Title: Crossing the Lines
Summary: Obi-wan Kenobi knows revenge is wrong, but after what his Master has done to him, it's worth it, isn't it? Especially since Qui-gon betrayed him. Pg-13 for violence.
Disclaimer: George Lucas owns Star Wars and the whole Universe of it.
Acknowledgments: Jesus, Padawan Nik-ka, Galahan, Redtailhawk, Ginger Ninja, Ivy,
Archiving: if you want it, email me first. :)
a/n: sorry for late post, but here it is anyway, hope it's okay…
Chapter 7:
Qui-gon squeezed his eyes shut against the wave of pain that tore through his large frame. No, he couldn't, wouldn't scream. Jedi didn't scream. He gritted his teeth, willing himself not to make a noise, not even a whimper. Now he knew what Obi-wan had gone through, what had changed his Apprentice. In this kind of perpetual darkness, his wrists and ankles chained to the wall, his body bruised and bleeding, beaten by someone he couldn't even see in the darkness. He reached out to the Force, but it offered barely any comfort. It was as though he were trying to cup water in his hands, it kept slipping out from between his fingers. Qui-gon shuddered. The hopelessness drowned him, hurt him more than anything else.
He knew, now.
He knew, Obi-wan's pain.
Qui-gon knew how the torture had changed his Apprentice.
Obi-wan, his mind screamed in anguish, Obi, I never knew…
The beating stopped. Qui-gon collapsed, but he couldn't fall to the ground. He hung there, half-conscious, the fog of exhaustion and pain creeping across his mind. Will Obi-wan come for me? Qui-gon's mind wondered. Or will he leave me. Another voice interrupted.
He will come for me.
Do you really think so?
Obi-wan would never abandon me…
You did it to him first. It was your fault, your betrayal.
No…
In the darkness. Qui-gon knew how the seeds of doubt had been sown. He hadn't bothered to come back for Obi-wan, had just left, presuming his Apprentice dead. Now, he deserved what was happening.
Obi, Obi-wan. Please…I didn't know…
"You're crazy," Kelyl said softly, shaking his head. "Crazy."
Obi-wan sought out the merc's eyes and held their gaze, "You can play with me, or you can leave. That's your choice too. But I will not let him die here. I will not have my revenge this way."
"Why?" the edge in Obi-wan's voice startled the mercenary, but he still held Obi-wan's gaze.
"Qui-gon would never know I left him. He would never accept it. I will get him out, and then I will kill him," the darkness hid the grim smile on Obi-wan's face. "Now are you coming with me, or not."
Kelyl pulled out the last glowrod and lit it, then he passed it to Obi-wan. "When I killed Takir, it wasn't pretty either. Let's go."
Obi-wan nodded and set off down the ventilation shaft. Something made him pause for a while. He turned to Kelyl, "I think we're in the prisoner torture block, if we can just find out where they would keep Qui-gon…"
The Force lashed out at him so hard, Obi-wan brought both hands to his head, trying to fight against his sudden headache. He curled up into a ball in pain.
Obi-wan. Please…I didn't know…
Everything was clear, now. Everything. Obi-wan remembered what had happened before the memory wipe with amazing clarity. Images shot through his mind unbidden, too fast for him to really grasp them. His head hurt, pain lancing through every nerve in his body.
"Obi-wan?" Kelyl's voice brought Obi-wan back to consciousness. "Obi-wan, are you okay?"
"Yes," his voice was soft, but firm. He got back onto hands and knees. The presence was clear, pulsing, the pain was gone now. "I know where Qui-gon is."
The sharp chink of metal woke Qui-gon from his stupor. He couldn't tell how long he had been here. Minutes, hours, days? Was it them again? Were they coming again to beat him? His heart shrank with fear, but he tried to push it aside.
There is no fear where strength lies.
Qui-gon tried to tell himself he had the Force as his ally. He tried to tell himself that the Force would give him his strength. It didn't work. He reached out for it, but felt only a ripple. At first, he was too dulled with pain and suffering to realise it, but then it dawned on him, slowly.
Obi-wan.
Obi-wan was coming for him.
Another chink of metal from above his head jolted Qui-gon fully awake. He heard a clatter as the metal grille was removed, and the soft thud of somebody landing beside him. In the darkness, he couldn't be sure who it was.
A green blade hissed to life in front of him, and Qui-gon recognised the sharp features of Kelyl Tanner. The mercenary had found Qui-gon's lightsabre carelessly dumped in a corner of the cell. The guards had assumed – correctly – that Qui-gon could never break out of his chains on his own.
The blade moved towards the Jedi Master. Qui-gon closed his dark-accustomed eyes against the stark brightness of it, felt its low hum grow nearer. Would Kelyl kill him? Qui-gon had barely anymore strength to bother about that.
Another sharp hiss and the room grew dark again. Qui-gon fell forward to the ground as his bonds were cut. He was roughly dragged to his feet.
"Step on me and climb up," Kelyl said brusquely. Qui-gon summoned his strength and the mercenary helped him up into the shaft.
A pair of hands dragged him inside the shaft. He lay there on the cold metal, trying to control his ragged breathing. He was free.
Light shot through the darkness unexpectedly. Obi-wan started as the room below him filled with light. The door creaked open, and then he heard the shout of a guard.
"Move it!" Obi-wan whispered urgently to Qui-gon. There was blaster fire now, then another shout, and silence. Obi-wan didn't dare to look down into the room.
"Obi-wan?" Kelyl's hands gripped the edge of the opening.
Obi-wan grabbed his friend's hands and helped the mercenary up into the ventilation shaft.
Kelyl was grinning grimly, but his breathing was uneven. "Go. I silenced the guard… they might find out soon though. Let's go."
Obi-wan kicked out the grille and stumbled out into the bright sunshine. It was already mid-afternoon. He shielded his eyes against the glare. The ventilation shaft ended outside of the Prison area, near one of the back-alleys of the town. He watched Qui-gon stagger out, exhausted and badly-injured.
"Obi-wan, thank you," Qui-gon gasped. "I knew you would… come back…"
Obi-wan trained his blue eyes on Qui-gon, "The only reason I did it, was because I want you to know how you die. You will die at my hands, Qui-gon Jinn."
"No…" Qui-gon shook his head. He couldn't, wouldn't believe it. Suddenly, his lightsabre was in his hands, its green blade coming to life. Somehow, he found the energy. Qui-gon turned to Kelyl, "You did this. You taught him revenge."
Kelyl laughed, a hoarse, hollow laugh, "No, Jedi. It was his to choose."
Obi-wan ignited his own lightsabre as the green blade went for his friend's throat.
TBC…
a/n: I know I'm evil, making all you guys wait, but hey, I haven't thought of how to end it yet [but don't worry, I still got a few more chapters to go] =) thanks for all the nice reviews… next chapter up in 2 weeks, most probably.
- wild horse :)
