Title: A Little Ray of Light
Author: Keyla Kenobi - delilah_br@hotmail.com
Rating: PG
Archive: Sure, if you are crazy enough as to consider this as good stuff, e-mail me! =P
Disclaimer: The boys belong to George Lucas, you know that director that made us suffer and wheep by killing Qui-Gon and leaving poor little suffering Obi-Wan all alone with the most evil proyect of a Lord Sith as his Padawan....snif snif...okay okay enough of this melodrama and let's get to the action! (??)
Warning: There is a loving and parental relationship between Obi and Qui, there is no slash so if you don't like that, don't read any further.
Summary: Qui finds Obi for the very first time, and rescue him from a certain death.
Note: this fic it's based on one of my fics' (I Found You) extract. It's when Qui remebers rescuing a little boy, which is Obi! (Duh...)
Anyway, to have a better idea about the whole thing, you should read that fic. It will be a sequeal for this one, longer with obi-torture, and angst, and mush and everything!! It'll be pretty much like 'Kiza'.
***********
A Little Ray of Light
Part 1
"Obi-Wan," a soft female voice called to him gently, "Obi-Wan, wake up."
Two glazed, blue-green eyes fluttered slowly as they opened, sleepily
searching for the source of the soft voice.
"Mommy?" he whispered.
"Yes, sweety, it's mommy. How are you feeling?" the voice asked with a smile as a gentle hand brushed soothingly through his soft, auburn hair.
Obi-Wan looked up and smiled sleepily in return. The face of a slim, young woman looked down at him with love and tenderness. Her deep green eyes appeared large within her heart-shaped face, complementing her long, auburn hair. Her smile was soft and tender, but the concern in her eyes could not be hidden.
Obi-Wan hesitated for a moment before answering. Taking a deep, shaky
breath, he quietly replied, "So, so." His smile wavered as his eyes
threatned to close once again.
Hearing the fatigue in her baby's voice, the young woman's heart gave a small, painful twist. She quietly approached the huddled form covered by a pile of ragged blankets. As she bent down to brush a soft kiss on his hot forehead, her eyes reflected worry and concern as she felt waves of heat radiating from him.
"Obi-Wan, I need to ask you a favor," the woman asked as she tenderly
pressed her forehead to his. She quickly began wrapping her arms
protectively around her son when she felt the cold wind begin gusting around them. Together they shivered beneath the unstable, make-shift shelter that she had hurriedly constructed to protect and hide them. Even so, the bitter wind managed to penetrate their little encampment, leeching the warmth from their bodies.
The woman was about to continue when her head jerked up in alarm as a loud concussion shook the ground, followed by a series of screams. Obi-Wan gasped in fear as he buried his fevered face between the blankets.
"Shh, it's okay, sweety, shh....," she hushed as she picked him up from the ground and began rocking him in her slim arms. Soon, other concussions vibrated around her, followed by more agonizing screams.
The situation had gotten completely out of hand. The civil war had been getting progressively worse as the days passed slowly by. They had attempted to escape the city, but all routes had been completely closed off. The young woman knew that every minute they spent within the perimeter of the city endangered their lives more and more. She knew they had no choice but to make a run for it. As sick as Obi-Wan was, she had to try to make a run for their lives. It was now or never.
"Obi-Wan, listen to me carefully," she waited until the frightened child was looking up at her once again. Her sorrow deepened at the sight of fear and apprehension staring back at her. "We need to take a little trip."
"Twip?" the small, shaky voice asked as the little boy frowned in confusion.
The young woman couldn't help but smile at the way her child interpreted his words.
"Yes, a small trip. We're getting out of this place, to a safer one. But we can only do it if you feel strong enough, sweety."
Obi-Wan nodded firmly. "Wanna go, mommy," the child replied softly as he nestled his fevered head against his mother's chest. He clutched at her light tunic as the wind began howling, sounding very loud and feeling very cold.
Biting back her tears, the young woman held the small child firmly against her as she felt his small body trembling. Her little Obi-Wan didn't deserve any of this, to be forced to live like this. Her little innocent did not deserve this at all.
Pulling back gently, she placed her small charge on the makeshift bed and wrapped the thick blanket warmly around him, making sure that his small, bare feet were well covered. Satisfied that Obi-Wan was well cocooned, she gently picked him up, carefully settled him against her chest, and rested the overly-warm head under her chin.
"I need you to ask you one more favor, Obi-Wan. You have to be very, very quiet. Okay?" As she felt him nod in agreement, she stood and parted back the canvas of the tent. Cautiously looking around to make sure they were not being observed, the frightened pair quickly exited the tent and headed toward the forest. As she ran, making sure that they had not been spotted, she wondered if this had been a good idea after all.
********
Midnight. Deep in the forest, the figure of a young woman ran stealthily through the trees, weaving in and out of the mist. Every now and then she would look furtively to see if she was being followed. Finding only a thick, white mist within her field of vision, she continued to press on. The mist made her nervous. If someone were following them, she would not be able to see their pursuers until it was too late. She had to be very careful, there was a lot at stake. Her son's life and future were in her hands, and she was not going to let him down.
The woman stopped for a few minutes to rest. Her slight body bowed with fatigue, she leaned against one of the huge trees to catch her breath. Slowly, she eased herself to the ground to check on her small charge. Obi-Wan was barely awake, his half-closed eyes slowly opening and closing with fever and fatigue. She placed the back of her cold fingers on one of his chubby cheeks, only to find that the fever had gotten worse. She wasn't surprised. She had been forced to flee with her one-year-old son in the middle of the coldest nights of winter. Perhaps, she thought for a moment, this hadn't been such a good idea after all. She should have waited for him to get better. But Obi-Wan had been ill for more than four days, and had barely eaten. There was the possibility that he would not be strong enough to survive even one more day. That's why she had decided on this desperate course of action and try to save both their lives.
She closed her eyes and sighed as she leaned wearily against the tree.
/Get up! You're so close. You can't give up now!/ she heard her mind
scolding at her. And it was right, she needed to get up, to continue moving. Before standing, she gazed down at the small, trembling form clutched to her chest. Obi-Wan was so very small, so frail. She marveled at how someone so delicate could bring so much happiness into her life. Every time she looked at him, she felt pride swell within her - she was his mother.
She ran her hands up and down the small back, desperately trying to bring some warmth to the shivering form. As carefully as she could, she placed Obi-Wan in secure position against her, stood up, and resumed her flight through the mist.
******
The young woman ran, unheedful that her breath was becoming short and
ragged. She stopped suddenly, her heart racing as the sound of a branch snapping broke the silence around her. She froze, all of her senses stretched to the limit as she listened to the deep silence of the forest. The noise could have been anything, a small animal, a dead branch naturally falling, but she couldn't be sure.
As quickly and silently as she could, she hid herself behind one of the thickest trees. Her heart pounded in her chest as her eyes quickly scanned the area around them. She rested against a large, fallen log while trying to pierce the veil of the mist around her. She sensed that something, or someone, was out there, just beyond her field of vision. She knew that whatever it was, it was watching them.
Attempting to shake her apprehension away, she stood unsteadily on her feet and prepared to resume her flight. She knew that staying in one place, out in the open, was dangerous and would make her an easy target. It was imperative that she keep moving. She cautiously began to walk away from her temporary hiding place as she bent down close to the ground, trying to blend in with her surroundings.
Again the noise repeated itself, and she stopped.
"Saari."
The woman gasped in shock as she recognized the deep voice coming from behind her. Slowly, she turned to face a tall, well-built man dressed in thick, black clothes. His hair was as dark as the depths of the ocean, and even in the darkness of the forest his eyes shone as blue as the clear sky. He stood in front of her, unmoving as he maintained his distance. As she watched, a small, wicked smile curled his lips.
Saari stood firm, her green gaze steadily holding the cold blue gaze.
"Gammu."
Gammu's smile broadened at her recognition. He took a step closer, but then raised an eyebrow in surprise as he observed the woman backing up.
"Stay away from me," she spat, her once soft voice displaying a mixture of anger and fright.
"Please, Saari," Gammu said softly, tilting his head slightly to one side. "Don't tell me you're still angry with me because I killed your husband?" He smiled as he observed the woman stiffen at his cruel words. "By the way, have you considered my offer?"
"I would rather die a thousand deaths before becoming your wife," she hissed angrily through clenched teeth.
Gammu chuckled as he crossed his arms. "Be careful what you say, my dear, because it may come true. You might see your husband sooner than you think. And if you're dead, how will you be able to protect your little boy?"
Instinctively, Saari tightened her arms protectively around her small,
fragile bundle.
"Oh, don't tell me that thing you're carrying is little Ben! You should have left him at home. He can get hurt out here, you know." Gammu's eyes gleamed as his smile spread.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on him!" the woman warned him in a low,
dangerous voice. Hot, blazing anger flashed through her green eyes as she stared at him in contempt .
"Saari," again that sickenly soft voice, "What kind of monster do you think I am? Why would I want to hurt my own nephew?" The man finished with a small, mocking smile as he slowly shook his head.
"Do I have to answer?" she asked sarcastically, the blaze in her eyes slowly fading, replaced by cold determination.
Gammu laughed heartily, "Oh, Saari, how I love your delightful sarcasm!"
As Gammu laughed, Saari was distracted by a small cough coming from the bundle in her arms, followed by a weak and hoarse "Sowwy." She tightened her embrace around her son as she murmured into his soft hair, "Don't worry, sweety, it's okay."
The tall man stopped laughing to watch the scene in silence. Still wearing the same wicked smile, he interjected, "It appears that he's a bit ill?"
Saari glared at him in disgust, "Yes. He became ill after you deliberately threw him into the freezing lake."
Gammu laughed again, placing a hand mockingly to his forehead, "I shouldn't have done that, should I? But it was worth it just to see you jump into the lake to rescue him. It was a touching sight. Such a wonderful demonstration of maternal love." The man drew his shoulders up rubbing at the sides of his arms.
Saari could not believe what she had just heard. How could this man be so cruel? Not even caring about his own nephew! Shaking her head in disbelief, she whispered angrily, "How can you be such a monster? Why do you hate us so much?"
Gammu's mocking smile faded, "It's simple, my dear Saari," he began, his voice somber and icy, "I killed my brother Ben, but his ghost continues to interfere, even in death. When I see you with that pathetic bundle of skin and bones that you call 'son', I see the son that should have been mine. My brother took everything that I treasured the most. Not only did he take the woman that should have been rightfully mine, he was responsible for the death of our mother when she died giving him life. He killed her just surely as he would have by stabbing her in the heart! The day she died, I swore a sacred
oath that I would avenge her death. And I've kept it. But the pain still remains, and it is aggravated each and every time I look at that bastard of yours!" He looked down at Obi-Wan's small trembling form in undisguised anger and hatred. "He has you, his mother. It's not fair! He doesn't deserve you!"
Saari slowly shook her head. She was unable to comprehend the hate her brother-in-law was directing at them. There was no logic in his words. How could he blame them for something neither of them had been involved in?
"You're crazy," she retorted in a calm, even voice. She gently caressed the bundle in her arms as she gathered her courage and asked, "What must I do in order for you to leave us alone?"
"Marry me," the large man answered as he took a few steps towards them, "I ask no more, no less. And, of course, I want you to get rid of that boy. Either I kill him or you leave him here in the forest. Those are your choices. It all depends on how much you want him to suffer."
"What?!" Saari shouted, completely stunned. She couldn't have heard that! How could someone make such a request?
"That boy poses too many problems. He's too powerful, and that isn't good for me!"
"Powerful? What are you talking about?" the young woman asked, frowning in confusion. Her arms tightening around her son.
Gammu laughed. In a sudden swift move, he extended both hands, palms
parallel to the ground. Saari looked around her in surprise and fear as the mist opened, then began to form a circle around them.
"This is what I'm talking about, Saari," Gammu replied, keeping his arms at their extended position, maintaining a Force wave that controlled the mist. "He can do this as well."
"He can't use the Force! Obi-Wan can't use the Force like you or your
father!" the woman contradicted as she continued to stare at the circle of mist.
"Oh, but he can! Ben was punished for taking my mother away. He had little ontrol of the Force, unlike myself or my father. But, what nobody realized is that your little bastard has powers that should have belonged to Ben," the volume of his voice increased as he slowly approached them. "And there's more! When I killed my father, that stupid old fool managed to transfer his own life essence into the pathetic boy, making him even stronger in the Force. That means he's my competition as heir. And, as you well know, I don't like competition. So," the cruel blue eyes stared down at them, "are
you going leave him here, or do I have to kill him? The decision is entirely up to you."
Saari shook her head slowly, trying to snap out her shock of what she had heard and seen. She recovered her faculties when she heard Obi-Wan coughing fitfully. Carefully drawing back the top of the blanket, she peered down at the small, pale face with half-closed eyes. Obi-Wan's breathing had become fast and wheezy, and he was obviously having trouble geting oxygen into his lungs.
"S-sowwy mommy...," he whispered hoarsely, almost sobbing. He knew he was supposed to keep quiet, his mommy had asked for him to do so.
Biting her lower lip, Saari tenderly stroked the too-warm cheek. "You don't have anything to be sorry for, Obi-Wan. It's mommy's fault. All mommy's fault...," she softly repeated into the child's auburn hair.
How could this monster force her to make such a choice? Both choices meant that her son would meet the same fate. In his current condition, Obi-Wan would be unable to survive more than a day out here in the cold! But the other choice...
The pressure to make the decision was too much for Saari to handle. Feeling like a lost little girl, she broke into tears, all but her hope of escape gone. She was too young to be forced to live with this! She felt helpless and alone! If only her husband had survived...
Saari fell limply to her knees, holding the small body against herself for comfort. She was lost. There was no escape from this man. Her idea of flight had been a hopeless one after all. Through tearful eyes, she looked down at the pair of blue-green orbs returning her gaze, a hint of concern swirling in their depths.
"No cwy, mommy...," the child lightly whispered as he rested his head under her chin.
Hearing the fatigue and sorrow in her son's voice, Saari began sobbing
uncontrollably, her resolve completely broken. Gently shifting Obi-Wan on her lap, she placed his head against one of her arms, and began caressing the soft, sweat-dampened hair as she slowly rocked him back and forth.
Keeping her voice low so that only Obi-Wan could hear, she whispered, "You are so beautiful...so very beautiful. I'm sorry, Obi-Wan, this wasn't supposed to end like this." The young woman quickly bit her lip as her voice began to shake. Strong emotions shook her as she looked down at the soft, sweet features of her
innocent son.
Obi-Wan had no way of understanding what was going on, but he knew that something was making his mommy cry. Why was his mommy so sad? And why was that man there? What did he want? As he continued to look up at the young woman, the weary little boy's eyes began rimming with tears as he watched his mommy trying to regain control of her voice and feelings. A small sob caught in his throat as tears leaked from behind his soft lashes. Watching his mommy cry was making him cry as well, even if he didn't understand what was happening.
Saari gently brushed at Obi-Wan's tears, her delicate fingers softly
caressing his blushed cheeks. "I love you so much, sweety, so...so much. Never forget that, my little Obi-Wan, never."
Obi-Wan suddenly realized that his mommy was saying good-bye. "Mommy, no go!" his hoarse, weak voice shook with fright and despair as he weakly struggled to free his arms from the blankets.
"Shh...," Saari quietly hushed him, firmly tucking the thick, ragged blanket around the frail body once again. "Don't worry, sweety, mommy will always be with you," she lightly tapped his small, warm nose. At the tender gesture, a soft smile lit up the face of the trembling child, making her smile in return.
"And no matter what happens," the woman said with added strength, "always remember that I love you very much, and that daddy loved you as well."
"I wuv you too, mommy," Obi-Wan whispered as he reached out to her, then laid his tear stricken face against her warm chest.
Saari enveloped her sweet son within her arms, pressing him closely,
protectively, to her body as much as she could. One of her hands rested lightly on the boy's head as her fingers gently ran through his soft hair. "Why did you have to be so wonderful?" she asked in a broken sob. She closed her eyes as new tears began falling, and sobs began to wrack her frail, battered body.
"Saari, you're wasting my time here," Gammu impatiently interrupted. He had remained quiet for some time, but now he was getting impatient. "Decide now," he demanded gruffly.
Saari lifted her tear-rimmed eyes as she glared at the stocky frame standing menacingly a few meters away, angry at his imposition. Pushing back her anger, she bent down and kissed the small head still nestled against her chest, then turned her head as she rubbed her cold cheek against it.
Obi-Wan remained still, listening to the reassuring heartbeat of his
mother's heart. His eyelids felt heavy and warm, and they began closing as gentle heartbeats slowly lulled him to a warm, peaceful slumber. But, as his mother began to pull away, he opened his drowsy eyes to look into hers.
Saari again bit at her lower lip as she tried to find her voice. The young mother had so many things to say to her son, but because of the fatigue and the threat from Gammu, she was unable to gather her thoughts successfully. Instead, she simply placed her head against Obi-Wan's forehead, and gently cupping both his warm cheeks in her cold palms, she whispered sorrowfully, "Forgive me, my little ray of light."
As weary as he was, Obi-Wan couldn't help but smile at the words. He loved when his mommy called him that. But his smile soon faded as his mother laid him on the cold grass and began tucking the blankets snugly around him.
Closing her eyes tightly, Saari stood and began walking away from the frail little bundle that was her son. With head bowed, she began walking slowly and unsteadily towards Gammu.
"Mommy?"
Saari stumbled as Obi-Wan's small, frightened voice made her lose her
balance. She turned to see the scared and confused look in her baby's large eyes. Eyes that couldn't believe that his mommy was leaving without him.
"Stay there, Obi-Wan, and don't move," she commanded in a lifeless voice. She couldn't believe what she was doing.
"No mommy!" Obi-Wan shouted out hoarsely. As he attempted to stand, his small, weakened body tangled in the blankets, causing him to fall face down on the cold grass. A small, subdued whimper escaped the child as he painfully hit the ground, unable to use his hands as they were still tangled within the blankets.
Hearing her son's distress and unable to stop herself, Saari turned and ran back to help the fallen boy. But she was stopped abruptly by Gammu's menacing words, "Leave him there, Saari! Leave him! I'm not about to waste any more of my time on that bastard!"
Obi-Wan began to cough fitfully as the cold ground began leeching away his body warmth. His entire body began to shake as he struggled to draw air into his fluid-filled lungs. His awkward and tangled position didn't make matters any easier. Not only did the blankets restrict his movements, but his struggles had made the blanket across his chest constrict and press on his ribcage, further hampering his breathing. But as his movements began to slow and he ceased to struggle, Obi-Wan found that his breathing eased a bit and he was able to take in more air and ease the tightness in his chest.
A few meters away, Saari breathed a soft sigh of relief as she listened to her son's coughing fit slowly beginning to abate. But she winced at the sound of soft wheezing which accompanied his labored breathing. Sorrow stabbed at her heart when a soft, faint whisper broke through the erratic breathing and called out for her, "Mommy..."
Holding her head in her hands, she clenched her teeth as Obi-Wan's soft whispers tore deeply through her soul; but she ignored the pain, the heart-searing torture. With great effort, she turned and once again headed in Gammu´s direction.
Stopping centimeters in front of the man she despised, she looked up and, with defiance filling her tearful green eyes, calmly spoke, "You've won."
Gammu's somber face lit up in a triumphant grin. He slowly shifted his gaze from the slim woman in front of him to the dying boy lying on the mist-filled ground. He nodded his head in satisfaction and self-congratulation. He had actually won.
Cupping Saari's delicate face between his large, rough hands, he held her still for a moment before pulling her into a brutal kiss. He smiled as he felt her trying to pull back, frail arms weakly pushing and flailing against him. But he held her firmly in place.
A sudden idea came to Saari's as she struggled against the man's roughness. Instead of pulling away, she leaned towards him as if feigning surrender. She slowly circled her arms around Gammu's neck, tilting her head back as if inviting more of the rough kisses. As she suspected, Gammu believed she had given up and began sliding his hands down to her hips. Taking the opportunity of his momentary lapse, she swiftly delivered a strong, unexpected kick in between Gammu's legs, and pushed him backwards with all her strength.
Taken by surprise, Gammu slumped to the hard ground. Angry and confused, he moaned in pain and cursed at her as he attempted to get up.
Momentarily giddy with the knowledge of what she had just done, Saari shook with apprehension and joy. For a moment, she could only stand and stare at the man kneeling helplessly in front of her. But she was quickly brought to her senses when she heard her son's hacking coughs. She sprinted in Obi-Wan's direction, reached him and quickly began to free the small frame from the tangle of blankets. Picking the small body up, she cradled him to her breast, and headed into the forest again.
Too busy dealing with his pain, Gammu lost control of the Force wave that held back the mist, and soon it began to surround and spread around him - effectively giving Saari the advantage of hiding her escape.
After what appeared to be a lifetime, Saari stopped to catch her breath. She looked around her to see if she was being followed, but found only the thick, white mist to be her only companion. Slumping to the ground near the trunk of a large tree, she checked on her precious charge. She frowned in dismay as she noted that Obi-Wan's breathing had become shallow and erratic. His eyelids were half closed as his eyes rolled listlessly behind the large lashes.
"Obi-Wan," she urgently whispered, "Obi-Wan, wake up!"
Saari smiled in relief as Obi-Wan slowly opened his eyes, looking up at her in recognition and fatigued delight.
"Mommy!" the little boy rasped as a smile slowly curved his lips. Joy warmed him as he realized that his mommy hadn't left him after all.
"Yes, sweety, it's mommy," she answered, unable to suppress the wide smile that tugged at her lips. "I would never leave you alone like that, sweety. Never. I needed to do something so that I could escape from that monster," Saari tried to explain as she drew her son closer to her, gently rocking both of them.
Obi-Wan feebly tried to wrapped his thin arms around her, holding on to his mom for dear life. He smiled as he felt her warmth, her reassurance, and loving presence.
"Remember, Obi-Wan, that I will always, *always* love you," she gently
pressed her lips to the soft hair, then continued, "And this is the way it will always be, no matter what happens, no matter where you are."
This time, it was Obi-Wan who pulled back in order to look up at his mother's tear-filled eyes. With a sleepy flutter of his lashes, he softly smiled and whispered, "I wuv you too vewy much, mommy."
A small laugh escaped from Saari's chest as she smiled at the way her baby mispronounced his words. No matter how desperate a situation she found herself in, with Obi-Wan at her side, she would always be able to smile.
Her smile faded as she looked at their surroundings. They couldn't remain under the tree forever, they had to move, and move quickly. Gammu was surely looking for them already, and no matter how badly he was injured, they had to get as far away from him as possible.
Looking up at the sky, Saari realized that dawn was approaching. She
couldn't decide if this was a good or bad sign. With the morning light, the thick mist would dissipate, making their journey easier, but also making them an easy target.
As weak as she felt, she managed to stand up as a cold breeze blew against them, making them shiver. Shielding Obi-Wan as best as she could, Saari began walking quickly in the direction of the morning sun. She continued walking until she found that she was nearing the outskirts of the city. If she could get past the border without attracting attention, they would soon be free!
As she huddled low to the ground and was about to head towards the border nearest her, she heard Obi-Wan's small voice say, "Mommy, no..."
Surprised, she looked down at her son and asked in confusion, "No? No what, Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan just shook his head against her breast, a frightened expression in his eyes.
Saari did not understand what he was referring to, and dismissed it as
fever-induced hallucination. She placed a light kiss on his forehead hoping to comfort him before she began running toward her goal. She had almost reach it when she once again heard the familiar mocking voice, "Leaving so soon?"
Saari froze, a cold shiver running up her spine. She shifted Obi-Wan to the right side of her body, as she tried in vain to provide protection with her left.
Gammu appeared from behind a tree, walking unsteadily towards them. "You were always far too clever for your own good, my dear. It's a pity that you used that intelligence against me!" He hesitated, waiting for answer, but when none was forthcoming, he continued, "I'm gonna ask you one more time, Saari, and this will be the last, will you come with me or not?"
Saari suppressed the urge to sigh. She had become annoyed and tired of the same stupid question. But her annoyance disappeared when she heard a small beeping sound - the sound of a blaster at full charge and ready to be used. She let out an involuntary gasp and tightened her grip on Obi-Wan.
"Will you marry me, or not?" Gammu shouted as he steadily held the blaster and pointed it in her direction.
Gripped by cold fear, Saari was unable to move. Surely, there was no escape this time. As she helplessly looked at the crazed look in Gammu's face, she knew that all hope was lost; both she and her son would not live to see the sun rise. She closed her eyes as she held her son protectively in her arms, hoping against hope that the initial impact would be painless for both of them.
Suddenly, Saari's eyes snapped open as the sound powerful engines filled the morning air. The young woman looked up in wonder as a red spacecraft descended and began to land a few meters away. Saari's eyes gleamed with tears as a smile of relief spread across her face.
"Jedi!" she whispered in relief. Jedi had been dispatched to help end the civil war, and by a stroke of luck they were landing almost right next to the awe-struck woman. They were saved!
Gammu, too, turned to look at the descending spacecraft, and after
recognizing the ship's markings, his face contorting in a sneer.
"Jedi!" he hissed angrily through clenched teeth.
Noting that Gammu had been temporarily distracted by the air ship, Saari took the unexpected opening and began running towards it.
Gammu stared angrily at the retreating figure. He calmly placed the blaster back in his holster and whispered, "I'll take that as a 'no'."
Author: Keyla Kenobi - delilah_br@hotmail.com
Rating: PG
Archive: Sure, if you are crazy enough as to consider this as good stuff, e-mail me! =P
Disclaimer: The boys belong to George Lucas, you know that director that made us suffer and wheep by killing Qui-Gon and leaving poor little suffering Obi-Wan all alone with the most evil proyect of a Lord Sith as his Padawan....snif snif...okay okay enough of this melodrama and let's get to the action! (??)
Warning: There is a loving and parental relationship between Obi and Qui, there is no slash so if you don't like that, don't read any further.
Summary: Qui finds Obi for the very first time, and rescue him from a certain death.
Note: this fic it's based on one of my fics' (I Found You) extract. It's when Qui remebers rescuing a little boy, which is Obi! (Duh...)
Anyway, to have a better idea about the whole thing, you should read that fic. It will be a sequeal for this one, longer with obi-torture, and angst, and mush and everything!! It'll be pretty much like 'Kiza'.
***********
A Little Ray of Light
Part 1
"Obi-Wan," a soft female voice called to him gently, "Obi-Wan, wake up."
Two glazed, blue-green eyes fluttered slowly as they opened, sleepily
searching for the source of the soft voice.
"Mommy?" he whispered.
"Yes, sweety, it's mommy. How are you feeling?" the voice asked with a smile as a gentle hand brushed soothingly through his soft, auburn hair.
Obi-Wan looked up and smiled sleepily in return. The face of a slim, young woman looked down at him with love and tenderness. Her deep green eyes appeared large within her heart-shaped face, complementing her long, auburn hair. Her smile was soft and tender, but the concern in her eyes could not be hidden.
Obi-Wan hesitated for a moment before answering. Taking a deep, shaky
breath, he quietly replied, "So, so." His smile wavered as his eyes
threatned to close once again.
Hearing the fatigue in her baby's voice, the young woman's heart gave a small, painful twist. She quietly approached the huddled form covered by a pile of ragged blankets. As she bent down to brush a soft kiss on his hot forehead, her eyes reflected worry and concern as she felt waves of heat radiating from him.
"Obi-Wan, I need to ask you a favor," the woman asked as she tenderly
pressed her forehead to his. She quickly began wrapping her arms
protectively around her son when she felt the cold wind begin gusting around them. Together they shivered beneath the unstable, make-shift shelter that she had hurriedly constructed to protect and hide them. Even so, the bitter wind managed to penetrate their little encampment, leeching the warmth from their bodies.
The woman was about to continue when her head jerked up in alarm as a loud concussion shook the ground, followed by a series of screams. Obi-Wan gasped in fear as he buried his fevered face between the blankets.
"Shh, it's okay, sweety, shh....," she hushed as she picked him up from the ground and began rocking him in her slim arms. Soon, other concussions vibrated around her, followed by more agonizing screams.
The situation had gotten completely out of hand. The civil war had been getting progressively worse as the days passed slowly by. They had attempted to escape the city, but all routes had been completely closed off. The young woman knew that every minute they spent within the perimeter of the city endangered their lives more and more. She knew they had no choice but to make a run for it. As sick as Obi-Wan was, she had to try to make a run for their lives. It was now or never.
"Obi-Wan, listen to me carefully," she waited until the frightened child was looking up at her once again. Her sorrow deepened at the sight of fear and apprehension staring back at her. "We need to take a little trip."
"Twip?" the small, shaky voice asked as the little boy frowned in confusion.
The young woman couldn't help but smile at the way her child interpreted his words.
"Yes, a small trip. We're getting out of this place, to a safer one. But we can only do it if you feel strong enough, sweety."
Obi-Wan nodded firmly. "Wanna go, mommy," the child replied softly as he nestled his fevered head against his mother's chest. He clutched at her light tunic as the wind began howling, sounding very loud and feeling very cold.
Biting back her tears, the young woman held the small child firmly against her as she felt his small body trembling. Her little Obi-Wan didn't deserve any of this, to be forced to live like this. Her little innocent did not deserve this at all.
Pulling back gently, she placed her small charge on the makeshift bed and wrapped the thick blanket warmly around him, making sure that his small, bare feet were well covered. Satisfied that Obi-Wan was well cocooned, she gently picked him up, carefully settled him against her chest, and rested the overly-warm head under her chin.
"I need you to ask you one more favor, Obi-Wan. You have to be very, very quiet. Okay?" As she felt him nod in agreement, she stood and parted back the canvas of the tent. Cautiously looking around to make sure they were not being observed, the frightened pair quickly exited the tent and headed toward the forest. As she ran, making sure that they had not been spotted, she wondered if this had been a good idea after all.
********
Midnight. Deep in the forest, the figure of a young woman ran stealthily through the trees, weaving in and out of the mist. Every now and then she would look furtively to see if she was being followed. Finding only a thick, white mist within her field of vision, she continued to press on. The mist made her nervous. If someone were following them, she would not be able to see their pursuers until it was too late. She had to be very careful, there was a lot at stake. Her son's life and future were in her hands, and she was not going to let him down.
The woman stopped for a few minutes to rest. Her slight body bowed with fatigue, she leaned against one of the huge trees to catch her breath. Slowly, she eased herself to the ground to check on her small charge. Obi-Wan was barely awake, his half-closed eyes slowly opening and closing with fever and fatigue. She placed the back of her cold fingers on one of his chubby cheeks, only to find that the fever had gotten worse. She wasn't surprised. She had been forced to flee with her one-year-old son in the middle of the coldest nights of winter. Perhaps, she thought for a moment, this hadn't been such a good idea after all. She should have waited for him to get better. But Obi-Wan had been ill for more than four days, and had barely eaten. There was the possibility that he would not be strong enough to survive even one more day. That's why she had decided on this desperate course of action and try to save both their lives.
She closed her eyes and sighed as she leaned wearily against the tree.
/Get up! You're so close. You can't give up now!/ she heard her mind
scolding at her. And it was right, she needed to get up, to continue moving. Before standing, she gazed down at the small, trembling form clutched to her chest. Obi-Wan was so very small, so frail. She marveled at how someone so delicate could bring so much happiness into her life. Every time she looked at him, she felt pride swell within her - she was his mother.
She ran her hands up and down the small back, desperately trying to bring some warmth to the shivering form. As carefully as she could, she placed Obi-Wan in secure position against her, stood up, and resumed her flight through the mist.
******
The young woman ran, unheedful that her breath was becoming short and
ragged. She stopped suddenly, her heart racing as the sound of a branch snapping broke the silence around her. She froze, all of her senses stretched to the limit as she listened to the deep silence of the forest. The noise could have been anything, a small animal, a dead branch naturally falling, but she couldn't be sure.
As quickly and silently as she could, she hid herself behind one of the thickest trees. Her heart pounded in her chest as her eyes quickly scanned the area around them. She rested against a large, fallen log while trying to pierce the veil of the mist around her. She sensed that something, or someone, was out there, just beyond her field of vision. She knew that whatever it was, it was watching them.
Attempting to shake her apprehension away, she stood unsteadily on her feet and prepared to resume her flight. She knew that staying in one place, out in the open, was dangerous and would make her an easy target. It was imperative that she keep moving. She cautiously began to walk away from her temporary hiding place as she bent down close to the ground, trying to blend in with her surroundings.
Again the noise repeated itself, and she stopped.
"Saari."
The woman gasped in shock as she recognized the deep voice coming from behind her. Slowly, she turned to face a tall, well-built man dressed in thick, black clothes. His hair was as dark as the depths of the ocean, and even in the darkness of the forest his eyes shone as blue as the clear sky. He stood in front of her, unmoving as he maintained his distance. As she watched, a small, wicked smile curled his lips.
Saari stood firm, her green gaze steadily holding the cold blue gaze.
"Gammu."
Gammu's smile broadened at her recognition. He took a step closer, but then raised an eyebrow in surprise as he observed the woman backing up.
"Stay away from me," she spat, her once soft voice displaying a mixture of anger and fright.
"Please, Saari," Gammu said softly, tilting his head slightly to one side. "Don't tell me you're still angry with me because I killed your husband?" He smiled as he observed the woman stiffen at his cruel words. "By the way, have you considered my offer?"
"I would rather die a thousand deaths before becoming your wife," she hissed angrily through clenched teeth.
Gammu chuckled as he crossed his arms. "Be careful what you say, my dear, because it may come true. You might see your husband sooner than you think. And if you're dead, how will you be able to protect your little boy?"
Instinctively, Saari tightened her arms protectively around her small,
fragile bundle.
"Oh, don't tell me that thing you're carrying is little Ben! You should have left him at home. He can get hurt out here, you know." Gammu's eyes gleamed as his smile spread.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on him!" the woman warned him in a low,
dangerous voice. Hot, blazing anger flashed through her green eyes as she stared at him in contempt .
"Saari," again that sickenly soft voice, "What kind of monster do you think I am? Why would I want to hurt my own nephew?" The man finished with a small, mocking smile as he slowly shook his head.
"Do I have to answer?" she asked sarcastically, the blaze in her eyes slowly fading, replaced by cold determination.
Gammu laughed heartily, "Oh, Saari, how I love your delightful sarcasm!"
As Gammu laughed, Saari was distracted by a small cough coming from the bundle in her arms, followed by a weak and hoarse "Sowwy." She tightened her embrace around her son as she murmured into his soft hair, "Don't worry, sweety, it's okay."
The tall man stopped laughing to watch the scene in silence. Still wearing the same wicked smile, he interjected, "It appears that he's a bit ill?"
Saari glared at him in disgust, "Yes. He became ill after you deliberately threw him into the freezing lake."
Gammu laughed again, placing a hand mockingly to his forehead, "I shouldn't have done that, should I? But it was worth it just to see you jump into the lake to rescue him. It was a touching sight. Such a wonderful demonstration of maternal love." The man drew his shoulders up rubbing at the sides of his arms.
Saari could not believe what she had just heard. How could this man be so cruel? Not even caring about his own nephew! Shaking her head in disbelief, she whispered angrily, "How can you be such a monster? Why do you hate us so much?"
Gammu's mocking smile faded, "It's simple, my dear Saari," he began, his voice somber and icy, "I killed my brother Ben, but his ghost continues to interfere, even in death. When I see you with that pathetic bundle of skin and bones that you call 'son', I see the son that should have been mine. My brother took everything that I treasured the most. Not only did he take the woman that should have been rightfully mine, he was responsible for the death of our mother when she died giving him life. He killed her just surely as he would have by stabbing her in the heart! The day she died, I swore a sacred
oath that I would avenge her death. And I've kept it. But the pain still remains, and it is aggravated each and every time I look at that bastard of yours!" He looked down at Obi-Wan's small trembling form in undisguised anger and hatred. "He has you, his mother. It's not fair! He doesn't deserve you!"
Saari slowly shook her head. She was unable to comprehend the hate her brother-in-law was directing at them. There was no logic in his words. How could he blame them for something neither of them had been involved in?
"You're crazy," she retorted in a calm, even voice. She gently caressed the bundle in her arms as she gathered her courage and asked, "What must I do in order for you to leave us alone?"
"Marry me," the large man answered as he took a few steps towards them, "I ask no more, no less. And, of course, I want you to get rid of that boy. Either I kill him or you leave him here in the forest. Those are your choices. It all depends on how much you want him to suffer."
"What?!" Saari shouted, completely stunned. She couldn't have heard that! How could someone make such a request?
"That boy poses too many problems. He's too powerful, and that isn't good for me!"
"Powerful? What are you talking about?" the young woman asked, frowning in confusion. Her arms tightening around her son.
Gammu laughed. In a sudden swift move, he extended both hands, palms
parallel to the ground. Saari looked around her in surprise and fear as the mist opened, then began to form a circle around them.
"This is what I'm talking about, Saari," Gammu replied, keeping his arms at their extended position, maintaining a Force wave that controlled the mist. "He can do this as well."
"He can't use the Force! Obi-Wan can't use the Force like you or your
father!" the woman contradicted as she continued to stare at the circle of mist.
"Oh, but he can! Ben was punished for taking my mother away. He had little ontrol of the Force, unlike myself or my father. But, what nobody realized is that your little bastard has powers that should have belonged to Ben," the volume of his voice increased as he slowly approached them. "And there's more! When I killed my father, that stupid old fool managed to transfer his own life essence into the pathetic boy, making him even stronger in the Force. That means he's my competition as heir. And, as you well know, I don't like competition. So," the cruel blue eyes stared down at them, "are
you going leave him here, or do I have to kill him? The decision is entirely up to you."
Saari shook her head slowly, trying to snap out her shock of what she had heard and seen. She recovered her faculties when she heard Obi-Wan coughing fitfully. Carefully drawing back the top of the blanket, she peered down at the small, pale face with half-closed eyes. Obi-Wan's breathing had become fast and wheezy, and he was obviously having trouble geting oxygen into his lungs.
"S-sowwy mommy...," he whispered hoarsely, almost sobbing. He knew he was supposed to keep quiet, his mommy had asked for him to do so.
Biting her lower lip, Saari tenderly stroked the too-warm cheek. "You don't have anything to be sorry for, Obi-Wan. It's mommy's fault. All mommy's fault...," she softly repeated into the child's auburn hair.
How could this monster force her to make such a choice? Both choices meant that her son would meet the same fate. In his current condition, Obi-Wan would be unable to survive more than a day out here in the cold! But the other choice...
The pressure to make the decision was too much for Saari to handle. Feeling like a lost little girl, she broke into tears, all but her hope of escape gone. She was too young to be forced to live with this! She felt helpless and alone! If only her husband had survived...
Saari fell limply to her knees, holding the small body against herself for comfort. She was lost. There was no escape from this man. Her idea of flight had been a hopeless one after all. Through tearful eyes, she looked down at the pair of blue-green orbs returning her gaze, a hint of concern swirling in their depths.
"No cwy, mommy...," the child lightly whispered as he rested his head under her chin.
Hearing the fatigue and sorrow in her son's voice, Saari began sobbing
uncontrollably, her resolve completely broken. Gently shifting Obi-Wan on her lap, she placed his head against one of her arms, and began caressing the soft, sweat-dampened hair as she slowly rocked him back and forth.
Keeping her voice low so that only Obi-Wan could hear, she whispered, "You are so beautiful...so very beautiful. I'm sorry, Obi-Wan, this wasn't supposed to end like this." The young woman quickly bit her lip as her voice began to shake. Strong emotions shook her as she looked down at the soft, sweet features of her
innocent son.
Obi-Wan had no way of understanding what was going on, but he knew that something was making his mommy cry. Why was his mommy so sad? And why was that man there? What did he want? As he continued to look up at the young woman, the weary little boy's eyes began rimming with tears as he watched his mommy trying to regain control of her voice and feelings. A small sob caught in his throat as tears leaked from behind his soft lashes. Watching his mommy cry was making him cry as well, even if he didn't understand what was happening.
Saari gently brushed at Obi-Wan's tears, her delicate fingers softly
caressing his blushed cheeks. "I love you so much, sweety, so...so much. Never forget that, my little Obi-Wan, never."
Obi-Wan suddenly realized that his mommy was saying good-bye. "Mommy, no go!" his hoarse, weak voice shook with fright and despair as he weakly struggled to free his arms from the blankets.
"Shh...," Saari quietly hushed him, firmly tucking the thick, ragged blanket around the frail body once again. "Don't worry, sweety, mommy will always be with you," she lightly tapped his small, warm nose. At the tender gesture, a soft smile lit up the face of the trembling child, making her smile in return.
"And no matter what happens," the woman said with added strength, "always remember that I love you very much, and that daddy loved you as well."
"I wuv you too, mommy," Obi-Wan whispered as he reached out to her, then laid his tear stricken face against her warm chest.
Saari enveloped her sweet son within her arms, pressing him closely,
protectively, to her body as much as she could. One of her hands rested lightly on the boy's head as her fingers gently ran through his soft hair. "Why did you have to be so wonderful?" she asked in a broken sob. She closed her eyes as new tears began falling, and sobs began to wrack her frail, battered body.
"Saari, you're wasting my time here," Gammu impatiently interrupted. He had remained quiet for some time, but now he was getting impatient. "Decide now," he demanded gruffly.
Saari lifted her tear-rimmed eyes as she glared at the stocky frame standing menacingly a few meters away, angry at his imposition. Pushing back her anger, she bent down and kissed the small head still nestled against her chest, then turned her head as she rubbed her cold cheek against it.
Obi-Wan remained still, listening to the reassuring heartbeat of his
mother's heart. His eyelids felt heavy and warm, and they began closing as gentle heartbeats slowly lulled him to a warm, peaceful slumber. But, as his mother began to pull away, he opened his drowsy eyes to look into hers.
Saari again bit at her lower lip as she tried to find her voice. The young mother had so many things to say to her son, but because of the fatigue and the threat from Gammu, she was unable to gather her thoughts successfully. Instead, she simply placed her head against Obi-Wan's forehead, and gently cupping both his warm cheeks in her cold palms, she whispered sorrowfully, "Forgive me, my little ray of light."
As weary as he was, Obi-Wan couldn't help but smile at the words. He loved when his mommy called him that. But his smile soon faded as his mother laid him on the cold grass and began tucking the blankets snugly around him.
Closing her eyes tightly, Saari stood and began walking away from the frail little bundle that was her son. With head bowed, she began walking slowly and unsteadily towards Gammu.
"Mommy?"
Saari stumbled as Obi-Wan's small, frightened voice made her lose her
balance. She turned to see the scared and confused look in her baby's large eyes. Eyes that couldn't believe that his mommy was leaving without him.
"Stay there, Obi-Wan, and don't move," she commanded in a lifeless voice. She couldn't believe what she was doing.
"No mommy!" Obi-Wan shouted out hoarsely. As he attempted to stand, his small, weakened body tangled in the blankets, causing him to fall face down on the cold grass. A small, subdued whimper escaped the child as he painfully hit the ground, unable to use his hands as they were still tangled within the blankets.
Hearing her son's distress and unable to stop herself, Saari turned and ran back to help the fallen boy. But she was stopped abruptly by Gammu's menacing words, "Leave him there, Saari! Leave him! I'm not about to waste any more of my time on that bastard!"
Obi-Wan began to cough fitfully as the cold ground began leeching away his body warmth. His entire body began to shake as he struggled to draw air into his fluid-filled lungs. His awkward and tangled position didn't make matters any easier. Not only did the blankets restrict his movements, but his struggles had made the blanket across his chest constrict and press on his ribcage, further hampering his breathing. But as his movements began to slow and he ceased to struggle, Obi-Wan found that his breathing eased a bit and he was able to take in more air and ease the tightness in his chest.
A few meters away, Saari breathed a soft sigh of relief as she listened to her son's coughing fit slowly beginning to abate. But she winced at the sound of soft wheezing which accompanied his labored breathing. Sorrow stabbed at her heart when a soft, faint whisper broke through the erratic breathing and called out for her, "Mommy..."
Holding her head in her hands, she clenched her teeth as Obi-Wan's soft whispers tore deeply through her soul; but she ignored the pain, the heart-searing torture. With great effort, she turned and once again headed in Gammu´s direction.
Stopping centimeters in front of the man she despised, she looked up and, with defiance filling her tearful green eyes, calmly spoke, "You've won."
Gammu's somber face lit up in a triumphant grin. He slowly shifted his gaze from the slim woman in front of him to the dying boy lying on the mist-filled ground. He nodded his head in satisfaction and self-congratulation. He had actually won.
Cupping Saari's delicate face between his large, rough hands, he held her still for a moment before pulling her into a brutal kiss. He smiled as he felt her trying to pull back, frail arms weakly pushing and flailing against him. But he held her firmly in place.
A sudden idea came to Saari's as she struggled against the man's roughness. Instead of pulling away, she leaned towards him as if feigning surrender. She slowly circled her arms around Gammu's neck, tilting her head back as if inviting more of the rough kisses. As she suspected, Gammu believed she had given up and began sliding his hands down to her hips. Taking the opportunity of his momentary lapse, she swiftly delivered a strong, unexpected kick in between Gammu's legs, and pushed him backwards with all her strength.
Taken by surprise, Gammu slumped to the hard ground. Angry and confused, he moaned in pain and cursed at her as he attempted to get up.
Momentarily giddy with the knowledge of what she had just done, Saari shook with apprehension and joy. For a moment, she could only stand and stare at the man kneeling helplessly in front of her. But she was quickly brought to her senses when she heard her son's hacking coughs. She sprinted in Obi-Wan's direction, reached him and quickly began to free the small frame from the tangle of blankets. Picking the small body up, she cradled him to her breast, and headed into the forest again.
Too busy dealing with his pain, Gammu lost control of the Force wave that held back the mist, and soon it began to surround and spread around him - effectively giving Saari the advantage of hiding her escape.
After what appeared to be a lifetime, Saari stopped to catch her breath. She looked around her to see if she was being followed, but found only the thick, white mist to be her only companion. Slumping to the ground near the trunk of a large tree, she checked on her precious charge. She frowned in dismay as she noted that Obi-Wan's breathing had become shallow and erratic. His eyelids were half closed as his eyes rolled listlessly behind the large lashes.
"Obi-Wan," she urgently whispered, "Obi-Wan, wake up!"
Saari smiled in relief as Obi-Wan slowly opened his eyes, looking up at her in recognition and fatigued delight.
"Mommy!" the little boy rasped as a smile slowly curved his lips. Joy warmed him as he realized that his mommy hadn't left him after all.
"Yes, sweety, it's mommy," she answered, unable to suppress the wide smile that tugged at her lips. "I would never leave you alone like that, sweety. Never. I needed to do something so that I could escape from that monster," Saari tried to explain as she drew her son closer to her, gently rocking both of them.
Obi-Wan feebly tried to wrapped his thin arms around her, holding on to his mom for dear life. He smiled as he felt her warmth, her reassurance, and loving presence.
"Remember, Obi-Wan, that I will always, *always* love you," she gently
pressed her lips to the soft hair, then continued, "And this is the way it will always be, no matter what happens, no matter where you are."
This time, it was Obi-Wan who pulled back in order to look up at his mother's tear-filled eyes. With a sleepy flutter of his lashes, he softly smiled and whispered, "I wuv you too vewy much, mommy."
A small laugh escaped from Saari's chest as she smiled at the way her baby mispronounced his words. No matter how desperate a situation she found herself in, with Obi-Wan at her side, she would always be able to smile.
Her smile faded as she looked at their surroundings. They couldn't remain under the tree forever, they had to move, and move quickly. Gammu was surely looking for them already, and no matter how badly he was injured, they had to get as far away from him as possible.
Looking up at the sky, Saari realized that dawn was approaching. She
couldn't decide if this was a good or bad sign. With the morning light, the thick mist would dissipate, making their journey easier, but also making them an easy target.
As weak as she felt, she managed to stand up as a cold breeze blew against them, making them shiver. Shielding Obi-Wan as best as she could, Saari began walking quickly in the direction of the morning sun. She continued walking until she found that she was nearing the outskirts of the city. If she could get past the border without attracting attention, they would soon be free!
As she huddled low to the ground and was about to head towards the border nearest her, she heard Obi-Wan's small voice say, "Mommy, no..."
Surprised, she looked down at her son and asked in confusion, "No? No what, Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan just shook his head against her breast, a frightened expression in his eyes.
Saari did not understand what he was referring to, and dismissed it as
fever-induced hallucination. She placed a light kiss on his forehead hoping to comfort him before she began running toward her goal. She had almost reach it when she once again heard the familiar mocking voice, "Leaving so soon?"
Saari froze, a cold shiver running up her spine. She shifted Obi-Wan to the right side of her body, as she tried in vain to provide protection with her left.
Gammu appeared from behind a tree, walking unsteadily towards them. "You were always far too clever for your own good, my dear. It's a pity that you used that intelligence against me!" He hesitated, waiting for answer, but when none was forthcoming, he continued, "I'm gonna ask you one more time, Saari, and this will be the last, will you come with me or not?"
Saari suppressed the urge to sigh. She had become annoyed and tired of the same stupid question. But her annoyance disappeared when she heard a small beeping sound - the sound of a blaster at full charge and ready to be used. She let out an involuntary gasp and tightened her grip on Obi-Wan.
"Will you marry me, or not?" Gammu shouted as he steadily held the blaster and pointed it in her direction.
Gripped by cold fear, Saari was unable to move. Surely, there was no escape this time. As she helplessly looked at the crazed look in Gammu's face, she knew that all hope was lost; both she and her son would not live to see the sun rise. She closed her eyes as she held her son protectively in her arms, hoping against hope that the initial impact would be painless for both of them.
Suddenly, Saari's eyes snapped open as the sound powerful engines filled the morning air. The young woman looked up in wonder as a red spacecraft descended and began to land a few meters away. Saari's eyes gleamed with tears as a smile of relief spread across her face.
"Jedi!" she whispered in relief. Jedi had been dispatched to help end the civil war, and by a stroke of luck they were landing almost right next to the awe-struck woman. They were saved!
Gammu, too, turned to look at the descending spacecraft, and after
recognizing the ship's markings, his face contorting in a sneer.
"Jedi!" he hissed angrily through clenched teeth.
Noting that Gammu had been temporarily distracted by the air ship, Saari took the unexpected opening and began running towards it.
Gammu stared angrily at the retreating figure. He calmly placed the blaster back in his holster and whispered, "I'll take that as a 'no'."