Disclaimer: As usual, George Lucas owns Star Wars and everything in it.  Keyn and Shen are my characters.  I'm making no money from this fanfic.

A/N: okay, I've finally updated after something like 4 months.  This is the second last chapter, and the last chapter should be up pretty soon.  I promise.  Probably within the week.  Thanks for all the reviews.  =)

Chapter 7:

Obi-wan gathered his thoughts and focused on the locked door.  He sensed the heavy metal bolt, and the password-lock, reached out with the Force for the bolt.  An invisible hand grasped the bolt.  Obi-wan drew it back, seeing the bolt move in his mind, drawing it back until it was clear of its socket.

My'la studied the Jedi closely, her luminous cat-like eyes narrowed to slits.  Obi-wan had no doubt the Togorian was Force-sensitive, but he didn't know how much.  He turned his attention to the password-lock, reaching out with the Force.  The keypad was new – it couldn't have been used for more than a week – so he could barely sense which keys were most frequently pressed, and in which order.

The Jedi sighed.  He knew he could wait for Qui-gon to come, but he could he rely on Qui-gon?  No, Obi-wan decided, I can't.  He broke my trust in him.  I don't really know why he'd abandon anyone.  He closed his eyes, clenched his fists tightly.  He let the Force flow through him, let it pulsed and throb through his entire body.  Somehow, it calmed him.  And prompted him.  Invisible fingers activated the keypad, keyed in the numbers in the correct sequence.

The lock was released.  Obi-wan staggered to his feet, and drew on the Force again to give him strength – he was still recovering from the drugs and trouncing Keyn had given him.  He stumbled to the door and pushed it open, crossing his fingers and hoping he hadn't tripped any alarms.

Jen looked up to see Obi-wan opening the previously locked door.  He whispered to the other prisoners, and they got up.  Jen approached Obi-wan slowly.

"Do you know a way out?" Obi-wan turned to Jen.

"I hope so," the big man replied in a low voice.  "I'll go first."

Obi-wan nodded, peering out into the darkened passageway.  He didn't sense any danger.  My'la came to stand beside the Jedi.  The other prisoners watched silently as Jen padded down the corridor, eyes searching for danger.  He walked about ten metres before stopping and turning around.

"Looks okay…" he never finished what he was saying.  The red streaks of laser sliced through him.  Jen collapsed in a heap.

Obi-wan and My'la jammed the door close frantically against the blaster fire.  The remaining prisoners crouched down near the stone walls, trying to avoid the coruscating bolts.

Heart hammering in his chest, Obi-wan sat down, stunned.  He must have missed a security procedure, tripped an ambush, resulting in Jen's death.  The Jedi knew he'd failed and let Jen down.  He'd failed as a Jedi.  Just like Qui-gon … He couldn't stop the despair from flooding his heart, couldn't dam it at all.

My'la turned to him, sadness in her luminous, cat-like eyes.  "It's not your fault."

Obi-wan shook hi head numbly as he heard the door being locked and bolted again, and the security password changed.  It was his fault, for not going first, for not checking properly.  He was like Qui-gon.  Like Master, like apprentice.

The pain of his failure burned him.  It was like a whiplash that stung his face.  He didn't know what to do anymore.  He was sure nobody would blame him, but he blamed himself.

They landed easily, in the dark forest close to the caves.  Shen had no time to calm himself.  As soon as Keyn's ship landed, Qui-gon and the bounty hunter left.

Shen followed, his heart thumping anxiously.  He was afraid he would fail and let someone down.  This was his first mission, he didn't want it to go wrong.  The cream-and-tan-furred Bothan drew on the Force, using it to clam himself and clear his mind.  He needed to be focused and to concentrate.  Nothing else mattered now, not even his apprenticeship.

Keyn and Qui-gon were silent as they travelled the half mile or so to the caves, each wrapped up in his own thoughts.  The going was rough, the path littered with vines and fallen trees, but they made it fairly easily and in good time.

The bio-weapons facility was a carefully hidden series of stone caves linked by long, twisting passages.  The rainforest formed a natural clearing around it, making the caves appear unused and uninhabited.  Keyn stopped just before stepping out into the open, pointing out the three or so rocky entrances to the network of joined caves.

"There, Qui-gon Jinn.  Take your pick," Keyn's voice was low, impassive, emotionless.  Shen shivered.  Keyn was clearly showing that his teaming up with Qui-gon was purely business.  Nothing else.

The Jedi Master connected with the Force.  He listened to its soft murmurs, then felt for what was right.  "Left cave," he said quietly.  "I don't sense danger, but keep both eyes open anyway."

Keyn nodded and entered the cave, pausing for a while to let his eyes adjust to the darkness.  He retrieved a glow rod from his belt and lit it, illuminating the cave's dark interior with a pale, green light.  A low passageway led off from the entrance, and Keyn and the two Jedi had to bend down to enter it.

Shen's hand drifted to his lightsabre.  It was reassuring to have a weapon, but he hoped he wouldn't have to use it.

The narrow passage was only wide enough for one person, so Qui-gon led, with Keyn bringing up the rear.  Shen, in the middle, was a bundle of nerves.  He'd been trained for missions, but had never actually been on one before.

Qui-gon's focus and concentration were intense as he tapped into the fore-knowledge and awareness the Force could share with him.  A rough map of the area formed itself in his mind, and he held on to it, lest it slip away form him.  The big Jedi guided his companions carefully, through twists and turns, junctions and passages.

"Almost there," Qui-gon muttered as he concentrated on the images the Force provided him with.  Shen saw Keyn's hand move to his lightsabre and rest on the hilt.

"Wait," Keyn said softly.  Qui-gon stopped.  "Watch out for traps." The hunter pointed to the well-concealed mine a few centimetres in front of his own feet.  Qui-gon shuddered, realising he could've blown himself up just moments ago.  He carried on, more careful than ever.

Obi-wan Kenobi sat against the cold wall, eyes shut.  He feigned sleep, but in truth, he couldn't sleep at all.  Jen's death haunted him.  He should have felt for the flicker of warning in the Force.  But he hadn't, and the Force hadn't warned him, either.  Obi-wan knew he was tired and weak, he might never make it out of this place.

Obi-wan, are you there?  The apprentice's eyes instantly snapped open.

Master!

Obi-wan, I'm here.  I'm coming to get you.  Obi-wan's spirits lifted.  Qui-gon hadn't left him to die.

Where are you, Master?

Close.  I'll be coming soon.

"Obi-wan's here," Qui-gon muttered.

Keyn nodded.  "I know.  We're close.  This is where we split up.  Exactly one hour later, this place will blow.  Good luck."

"There's no such thing as luck," Qui-gon murmured.

The bounty hunter shrugged then stole off into the darkness.

"We're on our own now," Shen said softly as he took a glow rod from his pouch.  Keyn was gone.

"Let's not waste time.  I can sense Obi-wan nearby," Qui-gon broke into a half-run.  Shen followed quietly, all senses alert.  He trusted the Force to warn him of anything.

They came to a long, straight lighted corridor.  At the end, was a heavy, metal door, with a bolt and password-lock.  Shen started to run, but Qui-gon held him back.

"Watch it.  Lasers,"  Qui-gon pointed to the slats carved into the sides of the corridors.  They had been cleverly hidden.  Shen cursed himself for being so foolish.

"Should be a switch somewhere to turn it off," the Bothan looked around carefully, eyes scanning the walls,  he found a keypad on his right.

"Use the Force," Qui-gon prompted.

Shen moved his fingers slowly, pressing numbers when it felt right.  Qui-gon didn't hurry the Bothan, instead, he sent a message to Obi-wan.  Hang on, we're coming.  He felt Obi-wan's relief.

"Okay.  Laser system should be offline now.  But hurry.  I don't know how long it'll last," Shen  stood at the end of the corridor while Qui-gon sprinted down to the door.  The bolt and password lock posed no difficulty for him, and he pulled open the door slowly, carefully.

"Master," Obi-wan's voice brought tears of relief to Qui-gon's normally stern face.  He hugged the boy.

"Obi-wan, we haven't much time.  Gather everyone and let's go."  Qui-gon led Obi-wan, My'la and the three other captives back to where Shen was standing.

"Half an hour left," the Bothan cautioned. 

Qui-gon broke into a jog.  He knew Obi-wan and the others were tired.  He could feel his apprentice's fatigue through the bond.  But they had to leave now.  Before the charges Keyn set exploded.

Keyn set the last charge against the wall of a laboratory filled with various biological experiments.  He looked down at the counter.  Still about thirty-five minutes more.  Just enough time to leave.  He armed the explosive, then left the laboratory.

The bounty hunter had memorised the route Qui-gon had followed to get in.  He followed it easily at a run, meeting no-one along the way.  It's almost too easy, he thought as he reached a crossroads.  Almost like a trap.

A soft noise made him stop.  Keyn glanced around him quickly, then shrank back into a corner of the passageway, hiding his glowrod.  Someone was coming, along the passageway that intersected this one.

The hunter tensed and unhooked his lightsabre from his belt.  He gripped it tightly, but didn't thumb the blade on.  Not yet.

They passed him.  Four heavily-built men – guards, most likely.  They wore body armour and carried vibro-blades.  None carried any blasters.  They stopped, then raised their vibro-blades, looking around slowly.  They hadn't noticed the bounty hunter hidden in the shadows.

None of my business, Keyn thought as he slipped away quietly.  But something made him pause.  Qui-gon would pass by soon, clearly unaware of the danger, and get ambushed.  Keyn hesitated.  Should he save himself?  Or help Qui-gon?

Qui-gon had left Thyren to die.  Keyn knew that.  It was painful, and it was true.  Keyn knew Thyren's death haunted Qui-gon, as he knew it haunted him.  But that didn't mean Qui-gon deserved to die.  Keyn reminded himself that the Jedi's matters were not his concern.  But he used to be a Jedi.  He knew he couldn't leave Qui-gon to walk into a trap.  Keyn swore at himself for being soft, then turned around and crept towards the guards.

The guards turned at the sound of a lightsabre igniting.  The glowing red blade hung eerily in the darkness. 

"Who are you?  Show yourself!" the voice was cold, ruthless.  Keyn ignored the question, and leapt forward, lightsabre swinging through the air.  Keyn knew he was crazy – one bounty hunter against four highly-trained guards – but he didn't care.

The lightsabre sliced through one guard's arm, but the guard didn't cry out.  Keyn landed swiftly, then raised his lightsabre up and in front of him.  Qui-gon still needed to be warned.  The bounty hunter hesitated, then he reached out and touched the Force, for the first time in so many years.

Watch out.  Guards ahead.  Just sneak past, I've got their attention.  Qui-gon, Shen and Obi-wan started as they suddenly felt Keyn's presence through the Force.  And his message.

"It's Keyn," Shen muttered.

"We're nearly out, come on." Qui-gon urged everyone on.  He reached out with the Force, but felt nothing.  Keyn's presence in the Force was always difficult to sense.

"To our right," Shen said quietly.  He could sense Keyn.

They reached the crossroads.  "Shen, lead the others out," Qui-gon turned to face the Bothan.  The Jedi knew that Keyn was in trouble, even though the bounty hunter had seemed okay.

"Master, where are you going?" Obi-wan watched his Master with concern.

"Keyn needs help.  Don't worry, I still have fifteen minutes.  I'll be out by then," Qui-gon broke into a run down the narrow passage.

Sweat stung his eyes.  Keyn ignored the pain.  The painkiller he'd taken earlier was wearing off, but his concentration was still there.  The hunter raised his lightsabre to block another blow of the vibro-blade.

The guards were closing in on him.  Keyn saw a slight movement out of the corner of his eye.  He whipped around to deflect the blade that came rushing for his back.  Keyn took a few steps backwards, until his back was to the wall.  That at least gave him only three sides to worry about. 

A guard lunged forward, aiming his vibro-blade at Keyn's neck.  The hunter dodged, then thrust the red blade of his lightsabre forward.  The vibro-blade buried itself in the wall, and the guard slumped forward on the ground, run through by the lightsabre.  Keyn pulled his lightsabre away from the dead guard, re-focusing his concentration on the remaining three.

They attacked all at once, and Keyn swung his lightsabre in an arc, dodging the vibro-blades and slashing at his attackers.  He knew that he would go down sooner or later.  Even if the guards didn't kill him, the explosion would.  The hunter gritted his teeth and tensed his muscles.  He had to remain standing.  No matter what.  Or he would die by the vibro-blades.

Keyn went on the offensive, swinging his lightsabre at the guard on his left.  He feinted left, then lunged forward, his lightsabre melting the body armour and burning a gash in the guard's arm.  The guard switched his vibro-blade to the other hand.  Keyn retreated back to his previous position, waiting for the next chance to attack.

Qui-gon Jinn sprinted down the passage, not caring how much noise he made.  Thirteen minutes left.  He sensed people around the next bend.

"Keyn!"

The hunter risked a glance at the sound of his name.  Qui-gon came running, igniting his green lightsabre as he leapt into combat.  The guards turned, startled. 

Keyn grabbed the opportunity, and lunged at the guard nearest to him, running the guard through with the lightsabre, which had no regard for body armour.

Qui-gon parried a thrust of the vibro-blade, twisting the weapon away.  On his left, he saw Keyn moving into position.  Qui-gon understood the hunter's intent – a pincer movement that would catch the guards in between the two of them.  The Jedi Master started attacking purposefully, driving the guard backwards.  Keyn did likewise, dodging blows and faking.  He waited for the time when the guard would make a mistake.  It came in a few seconds.

The guard swung a high blow.  Keyn ducked, then charged forward, ramming his lightsabre into the guard's stomach.  Keyn's opponent gasped in pain, but brought the vibro-blade down in one swift movement.  Keyn saw it coming.  He knew he couldn't dodge it.  He felt the blade rip into his shoulder.  The bounty hunter twisted away, bringing his lightsabre up again, ready to defend himself.  But the guard lay slumped on the floor.  He would die soon.

Meanwhile, Qui-gon fought with the other guard.  The Jedi Master moved nimbly, keeping the guard on his toes.  Qui-gon had the Force as his ally – he knew when to dodge, attack, parry or thrust.  Every single move he made, he relied on the prompting of the Force.  He could see in slow motion, could read every clue as to where his opponent was going to strike next.

The guard feinted to the left, then attacked on the right.  Qui-gon dodged the vibro-blade, bringing his lightsabre up to deflect the blow, but the guard pulled away his weapon.  Qui-gon stumbled as his lightsabre met with thin air, the force he had put into the stroke unbalancing him.  Grinning behind his armoured visor, the guard aimed a blow to Qui-gon's unprotected side.

Qui-gon felt the blood flow down his side, but he gritted his teeth and pulled himself up to his full height.  He attacked furiously, driving the guard back and towards the wall.  Keyn ran in from his right, lightsabre held high.  Qui-gon side-stepped to the left, then continued attacking, each blow of his blocked skilfully by the guard's vibro-blade.  Keyn began attacking too, keeping the guard occupied, and knowing that, sooner or later, there would be a mistake, which could be used to his advantage.

Qui-gon and Keyn fought side-by-side.  Qui-gon could feel the silent understanding they shared, although it wasn't through the Force.  Somehow, they could work together, Qui-gon didn't know how.  The guard lunged forward in a desperate attempt.  Keyn dodged, but Qui-gon somersaulted over the guard and landed behind, then ran him through with his green blade.

Keyn switched off the blade, clipped it to his belt.  His breathing was ragged, and he was drenched in sweat.  Qui-gon studied the bounty hunter's condition.  Keyn seemed okay, but the Jedi Master suspected he wasn't 

"Let's get out before this place goes.  We got four minutes," Qui-gon put a hand on the ex-Jedi's uninjured shoulder.  "You okay?"

"Yeah," Keyn broke into a run after Qui-gon.  He was hurting everywhere from his previous injuries, but he bit back the pain, drawing on his last reserves of energy.

Qui-gon glanced anxiously at his timer, and continued running.  He hoped he was taking the right way.  If not, he and Keyn would surely die.  Qui-gon's wound hurt him.  He ignored it.  Focused on running.  And hoped desperately that they would escape with their lives.

"What's the access code?" Obi-wan asked Shen as the two of them stood beside Keyn's ship.  The Bothan had decided that they would use the bounty hunter's ship to get offplanet, so he'd given the map of the area to My'la and the other captives, who'd find their own way to the city.

"I don't know," Shen muttered as he stared at the keypad.  "Keyn's pretty smart.  He changed the code lots of times.  It's just about impossible to use the Force.  But I'll try anyway."  The Bothan closed his eyes yet again, letting the Force guide him.

"I think you've got it," Obi-wan said as the door slid open.  The Jedi stepped in, then ran to the cockpit.

Shen started the engines, while Obi-wan sat at the controls, familiarising himself.  "Will Qui-gon be okay?"

"I sure hope so," Shen muttered.  "Let's fly over to the clearing and pick them up."

Obi-wan shook his head in an attempt to clear his headache, then he guided the ship in take off, following Shen's directions to the clearing.

"There," just as the apprentice said it, the sound of the explosion ripped through the air.  Master!  Obi-wan cried out through the Bond.  There was no response.

"They're not out," Shen was concerned.  "Let's land."

Obi-wan Kenobi set the craft down on the ground carefully.  He saw no-one at all.  Master, where are you?  Still no response.

"Obi-wan, I don't think they made it," Shen said softly.  He couldn't find Keyn's presence at all.

TBC…

a/n: this is the second last chapter.  Really welcome any reviews.  Whatever you think about this fic, just tell me.  The last chapter should be out in about 4 or 5 days.  =)

                                                            - wild horse