The Way Things Are Now: Confrontations
By: Alyssa
Disclaimer: I don't own Obi-Wan or any of the Star Wars characters
Summary: Obi-Wan angst. He is trying to escape the fighting ring, and at the same time Qui-Gon has come in to save him.
Comes after Book 16 of the Jedi Apprentice series, A Call to Vengeance


"I have a bad feeling about this." Safiya whispered to Obi-Wan as they walked cautiously down the dark alleyway.
"Did you hear that?" Obi-Wan asked quietly, holding out his arm to stop her.
"Hear what?" Safiya just managed to get out.

A crash came from down the alleyway, and running feet could be heard. Obi-Wan ignited his light saber and pushed Safiya behind him. Then he noticed feet were running from behind them too.

"Oh!" Safiya choked as if her voice was caught. "It's the Zones."

Maniac yells erupted all around them, as the figures became slowly visible.
"What do we have here?" a voice asked sinisterly from amid the figures. Obi-Wan turned his lightsaber in the voices direction, but the voice just cackled. "You think we're scared of your glowing sword?"

Figures were rushing at them from all sides. Safiya pulled out a small blade she had concealed, but Obi-Wan didn't have time to register its futility. A glinting blade was heading towards him, but he was able to snap it in half with a sweep of his lightsaber. He saw some of the dark shadows retreat, but other stepped forward.

Blades of all sizes attacked from all angles, and Obi-Wan was amazed at the sheer size of this gang. Safiya cried from besides him as a blade slashed her arm. Obi-Wan turned to strike back at the figure that had done it.
"Are you all right?" Obi-Wan managed without losing too much control. Safiya refused to answer, instead she tried in vain to cut the person closest to her.

As soon as they appeared, the blades were gone. But Obi-Wan couldn't relax, because the blades had been replaced with blasters.

~~~

Qui-Gon sat impatiently as the landspeeder headed back the way they had just come. He tried again to reach Obi-Wan, and again he failed; but he did feel something. There was a disturbance. Many people were being hurt, and he knew that something was not right.

"Turn left!" He instructed the driver.

~~~

"Safiya, get against the wall!" Obi-Wan yelled loudly. Safiya didn't move. Either out of defiance of sheer terror, Obi-Wan couldn't tell. He blocked the first of the blaster blots and grabbed Safiya's arm. He shoved her into the wall directly behind them, and stood in front of her protectively.

Bolts were headed towards them from all sides now. Obi-Wan could already feel the intense pressure. Without the force, he had to concentrate hundred times harder. It seemed that each blast got a little closer to hurting him or Safiya. He feverishly struck each that came close enough. The gang didn't seem as trained in blasters as they were with blades, but Obi-Wan knew that eventually they'd get him.

As if condemning himself, right at that moment a blast tore threw his shoulder. From behind him, Safiya released a tortured groan. It had hit her too. Obi-Wan's own pain, and the pain he could feel from Safiya, angered him. He turned his lightsaber quicker, and sensed the figures retreating.

Then he heard what they must have heard as well, the sound of a speeder. The whole gang was fleeing towards the north exit of the alley. Obi-Wan slumped with relief. They were safe. He turned to inquire of Safiya, but in so doing, saw the bodies that were littered around them.

He had killed at least a dozen of the gang. If the police found him, they would not ask questions. He turned finally towards Safiya.
"We have to go." He explained firmly. She looked at him with brown eyes twisted with pain and confusion. "Come on." He whispered, regretfully grabbing her arm and pulling her after the gang.

~~~

Qui-Gon urged the driver to go faster, but the dark alley wasn't easily navigable. Abruptly, the driver slammed on the brakes, and Qui-Gon was thrown against his seat. He was about to demand an answer, when he felt it. Lives lost. He stood and slowly descended from the speeder. There were bodies strewn around. He took them in slowly, wondering if one was Obi-Wan's. He forced himself to think. He didn't automatically recognize any of the bodies, and that gave him hope. He was sure he'd be able to distinguish Obi-Wan's form.

Thinking like a Jedi, he noticed that all the bodies were in a semicircle, encompassing a small section of the east wall. He walked slowly towards that spot careful to avoid the bodies in his way. There was a dark fluid on the ground, and he kneeled to view it closer. He stuck two fingers in the small puddle, and rubbed them against his thumb. A deep red was just visible in the relative dark. At once, he knew it was Obi-Wan's blood.


A/N:
Short again, I know. I have an excuse though, really I do! I was in Canada for three days! Anyway, review and tell me what you think. And please, feel free to suggest….
Alyssa