1 Note: You guys are too kind for words. Those little notes you send are sooo encouraging! Anyway, this is the action chapter I've been avoiding for so long, scared the crap out of me, but it wasn't really so bad. It even has some obligatory "mean-and-happy-at-the-same-time" bad guy moments. I'm thinking maybe one more chapter after this, and then I can get down to finishing the other fic I'm working on. I've learned a lesson from this one- at least have the story planned out first! Anyway, this is the way it is for Jaded1, who glared at me. LOL.

2

3 Catharsis: 6

"New Jedi escort?" Minister Kai frowned. "What are you babbling about?"

Qui-Gon's cheek twitched at the rudeness but his voice was calm. "The Jedi Council on Coruscant has sent another team to escort you to and from the trial. They should be here already."

"Why the -sith- do I need a new team? Why didn't anyone tell me?"

Obi-Wan gaped at the man.

Qui-Gon forced his voice to remain steady. "My apprentice has been severely injured-"

"Well, that's not -my- fault, is it?!" the minister exploded.

Qui-Gon unconsciously held Obi-Wan tighter to him. His anger fairly radiated from him and he waited it out, staring hard down at the minister and clenching his jaw tightly.

Minister Kai gulped at the sudden change in the Jedi's demeanor.

"In all honesty, -Minister Kai-," Qui-Gon said evenly, "This is, in part, your fault." There was no missing the menace laced in his words. "If you had only followed the simple instructions I gave you-'don't leave the safe house,' 'don't speak to -anyone-'-this most likely would not have happened.

Kai bristled but remained silent.

"You seem so intent on putting your life at risk," Qui-Gon went on, "Why? Even now you're in danger. Bro'ven Shahn is searching for you as we speak." Qui-Gon could nearly smell the humiliation he had caused in the minister and was fiercely glad for a moment before he realized Obi-Wan was staring up at him worriedly.

The Jedi Master's anger drained away and he blinked. He suddenly felt very embarrassed at his reaction, though he knew the words were true.

He was not angry with the minister; not really. Frustrated, of course, monumentally, in fact, but not angry. Shahn had tortured Obi-Wan, not Kai. Kai was just dense when it came to himself, stupid, and Qui-Gon had to accept that.

The Master drew in a deep breath and said, "You'll have to come with us, then."

He did not apologize to the shuffling Rii'Diarian, figuring that this cowed minister would be easier to control, but assured Obi-Wan through their rejuvenated bond that he was all right, and gently coaxed the teenager back to sleep.

"Go with-with you?" the minister repeated nervously, "But, what about the other Jedi?"

Qui-Gon began to walk again and shrugged.

"There's nothing we can do about them. They aren't in any danger."

Kai followed close behind.

"But-but maybe I can just go back to the safe house," he suggested weakly.

Qui-Gon shook his head. "Too late. We can't risk bringing you back there, the other Jedi have found a new place for you to stay, but I don't know where that is."

"What do I do, then?" The minister struggled to stay close in Qui-Gon's wake. The crowd seemed to part before the Jedi Master's sizable bearing.

"You'll have to come back to Coruscant with us."

"What?! Now, wait just a moment-" Kai grabbed hold of Qui-Gon's robe, halting him. His dogmatic nature had returned. When he had the Master's attention he let go. "Perhaps you've forgotten, Jinn, but there's a trial going on here that I -need- to attend and you were sent to protect me. I regret that your apprentice had to suffer-" He gestured quickly to the unconscious boy in Qui-Gon's arms, yellow eyes flitting to the battered face, then back, "-But that's a risk you knew you were going to take.

"You -are- Jedi, after all," he added a beat later with a forced laugh, uncertain what to make of Qui-Gon's silence.

The blue eyes hardened. "Oh- -are- we, Minister?"

"Well-yes." Kai blinked. "Yes, I'm most certain you are."

The Master shifted, seemed to grow taller, even broader to the minister.

"What does that mean to you?"

Kai drew himself up straight and puffed out his chest. He tilted his head back a ways so that he could peer down the considerable length of his nose at the Jedi.

"What it -means- is-is-" He slumped and exhaled loudly, irritated. "Well- doesn't it mean you can fix him right up? Can't you work your magic-say a few chants and be done with it?" He planted his hands defiantly on his hips and said, "Really, Jinn. I wish you would quit mucking about and get that business over with. Then you could both get back to protecting -me-." He jerked a thumb to his chest. "That -is- why you're here, after all."

Qui-Gon glared severely down at the minister and the man wilted under his stare.

"Is that-is that not what being a Jedi means?" he stammered weakly. The crowd seemed to have diminished around them and Kai realized it was nearing suppertime. "I-uh." He struggled to regain some sort of pretence of his former composure but failed.

Instead he gulped and stretched his thin lips into what he hoped was a passable smile. "Off to Coruscant, then," he said meekly, in a near whisper. One of Obi-Wan's arms hung limply from Qui-Gon's hold and Kai gingerly took the hand between thumb and forefinger, conspicuously avoiding the torn, raw skin of the slim wrist. He placed it atop the youth's chest and patted it lightly. Obi-Wan drew a sharp breath in his sleep and the hand slid away, dangling once more.

Kai managed a weak smile but it faded as Qui-Gon snorted in detest.

"Don't touch him," the puissant Jedi, and resumed his brisk walk to the docking platform.

* * *

Qui-Gon silently thanked the Force when their Republican shuttle came into view. It looked rather lonely, he thought, nestled in the center of a platform full of otherwise empty lots, but it encouraged Qui-Gon despite his weariness. He had quickened his strides upon sighting it but slowed in caution as he spotted a Rii'Diarian round the front of the ship, sliding one hand fondly along its hull.

The unidentified man noticed and took two steps backward.

Qui-Gon stopped uneasily. His trepidation stirred Obi-Wan awake.

"What's happening?" he whispered, tensing in the midst of the disquiet.

Qui-Gon started to answer him. "That man-"

Kai scoffed. "It's probably just a mechanic."

Qui-Gon shook his head, stood his ground. "In those clothes? Without a uniform? No-" He swallowed thickly as his senses screamed warning. "Kai, get back."

"You dragged me all the way here, now let's just -go-!"

Another man appeared, sauntering around from behind the shuttle.

Qui-Gon narrowed his eyes.

"Minister.!" he warned.

"We should leave," Obi-Wan rasped, bringing a shaking hand to his temple. "We're not safe."

Qui-Gon cradled him closer to his chest. Kai whirled around to face the two Jedi.

"Your ship is -right there-!" He pointed. "Tell those two numb-heads to get lost and we'll go!"

"No, Minister!" a voice called. "Don't go."

Kai spun to face the new speaker and blanched.

"Shahn!"

The detrimental Rii'Diarian gave a fiendish grin and stepped forward. He and his two companions had their blasters trained on the trio. Qui-Gon noted that the one he had locked in the cell was not present.

"Master Jinn, sir!" Shahn called giddily, "I honestly didn't expect you'd actually be bringing the minister -with- you. I suppose one should never underestimate a Jedi." Shahn's eyes narrowed as he took in the form of Obi- Wan, who stared back at him wide eyed. "I didn't expect him to make it this far, either," he admitted. Shahn shrugged his shoulders. "Doesn't matter. We just need the minister, anyhow."

Qui-Gon knew what was coming next and quickly ran through his options. He became aware of Obi-Wan's hand digging down between them.

"It's all right, Padawan." He sought to soothe the youth in what he refused to think of as their last moments. If he dropped Obi-Wan he could reach his lightsaber-but where would that leave the boy? He was not sure Obi-Wan could remain on his feet, let alone fight a battle.

The hand insistently pushed deeper and he frowned, looking at his charge.

He saw everything in the blue-green eyes of the apprentice; the plan unfolded in his mind and he nodded almost imperceptibly. He loosened his hold on Obi-Wan and the boy's right hand, concealed by his body and Qui- Gon's robe, slipped down to the Jedi Master's waist. He felt his lightsaber unclip from his belt and he suddenly thrust Obi-Wan forward.

Two blasters went off nearly simultaneously, and Obi-Wan deflected the screeching bolts. He grit his teeth, biting back the pain that lanced up his leg when he hit the ground.

The shots ricocheted, one going wild while the other caught its shooter in the chest. The Rii'Diarian staggered back, smacking his head against the body of the Republican shuttle. He slumped to the ground and was still.

Qui-Gon grabbed his saber from Obi-Wan and shoved the boy behind him. He was counting on the fact that Bro'ven Shahn would not shoot Minister Kai but yelled at the man to get behind nearby supply crates, anyway. They would not offer much protection against blaster fire, but they would keep him out of the way.

Obi-Wan struggled to find balance as he wielded his own lightsaber. He accepted the fact that he would not serve as much help in his condition, but was determined to do what he could to keep Shahn from accomplishing his goal.

He wrapped himself in the Force and it responded eagerly to his call. He used it as a crutch to deaden the feeling in his broken leg. He knew Qui- Gon would not approve, but the situation was drastic. He assented to the risks such an action most certainly entailed-after all, what was pain but a warning that something was wrong or being misused?

Shahn and his remaining cohort had cleared the path to the shuttle and Obi- Wan threw himself forward, gathering strength he knew he should not have.

His body thrived on the adrenaline rush that surged through him, and he soon found himself at the hull of the shuttle. He pounded in the code and the ramp descended with a hiss. He pulled himself onto it as soon as he could and stumbled into the cockpit.

Obi-Wan fell into the pilot's chair and warmed the engine. His fingers danced over the controls and soon the ship hovered in the air. He searched the viewport and found his Master where he had left him, still exchanging shots with Shahn.

The other Rii'Diarian was clutching his shoulder as if injured and staring down at his weapon, a panicked expression twisting his smooth features. Obi- Wan presumed the blaster was overheated. Soon the man was back in the fight, circling Qui-Gon, making his way around to Minister Kai.

Obi-Wan found himself guilty of wishing their ship had weapons. Instead he moved the craft forward, as if meaning to bowl the attacking Rii'Diarian over. The man scattered away and Obi-Wan rested the ship between his Master and Minister Kai's crates. It gently hovered just above the ground and, once he was sure it was stable, he stood.

Obi-Wan reeled momentarily, pitching forward with a cry. The temporary barriers he had created to ward off the pain of his injuries had weakened since he had taken control of the ship, and with his new movement had been all but blown completely away.

He gasped into the floor panels and screwed his eyes shut. He did not move for a moment, only crouched ball-like on the deck and gathered himself. He bound strands of Force power to his fatigued muscles and shakily pushed himself up, leaning heavily against the wall for support as he dragged himself out of the cockpit and to the docking ramp. Spots blotted his vision and hazy swirls of red and yellow ate up the edges of it.

He hooked his arm around an axle to keep himself upright and lifted his lightsaber. He glanced back at Minister Kai and nodded. Activating the weapon in his hand, he focused on the thrum of the blue blade, using it to keep him anchored to the situation.

He deflected shots aimed for the man behind him sprinting toward the ship. Soon he could hear the minister's boot heels clicking against the metal of the ramp. He swung himself inside and fell against the decking once more. He sent a short message to his Master through their bond.

//Got him.//

His eyes tracked a path up to the minister's face.

"Can you pilot this ship?" His voice sounded dull and weak to his ears.

Kai nodded, staring down at the Padawan in amazement.

"Do you think-" he began, then stopped. "Are you all right?" the man asked quietly.

Obi-Wan ignored the question-did not want to think about the answer or the implications it brought on. He waved to the cockpit and gasped, "Go!"

The minister nodded and disappeared. Soon the ship shuddered and lifted, slowly and gingerly.

//Master!//

"I'm here, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon leaped and hooked his fingers in the grating of the ramp.

"I hit him," he grunted, pulling himself up. Obi-Wan moved forward to help. "Don't know how bad."

The ship suddenly lurched violently. The outer body of the craft squealed as it scraped against metal conductor poles. Qui-Gon remained safely onboard, but Obi-Wan rolled past him. His fingers scrabbled for a grip on the sharp grating of the ramp. A faint cry of apology from the cockpit went unheard.

"Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon roared, just catching sight of Shahn grabbing for his Padawan's legs.

Obi-Wan cried out in startled agony, fire lancing up to his hip. His injured shoulder protested at the treatment and his sore ribs banged against the edge of the ramp. His swollen fingers begged to let go.

The craft rose higher in the air, gaining speed.

Winds from the returning storm buffeted Obi-Wan's body and he tried to wriggle free, but Shahn's grasp was unyielding. He found it was all he could do to hold onto the ramp, but Qui-Gon had his feet braced firmly on the wall at either side of the opening and had an iron like grip on his Padawan's arms.

"Come on, Obi-Wan!"

Carefully, and without loosening his grip, Qui-Gon leaned forward. He changed his position so he could lean over the side while still pulling his apprentice on board.

He quickly found the face of Bro'ven Shahn staring desperately up at him. Qui-Gon curled his hand into a fist and smashed it into the Rii'Diarian's face. It only took one more blow to send Shahn tumbling back down to the permacrete below. Rain pelted the horrified face and he vanished from Qui- Gon's view.

Without the man's added weight it was a simple matter of pulling Obi-Wan back on board.

Qui-Gon palmed the ramp's controls and fell back onto the floor panels. Obi- Wan lay next to him, shaking softly and staring wildly at the sealed hull of the ship. Qui-Gon pulled his Padawan to him in a rough and protective hug.

After a moment Obi-Wan spoke.

"Master?" he questioned. The fabric pressed against his face muffled his voice.

"Gods, Obi-Wan. That was too close." Qui-Gon could not help rocking the boy a bit, seeking to assure himself that his Padawan was safe, soothe his frazzled nerves.

Obi-Wan shivered as the events caught up with him. He gingerly shifted in his Master's embrace and nodded.

"Yes," he conceded with a sigh, "Too close."