Disclaimer- the title comes from the song that's written by Herbert Kretzmer. It comes from the Les Miserables musical by Cameron Mackintosh. The song is entitled 'Confrontation' and is sung by Colm Wilkinson and Roger Allam (if ya want the words, drop me an email). The book Les Miserables is by Victor Hugo.
I'm so sorry for the long wait! My monitor blew, but that's ok now. I have one more chapter all ready written, so that'll be coming soon. After that… maybe a week, give or take my schedule. It'll be Thanksgiving break, so I'll a LOT of time to write.
Thank you for the reviews. I can't thank you enough.
~Blazer~
August 12, 2002
BREATHE
PART ELEVEN:
EVERY MAN IS BORN IN SIN
"No, no," Amidala groaned.
Sola jumped up from her chair and raced across the room to her sister. Qui-Gon ran in a second later, startled. Once he saw Sola shaking Amidala, however, he relaxed slightly. She was just having a nightmare. He turned to go, knowing that Sola would take excellent care of the young Queen.
"Don't leave," Sola broke out. "Please, don't leave. She must be having a nightmare…what if it's about Obi-Wan?"
"Excuse me?" Qui-Gon said, confused, as he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. Amidala was still thrashing wildly, despite Sola's shakes.
"You know him better than I," said Sola as Amidala's eyes snapped open and looked around with a glazed look. She looked up and saw the others, a confused and distressed look on her face. Then her face snapped and she jerked up.
"I fell asleep!" She sounded outraged. "I can't believe it! My people are being invaded and I fell asleep! What-"
Sola grabbed a handful of her sister's hair. "Sis, hang. You were having a nightmare. "
The Queen's face went white. She closed her eyes and then vaulted herself from the bed. "It was nothing," she whispered.
"Sis, I think it was about Obi-Wan," Sola said pointedly and quietly.
The Queen had been facing the door, but now she spun around, her face flashing in anger. "I don't believe I asked you to comment," she snapped, which just showed how close to the edge she was.
Her sister's face crumbled. Sola blinked her eyes, her mouth twisted. She glanced at Qui-Gon, then back at her sister. "Padme, I was just-"
"I don't care!" Amidala spat. " I don't care! It's not…it's none of your…it's none of your business! It's-"
"Your Majesty," Qui-Gon put in gently yet forcefully. "Your Majesty, I don't believe Sola was-"
"Master Jedi," Amidala said sharply. The Jedi exchanged a glance with Sola and knew he was about to disobey his own personal mandate. He was pretty sure the nightmare had been about Obi-Wan.
"Obi-Wan was once a Jedi, Padme," Qui-Gon said. "He may have left, but he retained the skills he learned while in the Order. He still uses his lightsaber, which is proof of that. I know what Xanatos to him is hard to comprehend…but Obi-Wan is strong. I know he'll survive, no matter what Xanatos does to him."
Amidala glanced between the two of them, an unreadable expression on her face. Finally anger flitted across it. "You don't know what I dream of," she said harshly. "I'm going to contact the Chancellor. Good-bye." She spun on her heel and charged out of the room.
"That went well," Qui-Gon sighed.
~*~*~*~
"Master, I was thinking…perhaps something happened to Lieutenant Kikerio." Anakin looked at Qui-Gon, worried. "They've been gone for a while…"
"Getting past whatever security the palace has should take time," Qui-Gon reasoned. "They weren't told to keep in contact and didn't have an estimate of how long it should take. But it's good that you're concerned," he added, standing up from the fountain in the canopy of the overhang.
There was still something troubling the young Padawan. Anakin stood and ran a hand through the crystal blue water. "Master…I've been thinking…shouldn't the Council be informed of this? This was not part of our mission." He bit his tongue.
Blinking, Qui-Gon nodded. He hadn't even thought of that… Had his mind been on Obi-Wan so much that he had forgotten about his duties to the galaxy and, more importantly, to Anakin? Still blinking, he said, "that is an excellent idea, Padawan. We'll contact them right now."
Happy at the praise, Anakin sat back down and splashed his face with water. He needed to stay awake. His mind was exhausted, but he knew now that Qui-Gon needed him.
Qui-Gon put in the call and was relieved that it went through. At least the communications had not been cut. When at last he got through to the Jedi Council, the strict voice of Mace Windu filled his ears.
"Master Windu," he said.
"Is something wrong, Qui-Gon?" Mace asked neutrally. "Are you on Naboo?"
"Something has changed, Mace," Qui-Gon said quietly. His tone still quiet, he explained about the invasion. There was silence when he was finished and the Jedi Master could almost hear dread on the other side of the commission.
"Terrible, this is," said Master Yoda. "But something more, is there? Something you wish to tell us, Qui-Gon?"
Startled but not surprised, Qui-Gon sighed. "Master, no-"
"Lying, are you?" The old Jedi's voice was severe. "Not well, things are then. A presence in the Force, I feel, although a name I cannot produce."
"Master-"
"Who's there, Qui-Gon?" Mace Windu broke in a reprimanding tone.
Finding no other way to stall, Qui-Gon said the next words void of emotion.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi."
~*~*~*~
Obi-Wan had a whacking headache and his face hurt. He groaned, tightening his eyes and then relaxing them. He could feel bandages on his abdomen, throat, and one on the right side of his chin. He could feel a bump on the back of his head that had probably caused the fierce pounding in his head.
Still groaning, he opened his eyes and was once again greeted by the dreary prison cell. He sat up slowly; growing accustomed to the pain. He wasn't wearing his tunic, and when he glanced down he saw that someone had put several large bacta patches over various areas of his torso. He blinked, but that made his headache rage more.
Dizzy, he stood up, keeping one hand on the wall for support. Glancing down in the dim light, he saw a puncture mark on right arm that was an ugly blue-purple. Perplexed, he staggered to the cell bars and only then noticed the bandages on both his hands. Now that he could see them, he realized they were stinging slightly, and his wrists had these strange claw-like marks on them. Growling, Obi-Wan called out.
"What time?"
The guard grunted. He was a thick man with a balding head and large, black blank looking eyes. He looked in his late forties with weathered eyes. He wore a simple tunic and pants, but the sophisticated blaster pistol at his side caught Obi-Wan's eyes and he knew the man was anything but simple.
"Water?" Obi-Wan asked, his throat aching.
Wordlessly, the man stood and proceeded to the cell to the right of the one Obi-Wan was in. A second later, there was the sound of running water. After a short while, the guard came back, a large glass in hand. Still wordless, he passed the cup to Obi-Wan.
Immediately, Obi-Wan drained it, using most of it to quench his thirst, the rest to pour down his face. "Thank you," he said, handing back the glass. Grunting, the guard nodded. Obi-Wan hobbled back to the cot and lay back down, struggling to keep his head from reeling.
"Three hours," said a gnarled voice.
Obi-Wan lazily looked to the guard. "Excuse me?"
"You've been here three hours," said the guard. "I'm your guard for today. If you're hungry, tell me. If you're thirsty, tell me. You're not to have pain medication. If you try to escape, I have orders to shoot you. Other than requests, I want silence."
Obi-Wan cocked his head. "Can I have a shirt?" he asked.
"I will have to ask permission," said the guard.
"Can I ask your name?"
The guard turned to look back at Obi-Wan. "Why?"
"My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi. I-"
"I know who you are, General."
Startled at the term of respect, Obi-Wan sat up. "Thank you," he said. "Your name-"
"You can call me Rankkor."
"Thank you, Rankkor, for calling me by my title," Obi-Wan said casually. He wanted to be in the guard's good graces. "Although if you want to address me, please call me Obi-Wan."
For a second, Obi-Wan thought he saw a smile. "No talking," said Rankkor severely a second later.
Obi-Wan was quiet after that.
~*~*~*~
"Obi-Wan Kenobi," Yoda said in a quiet way. "Long ago, it was, when last you said that name without anger. Resolved, are you now?"
"Master, I don't care," Qui-Gon said.
"Sad, that is," Yoda commented.
"Why is Obi-Wan there?" Mace Windu asked, and Qui-Gon heard the unease in his voice.
"Apparently, after he left the Order, he came here. He is a top security official for the Queen."
"Can we talk to him?"
Qui-Gon sighed. "He was captured last night."
"By whoever is invading?"
"About that…" Qui-Gon didn't know what to say. The message Xanatos had sent had confused him as much as it had Anakin and the Queen.
"What is it?" asked another Council member, Adi Gallia.
"The Queen received a message," Qui-Gon said softly. "We are at her sister's house. I must admit, it was terrible. It was sent by…Xanatos, my first apprentice." He heard a gasp from Anakin.
There was a dreadful silence. "But Xanatos is dead," Mace said evenly.
"He's very much alive," Qui-Gon said. He explained the message. "But…I don't recall Obi-Wan have any special powers other than the normal Jedi. And this invasion, according to Xanatos, is because they wanted Obi-Wan. And Xanatos never said "he". It was always "we". I don't understand who "we" is."
There was a short silence that was broken by Master Yoda. "Explain in more detail, this message, you will."
Qui-Gon went through the message again in greater detail…leaving out Nield's part. There was silence.
When Mace's voice broke through, Qui-Gon could tell that he had been shaken by the description. "This is conflicting. If what Xanatos says is true, then the whole reason Naboo is being invaded has to do with some, 'powers' Obi-Wan has."
"That means this whole thing is centered on Obi-Wan," put in Adi Gallia. " You say Xanatos talks of using Obi-Wan. What if Obi-Wan doesn't know he has this 'power' that Xanatos is talking about?"
"More importantly, what is the power and does anyone else know about it?" Depa Billaba remarked.
"Qui-Gon." Mace's voice was hesitant. "I know you are not on good terms with Obi-Wan, but do you know what Xanatos is talking about?"
When Qui-Gon spoke, there was a trace of regret in his voice. "No, I don't. I wish I did Mace. He never expressed any special powers."
Qui-Gon could tell that Mace was deeply disturbed. "But what if Xanatos has the wrong person, than?"
"Enough!" Yoda suddenly barked. "Rescue Obi-Wan, you must, Qui-Gon. Answers, he will have. Have him, Xanatos must not. Hurt him, Xanatos will."
Despair spurred inside Qui-Gon. He didn't want to put his life on the line for Obi-Wan. The Council did not know of Nield's murder. Even though Qui-Gon knew, he would die before he told the Council. His eyes snaked over to the dumbfounded Anakin, and his anger intensified. He would die before he let anyone hurt Anakin.
"Qui-Gon? Is everything all right?" Ki-Adi-Mundi's voice was concerned.
"Everything's all right, Master," Qui-Gon said smoothly. "I apologize. Masters…Obi-Wan is loved dearly here on Naboo. He's loved dearly by the Queen. She has all ready sent out a force to rescue him. From the message, the Queen figured out he's being held in the palace."
"Good, good," Yoda approved. "When will they be back?"
Qui-Gon hesitated for a second. "We don't know, Master."
"How long have they been gone?" Mace asked.
This time the pause was longer. "They left about seven hours ago."
This time the silence on the other end was roaring. "In contact, have they kept?" asked Qui-Gon's old Master.
Sighing, Qui-Gon gave a negative grunt. "The palace is heavily guarded," Qui-Gon sighed. "They gave no estimate of how long they should be gone."
"Go after them, you will, Qui-Gon. Protect the Queen, your apprentice will."
Qui-Gon's insides convulsed. He didn't want to leave Anakin here to go hunting for Obi-Wan…
"Contact the Senate, we will. Rescue Obi-Wan, you will. Report back when you have Obi-Wan, you will. Speak to Obi-Wan, we wish. May the Force be with you."
Qui-Gon clicked his tongue. "May the Force be with you."
~*~*~*~
Obi-Wan was desperate. His entire body was on fire. He withered on the bed frantically, clawing the pillow and his sheets. He twisted while his head raging. He whimpered, the sound a whisper that Rankkor did not hear. Obi-Wan rolled off the cot silently, landing on his side. The pain burned hotter.
Something had been in the water. That could be the only explanation. He hadn't eaten. He threw himself up and leaned against the cot post, breathing raggedly. He grabbed the sheet and slowly heaved himself up, his insides feeling as if they were being ripped open.
Grabbing the blanket awkwardly with his bandaged hands, he wrapped it around his head. He bit the blanket in an attempt not to scream as convulsions hit him. He jerked as if he had a seizure. The cloth suffocated him, and he stuffed the blanket further down his throat to the point where it felt as if he were about to vomit.
Unable to stand it anymore, he was about to jerk the blanket back up when he felt a strong hand pull the blanket off him. Dazed and still in pain, Obi-Wan saw Rankkor's gruff face peering at him intently. In agony, Obi-Wan groaned.
Startled, Rankkor backed up, staring at the younger man. Closing his eyes in shame, the man took the blanket and stepped out of the cell, closing the door Obi-Wan had not even heard open. The man sat back on his chair, struggling to block out the agonized cries Obi-Wan was now giving out.
"No!" Obi-Wan screamed suddenly. "No…"
Rankkor was a warm man by nature, and it pained him to hear the young man's cries. His hands inched towards his medpac, but then he stopped. Orders were orders. He couldn't disobey them. He didn't know Obi-Wan. He was not worth being killed.
"No!" Obi-Wan continued to scream.
Sighing, Rankkor took out his commlink. He punched in the special frequency and got the vile voice of Xanatos right away. "Sir, the prisoner is screaming. He appears to be in much pain."
"You gave him the water?" Xanatos said pleasantly.
"Yes, sir." The image of the odd clear liquid burned in Rankkor's mind.
"I'll be down in a few minutes. Do not speak to him." The other end went dead, and Rankkor sighed.
Behind him, Obi-Wan continued screaming.
~*~*~*~
When Qui-Gon finally got to the outskirts of Theed, the sun was high. He pressed the speeder to it's max. He stuck to the forest, heading to the place where he had left Je'Tra. He would have to speak with the Corporal before he could enter the city.
Je'Tra was indifferent when Qui-Gon finally reached him. He had the decency to inquire if the Jedi would need help, but Qui-Gon declined. He worked alone, and if he did, it was with Anakin. Je'Tra passed the news of Qui-Gon's mission and the Jedi continued on his way.
Only when he was a mile from the forest line did he slow. He went by the safe-hold, and saw it had been ransacked. He went in and looked for any sign of Kikerio. He searched, but found no one and nothing. He used the comm unit and tried to contact her, but she didn't answer. Discouraged, he exited the hut and continued on.
The palace was surrounded by droids. Qui-Gon hid the speeder and the one hooked to it in some shrubbery. He did a complete perimeter around the palace but could see no way in but to fight, and he really, really didn't want to do that. He didn't even know where Obi-Wan was being held!
"Great," Qui-Gon sighed. "Just great."
~*~*~*~
Xanatos peered through the bars of Obi-Wan's cell. Rankkor stood nervously by, his face twitching. "He's young, isn't he?" Xanatos asked finally, turning his gnarled face towards the other man.
Surprised, Rankkor started. "Yes, sir," he said quickly. "He's very young."
"And to think one so young could hold such power…" Xanatos' voice trailed off. He shook his head and nodded to the cell. "Open it."
Fumbling, Rankkor unlocked the door and swung it open. "Close it after me," Xanatos instructed. He swept into the room gracefully, and Rankkor shut and locked the door after him. He kept a close eye on Obi-Wan, his hand on his blaster.
Calmly, the black clad man crouched in front of the convulsing man on the cot. Holding his hand steady, Xanatos placed his hand palm down on Obi-Wan's forehead. He sent soothing waves through the Force, hoping to calm the younger man.
After a second, Obi-Wan stopped and his eyes came into focus. He blinked rapidly, staring up at Xanatos dumbly for a second. Suddenly he yelped and shot up, all pain gone. "Get away from me!" he snarled, rolling off the bed to his feet, almost tripping over himself in his haste.
With the same eerie calmness Xanatos stood from his crouch and looked at Obi-Wan evenly. In the agony of despair, Obi-Wan shot his gaze everywhere but Xanatos' face. He backed into a corner, unaware of why Xanatos was here. "What do you want?" he growled.
"I wanted to see how you were," Xanatos said simply.
"Yea right."
A flit of anger lit Xanatos' face for a small second. "Fine then. I don't like you, Obi-Wan. Before we met again three years ago, it had been twelve since I had last had the displeasure of seeing you. You're older now." He scanned Obi-Wan with distaste. "And probably stronger.
"When we last met on Telos, you disfigured me. I-"
"You jumped in there by your own will," Obi-Wan snapped. "You could have come quietly."
"Capture is death to me. Submitting to Qui-Gon…that would have been worst than death. I jumped into that acid pit because I had no choice. It was death both ways. I bet you want to know how I survived." When there was no answer, Xanatos went on. "Quite simple, really. It was agony in the acid, believe me. But I did have a loyal following, despite what you had done. They followed you and a very loyal man saved me by draining the acid from the pit. They waited until you had left, of course.
"I was barely alive. I was set to die. But then Lord Sidious found me… and he healed me." He smiled at the wince on Obi-Wan's face. "Which was unfortunate for you."
"Very," Obi-Wan couldn't help but remark.
Xanatos nodded. "I hate you, Obi-Wan, plain and simple. But what my Master bids me is law. Not to mention you have a very odd gift…"
"I gave it to Sidious," Obi-Wan cried.
In a flash Xanatos was at Obi-Wan's side, his hand wrapped around the former Jedi's throat. He squeezed tightly, he hand cutting into the bandage on Obi-Wan neck. He kept the pressure for a minute, enjoying Obi-Wan chokes and squirms. The younger man was still too weak to put up much of a resistance.
When he was satisfied, he reduced the pressure but kept his hand to Obi-Wan's throat. He pushed the younger man against the wall so that he was pinned between it and Xanatos. Obi-Wan looked back at the dark hollow eyes with his own. Suddenly Xanatos started.
"Your eyes are different now," he mused, keeping the surprise out of his voice. "They have a trace of blue." When Obi-Wan made no reply; Xanatos pushed him against the wall harder.
"They change," the younger man said in a subdued way. What he didn't add was that they changed in winter, and it wasn't winter now. He figured now was a special occasion.
"So I guess you are deformed, too," Xanatos said in a delighted way. He suddenly put some more pressure on the other man's windpipe. "I believe you lie."
"I don't lie," Obi-Wan said painfully.
"Master Sidious no longer has control of the gift."
Obi-Wan's eyes widened. "What?"
"Its back in you, scum. You did something to it."
"No! I had no say! I don't even know how he took the power! I swear!"
"You can swear all you like, but it won't change anything." Xanatos took a deep breath and nodded to Obi-Wan's hands. "You can't hold a lightsaber now."
"I wasn't thinking of it," grunted Obi-Wan.
Xanatos used one hand to grab at the loose hair on the back of Obi-Wan's head. "Don't get smart with me. " Obi-Wan bit back his reply. "We're going to have to use you again."
"What?"
"But we don't trust you. So Master Sidious has a little surprise for you. "
"What?"
"But not now. Right now, you go back to Qui-Gon. "
"What?"
"Is it a mantra, Obi-Wan?" Xanatos sounded disgusted. "You're going back to Qui-Gon. Your poor Jedi Master is outside right now wondering how to get in. He wants to save you, you know."
"No," Obi-Wan said. "What are you playing?"
"I don't play at all, Obi-Wan," Xanatos sneered. He twisted his head and called to the guard. "Get my friend here another glass of water. I think he's earned it."
"I'm not drinking anything," Obi-Wan cried. He began to struggle.
"You're going to drink," Xanatos said nastily as Rankkor came through the door holding a glass. "Hold him," Xanatos ordered. Rankkor set the glass down gently. Xanatos, still holding Obi-Wan, twisted around, dragging the younger man with him. Rankkor took the hint and grabbed Obi-Wan's arms, pinning and locking them behind his back.
Obi-Wan could feel his arms ache. He struggled in vain against the guard. Rankkor was taller and stronger. This was no match. The guard bent his head and whispered into Obi-Wan' s ear when Xanatos turned to get the glass. "It'll be better if you stop struggling, General."
But Obi-Wan could not stay still. He thrashed wildly, kicking his legs out. Sighing, Rankkor delivered a good kick to Obi-Wan's forever-injured knee, stunning him and making him cry out.
Xanatos smiled as he brought over the glass. "No," Obi-Wan began to moan. "No, no." He shook his head.
"I am deeply sorry about this, " Xanatos said in a false concerned tone. "Really, I do feel horrible. And you don't even know what this will make you do." He reached out with lightning speed and cupped Obi-Wan's chin. He forced the man to face him.
Obi-Wan tried to move, but Xanatos was just too strong. Xanatos pressed the glass to Obi-Wan's lips. Obi-Wan kept his mouth sealed shut. Xanatos glanced at Rankkor.
A hard kick to his leg made Obi-Wan gasp. The disfigured man pressed the glass home, pouring it down the former Jedi's lips. He pinched Obi-Wan's nose and lacking air, Obi-Wan was forced to inhale the liquid. As soon as the glass was drained, Obi-Wan could feel pain starting up in him again.
"You gave him an extra dosage," Xanatos observed as Rankkor pushed the weakened Obi-Wan away. "Not what I ordered, but good. " Obi-Wan stumbled towards the cot as Xanatos withdrew a syringe from his cloak.
"I really do feel awful about this, Obi-Wan Kenobi," Xanatos said almost sadly. He slammed Obi-Wan onto the cot and carefully inserted the needle into the tender skin on the man's neck.
A second later Xanatos heard Obi-Wan cry out, then go completely slack.
~*~*~*~
"When I snap my fingers, you'll be awake and find Rankkor asleep. You will reach in and take the keys from him. From there, you will proceed with caution to the weapons room where you will find your lightsaber. Take the commlink numbered 729. Take the utility belt numbered 1988. From there, you will sneak out of the palace through without being seen. Take the west exit on the first floor. That will be unguarded for about fifteen minutes. From there you will proceed out to the woods and find the Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn. Tell me if you understand."
"I understand."
"Good. You will then proceed to the farm on the outskirts where your friend lives. Then you will…"
A few minutes later Xanatos checked his chrono. He had only a few minutes. "Tell me if you will remember anything that has happened to you in your time being captured. "
"I will not."
"Explain how you received your wounds."
"I was fighting the guards who captured me."
"Tell me about the message I sent to the Queen."
"I suppose I was drugged." Obi-Wan made a sweeping motion to the bruises on his wrist. "Whoever it was must have withdrew blood."
"Tell me about your gift."
"I have no memory of it."
"Good. Tell me about the water you're to take."
"From my pouch I'll take the packet and pour it in my water at five o' clock tonight."
"Very, very good. Tell me what you're going to do."
There was a two-minute ramble. "Good. I'm leaving now."
Xanatos instructed Rankkor to fringe sleep, then quickly ran down the corridor, snapping his fingers loudly as he turned to the stairwell.
~*~*~*~
Qui-Gon hadn't been outside the palace for long when he noticed movement from a patrol of droids by a door. The lead droid spoke to the lot, then motioned for them to move. They headed towards the front of the palace quickly.
Qui-Gon was about to run for the door when he suddenly saw it poke open.
~*~*~*~
Obi-Wan snatched the keys off of Rankkor's belt quickly and quietly. He limped to the keyhole and stuck the necessary item in it. He turned the key with a small creak and gently stepped out, keeping an eye on the guard. He left the keys in the hole, wincing as they clattered. Checking the guard once more, he turned and hobbled towards the stairwell.
He didn't know how long he had been in capture. The last thing he remembered was trying to fight at the guards and being beaten unconscious. How long had he been asleep? Who were his holders? Who was the enemy? Oh, Force, he had a headache.
He crept up the stairwell. Quickly figuring his location, he shot around the corner. Seeing no one, he ran/limped down the corridor, stopping at a door on the right. He checked the corridor and ducked into the small room, hoping no one was there.
No one was. He felt along the wall with his hand, finally finding the switch. He flipped it on and cried out as the light burned his eyes. He blinked, moving towards the wall as he did so.
The room was full of weapons. He was surprised that nothing seemed misplaced or anything out of order, except for the commlink and utility belt racks. He could tell a few were missing from each. He took one of each, absentmindedly checking the numbers stamped on them. Commlink 729. Utility belt 1988.
Attaching these to his belt, he suddenly realized something: this was not his tunic. He stopped. He pulled the fabric up and saw that the bandages on his abdomen were not the ones Ramilion had wrapped around him. What had happened? Had they treated him? Whoever 'they' were?
There was no time. He was about to leave when he spotted something in the corner. Shaking his head in amazement, he took his lightsaber from the hook it was hanging upon and tucked it in his belt. Sometimes he loved fate; most of the time he hated it.
Turning the light off, he opened the door and checked. The hall was deserted. He stepped out and headed towards the west exit. It was exit nearest the forest. He would have to use a mad dash, but it worked for him, as long as he escaped.
He encountered no one as he made his way to the door. It surprised him, but he would take what he could get. He gulped, however, when he placed his hand on the doorknob. Who knew what was on the other side? There could be an entire fleet of droids and he wouldn't know.
No, wait. He reached down and felt, to his relief, the Force was flowing within him strongly. He felt out with it and found there were no droids on the other side.
Qui-Gon, however, was there.
It was alarming, but Qui-Gon's presence soothed him. He didn't know why. He basked in Qui-Gon's Force presence, using it to heighten his senses. And now, at least, he had someone to cover his back.
Still a bit surprised, he pushed the door open.
~*~*~*~
"Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon shouted urgently, alerting his former apprentice to his presence. He stood slightly and waved a hand. He saw Obi-Wan's eyes flicker and he started towards the Jedi.
Qui-Gon activated his lightsaber, checking for any droids. Obi-Wan was limping as he ran, and it slowed him drastically. Qui-Gon wanted to scream at him to hurry up, but he knew that any loud sound might alert the droids. He had taken a risk with the shout, and he wasn't willing to do it again.
Finally Obi-Wan got within grabbing distance and Qui-Gon did just that. The Jedi got a hold of Obi-Wan's tunic and hurled him behind him to the ground. The younger man cried out as his ribs were jarred painfully. Qui-Gon whirled around, hissing at Obi-Wan to get up.
"I brought speeders; let's go!" Qui-Gon gripped Obi-Wan arm and heaved him to his feet. The former Jedi suddenly hissed and pushed Qui-Gon away and falling to his knees his arm aching. Qui-Gon swore and turned back to face the man.
"Come on," he said impatiently.
Obi-Wan panted. "Wait, wait…"
"Come on."
"They're not following us; wait." Painfully, Obi-Wan leaned against the trunk of a tree and rubbed his ankle. "Please," he added, seeing Qui-Gon's angry face.
"I have a hydro-spray," Qui-Gon said quickly. "If I give it to you, can we go?"
"Yea, sure…" Obi-Wan suddenly jerked. "Where are the others? Where's the Queen? What about Kikerio?"
Qui-Gon took Obi-Wan's good arm and rolled up the sleeve. "What happened to you?" he asked instead. "We got the message. What did-?" He stopped when he saw the confusion on Obi-Wan's face. "The message? Don't you remember? Xanatos-"
"Xanatos is dead," Obi-Wan said harshly.
Qui-Gon looked at him in shock. He let the needle point rest on Obi-Wan's arm gently. "Did they torture you? The message, how can you not remember?"
"What message?"
Qui-Gon took out his commlink and inserted the disk. He made it project the image. Obi-Wan stared at it, his face a mask of confusion and anger. He looked at Qui-Gon, flabbergasted. "I don't have any memory of this."
"But-" Qui-Gon looked down at Obi-Wan's wrist, then at the poor color of his former apprentice's face. "They drugged you?"
Obi-Wan stiffened. "Maybe."
"I think they took your blood." He motioned to the marks on Obi-Wan's wrist. He shook his head. "What else happened?"
"Answer my questions," Obi-Wan insisted. Qui-Gon pressed the needle into Obi-Wan's skin with a vengeance. "You didn't need to do it that hard," Obi-Wan said angrily when Qui-Gon withdrew the needle. "I didn't need that much."
"The Queen is safe and at her sister's," Qui-Gon said, standing. "Kikerio was sent to look for you. She hasn't reported back; we're leaving now."
"She hasn't what?" Obi-Wan stood shakily. "No, then, we're not leaving. If she's in the palace with Xanatos, then they were captured. They had to have been."
"We can't do anything about that now," Qui-Gon cried. "I've got two speeders. We need to leave now. You're not listening to me!"
"Nope. You can leave, Qui-Gon. I'm going to find Kikerio and her group."
"The Council wants to speak to you!" Qui-Gon blurted.
Obi-Wan had been looking in his pouch for a charge, but now he froze, his eyes trailing to Qui-Gon's ice blue ones. "Why?" he choked.
"Your gift." Qui-Gon's voice was now accusing. "What was Xanatos talking about? What 'gift'?"
Obi-Wan blinked. "I don't know."
"You're lying!"
"I'm not! I don't have any idea what he was talking about." His eyes were hard. "I don't have a clue! Xanatos is a maniac. He's not even supposed to be alive."
"He knows you have something, maybe you just don't know it."
"I think I would know something as big as that." Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "Tell the Council I'll speak with them later. " He glanced back at the door he had exited. There were no droids. "I'm going back in-"
"They let you go," Qui-Gon said suddenly.
"What?"
"Where were you? How did you get out?"
"I was in a cell in the third level of the prison. It's three levels below ground. The guard who was outside…" Obi-Wan stopped, his eyes widening. "He fell asleep! I took the keys…he fell asleep!"
"They let you go," Qui-Gon said tensely. "He wanted you to go."
"He wants me to lead him to the Queen," Obi-Wan said. He looked at the utility belt and commlink.
"Where did you get those?" Qui-Gon demanded.
For some strange reason, Obi-Wan knew he couldn't tell Qui-Gon he had gotten them from the weapons room. There was a burning need in him to keep that information private. He knew Xanatos could be tracking him, but he knew it was a big long shot.
"They're mine," Obi-Wan said, putting a frantic touch to his voice. He glanced down and tensed again. Qui-Gon seemed to believe him on the belt and commlink, and he didn't seemed to notice it was a different tunic he was wearing. He kept quiet. "Maybe he's following us."
"Even if he isn't, we need to lead him away from the Queen," Qui-Gon said. "Just in case."
"Thea," Obi-Wan cried.
"Thea?" Qui-Gon asked in doubt.
"My friend on the outskirts," Obi-Wan explained. "She lives on a farm. We can hide there and sneak away. What happened to all the others who needed speeders?"
"They went with Kikerio or the NAR HQ. Is she trusted?"
"Yeah," Obi-Wan said. He didn't add that she had tried to kill him once before. "But after we lose whoever this is- and I'm not ready to believe it is Xanatos- then I'm coming back to find Kikerio." It pained him to say that, but no matter what, Kikerio would want the Queen to be protected.
Qui-Gon mused on it for a full minute. He would be able to convince Obi-Wan to come back with him; even if it meant bending his mind with the Force.
"Okay," he said. "Let's go."
~*~*~*~
"Okay. Let's go."
Sidious smiled over the words. "Everything is coming into play," he hissed.
"As you said it would, Master," Xanatos agreed. "At last we will have our revenge against Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"And what a pleasure that will be," Sidious purred.
~*~*~*~
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