Disclaimer:: I don't own StarWars, I wish I did! All the Usual Characters belong to the insane George Lucas. I'm not making any money of this.
" text " = normal/verbal talking
' text ' = thoughts
italics = dreams/vision/mind
//text// = talking through a bond
AHH *bows* I'm sooo sorry for just dropping off the face of the earth!!
I have been so busy with things, like college and work. I owe you guys
a LOT of story. Sorry for leaving you on a cliffhanger like that,
heres just to get you off the cliffhanger. It's not much but the
next chapter is underway.
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Zhu did know how much longer he could resist the pulling of the chains.
Under his tunic his muscles were starting to rip under the stress, he could
feel his body starting to be ripped apart at the seams.
"Obi-wan!! Please!!"
A sickening pop was followed by an agonizing scream.
A cry ripped through the air, rattling the nerves of the Jedi Master.
The doctor placed a hand on the Healers shoulder.
"This is TOO MUCH!" He quickly thumbed for his comm link, dispatching
his aids to come to him at once with just about everything they could carry.
The Doctor was practically glaring at Qui-gon, but the Master had no reason
to notice.
Zhu was running out of time. He had to get to Obi-wan now.
But the chains did not relent. Every time he resisted they pulled harder, causing his muscle to rip and shred. He didn't want to fight back, or he might seriously injure the boy, but he had no choice now.
The healer closed his eyes, allowing his body to relax, he called the Force to him, allowing it to wrap around him. Slowly the chain began to give. Link by link it started to come undone, until the metal shattered.
Zhu fell into a heap on the endless black flooring. Upon hitting the ground, the wall that had been keeping him out started to crack.
It echoed in the deep abyss of his mind, until finally the wall shattered, revealing a lonely Obi-wan, huddled with in it's depths.
"Obi-wan....." Zhu managed to croak out.
The youth slowly started to look up. "You shouldn't be here....."
The Jedi Healer pushed himself off the ground, struggling to get to his feet. Each step seemed harder to take then the last, until he stopped.
"Obi-wan I'm here to talk you back. Qui-gon Is waiting for you..." He reached down to grasp the boy's shoulder only to find it to be shrugged away.
"Qui-gon will be sad if you don't come back." He pressed further
"My Master is dead!" Obi-wan shot a fierce glare at Zhu, but it suddenly softened into a sea of sadness.
Zhu crossed his arms the best he could and turned his back to the Padawan.
"is that how it's going to be then? Even if Qui-gon was dead...which he is NOT, you're just going to hide, and be a coward..." He tried using a different tactic, using Obi-wans devotion to the Order .
There was no answer only silence.
"If you want to stay here, that's fine. I thought we were brothers, but if you're just going to give up....I don't want a quitter for a friend...much less a brother." Zhu was trying to talk him out of it quickly, if this wasn't going to work then he would have to try something else. Through the Force he could feel his body weakening, and slowly starting to slip under.
"Zhu.....please...don't leave me...not here with it....alone"
"With what?" Zhu turned around to see Obi-wan idly tracing designs on the ground.
"It...."
As if to confirm Obi-wans answer, a snarl slowly rumbled through the empty void. Zhu's body shivered. What ever was out there was so powerful with the dark side, it was sickening.
"I can't run from it.....it follows me, it won't stop....the nightmares are real." Obi-wan pulled his legs to him tighter, wrapping his arms around his knees.
Zhu gathered his repose for a moment. He was running out of time, and shortly he may even die.
"Then fight it. You will not be alone, Master Jinn and I will be by your side. But we can not fight it here." It was harder to hang on, and his form was starting to slowly unravel. "If you are happy here, then stay. But it will keep following you, you must come back and face it. It will never end here.." The Force was starting to slip away, a chill was left where the Force had once been. "It will never end if you stay here......"
Zhu's form unraveled like ribbon and disappeared into the void.
Qui-gon had drifted closer to the bed, awaiting Zhu or Obi-wan to come back. The Doctor was pacing nervously, while Rii remained like a statue leaned against the wall.
Piercing green eyes slowly opened, but the rest of the Healers body was to tired to move.
"Qui-gon....I tried...I couldn't stay....any longer.." The whisper broke the utter silence of the world.
The Jedi Master stared into the deep pits of green. He was afraid to move Zhu, he saw the muscles had torn, bone had broken during the time he was in the trance. "It was the best you could of done. I can ask for no more..." His reply was prompt, and formal.
"I'm sorry....but...I need to rest." Even before Zhu had spoken the last work, his eyes had closed. Qui-gon placed a hand on Zhu's back, using the Force to check signs. Soft skin brushed against his wrist as he started to help the Doctor and the crew remove Zhu's badly damaged body.
Startled he pulled away. He looked down, the touch was from Obi-wan's hand. His padawan was moving.
"Obi-wan?" The boys name came no more then a whisper. He felt warmth over the bond, the prick of light, and then Obi-wan.
Those youthful blue-grey eyes slowly opened, and his hand grasped at the warmth of his Masters form.
"Zhu....you're right....I mustn't run away anymore....." The newly awoken youths words spilled from his lips in a slur.
Perhaps it was a small pin prick of light, perhaps it was just the feeling of warmth that over came him, but Obi-wan knew everything would be alright. He would be able to fight it, and he would win.
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(again I am so sorry about just leaving you guys hanging for nearly
6 months. I am really really sorry. But LIke I said I have
the next few ending chapters nearly ready. And the end is in sight....and
i promise it will be a knock out!)