Chapter 9
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan struggled across the barren landscape they now found
themselves in. The good news was there was no fence or other perimeter in
evidence to further impede their escape. The bad news was there was nothing
else in evidence, either. No city, no houses, no space port. Just grey rocks
punctuating a muddy brown landscape for as far as the eye could see, which
wasn't very far, as a dingy fog covered the land. That fog seemed to be made of
dust and acid and something that smelled quite unpleasant, making it difficult
to breathe. Obi-Wan reminded himself that he most likely didn't actually need
to breathe, and cut his respiration rate dramatically. But without air, he
couldn't talk. So they continued on in silence.
After an unknown amount of time, when Obi-Wan was just beginning to wonder if
they might circumnavigate the entire globe before finding anything or anyone of
use, everything went black. Obi-Wan and his Master fell senseless to the muddy
ground.
"I told you the two of them would be trouble," Chancellor Palpatine said to his
companion. He stood in a room deep inside Cynara's complex, the walls of which
were covered with holoscreens. One screen showed the two Jedi droids lying in
the mud. "You should have kept them apart, as I suggested."
"Oh, but that was so exciting, don't you think?" Cynara replied, the sadistic
amusement in her voice bringing a tiny smile to the Chancellor's lips. This was
the real Cynara, a pale version of her holographic avatar. Her hair was
streaked with white, her skin loose and wrinkled, her body frail, what little of
it could be seen around the full-body support vehicle that was all that kept her
alive. She sat before a control panel, one disfigured finger still hovering
near the two off-switches she'd just thrown.
"If nothing else, I suppose it's an excellent way to analyze your security
measures," Palpatine replied dryly.
Cynara laughed. He was enjoying their little game as much as she was. She
turned back to the screen. "Wiping them and restarting with the original
imprints will be simple. I just hope they haven't damaged themselves beyond
repair. Those skin casings are so expensive."
"Money is no object, as you know."
"Yes, I know. It's one of the things I like most about you, Palpy." She
giggled again when he flinched at the hated nickname. Then she got down to
business. "I'll let you know what it will be. Another day or two of testing,
and-"
"No. I want them immediately. I will not take the chance of something like
this happening again."
"Whatever you say, boss," Cynara capitulated. "Have your fun with them. And if
you ever tire of them…"
"You'll be the first to know, my dear."
Cynara's smile was only slightly marred by the false endearment. "Now, was
there anything else? Anyone else you had in mind?"
"As a matter of fact…"
Epilogue
General Obi-Wan Kenobi woke up feeling great. Which was strange…
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan struggled across the barren landscape they now found
themselves in. The good news was there was no fence or other perimeter in
evidence to further impede their escape. The bad news was there was nothing
else in evidence, either. No city, no houses, no space port. Just grey rocks
punctuating a muddy brown landscape for as far as the eye could see, which
wasn't very far, as a dingy fog covered the land. That fog seemed to be made of
dust and acid and something that smelled quite unpleasant, making it difficult
to breathe. Obi-Wan reminded himself that he most likely didn't actually need
to breathe, and cut his respiration rate dramatically. But without air, he
couldn't talk. So they continued on in silence.
After an unknown amount of time, when Obi-Wan was just beginning to wonder if
they might circumnavigate the entire globe before finding anything or anyone of
use, everything went black. Obi-Wan and his Master fell senseless to the muddy
ground.
"I told you the two of them would be trouble," Chancellor Palpatine said to his
companion. He stood in a room deep inside Cynara's complex, the walls of which
were covered with holoscreens. One screen showed the two Jedi droids lying in
the mud. "You should have kept them apart, as I suggested."
"Oh, but that was so exciting, don't you think?" Cynara replied, the sadistic
amusement in her voice bringing a tiny smile to the Chancellor's lips. This was
the real Cynara, a pale version of her holographic avatar. Her hair was
streaked with white, her skin loose and wrinkled, her body frail, what little of
it could be seen around the full-body support vehicle that was all that kept her
alive. She sat before a control panel, one disfigured finger still hovering
near the two off-switches she'd just thrown.
"If nothing else, I suppose it's an excellent way to analyze your security
measures," Palpatine replied dryly.
Cynara laughed. He was enjoying their little game as much as she was. She
turned back to the screen. "Wiping them and restarting with the original
imprints will be simple. I just hope they haven't damaged themselves beyond
repair. Those skin casings are so expensive."
"Money is no object, as you know."
"Yes, I know. It's one of the things I like most about you, Palpy." She
giggled again when he flinched at the hated nickname. Then she got down to
business. "I'll let you know what it will be. Another day or two of testing,
and-"
"No. I want them immediately. I will not take the chance of something like
this happening again."
"Whatever you say, boss," Cynara capitulated. "Have your fun with them. And if
you ever tire of them…"
"You'll be the first to know, my dear."
Cynara's smile was only slightly marred by the false endearment. "Now, was
there anything else? Anyone else you had in mind?"
"As a matter of fact…"
Epilogue
General Obi-Wan Kenobi woke up feeling great. Which was strange…