First off, I would like to apologize for the lengthy delay between posts.
After the last post, I had an idea of what I wanted but when I went to type
nothing happened. My Muse apparently abandoned me after getting my hopes
up. :( Anyway, I am working on this fic again and it should actually be
completed in 2-3 more posts. Thanks again for your infinite patience. :D
kaehimi - Yes, and the cliffies are not over. :p
Manga is Life - Thanks. I'm so glad you are enjoying my work. I don't consider this one, one of my best, but hey, it's still enjoyed by others. I'm not sure if you'll get an answer to that question anytime soon, but I'll do my best. ;)
GoldenRose - OK, ok, I will finally be able to Update again. And the updates will not be slow now. I'm almost finished with the end, so more is on the way. :D
:) smiles for everyone!!! :) - Thanks. And more to come. ;)
Obi-Wan Jenobi - I know, I know. Thanks. ]:)
Liyanette - I know, and the last few will probably still be short, but I do hope you enjoy them. Thanks again!! :D
Christy - Thanks. I do too. The twins have engrained themselves in my SW Universe. ;)
Culf - LOL, I think I might be in too much pain to type while being devoured by a Sarlacc. :p I'm updating, I'm updating!! Yeah, I have a lot of fics on here. :8} Sorry to say, F&B has been placed on hold until I can finish this and get a couple other things done. :( Hopefully, I'll be able to get back to it soon. ;)
Maygin - Apparently, it was only for a brief stint. But now I am back to complete this fic. I have the next chap written and am already working on the rest. So this time, it should be false hope. ;) I hope you like what I've done. :)
lil*bee - Thanks for checking this out. I must apologize though, because I do not think this is very good. And for the lengthy delay since the last post. Hope you like the rest. ;)
Sara - Thanks for stopping by. I'm not sure exactly how you found this from jafd, but I'm glad you did. :D And I definitely plan on finishing it. I will never abandon a fic! ;)
Takeshi - OK!!! :D
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Qui-Gon, MiraCyn and a trailing Xichu had reached the door and were now working on getting in. Qui's emerald blade drove into the metal barrier. Once he knew that he was all the way through he began to trace the edges. He had almost completed the task when Mira shouted, "Too late!"
Stopping abruptly, he turned toward the initiate, "What do you mean too late?"
"They're already gone. They've gone out of a side entrance."
"Are you positive?"
As if to answer the question they heard repulsor engines fire. Running around the building, they were only able to glimpse two vehicles speeding away. "Damn." Qui-Gon uttered under his breath. With each passing moment his Padawan was taken further and further away from him. "I should never have hesitated."
Guilty that she had cost them their chance, Xichu quietly apologized, "I'm sorry Qui-Gon. I allowed my fears to affect my judgement."
"It was not your fault. We all make our own decisions. We must learn to live with the consequences."
A tone alerted them of an incoming message, "Jinn, I should be there within the next minute. Have you gotten inside?"
"No, but it doesn't matter. Get here as quickly as possible. We have to catch up before they get away."
"I'll be there before you know it." The trio raced through the fields to meet up with the Dresselian when he finally arrived. The ship never stopped, simply slowed down enough for them to Force-jump onboard. "Which direction?"
"To the right, toward that ridge of trees." They were following blindly for quite some time. LaMinott pushed the engines to the breaking limit and beyond. Finally, they caught sight of the two vehicles on the horizon. Little by little they were gaining on the group.
*
The group was flying over the landscape as it passed in a green blur. Fiza glanced back now and then to check on his companions. He could feel the girl clutching tightly to his clothes and did not worry himself about her. Antina was driving the speeder while the others crowded in the back. At one point he shouted over to the pilot, "Antina, as soon as we hit the city, you take us to your ship."
She nodded her understanding but inside she was infuriated. She wanted out of this deal long ago and now when she thought she was finally going to be free of them she learned quickly that she was wrong. She was shackled to them with that bracelet Fiza had placed on everyone. She had been trying to figure a way out of it since it snapped closed, but had not found a way yet. Until then she would have to play along.
MysAri also glanced back at the speeder but for different reasons. She was continually checking to see how Obi-Wan was doing. Probing the Force allowed her to determine his status, which she knew was not very good. She could see his clammy skin glisten in the sun. It was obvious that he was still was still delirious with fever amongst other things. The worry she felt was strong and it almost blocked her senses from detecting her sister and the other Jedi following. Immediately she turned back and could see something moving along the horizon. Without a second thought, she sent a message to MiraCyn.
*
"Master Qui-Gon," Mira shouted over the rushing wind. He turned to acknowledge her from the front seat. "They are heading for Antina's ship."
Turning back to LaMinott, he stated, "We cannot allow them to get off this planet."
"I can't push this thing any faster. It's already on the verge of overloading."
Xichu called from beside MiraCyn, "Is there anyway we can head them off?"
Instead of answering, Qui-Gon accessed the navigational panel and put in the heading for the Space Port. He requesting that it calculate the quickest path from current position to reach their destination. Watching the system, he could see it work the possibilities as it drew a path and gave estimated times, only to erase and plot again. After a few more moments, the system displayed three choices.
LaMinott glanced over the choices briefly as he continued to pursue the fugitives. After a second, he said, "The fastest route is through the heart of the forest."
"Can this ship handle precision maneuvering?" Xichu asked slightly worried about the quivering ship.
"We're about to find out." He replied with an awkward smile.
Qui-Gon stretched out with the Force to determine if that was the best plan, when Mira added, "We're running out of time." Resigning himself, he could sense that as well. He reached out to the Force once more, talking to his ailing Padawan through their Bond. {We're coming, hold on just a little longer.} He was disturbed when he did not receive any kind of response.
Once again he looked toward the Dresselian, "We are out of options. Do what you must." The fellow Knight nodded and set his jaw with steely determination. He would beat them to the ship if it was the last thing he did. Before they broke off, Qui-Gon looked back at Mira, "Have they spotted us yet?"
For a moment, she didn't answer, obviously communicating with her twin. At last she came back, "No, only Mys knows."
"Tell her to hang on. Min, hurry." Suddenly, LaMinott slammed the brakes and veered hard right. The others clung to their seats from the unexpected move. Deep within the forest, Qui-Gon began strategizing aloud. "We still have the element of surprise. They do not know we are pursuing or that we know their destination. If we get there first we must position ourselves to stop them from getting on that ship."
"Thank the Force we know exactly where she's docked or we might miss them searching the various landing platforms." Xichu uttered aloud. They were quiet for a moment, realizing their good fortune in that regard. Now they just had to beat their rivals there.
LaMinott quickly turned to miss a large tree in their path. There was a scraping sound as the ripped off some bark from the close call. Hopefully, they would get to the ship in one piece.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Well, I should have the next post up in the next few days. Thanks again for your patience. I appreciate it. And I would like to apologize for the sub-par quality on this chap. It was forced out, but I think the next one will be much better. Well, off to write!! :D
kaehimi - Yes, and the cliffies are not over. :p
Manga is Life - Thanks. I'm so glad you are enjoying my work. I don't consider this one, one of my best, but hey, it's still enjoyed by others. I'm not sure if you'll get an answer to that question anytime soon, but I'll do my best. ;)
GoldenRose - OK, ok, I will finally be able to Update again. And the updates will not be slow now. I'm almost finished with the end, so more is on the way. :D
:) smiles for everyone!!! :) - Thanks. And more to come. ;)
Obi-Wan Jenobi - I know, I know. Thanks. ]:)
Liyanette - I know, and the last few will probably still be short, but I do hope you enjoy them. Thanks again!! :D
Christy - Thanks. I do too. The twins have engrained themselves in my SW Universe. ;)
Culf - LOL, I think I might be in too much pain to type while being devoured by a Sarlacc. :p I'm updating, I'm updating!! Yeah, I have a lot of fics on here. :8} Sorry to say, F&B has been placed on hold until I can finish this and get a couple other things done. :( Hopefully, I'll be able to get back to it soon. ;)
Maygin - Apparently, it was only for a brief stint. But now I am back to complete this fic. I have the next chap written and am already working on the rest. So this time, it should be false hope. ;) I hope you like what I've done. :)
lil*bee - Thanks for checking this out. I must apologize though, because I do not think this is very good. And for the lengthy delay since the last post. Hope you like the rest. ;)
Sara - Thanks for stopping by. I'm not sure exactly how you found this from jafd, but I'm glad you did. :D And I definitely plan on finishing it. I will never abandon a fic! ;)
Takeshi - OK!!! :D
--------------------------------------------------------------
Qui-Gon, MiraCyn and a trailing Xichu had reached the door and were now working on getting in. Qui's emerald blade drove into the metal barrier. Once he knew that he was all the way through he began to trace the edges. He had almost completed the task when Mira shouted, "Too late!"
Stopping abruptly, he turned toward the initiate, "What do you mean too late?"
"They're already gone. They've gone out of a side entrance."
"Are you positive?"
As if to answer the question they heard repulsor engines fire. Running around the building, they were only able to glimpse two vehicles speeding away. "Damn." Qui-Gon uttered under his breath. With each passing moment his Padawan was taken further and further away from him. "I should never have hesitated."
Guilty that she had cost them their chance, Xichu quietly apologized, "I'm sorry Qui-Gon. I allowed my fears to affect my judgement."
"It was not your fault. We all make our own decisions. We must learn to live with the consequences."
A tone alerted them of an incoming message, "Jinn, I should be there within the next minute. Have you gotten inside?"
"No, but it doesn't matter. Get here as quickly as possible. We have to catch up before they get away."
"I'll be there before you know it." The trio raced through the fields to meet up with the Dresselian when he finally arrived. The ship never stopped, simply slowed down enough for them to Force-jump onboard. "Which direction?"
"To the right, toward that ridge of trees." They were following blindly for quite some time. LaMinott pushed the engines to the breaking limit and beyond. Finally, they caught sight of the two vehicles on the horizon. Little by little they were gaining on the group.
*
The group was flying over the landscape as it passed in a green blur. Fiza glanced back now and then to check on his companions. He could feel the girl clutching tightly to his clothes and did not worry himself about her. Antina was driving the speeder while the others crowded in the back. At one point he shouted over to the pilot, "Antina, as soon as we hit the city, you take us to your ship."
She nodded her understanding but inside she was infuriated. She wanted out of this deal long ago and now when she thought she was finally going to be free of them she learned quickly that she was wrong. She was shackled to them with that bracelet Fiza had placed on everyone. She had been trying to figure a way out of it since it snapped closed, but had not found a way yet. Until then she would have to play along.
MysAri also glanced back at the speeder but for different reasons. She was continually checking to see how Obi-Wan was doing. Probing the Force allowed her to determine his status, which she knew was not very good. She could see his clammy skin glisten in the sun. It was obvious that he was still was still delirious with fever amongst other things. The worry she felt was strong and it almost blocked her senses from detecting her sister and the other Jedi following. Immediately she turned back and could see something moving along the horizon. Without a second thought, she sent a message to MiraCyn.
*
"Master Qui-Gon," Mira shouted over the rushing wind. He turned to acknowledge her from the front seat. "They are heading for Antina's ship."
Turning back to LaMinott, he stated, "We cannot allow them to get off this planet."
"I can't push this thing any faster. It's already on the verge of overloading."
Xichu called from beside MiraCyn, "Is there anyway we can head them off?"
Instead of answering, Qui-Gon accessed the navigational panel and put in the heading for the Space Port. He requesting that it calculate the quickest path from current position to reach their destination. Watching the system, he could see it work the possibilities as it drew a path and gave estimated times, only to erase and plot again. After a few more moments, the system displayed three choices.
LaMinott glanced over the choices briefly as he continued to pursue the fugitives. After a second, he said, "The fastest route is through the heart of the forest."
"Can this ship handle precision maneuvering?" Xichu asked slightly worried about the quivering ship.
"We're about to find out." He replied with an awkward smile.
Qui-Gon stretched out with the Force to determine if that was the best plan, when Mira added, "We're running out of time." Resigning himself, he could sense that as well. He reached out to the Force once more, talking to his ailing Padawan through their Bond. {We're coming, hold on just a little longer.} He was disturbed when he did not receive any kind of response.
Once again he looked toward the Dresselian, "We are out of options. Do what you must." The fellow Knight nodded and set his jaw with steely determination. He would beat them to the ship if it was the last thing he did. Before they broke off, Qui-Gon looked back at Mira, "Have they spotted us yet?"
For a moment, she didn't answer, obviously communicating with her twin. At last she came back, "No, only Mys knows."
"Tell her to hang on. Min, hurry." Suddenly, LaMinott slammed the brakes and veered hard right. The others clung to their seats from the unexpected move. Deep within the forest, Qui-Gon began strategizing aloud. "We still have the element of surprise. They do not know we are pursuing or that we know their destination. If we get there first we must position ourselves to stop them from getting on that ship."
"Thank the Force we know exactly where she's docked or we might miss them searching the various landing platforms." Xichu uttered aloud. They were quiet for a moment, realizing their good fortune in that regard. Now they just had to beat their rivals there.
LaMinott quickly turned to miss a large tree in their path. There was a scraping sound as the ripped off some bark from the close call. Hopefully, they would get to the ship in one piece.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Well, I should have the next post up in the next few days. Thanks again for your patience. I appreciate it. And I would like to apologize for the sub-par quality on this chap. It was forced out, but I think the next one will be much better. Well, off to write!! :D