The Hidden Truth

Chapter 23: peeking behind the mask

** shuttle**

The spaceship was diving into the atmosphere of the planet Dakona V. But suddenly Qui-Gon felt his former Padawan's life force slipping away. Oh Force no, not now, he gasped. They were so close, but his son's life seemed to be escaping from his grasp. Qui-Gon tried to locate the missing Jedi. He searched for Obi-Wan's force-signature, but only found a shadow of it's usual glowing aura. He closed his eyes and send powerful force waves into the 30-year-old man. Anakin just stared at his teacher and suppressed his questions. The teenager knew what was going on and did not dare to break the focus of his master. His blue eyes scanned the area. The force guided his actions and he flew the shuttle to his brother. The sandy-haired boy marvelled  at the planet's wild vegetation and greenness that seemed to be a jungle.

Qui-Gon's focus slipped because of the overwhelming feelings that shot through his tortured mind. There was love; he loved the missing Jedi and couldn't stand to lose him; regret; how Jinn regretted that he let Obi-Wan take this solo mission; confusion, why did this happen to Kenobi? And there was sorrow. What if he was too late?

Suddenly Ani spotted a still form lying on some kind of stony path.

"Master, over there look, there he is," he yelled through the cockpit. Qui-Gon couldn't speak right now, as he felt that his strong voice would fail him in this moment of despair. Jinn went into the back of the shuttle and gathered some things together. He grabbed a med-kit and a stretcher that was leaning against the med-bay wall. Then he rushed to the door and waited for Ani to open it.

The younger Jedi landed the ship close to Obi-Wan. Jinn stormed out of the spacecraft with the med-kit over his shoulder. He hurried to the still frame of Kenobi. Blood had already soaked through the shirt he wore. Blood was practically everywhere. Master Jinn couldn't even make out the original colour of the shirt. Qui-Gon retrieved the medical equipment out of the med-kit and began working on him. Finally, Anakin joined Qui-Gon and became very sick at the view of the blood-smeared body of the Knight. He turned around and took a few breaths before facing Obi-Wan again. Kenobi's breathing made no sound and Ani wasn't able to detect the familiar force-signature of his fellow Jedi.

"Master .. How is . . . I mean . . .is he . . ." He couldn't form a proper sentence. Qui-Gon ignored the distressed boy and administered medication into Obi-Wan's cooling body.

"Ani, go and fetch the breathing support system out of the ship. He'll need it," Qui-Gon said, almost bursting out in tears. So the Padawan ran into the med-bay of the ship and tried to find the requested thing. Suddenly, he felt the flickering light aura of a familiar  person. He grabbed the breathing support system and flew outside, only to see a sobbing Master holding the silent knight in his arms. Ani dropped the heavy oxygen bottle.

"No, Obi-Wan," he yelled and ran to the kneeling Qui-Gon.

"It's alright, Ani! He'll live, little one," Qui-Gon said relieved, tears blurring his view.

"He did the right thing, when the rebels left him to die! He pretended to be dead and slipped into a deep trance that saved his life! He slowed his body functions down and reduced them to a minimum in order to survive and not to lose more blood. But it was close. He was giving up.", the Master explained to his overjoyed padawan and started to work on the battered body again. He pushed the tube Anakin had just brought down Obi-Wan's dry throat and attached it to the life-supporting system. Quickly, he lifted the man onto a stretcher and carried him, with Ani following, into the ship. There he cleaned the hole in Obi-Wan's shoulder and made the bacta tank ready. The green liquid bubbled with a monotone sound and made Qui-Gon very tired. He examined the young man's chest and abdomen only to see some bruises, cuts and to find a few cracked ribs. But only the high loss of blood worried Qui-Gon. He took off Obi-Wan's strange wardrobe and put him in the tank. A few more seconds he watched the form floating in the healing substance, then he went back to work.

"Anakin, take course for the palace. We have to report to King Draju of our discovery," he said in a low menacing tone. The next sentence that formed in his confused mind wasn't pronounced aloud. He would find the insane people who did this to Obi-Wan and if he had to, he would hunt them down- alone!

A few minutes later, the palace came into their view. A puzzled looking king came to the landing platform and greeted the two new Jedi.

"I am Qui-Gon Jinn and this is my apprentice Anakin Skywalker. We are here to investigate the ….", he was cut off by the king.

"Master Jinn, before we'll start to get formal, I would like to express my sympathy to you. My soldiers arrested the rebels who were responsible for capturing Knight Kenobi and trying to assassinate me. But they only found the dead body of Kenobi." Draju faked his shocked face well. In fact, he had to hide his laughter behind his mask.

Qui-Gon and Anakin frowned.

~ Master! But he is alive! ~ a questioning voice came over their bond.

~ I know. Let me speak and don't interrupt me. Just don't say a single word, my young apprentice~ Qui-Gon added quickly over their bond.

"When did they find Kenobi," Qui-Gon asked in a tone that was full of grief and sadness. Anakin tried to avoid looking surprised and started to act as good as Qui-Gon.

"Yesterday afternoon. They sent a messenger as quickly as possible to me to explain the matter," Draju said in a compassionate tone.

~ Master, but he ….~

~ I know Ani, but it is hard to discover any pulse, when a Jedi slips into trance ~

~ If they searched for one! ~ Ani snapped back.

Young Skywalker didn't like the king because he sensed that his feelings weren't real, that they functioned as a façade. He couldn't tell why, but Qui-Gon taught him to trust his instincts.

"When will they arrive," Jinn asked curiously, but never losing his mask of grief.

"Oh, if they are fast, this evening," Draju said plainly. He couldn't tell him the rest. Draju thought that his bounty-hunters would need three days to get to the villages, but he didn't count with the imaginations of those men. Now he had the Jedi on his side. His dreams would be fulfilled. Nobody was able to stop him now.

Tbc…