The Hidden Truth

Chapter 25: there is no ignorance, there is knowledge

** Thank you for your reviews! And thanks again to my wonderful beta-reader Scott. We are approaching the showdown!**

Qui-Gon watched the motionless body float in the bacta tank. A med-droid was hovering next to the tank and monitored the progress of the patient. Anakin was lying on the med-bed and snoring lightly. It had been a long day.

"Master Jinn, it is not necessary to check on Knight Kenobi. Maybe you should rest," the droid said with its mechanical voice.

"No, I need to stay awake in case he wakes up," Qui-Gon answered, his gaze never leaving Obi-Wan.

"He won't wake up until tomorrow evening, Master Jinn. His injuries are too severe to let him wake earlier," the droid said.

"That doesn't influence my decision, but thank you for your concern," the teacher ended the conversation. But Jinn needed to think. He had to evaluate the king and his men and these two children who couldn't have done that to Obi-Wan. If they had done this, they would have needed massive support from other people, but they were the only ones who had been captured. This was strange. Qui-Gon frowned. During this mission, he would need a clear mind and would have to act very fast. The Jedi-Master concentrated and reached out for the Force. He had to contact Obi-Wan over their training bond. He needed to know the truth.

~ Obi-Wan, can you hear me? ~ Jinn asked in a low mental voice

~ Master? Master…where are you? ~ a groggy voice responded.

~ We, that means you, Ani and me are on our spacecraft. You are in a bacta tank recovering from your injuries… ~ Qui-Gon told the puzzled Obi-Wan.

~ What, are we on our way to Coruscant? What about Kyah and Det? We couldn't have left them behind. ~ Obi-Wan was struggling to wake up and broke the link off. Suddenly, two very tired eyes flew open and tried to focus. The med-droid was making angry sounds, but Kenobi was awake and therefore had to be taken out of the tank. Qui-Gon lifted the sleepind Anakin's sleeping form in his arms and carried him into his cabin, so that there was enough room for Obi-Wan.

When he returned, an almost dry Knight was lying on the med-bed. He was still very weak and fighting to stay conscious. Tubes and wires were attached to almost every inch of his body and an oxygen mask was placed over his mouth. Most of his body was covered by a warming brown blanket. The master sat down at the edge of the bed and stroke the still wet hair out of Obi-Wan's face. The Knight opened his eyes again, focused on his former teacher and gave him a weak smile. Slowly a hand reached for the mask in order to pull it down, but the elder Jedi caught the hand.

"No, Obi-Wan, leave the mask on. It is better for you, boy. You gave us a very big scare, "Padawan"." Qui-Gon still used the title as an endearment for the young Knight. He never called Anakin "Padawan", but "my Apprentice" or "Ani". "Padawan" was Obi-Wan's title.

Obi-Wan tried to speak, but his voice failed and the mask was disturbing him.

"Listen to me, we are not on our way to Coruscant. We are on the landing platform of King Draju," Qui-Gon explained. Obi-Wan's eyes went wide with shock and he was breathing rapidly now.

"Calm down, Obi-Wan," Jinn said in a soothing tone.

"Nobody is going to touch you again! They all think that you are dead. Ani and I found you this morning in a strange looking town. You were laying in a pool of blood. We kept your survival as a secret." With that, Obi-Wan took off the oxygen mask and opened his mouth to speak. He had to tell Qui-Gon everything about Draju and Kyah.

"No, Qui-Gon, don't tell me to put the mask on," he said in a faltering voice.

"I will tell  you who did this to me and I will explain why and all the circumstances of it. It was Draju!" At first, the Knight hesitated, but he told the Master everything. He spoke of Kyah and her torture, of her father, the document, the so-called rebels and of Draju's plan and threat to the population. He even spoke of their trip to the ghost-towns and how Draju had tried to hunt them down. Beads of sweat formed on his temple from the exhaustion of explaining the conspiracy.

"This injury came from being shot by an arrow. I swear that I didn't sense or see anything until it had been too late," he said with his last strength, as if to defend himself, just as the insecure 13-year-old boy he had been would have done. This character-trait never seemed to leave Obi-Wan alone. Qui-Gon chose not to dwell on the defending voice of Obi-Wan.

"Obi-Wan, where is that document you spoke of?"

"It should be in a pocket of my pants. Why," he asked sleepily.

"Because we will need it as you will need your strength. Good night my son." The Master waved his hand and mind-tricked the drained Knight. When Qui-Gon was sure that Obi-Wan was snoozing, he put the mask on Kenobi's mouth again and went to Obi-Wan's clothes. The blood had dried, but pants and shirt stuck together like glue. Hasty, the teachers enormous hands searched through the pants to find the evidence which proved Kyah to be the rightful heir of King Bronco. His hands suddenly made contact with a folded piece of paper in one of Obi-Wan's pockets, and he hastily yet gingerly drew It out.  Nervously he read it and put it into his tunic. Now he only had to form a plan to rescue the prisoners and to bring the despot to justice. He licked his lips and went to his cabin. Lazily, he sat down on his cot and watched the ceiling. This was going to be a long night. The plan had to be good and secure.

"Think, Jinn, think," the Master muttered under his breath.

After several hours of reflection, he suddenly jerked his head up.

"That's it!"

Tbc….