the woman lumbered up from her squeaking reclining chair. "Wait here," she said before stepping through a door behind her.

Now was my chance. I slipped away down a hall, paused to hide from a uniformed employee strolling by, and then proceeded. I could hear voices coming from ahead and carefully made my way toward the noise. Around the corner, I spied several beings gathered around circular tables. Some were playing sabaac while others were simply talking. There were even some who were doing absolutely nothing but stare at the floor. However, I didn't see Obi-Wan there.

I backed up slowly and bumped into someone behind me. Just great! I had barely got started and already I'd been caught!

"Greetings," a bearded older man with long, silvering hair and a crooked nose stated, smiling at me. "Are you a visitor? I'm afraid visiting hours are over for the day."

"Not exactly," I admitted readily. "Although I'm hoping you can help me. I'm looking for a patient by the name of Obi-Wan. Perhaps you've met him?"

"Obi-Wan," the tall gentleman repeated thoughtfully. "I don't believe I recall meeting anyone with such a unique name. But you know how us old folks are. It comes, it goes!"

Wonderful. "Thanks anyway," I told him before turning around to head back the way I'd come. There had been another hallway I had bypassed before.

"Wait," he said after I'd only taken a few steps. "Now that you've mentioned it, I do believe I know someone by that name. I believe he's a patient here. Someone new. All the new ones are kept in the west wing. That way," he added with a finger pointing the direction I had planned on going anyway.

"Thank you, um..."

"Qui-Gon's the name."

His smile seemed genuine and I couldn't help but return the expression. "Thank you, Qui-Gon."

Back down the long hallway I had avoided before was a row of single rooms on either side. It was going to take me forever to locate Obi-Wan here! However, each door had a small, rectangular window set high in it and I hopped up and down to view through each one, finally coming to the very last door at the end of the hall.

After a quick jump, I saw what I was looking for! Bursting through the door, I discovered Obi-Wan casually lounging on his cot reading a brochure discussing the telltale signs of manic depression.

"Padmé!" he yelled before jumping up to greet me with an exuberant hug.

I was so pleased to see him that I nearly kissed him; holding back at the last possible second. However, my intention must've shown because he blushed and smiled.

"What are you doing here?"

"I've come to rescue you," I informed him. "We don't have much time."

"Where's everybody else at?"

"Who?" I looked at him with a confused brow.

"The lawyers and politicians I was sure you'd have tagging along behind you."

I clucked my tongue in disappointment and shook my head. "Afraid it's just me. Come on. The sign out front said lockdown was in ten minutes and that was about six minutes ago!"

"This way," Obi-Wan informed me, grabbing hold of my hand.

Now that it was getting close to bedtime, the patients had begun filing back toward their rooms, which actually made it easier for us to blend in. I tried my best to stay behind a group but was apparently spotted by a security droid, who singled me out.

"Visitor hours are concluded," it informed me.

"She's with me," Obi-Wan told the thing.

"No visitors allowed in the facility past visiting hours," it insisted, reaching out to grab hold of my arm, only to find itself being grabbed instead.

"You will leave this young woman alone and go about your business," Obi-Wan told it firmly in a tone I'd never heard him use before.

The droid actually repeated what he'd said word for word before turning to leave.

"How did you do that?" I asked as we continued to wind our way through the line of residents.

"I don't know! I was just trying to intimidate the thing!"

Obi-Wan and I skirted along the wall that circled around the common area and was in sight of the front desk and the entrance when an alarm began blaring. Following that, a voice came over the intercom system, informing everyone that there was an intruder in the building. One by one, I heard doors beginning to lock automatically.

We ran toward the double doors that would lead to our freedom only to find they'd already been sealed. Turning around, we discovered any available exit was blocked as well. We were surrounded by security with a middle-aged blond doctor standing in the middle of them.

"Mr. Kenobi. Just where do you think you're going? And who's your friend?"

Obi-Wan took one step forward and gently pushed me behind him. "I don't remember what you did to me, but I have a feeling it wasn't nice. I'm leaving and there's nothing you can do to stop me."

The doctor appeared to be humored. "Is that so? You young ones are so remarkable. You come in here full of vigor and energy. You're the ones who always take so long to break down. The whole lot of you are stubborn and I hate having to hurt you, but you leave me no choice."

What did that mean? Was this research physician intentionally harming her patients?

A shudder passed through Obi-Wan, although he stood his ground. "Now, I remember. You tortured me. You wanted me to use the Force, but I refused. Here's an idea. If that's what you want us to do, then why don't you just ask?"

"Because that's not as fun," the medic admitted with a sneer. "Now come back and we'll sit down and have a little talk. You can even bring your friend along with you."

The hand with which Obi-Wan was holding onto me began to flex and I stepped up closer to him for protection. I wasn't sure what was about to happen, but I'd seen him do miracles before. I imagined I was about to witness another.

Between us and the numerous security droids was a distance of about nine meters. On either side were decorated plaster walls and on one side a heavy-appearing metal desk. Above us were ceiling tiles as well as several electrical and plumbing pipes. There was plenty to do damage with if someone with Obi-Wan's talents had the mind to. Not to mention the tall man who had just stepped up behind the droids.

Before anyone could react, the pipes burst, the tiles collapsed, and the floor erupted upward, lifting the droids at add angles and causing them to stumble and fall. And the source of all the commotion had come from none other than Qui-Gon, who had lifted his hand and was obviously concentrating on causing as much damage as he possibly could.

Obi-Wan didn't wait to see what would happen. He twisted around and with a flick of his wrist, unlocked the doors. We rushed through them and to my waiting ship. I ignored a few of the takeoff procedures and lifted up without contacting a tower first.

Halfway across the city, I decided it was too dangerous to return to my apartment, which meant we'd have to make do with whatever was on board. I had clothing, though Obi-Wan did not; not that it mattered. What was most important was the datachip I quickly passed over to Obi-Wan, who had strapped himself into the copilot's seat.

"What's this?" he asked.

I smiled and hailed the nearest flight tower. "Hopefully, the solutions to all of our problems."