Chapter 10:
It had already been several hours since the full search for Obi-Wan began. Many Jedi Masters and their Padawans had volunteered to join the search, but up till then…still no leads. Nighttime had already fully veiled Coruscant and any hopes of finding Obi-Wan began to dwindle. Several times, civilians indicated that they saw someone fitting Obi-Wan's description get on board cruisers heading for the Outer Rim galaxies. Yet, upon contacting the pilots of the cruisers, all of the reports proved to be false.
Though Obi-Wan's letter indicated that he had left Coruscant, Qui-Gon and the majority of the Jedi believed it to be false. After all, Obi-Wan was still too weak to wander off far. But as searching the streets had turned up nothing, the Jedi began to wonder about their assumption.
As for Qui-Gon, though doubts began to prick his heart, something instinctively told him that Obi-Wan was still on Coruscant. Even so, Qui- Gon knew that the chances of finding Obi-Wan were slimming fast as the night rolled away. If a Jedi wanted to stay hidden, it would take quite a miracle to find him. Despite it all, Qui-Gon was not about to give up the search so easily.
Standing now along a market street while the last remnant of businesses began closing for the night, Qui-Gon's heart was breaking into pieces. He'd asked several vendors along the street but none knew anything helpful. There were only a few places left within the estimated radius of the Jedi Temple that had not been searched and that fact brought no comfort to the Jedi Master.
Qui-Gon began to stride to a different sector when he passed by a small alleyway between two worn out building. It was really a narrow and common alleyway, but something about made the Jedi Master paused in contemplation.
Qui-Gon walked into the narrow alleyway, examining it in full detail. That was when it hit him. On a nearby wall, Qui-Gon could see small traces of blood. A lump began to form in his throat as his mind raced through possibilities. He didn't think or at least hoped it wasn't Obi-Wan's blood there, but as he moved closer to it, he felt a faint trace of a familiar signature. It was Obi-Wan's force signature…weak but discernable.
Seeing the way the blood stained the mildewed wall, Qui-Gon could just imagine Obi-Wan struggling with his attacker. The mental image even made Qui-Gon feel more unease. Being in a deep trance of thoughts, Qui-Gon did not notice a tall black figure creeping into the isolated alleyway.
"Well, what do you think great Jedi Knight?" the black figure asked mockingly.
Startled, Qui-Gon turned around to face the intruder. With the blaring light from the street behind the black figure, Qui-Gon could not make out the figure's face.
"Who…who…" Qui-Gon began
"Why, you don't remember me Master Jinn? I am hurt!" the black figure cut in.
For a few brief seconds, Qui-Gon tried to burrow through his memory for any recollection of the figure. At first, nothing came to mind. Yet, the voice was so familiar!
"You're getting old Qui-Gon. One would think it wise to remember who thy enemies are."
"Bor'rer Antes!" Qui-Gon exclaimed, finally recognizing the menacing figure that stood in front of him.
"Very good Qui-Gon! So you haven't forgotten me yet. That is most fortunate since I haven't forgotten about you"
"Padawan Antes…"
"Stop it right there. Say no more! You of all don't deserve to call me that. Not when you killed my Master ten years ago! I am no longer a Padawan Qui-Gon. In fact, I am not a Jedi anymore!"
"So it was you!" Qui-Gon began with his fist clenched in anger. "I didn't want to believe that it was you who poisoned Obi-Wan, even with the note. But now I know."
"Correction Qui-Gon. Like I said before, the poison was meant for you. It's just a shame that your Padawan got in the way, but it all turned out well after all don't you think?"
"Well?? All these years I had thought you would come to your senses about what happened 10 years ago, but I guess I was wrong. Your rage and anger had consumed you Antes. Stop now before it's too late. Give me the antidote and redeem yourself."
Bor'rer Antes laughed wickedly. "How absurd!!! The years had really made you soft Qui-Gon. Why should I give you the antidote?"
"Look Antes, what happened 10 years ago whether or not you believe I was responsible for your Master's death or not is between you and me. It has got nothing to do with my Padawan. Leave him out of it."
"Tsk Tsk Tsk. To tell you the truth Qui-Gon, I had no intention of harming your Padawan. Like you said, the business is between you and me. I wanted to make you suffer immensely before you die, that was why I had spent years perfecting the poison. When your Padawan was poisoned instead, I really felt frustrated. But after watching you closely for the last few days, seeing how much you care for this Obi-Wan Kenobi, I knew that there is a much more fitting revenge to inflict upon you. You love this boy very much and that much is obvious…it's just a shame that I have to kill him to exact my revenge." Antes said indifferently.
"Don't be too sure Antes, the Healers might not have come up with the antidote now, but it doesn't mean that they won't. Your plan won't work!"
"Oh it won't now…It's just too bad that even if ingenious An-Paj finds the antidote, there won't be an Obi-Wan Kenobi around to use it." Antes said as he held out his hand in a closed fist.
"Take a look Qui-Gon" Antes opened his fist and on his hand was a small colored tie bead.
Qui-Gon looked horrified, seeing the piece of bead. It was his old bead that he had since he was a Padawan. Qui-Gon had passed it on to Obi-Wan to hold in his braid. He knew that Obi-Wan would never voluntarily take it off.
"I see you recognize it."
"Where is he? What have you done to him?" Qui-Gon demanded.
"Time will tell Qui-Gon" Antes said as he began to back out of the alleyway.
Qui-Gon saw this and was not about to let him go so easily. Not when he had Obi-Wan! With a quick movement, Qui-Gon ignited his lightsaber and the green light hummed to life immediately.
"You are not leaving until you tell me where he is Antes!"
Antes showed no sign of fear as he continued to back slowly out of the alleyway. Qui-Gon lunged at him with full force, but to Qui-Gon's dismay, Antes threw a gas canister at Qui-Gon. Momentarily, the gas filled the small alleyway. Qui-Gon didn't dare to breathe in the fumes for fear of poison. Using both of his arms, Qui-Gon tried to make his way through the dense gas. Finally, after much struggling, he made his way through, but Antes was not there anymore. On the ground where Antes had stood so defiantly seconds ago was a small piece of stationary with the words "You've got 2 hours".
It had already been several hours since the full search for Obi-Wan began. Many Jedi Masters and their Padawans had volunteered to join the search, but up till then…still no leads. Nighttime had already fully veiled Coruscant and any hopes of finding Obi-Wan began to dwindle. Several times, civilians indicated that they saw someone fitting Obi-Wan's description get on board cruisers heading for the Outer Rim galaxies. Yet, upon contacting the pilots of the cruisers, all of the reports proved to be false.
Though Obi-Wan's letter indicated that he had left Coruscant, Qui-Gon and the majority of the Jedi believed it to be false. After all, Obi-Wan was still too weak to wander off far. But as searching the streets had turned up nothing, the Jedi began to wonder about their assumption.
As for Qui-Gon, though doubts began to prick his heart, something instinctively told him that Obi-Wan was still on Coruscant. Even so, Qui- Gon knew that the chances of finding Obi-Wan were slimming fast as the night rolled away. If a Jedi wanted to stay hidden, it would take quite a miracle to find him. Despite it all, Qui-Gon was not about to give up the search so easily.
Standing now along a market street while the last remnant of businesses began closing for the night, Qui-Gon's heart was breaking into pieces. He'd asked several vendors along the street but none knew anything helpful. There were only a few places left within the estimated radius of the Jedi Temple that had not been searched and that fact brought no comfort to the Jedi Master.
Qui-Gon began to stride to a different sector when he passed by a small alleyway between two worn out building. It was really a narrow and common alleyway, but something about made the Jedi Master paused in contemplation.
Qui-Gon walked into the narrow alleyway, examining it in full detail. That was when it hit him. On a nearby wall, Qui-Gon could see small traces of blood. A lump began to form in his throat as his mind raced through possibilities. He didn't think or at least hoped it wasn't Obi-Wan's blood there, but as he moved closer to it, he felt a faint trace of a familiar signature. It was Obi-Wan's force signature…weak but discernable.
Seeing the way the blood stained the mildewed wall, Qui-Gon could just imagine Obi-Wan struggling with his attacker. The mental image even made Qui-Gon feel more unease. Being in a deep trance of thoughts, Qui-Gon did not notice a tall black figure creeping into the isolated alleyway.
"Well, what do you think great Jedi Knight?" the black figure asked mockingly.
Startled, Qui-Gon turned around to face the intruder. With the blaring light from the street behind the black figure, Qui-Gon could not make out the figure's face.
"Who…who…" Qui-Gon began
"Why, you don't remember me Master Jinn? I am hurt!" the black figure cut in.
For a few brief seconds, Qui-Gon tried to burrow through his memory for any recollection of the figure. At first, nothing came to mind. Yet, the voice was so familiar!
"You're getting old Qui-Gon. One would think it wise to remember who thy enemies are."
"Bor'rer Antes!" Qui-Gon exclaimed, finally recognizing the menacing figure that stood in front of him.
"Very good Qui-Gon! So you haven't forgotten me yet. That is most fortunate since I haven't forgotten about you"
"Padawan Antes…"
"Stop it right there. Say no more! You of all don't deserve to call me that. Not when you killed my Master ten years ago! I am no longer a Padawan Qui-Gon. In fact, I am not a Jedi anymore!"
"So it was you!" Qui-Gon began with his fist clenched in anger. "I didn't want to believe that it was you who poisoned Obi-Wan, even with the note. But now I know."
"Correction Qui-Gon. Like I said before, the poison was meant for you. It's just a shame that your Padawan got in the way, but it all turned out well after all don't you think?"
"Well?? All these years I had thought you would come to your senses about what happened 10 years ago, but I guess I was wrong. Your rage and anger had consumed you Antes. Stop now before it's too late. Give me the antidote and redeem yourself."
Bor'rer Antes laughed wickedly. "How absurd!!! The years had really made you soft Qui-Gon. Why should I give you the antidote?"
"Look Antes, what happened 10 years ago whether or not you believe I was responsible for your Master's death or not is between you and me. It has got nothing to do with my Padawan. Leave him out of it."
"Tsk Tsk Tsk. To tell you the truth Qui-Gon, I had no intention of harming your Padawan. Like you said, the business is between you and me. I wanted to make you suffer immensely before you die, that was why I had spent years perfecting the poison. When your Padawan was poisoned instead, I really felt frustrated. But after watching you closely for the last few days, seeing how much you care for this Obi-Wan Kenobi, I knew that there is a much more fitting revenge to inflict upon you. You love this boy very much and that much is obvious…it's just a shame that I have to kill him to exact my revenge." Antes said indifferently.
"Don't be too sure Antes, the Healers might not have come up with the antidote now, but it doesn't mean that they won't. Your plan won't work!"
"Oh it won't now…It's just too bad that even if ingenious An-Paj finds the antidote, there won't be an Obi-Wan Kenobi around to use it." Antes said as he held out his hand in a closed fist.
"Take a look Qui-Gon" Antes opened his fist and on his hand was a small colored tie bead.
Qui-Gon looked horrified, seeing the piece of bead. It was his old bead that he had since he was a Padawan. Qui-Gon had passed it on to Obi-Wan to hold in his braid. He knew that Obi-Wan would never voluntarily take it off.
"I see you recognize it."
"Where is he? What have you done to him?" Qui-Gon demanded.
"Time will tell Qui-Gon" Antes said as he began to back out of the alleyway.
Qui-Gon saw this and was not about to let him go so easily. Not when he had Obi-Wan! With a quick movement, Qui-Gon ignited his lightsaber and the green light hummed to life immediately.
"You are not leaving until you tell me where he is Antes!"
Antes showed no sign of fear as he continued to back slowly out of the alleyway. Qui-Gon lunged at him with full force, but to Qui-Gon's dismay, Antes threw a gas canister at Qui-Gon. Momentarily, the gas filled the small alleyway. Qui-Gon didn't dare to breathe in the fumes for fear of poison. Using both of his arms, Qui-Gon tried to make his way through the dense gas. Finally, after much struggling, he made his way through, but Antes was not there anymore. On the ground where Antes had stood so defiantly seconds ago was a small piece of stationary with the words "You've got 2 hours".
