//Here padawan now you can tell me what has distressed you so and why you have shielded from me. I promise not to pass harsh judgment on you and hopefully we can correct what you seem to think can't be corrected.//
Xani liked the feel of Gayron being back in his mind and a hard as it would be, he allowed Gayron to see everything that happened previously, even his thoughts of taking the midichlorians for himself.
Qui-Gon looked up to see the captain come from out of his quarters. Just then he was distracted by a clicking sound and a long almost groan come from Knight Gayron. The young knight stared in shock at Xanatos. His hand flew over his mouth to stifle the sounds coming from him that were not exactly human …...
Jinn was so astounded by the knight's reaction that he spoke to him even before addressing the captain. He thought maybe the knight had observed something or knew something that the master himself was not privy too.
"Is there something wrong Knight Gayron? Is there something I should know that I am not aware of?"
Gayron flashed a warning look to Xani to keep quiet and a mental command also.
//Keep silent padawan! //
Xani gladly did as he was told. A certain calm washed over the padawan. He was glad to have confessed his misdeeds and almost mistake of taking the midichlorians.
"No Master Jinn, everything is or will be fine. I don't know what came over me. Everything will be as it should, I assure you."
Jinn thought it odd that as the young knight answered to Qui-Gon, however he seemed to be directing his comments directly to his padawan….at Xanatos.
"Very well."
Jinn turned back to see the slimy sickening form of the pirate captain before him. Beside him stood the waif and former slave Obi-Wan with him. The child had a metal collar on. Not a force collar but a collar like an animal would wear. On the collar was hooked a thin chain which kept the boy tethered to the captain.
Obi-Wan was not aware of who stood before him. Try as he may, Jinn could not make a mental connection with the boy to warn him to keep quiet and not act surprised. He also wanted to let the child know, things would be alright, but he was temporarily blocked from Obi's mind.
Obi-Wan kept his gaze directed to the floor, never once glancing up to know "HIS" master was there for him.…………………………….
//Qui-Gon stood there before the pirate captain unable to move. He was also unable to draw his stare away from Obi-Wan. A careless error for any Jedi master, let alone one so trained as Jinn was. When engaging your opponent on a mission a Jedi is never to reveal his directive until necessary. Jinn stood blatantly glaring at his; the rescue of Obi-Wan Kenobi.//
"Aye sir I see your tastes are similar to mine hey? If you are looking for a boy to do work for you, I assure you this is not the one. In fact he is top of the line, suited for "niceties" instead of back breaking manual work.."
"Does that mean he is not for sale, even for the right price?"
Jinn had an urge just to jerk the boy from him but he knew escape would be impossible and the chance of Obi-Wan getting harmed in the process was too great for the master to take. Jinn was unwilling to take any chance of the boy being harmed in anyway.
Obi-Wan's head jerked up to see "his" master standing there before him. He never spoke or moved. Fear of the man he was shackled too kept him from moving toward Qui-Gon.
The captain slapped the back Of Obi's head just to get his attention.
"No one told you to look up boy. Learn your place quickly or I will set my boatswain on you. He's the one carrying that cat-o-nine tails you have already received a taste of."
He looked away from the boy long enough to speak to Qui-Gon, this time actually making contact with the Jedi master in cognito.
"Now sir, let me state it this way. There is nothing I hold dear enough to me that is not for sale for the right price sir, always for the right price."
Gayron could feel Jinn's anger rising. He calmly and slowly slipped forward to just beside the big man and gently placed his hand on Jinn's forearm clamping down as if to hold the Jedi master there. His containment of Jinn went unnoticed by the captain who seemed to want to keep his eyes locked on Obi-Wan.. Now was not the time to cause a confrontation, especially with the child chained to his kidnapper.
Obi-Wan obediently dropped his gaze back to the rough wooden floor of the boat. He centered his stare on "his" master's booted feet.
Qui-Gon knew for the safety of Obi-Wan he must regain his Jedi serenity and deal with the problem at hand; getting Obi-Wan safely away from the captain who seemed very determined to keep the boy right by his side.
//Will he stay that possessive of Obi-Wan? For how long. We will jeopardize the boy's safety if we try to take the captain and the men scattered around on board the ship. Why does he insist that Obi-Wan stay manacled to him in such a heinous and embarrassing.// way.
You would not consider selling the boy then.
"Sir, Mr…..?"
The captain had not been told the man's name who stood before him and he waited for Qui-Gon to supply it.
"Sorry I did not give you my name. I am Jinn, Qui-Gon Jinn of Coruscant. My friend here and I ran a very lucrative business of mining crystals. We need extra workers."
"Surely you would not put something like this delicate one in the mines. He is suited for more what can I say; a job more fitting his features. Now I have such a job for him. Beside, Jinn you should know I only sell the ones that won't bring much money from off the ship. The rest go on the auction block later. Now this one here unless I get a very good offer will remain with me. Then again I tire very easily and take on new amusements. I could keep him awhile. I have an offer from someone who I might sell outright this one to him or he will be patient enough to wait until I am done with him. At any rate this one is already promised. I can have my ship's mate show you the ones you might be able to buy outright?"
"No I want the best and like you said our tastes must be similar for I can't think of another capable of possessing such fair and fragile features. Quite a prize slave he would be for anyone financially able to buy him."
The captain nodded his approval at Jinn's assessment and adoration of the slave, his slave.
Jinn could not believe what he was saying but he had to go along with the captain. He had to seem heartless, cruel, and not care what was done to or with the boy. He hoped Obi-Wan understood that his words were just that, words and not his actual feelings toward another human being.
Qui-Gon thought he noticed Obi-Wan shuddered with a small tremble to his body as they discussed him as if he were a work animal on a farm. The master thought the boy must be having flashbacks of the last pirate's ship he had the misfortune to be on.
He tried to send comfort to the child but still Obi-Wan could not handle it with his confused mind. His mental comfort and words came back as if in a boomerang cycle of some kind. Qui-Gon's comfort went unknown and thus unheeded by Obi.
"As I have stated I have no need of your throw-aways. I want the best. It seems it could be this one here. Name a price."
"I have to give your credit Mr. Jinn, you are persistent. I tell you what, I like your persistency so much so that I will allow you to stay and have last-meal with us. We have other guests coming including the one who is interested in this one. Although I hope to get the boy to talk before he arrives. The prospective buyer might think him a mute if I can't even draw his name from him.
"Maybe he is."
Jinn still hoped to buy the boy and not elicit trouble from these cut-throats. The authorities here didn't much care if the homeless children were snatched up and taken to be sold as slaves. It meant less work and credits expended on capture and care of the misfits that roamed the streets homeless and without proper care or food..
"I doubt he's mute. Let's put this way if I can't get him to talk, the prospective buyer will. He will be here soon. Wait with us, have drinks until he arrives."
"Who is this exclusive buyer maybe I know him?"
"I have no doubt you do know him. There is not a business man who is either an enemy or a friend to Jabba the Hutt. His longevity itself is something to talk about. Few species live as long as his kind. Of course he is also very noted for his barbaric and cruel ways too."
Gayron went to grasp at Jinn's arm, but Jinn flung his arm stopping the Jedi Knight. He did not need a Jedi Knight, still "wet behind the ears" to remind him twice in one day to hold his calm. He was resolved to maintain his Jedi serenity, but it would be difficult.
//Jabba, he can't be serious. Obi-Wan would not last his harsh abuse for more than three or four days.//
"I'm waiting, Mr. Jinn. Would you care to share a meal with us?"
"I think we might just take you up on that offer."
"Good! Then I will see that my cabin boy directs you to a cabin for the night. It's not very big but comfy it will be for your away-from-home stay. You can freshen up. By then my other guests will be here and we can share some fine liqueur before last-meal. Makes the appetite hardier you know."
The captain roared with laughter so loud Obi-Wan jumped at the sound of it"
Just then noises and yells could be heard behind them.
All three Jedi turned to see what the commotion was about as sailors on the ship headed down the plank to return carrying numerous pieces of luggage and what looked to be gifts.
Jinn wondered just who this gift bearer was but he did not have to wait long to find out.
Carried by four burly men assembled on each of the four corners a large tented platform was carried with Jabba the Hutt riding atop it. The Hutt was so obese and macabre-looking, Jinn couldn't but think that Obi-Wan would be terrified of this creature the moment he laid eyes on him.
//That must be a load to carry.//
Qui-Gon took time to adjust the hood of his robe. Jabba and he had more than one run-in in the past and Jinn only hoped he would not be recognized tonight at the dining table.
//Obi-Wan's very life could depend on my anonymity…..//
Qui-Gon watched as the large Hutt was carted up the plank. He wondered how the plank stood the weight of the Hutt, the platform, and the four overly-large men that carried it.
The captain never let his eyes roam from the Hutt, who in Jinn's opinion must have been one of his most prosperous slave buyers. Credits to him was nothing. It was as if he could pull them out of thin air.
//He has robbed and pilfered from every planet in the galaxy to keep himself in credits of such large quantity.//
The cabin boy came up and the Pirate captain turned his attention from Jabba only long enough to instruct the boy where he should escort these guests and then he was to come back in case Jabba needed some kind of refreshments before last-meal. His eyes drifted down to the boy and he smiled. Jinn and the other two were escorted away, but not before the captain jerked the boy's chain causing him to tumble from his kneeling position. Obi smacked his right cheek soundly on the wooden floor. The captain resumed his languid stare at the wealthy and powerful Hutt once again.
Qui-Gon heard a whimper from Obi-Wan as he left. Jinn tried to make contact with him once more to reassure him, but he failed.
//Did Obi-Wan make that whimpering noise from the pain he must have received from his fall or was it because I had to leave him. Surely he does know I will return. Hopefully he understood from what the captain said that we are not leaving this ship. I won't at least until I have Obi-Wan. //
Once inside the cramped little cabin Xanatos let out a sigh of relief and removed his turban only to be reprimanded by Jinn for doing so. The young man had to put the hot thing back on again.
"You can't take a chance of someone coming in and recognizing you as a Jedi. I had hoped they would have insisted Obi-Wan be cleaned up before he met the Hutt, Jabba."
"Why Qui-Gon then the Hutt might be more inclined to buy him."
Jinn let the insubordination of not calling his "Master" by his padawan go ignored. He was past all that. He knew Xani had no wish now for him to be his master.
"Xanatos it is obvious. Do you think the Hutt will be a blind to the fact that the captain has himself a real bonified JedI? //Or so he will assume by Obi's clothing.// Jabba knows very well our clothing and he will recognize Obi-Wan as at least an initiate without a braid. He also knows me. While he and I have only had one brief encounter face to face we have had several shall we day disagreements. I have only seen him once and I recognize him."
"Forgive me saying this Master Jinn, for it might not come out very Jedi-like, but how could anyone not recognize Jabba the Hutt once they have seen him once. I mean his distinct characteristics, let alone the distinct odorous smell would be hard to forget."
Jinn had to smile even in such desperate times at what Knight Gayron said.
"Well you do have a point knight, but Hutts have notoriously good memories to go along with their even more notoriously bad tempers."
The three Jedi discussed what must be done. Well Jinn and Gayron discussed it and Xanatos listened. He was glad that Obi-Wan did not look at the Jedi more than once and then only briefly at Qui-Gon over the shock at hearing his voice.
//I don't think I could stand to see his accusing eyes directed at me. I wonder what Gayron has planned to help me, if he does indeed plan to assist me out of this mess I have seen fit to get myself into.//
Gayron heard the boy's thoughts clearly as he was not shielding.
//I would be careful padawan. Although Master Jinn is no longer attuned to you mental messages, it has been said that some Hutts lay claim to certain telepathic abilities. We would not want those abilities to show themselves as truth while here on the ship. No, place your shields up and be assured I plan to help you. After all you did not pay Pernile to do what he did, your father did. You are guiltless in that department. As for your wavering decision on what to do, none of us, including your righteous Master Jinn is blameless in life of mistakes made//
There was a certain acidity mixed in the words he had for Jinn. Was it jealousy or contempt for the master who had legal rights within the Jedi order to Xani and might not be willing to relinquish those rights to Knight Gayron?
Xanatos derived a great deal of solace and comfort in Gayron words. He hoped the knight though very young, could smooth things over and that they would then become a Jedi master and apprentice pair. Xani had finally found his niche within the Jedi order and because of one brief moment of temptation he could very well lose the chance of his life time. He would have to have both Gayron and Master Jinn on his side to sway the council to trust him and give him another chance.
A knock at their cabin door had all three Jedi scrambling to adjust their clothes to be in proper appearance for their guest.
It turned out to be a cabin boy of an age somewhere between Xani and Obi. Maybe seventeen thought Master Jinn if he would have to guess ..
//I wonder if he found his way here with this job the same way as Obi-Wan, kidnapped. Well if he did he will soon have his freedom.//
Jinn had formed a mental plan that once Obi-Wan was secured and Pernile in custody, which he hoped would be soon, then he would ask the council to dispatch a ship with enough masters to overpower and commandeer the pirate ship thus freeing all those not willing to be here and they rest would face charges of piracy and slavery trade on the high seas once in custody.
Jinn let his curiosity rule his thoughts for a moment.
"The captain must have extreme trust in you to care for his visitors."
"Yeah, I suppose he does, though I am not all that sure yet. You see this is my first day as cabin boy. Until today I was… well I was where the younger one is now.. I suppose he is to be the favored unless the Hutt tonight offers a great deal for him. I guess I really should be thankful that is not me kneeling beside the Cap as Jabba lick his chops deciding whether to take the little slave or not. Shame though, the boy is so young. I give him two days at the most at the barbaric hands of them Hutts.
Jinn let the boy ramble. It was probably the first time someone had listened to the lad at length. Jinn nodded for him to continue.
"Yep I sure am glad I am not the one chained to old "Cap" on this day or any day a Hutt comes looking for a new personal slave. No one even knows why the beast spends so many credits for a slave if he can't even take care of him enough to keep him from being beaten to death by one of his cronies. The poor kid will do something trivial and BAM, he'll be dead before he can take his next breath. Least wise that's what the "Cap" told me. He said I should "count my lucky stars" for this day, I should. All that is good in the universe was looking out for me I suppose. Something good must have altered my fate and gave it to the little mute boy up there chained to the "Cap"."
Jinn tried not to let his surprise show. The pirate was quick to replace those before favored for another. He would more than likely sell Obi-Wan for the right amount.
Qui-Gon was even more determined to get Obi away from them. He could not let the Hutt leave with him in the morning. Freeing Obi-Wan would be a difficult task once his entourage of Hutts returned for their leader to transport him home. Now only a few lingered to assist their master, Jabba.
" At least you will not be put on this auction block."
Jinn tried to draw even more information from the boy and he succeeded.
"Sir, I will speak no ill of my master, the captain, but nothing on this ship is not for sale for the right price. He himself told you that. I heard him. No, this time I have a job here on the ship, but the next auction of slaves comes with it no guarantee of my place on this ship. And if someone offers what the "Cap" thinks is a fair price then I too am expendable. We all here on this ship can be replaced or gotten rid of, even you. You'd do wise to heed what I have just said. The bunch of you look like decent folk and I would hate to see wrong come your way."
Jinn could not fathom what the boy meant by that, but a certain leeriness at being here crept into the master.
//Was that a warning of some kind or am I becoming jumpy in my old age?//
Jinn let what the boy said, drift out of his mind for now. He would deal with whatever lay in front of them. He continued up on to the starboard of the pirate's ship to where a table laid with food and drink sat on deck in the open salty air, as the wind picked up a stiff breeze from the north east. //a storm is on the horizon// Jinn thought.
//In more ways than one, I think.//
The three Jedi dressed as merchants, sat at the opposite end of the very long table, hopefully to keep Jabba from getting a clear look at Jinn.
Surprisingly though it was Jabba who insisted the other slave buyer, Jinn and his two companions join him and the captain at the other end of the table..
Jabba did not speak the language of humanoids. Instead he had a mechanical miniature voice translator he held to his neck. It resembled a mechanical voice box a cancer patient might use if their vocal chords had been removed or damaged. That enabled everyone to instantly know what he said without an interpreter doing it for him.
"Mr. Jinn the "Cap" here has told me of your ventures on Coruscant.. I would like to know more of it since I know it is hard to get a foothold in any business if it is corrupt in any way, on Coruscant. That planet has those nosey Jedi there and they aid the governmental Senate control the weeding out of beings like you and I. I mean you are hear looking for slaves are you not?"
Jinn had no choice but to answer.
"Well yes, we had hoped to bypass the auction and find a couple here for what we need."
Jabba laughed and Xani could not help but think how disgusting he looked. He mimed a large caterpillar with rolls and rolls of excess skin covering the even more excess blubber on him.
"I think you are much like me, always in search of a way to save a credit or two. I am right aren't I? The Jedi would not like that. They are for freedom to everyone, no matter how unimportant their meager little lives are. You should be careful you know, living close to the Jedi.. They don't condone slavery of any kind. I was just telling the captain that I suspect the one on the leash there might be a Jedi initiate. What do you think?"
Jinn sat there a moment not able to get words out. He knew Jabba would recognize the clothing Obi-Wan wore. Now maybe his padawan understood more fully why he had hoped the pirates would have cleaned Obi-Wan up a little giving him some kind of other clothing. He even feared looking at Obi-Wan for he thought the boy might utter some recognition of he and the other two Jedi.
"To be honest with you, I myself noticed the boy wears clothing of a Jedi. However, one that young and clearly not a padawan with his hair as it is, I wouldn't think would be permitted off planet without supervision."
Qui-Gon decided to voice the Hutt's concern before he did, for he knew what Jabba must be thinking. It would seem more real for the merchant from Coruscant, where the Jedi lived to know some of their habits such as not allowing a young one not yet an apprentice to wander around alone in the city let alone on another planet.
"Yes, that is what concerned me too. Maybe he is not alone. Just maybe an older Jedi master or knight accompanied him here and the boy got lost from his supervisor. Another thing I ponder on, is his ability to speak. Do the Jedi have handicapped people within their order?"
Jinn reared back and laughed. He stretched his long legs and then smiled again.
"Jabba you flatter me too much. I am not privileged enough to know all the workings of the Jedi. I only live on Coruscant and run my little business. With the slave dealings I do, I certainly do not want to associate myself with the Jedi there on Coruscant. I stay well away from their Temple."
Master Jinn was certainly trying to reap the most benefits from staying in character of a seedy slimy business man from Coruscant.
It was Jabba's turn to laugh and Xani had to turn his head to keep from becoming ill. It made him nauseated to watch the blubber-filled stomach of Jabba jiggle like Jell-O.
Xanatos had been focused on the grotesque looking Hutt, but Jinn had not.
Yes, he had been speaking to Jabba while he took notice of the pirates who had begun assembling high above them on the ropes of the sails.
One by one the men inched their way ever so slowly up the ropes and situated them selves all over the ship's billowing masks. They tried to hide their ascension and themselves. They were not quick enough.
Qui-Gon also noticed that each one of them had a blaster or some sort of hand weapon with them.
Jinn had been talking with Jabba all the while letting the young Knight, Gayron know to take heed to what was going on.
A swift unnoticed nod motioning Gayron to look above him alerted the young knight of trouble and to be ready.
Qui-Gon had no way of communicating to Xani, for the young man was too occupied with Jabba to notice. He only hoped that Gayron, if he could, would make a mental connection telling his padawan of the pending danger and more likely attack..
Qui-Gon could not help by feel empty at the moment without the bond he once shared with Xanatos. He felt the inadequacies of a master without an apprentice on a mission. A Jedi master's padawan was as essential sometimes as his saber. Jinn felt naked and vulnerable knowing he was about to go into a battle without the assistance of an apprentice although the one who should have been by his side sat only two chairs away . However mentally they were not linked, so Xanatos for all the good it did Jinn, could have been on another planet. Their training bond now dormant and non-existent. Xanatos would be of more aid to Gayron than Master Jinn.
"You know Mr. Jinn, I knew another with a name very similar to yours, if not the same I believe. Oh I did not know his first name but I certainly can remember his last. Call him a deadly thorn in my side. One which I would have gladly taken the head off of, if I could have successfully gotten to him."
Now Jinn knew his identity was blown. He knew Jabba was just toying with them. Soon the punch line to his statements would come and then the attack Master Jinn assumed would follow.
"I take it he was an enemy of yours?"
"Yes he certainly was. One which over the last few years has played havoc with my lucrative business of stealing from anyone and everyone and pocketing the spoils of my thievery."
Jinn bent his right leg up and braced his booted foot against the bottom rung of the chair. Another nod to Gayron let him know trouble was on the horizon.
Gayron did not have to be alerted by Jinn again. Just by the words spoken by the immensely large Hutt, left no doubt that Jabba knew who Jinn was and that the pirates planned a surprise attack that would not be a surprise, but might well be quite successful against the three Jedi. He had alerted Xani to what was going on. Xanatos looked once up in the tangled web of ropes that secured the bulky sails to the large poles of the mask, saw the men gathered ready for an ambush, and dropped his head. He knew then to be ready.
One of the reasons the Jedi had chosen the clothing they had was because the long robes offered hidden recesses within their voluptuous folds to conceal their light sabers. The one thing Jedi never left behind, their light sabers, their life-line.
Jinn's right hand seemed to twitch with the anticipation of grabbing and activating his light saber as quickly as possible. He was glad the robe not only concealed his saber but the hand that worked his fingers; opening and closing them, as if practicing his reflexive grasp for his saber. Qui-Gon's hand moved almost involuntarily not three inches from where his saber hilt rested against his left hip. A crisscross motion of his right hand in front of him and a quick swift jerk would unsheathe his powerfully precision-weighted saber of glowing emerald, within seconds.
"You know it is odd that you do not know of the man of which I speak.. He comes from Coruscant . He is a Jedi master, a high ranking Jedi master I assume. I think you just might know him if I spoke his name. "Master Qui-Gon Jinn"."
Jinn knew there was no time to waste. He had hoped to try to link with Obi-Wan who sat at the pirate captain's feet, but the boy was closed off still.
Jinn took his right foot that he had braced against the chair earlier in preparation of a hasty getaway and shoved the chair back; sending it all the way to the other side of the ship. With one gigantic leap and a little judicious use of the force, Qui-Gon leaped frantically onto the large maple table. By the time he got to his feet and planted himself higher than the other's at the table, his saber was drawn.
Gayron could not possibly match Qui-Gon Jinn's speed or elegant finesse in his movements. Nevertheless he soon followed suit and literally lunged onto the table. He was quickly followed by Xanatos and along with Master Jinn, all three had sabers drawn; each blazing with his own signature color. The Jedi's backs almost touched each other's as they formed a small circle, atop of the table to better view their attackers.
They continually looked around them as they waited for someone to try to draw first blood. The Jedi stood in a half crouched position, knees slightly bent, sabers out in front of them for added protection and still they waited, but everyone seemed to hold their place.
Qui-Gon did not know what was going on. Why didn't these slavers pirates descend on them and attack?
Just then from the door that led below the ship, walked out Jedi Master Healer Pernile. Along with him was the plastic bag of midichlorian-charged blood of Obi-Wan Kenobi..
"Aye, Master Jinn I was not so stupid or lacking in common sense to think you would not come to rescue the boy. I knew of the pirate's capture of him and I knew of the visit by Jabba. I have a lot of friends in the underworld now. A lot of them willing to pay many credits for what I have to offer. I do not need the money of De'Crion, your padawan's father to continue my experiments."
Jinn could only stare at Xanatos as the young apprentice hung his head in shame.
"I assure you master I had nothing to do with paying this rogue Jedi to harvest Obi-Wan's midichlorians. I did not betray you or the Jedi, I swear. I only regret I could not have told you what happened in a more timely and serene fashion."
Qui-Gon could not deal with what he thought was the betrayal by his padawan at the moment because he stood in stone silence and let out a shocked gasp while a shiver ran down his spine. He was too intent on listening to Pernile's next words to do anything else, but stare in utter disbelief at the Master Healer.
"You see my friends here have kept busy watching out for other Jedi. I have decided I could use more of you force-enriched Jedi and get more midichlorians. Jabba seems to think it is an excellent idea and he is willing to pay highly for it. And now I have three additional Jedi to work with. I will first deal with the one very impressive Jedi and extract his midichlorians. That would be YOU, MASTER JINN. I have chosen you as my next test subject………"
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The reason I stopped posting this story is because I received not very much feedback so I assumed no one wanted to read it. I have had several requests for this one and I have it completed and saved on a disc. If you want it to continue you have to let me know. The only way you can do that is to post feedback. THANX!!!!!!
PEACE ewen
Xani liked the feel of Gayron being back in his mind and a hard as it would be, he allowed Gayron to see everything that happened previously, even his thoughts of taking the midichlorians for himself.
Qui-Gon looked up to see the captain come from out of his quarters. Just then he was distracted by a clicking sound and a long almost groan come from Knight Gayron. The young knight stared in shock at Xanatos. His hand flew over his mouth to stifle the sounds coming from him that were not exactly human …...
Jinn was so astounded by the knight's reaction that he spoke to him even before addressing the captain. He thought maybe the knight had observed something or knew something that the master himself was not privy too.
"Is there something wrong Knight Gayron? Is there something I should know that I am not aware of?"
Gayron flashed a warning look to Xani to keep quiet and a mental command also.
//Keep silent padawan! //
Xani gladly did as he was told. A certain calm washed over the padawan. He was glad to have confessed his misdeeds and almost mistake of taking the midichlorians.
"No Master Jinn, everything is or will be fine. I don't know what came over me. Everything will be as it should, I assure you."
Jinn thought it odd that as the young knight answered to Qui-Gon, however he seemed to be directing his comments directly to his padawan….at Xanatos.
"Very well."
Jinn turned back to see the slimy sickening form of the pirate captain before him. Beside him stood the waif and former slave Obi-Wan with him. The child had a metal collar on. Not a force collar but a collar like an animal would wear. On the collar was hooked a thin chain which kept the boy tethered to the captain.
Obi-Wan was not aware of who stood before him. Try as he may, Jinn could not make a mental connection with the boy to warn him to keep quiet and not act surprised. He also wanted to let the child know, things would be alright, but he was temporarily blocked from Obi's mind.
Obi-Wan kept his gaze directed to the floor, never once glancing up to know "HIS" master was there for him.…………………………….
//Qui-Gon stood there before the pirate captain unable to move. He was also unable to draw his stare away from Obi-Wan. A careless error for any Jedi master, let alone one so trained as Jinn was. When engaging your opponent on a mission a Jedi is never to reveal his directive until necessary. Jinn stood blatantly glaring at his; the rescue of Obi-Wan Kenobi.//
"Aye sir I see your tastes are similar to mine hey? If you are looking for a boy to do work for you, I assure you this is not the one. In fact he is top of the line, suited for "niceties" instead of back breaking manual work.."
"Does that mean he is not for sale, even for the right price?"
Jinn had an urge just to jerk the boy from him but he knew escape would be impossible and the chance of Obi-Wan getting harmed in the process was too great for the master to take. Jinn was unwilling to take any chance of the boy being harmed in anyway.
Obi-Wan's head jerked up to see "his" master standing there before him. He never spoke or moved. Fear of the man he was shackled too kept him from moving toward Qui-Gon.
The captain slapped the back Of Obi's head just to get his attention.
"No one told you to look up boy. Learn your place quickly or I will set my boatswain on you. He's the one carrying that cat-o-nine tails you have already received a taste of."
He looked away from the boy long enough to speak to Qui-Gon, this time actually making contact with the Jedi master in cognito.
"Now sir, let me state it this way. There is nothing I hold dear enough to me that is not for sale for the right price sir, always for the right price."
Gayron could feel Jinn's anger rising. He calmly and slowly slipped forward to just beside the big man and gently placed his hand on Jinn's forearm clamping down as if to hold the Jedi master there. His containment of Jinn went unnoticed by the captain who seemed to want to keep his eyes locked on Obi-Wan.. Now was not the time to cause a confrontation, especially with the child chained to his kidnapper.
Obi-Wan obediently dropped his gaze back to the rough wooden floor of the boat. He centered his stare on "his" master's booted feet.
Qui-Gon knew for the safety of Obi-Wan he must regain his Jedi serenity and deal with the problem at hand; getting Obi-Wan safely away from the captain who seemed very determined to keep the boy right by his side.
//Will he stay that possessive of Obi-Wan? For how long. We will jeopardize the boy's safety if we try to take the captain and the men scattered around on board the ship. Why does he insist that Obi-Wan stay manacled to him in such a heinous and embarrassing.// way.
You would not consider selling the boy then.
"Sir, Mr…..?"
The captain had not been told the man's name who stood before him and he waited for Qui-Gon to supply it.
"Sorry I did not give you my name. I am Jinn, Qui-Gon Jinn of Coruscant. My friend here and I ran a very lucrative business of mining crystals. We need extra workers."
"Surely you would not put something like this delicate one in the mines. He is suited for more what can I say; a job more fitting his features. Now I have such a job for him. Beside, Jinn you should know I only sell the ones that won't bring much money from off the ship. The rest go on the auction block later. Now this one here unless I get a very good offer will remain with me. Then again I tire very easily and take on new amusements. I could keep him awhile. I have an offer from someone who I might sell outright this one to him or he will be patient enough to wait until I am done with him. At any rate this one is already promised. I can have my ship's mate show you the ones you might be able to buy outright?"
"No I want the best and like you said our tastes must be similar for I can't think of another capable of possessing such fair and fragile features. Quite a prize slave he would be for anyone financially able to buy him."
The captain nodded his approval at Jinn's assessment and adoration of the slave, his slave.
Jinn could not believe what he was saying but he had to go along with the captain. He had to seem heartless, cruel, and not care what was done to or with the boy. He hoped Obi-Wan understood that his words were just that, words and not his actual feelings toward another human being.
Qui-Gon thought he noticed Obi-Wan shuddered with a small tremble to his body as they discussed him as if he were a work animal on a farm. The master thought the boy must be having flashbacks of the last pirate's ship he had the misfortune to be on.
He tried to send comfort to the child but still Obi-Wan could not handle it with his confused mind. His mental comfort and words came back as if in a boomerang cycle of some kind. Qui-Gon's comfort went unknown and thus unheeded by Obi.
"As I have stated I have no need of your throw-aways. I want the best. It seems it could be this one here. Name a price."
"I have to give your credit Mr. Jinn, you are persistent. I tell you what, I like your persistency so much so that I will allow you to stay and have last-meal with us. We have other guests coming including the one who is interested in this one. Although I hope to get the boy to talk before he arrives. The prospective buyer might think him a mute if I can't even draw his name from him.
"Maybe he is."
Jinn still hoped to buy the boy and not elicit trouble from these cut-throats. The authorities here didn't much care if the homeless children were snatched up and taken to be sold as slaves. It meant less work and credits expended on capture and care of the misfits that roamed the streets homeless and without proper care or food..
"I doubt he's mute. Let's put this way if I can't get him to talk, the prospective buyer will. He will be here soon. Wait with us, have drinks until he arrives."
"Who is this exclusive buyer maybe I know him?"
"I have no doubt you do know him. There is not a business man who is either an enemy or a friend to Jabba the Hutt. His longevity itself is something to talk about. Few species live as long as his kind. Of course he is also very noted for his barbaric and cruel ways too."
Gayron went to grasp at Jinn's arm, but Jinn flung his arm stopping the Jedi Knight. He did not need a Jedi Knight, still "wet behind the ears" to remind him twice in one day to hold his calm. He was resolved to maintain his Jedi serenity, but it would be difficult.
//Jabba, he can't be serious. Obi-Wan would not last his harsh abuse for more than three or four days.//
"I'm waiting, Mr. Jinn. Would you care to share a meal with us?"
"I think we might just take you up on that offer."
"Good! Then I will see that my cabin boy directs you to a cabin for the night. It's not very big but comfy it will be for your away-from-home stay. You can freshen up. By then my other guests will be here and we can share some fine liqueur before last-meal. Makes the appetite hardier you know."
The captain roared with laughter so loud Obi-Wan jumped at the sound of it"
Just then noises and yells could be heard behind them.
All three Jedi turned to see what the commotion was about as sailors on the ship headed down the plank to return carrying numerous pieces of luggage and what looked to be gifts.
Jinn wondered just who this gift bearer was but he did not have to wait long to find out.
Carried by four burly men assembled on each of the four corners a large tented platform was carried with Jabba the Hutt riding atop it. The Hutt was so obese and macabre-looking, Jinn couldn't but think that Obi-Wan would be terrified of this creature the moment he laid eyes on him.
//That must be a load to carry.//
Qui-Gon took time to adjust the hood of his robe. Jabba and he had more than one run-in in the past and Jinn only hoped he would not be recognized tonight at the dining table.
//Obi-Wan's very life could depend on my anonymity…..//
Qui-Gon watched as the large Hutt was carted up the plank. He wondered how the plank stood the weight of the Hutt, the platform, and the four overly-large men that carried it.
The captain never let his eyes roam from the Hutt, who in Jinn's opinion must have been one of his most prosperous slave buyers. Credits to him was nothing. It was as if he could pull them out of thin air.
//He has robbed and pilfered from every planet in the galaxy to keep himself in credits of such large quantity.//
The cabin boy came up and the Pirate captain turned his attention from Jabba only long enough to instruct the boy where he should escort these guests and then he was to come back in case Jabba needed some kind of refreshments before last-meal. His eyes drifted down to the boy and he smiled. Jinn and the other two were escorted away, but not before the captain jerked the boy's chain causing him to tumble from his kneeling position. Obi smacked his right cheek soundly on the wooden floor. The captain resumed his languid stare at the wealthy and powerful Hutt once again.
Qui-Gon heard a whimper from Obi-Wan as he left. Jinn tried to make contact with him once more to reassure him, but he failed.
//Did Obi-Wan make that whimpering noise from the pain he must have received from his fall or was it because I had to leave him. Surely he does know I will return. Hopefully he understood from what the captain said that we are not leaving this ship. I won't at least until I have Obi-Wan. //
Once inside the cramped little cabin Xanatos let out a sigh of relief and removed his turban only to be reprimanded by Jinn for doing so. The young man had to put the hot thing back on again.
"You can't take a chance of someone coming in and recognizing you as a Jedi. I had hoped they would have insisted Obi-Wan be cleaned up before he met the Hutt, Jabba."
"Why Qui-Gon then the Hutt might be more inclined to buy him."
Jinn let the insubordination of not calling his "Master" by his padawan go ignored. He was past all that. He knew Xani had no wish now for him to be his master.
"Xanatos it is obvious. Do you think the Hutt will be a blind to the fact that the captain has himself a real bonified JedI? //Or so he will assume by Obi's clothing.// Jabba knows very well our clothing and he will recognize Obi-Wan as at least an initiate without a braid. He also knows me. While he and I have only had one brief encounter face to face we have had several shall we day disagreements. I have only seen him once and I recognize him."
"Forgive me saying this Master Jinn, for it might not come out very Jedi-like, but how could anyone not recognize Jabba the Hutt once they have seen him once. I mean his distinct characteristics, let alone the distinct odorous smell would be hard to forget."
Jinn had to smile even in such desperate times at what Knight Gayron said.
"Well you do have a point knight, but Hutts have notoriously good memories to go along with their even more notoriously bad tempers."
The three Jedi discussed what must be done. Well Jinn and Gayron discussed it and Xanatos listened. He was glad that Obi-Wan did not look at the Jedi more than once and then only briefly at Qui-Gon over the shock at hearing his voice.
//I don't think I could stand to see his accusing eyes directed at me. I wonder what Gayron has planned to help me, if he does indeed plan to assist me out of this mess I have seen fit to get myself into.//
Gayron heard the boy's thoughts clearly as he was not shielding.
//I would be careful padawan. Although Master Jinn is no longer attuned to you mental messages, it has been said that some Hutts lay claim to certain telepathic abilities. We would not want those abilities to show themselves as truth while here on the ship. No, place your shields up and be assured I plan to help you. After all you did not pay Pernile to do what he did, your father did. You are guiltless in that department. As for your wavering decision on what to do, none of us, including your righteous Master Jinn is blameless in life of mistakes made//
There was a certain acidity mixed in the words he had for Jinn. Was it jealousy or contempt for the master who had legal rights within the Jedi order to Xani and might not be willing to relinquish those rights to Knight Gayron?
Xanatos derived a great deal of solace and comfort in Gayron words. He hoped the knight though very young, could smooth things over and that they would then become a Jedi master and apprentice pair. Xani had finally found his niche within the Jedi order and because of one brief moment of temptation he could very well lose the chance of his life time. He would have to have both Gayron and Master Jinn on his side to sway the council to trust him and give him another chance.
A knock at their cabin door had all three Jedi scrambling to adjust their clothes to be in proper appearance for their guest.
It turned out to be a cabin boy of an age somewhere between Xani and Obi. Maybe seventeen thought Master Jinn if he would have to guess ..
//I wonder if he found his way here with this job the same way as Obi-Wan, kidnapped. Well if he did he will soon have his freedom.//
Jinn had formed a mental plan that once Obi-Wan was secured and Pernile in custody, which he hoped would be soon, then he would ask the council to dispatch a ship with enough masters to overpower and commandeer the pirate ship thus freeing all those not willing to be here and they rest would face charges of piracy and slavery trade on the high seas once in custody.
Jinn let his curiosity rule his thoughts for a moment.
"The captain must have extreme trust in you to care for his visitors."
"Yeah, I suppose he does, though I am not all that sure yet. You see this is my first day as cabin boy. Until today I was… well I was where the younger one is now.. I suppose he is to be the favored unless the Hutt tonight offers a great deal for him. I guess I really should be thankful that is not me kneeling beside the Cap as Jabba lick his chops deciding whether to take the little slave or not. Shame though, the boy is so young. I give him two days at the most at the barbaric hands of them Hutts.
Jinn let the boy ramble. It was probably the first time someone had listened to the lad at length. Jinn nodded for him to continue.
"Yep I sure am glad I am not the one chained to old "Cap" on this day or any day a Hutt comes looking for a new personal slave. No one even knows why the beast spends so many credits for a slave if he can't even take care of him enough to keep him from being beaten to death by one of his cronies. The poor kid will do something trivial and BAM, he'll be dead before he can take his next breath. Least wise that's what the "Cap" told me. He said I should "count my lucky stars" for this day, I should. All that is good in the universe was looking out for me I suppose. Something good must have altered my fate and gave it to the little mute boy up there chained to the "Cap"."
Jinn tried not to let his surprise show. The pirate was quick to replace those before favored for another. He would more than likely sell Obi-Wan for the right amount.
Qui-Gon was even more determined to get Obi away from them. He could not let the Hutt leave with him in the morning. Freeing Obi-Wan would be a difficult task once his entourage of Hutts returned for their leader to transport him home. Now only a few lingered to assist their master, Jabba.
" At least you will not be put on this auction block."
Jinn tried to draw even more information from the boy and he succeeded.
"Sir, I will speak no ill of my master, the captain, but nothing on this ship is not for sale for the right price. He himself told you that. I heard him. No, this time I have a job here on the ship, but the next auction of slaves comes with it no guarantee of my place on this ship. And if someone offers what the "Cap" thinks is a fair price then I too am expendable. We all here on this ship can be replaced or gotten rid of, even you. You'd do wise to heed what I have just said. The bunch of you look like decent folk and I would hate to see wrong come your way."
Jinn could not fathom what the boy meant by that, but a certain leeriness at being here crept into the master.
//Was that a warning of some kind or am I becoming jumpy in my old age?//
Jinn let what the boy said, drift out of his mind for now. He would deal with whatever lay in front of them. He continued up on to the starboard of the pirate's ship to where a table laid with food and drink sat on deck in the open salty air, as the wind picked up a stiff breeze from the north east. //a storm is on the horizon// Jinn thought.
//In more ways than one, I think.//
The three Jedi dressed as merchants, sat at the opposite end of the very long table, hopefully to keep Jabba from getting a clear look at Jinn.
Surprisingly though it was Jabba who insisted the other slave buyer, Jinn and his two companions join him and the captain at the other end of the table..
Jabba did not speak the language of humanoids. Instead he had a mechanical miniature voice translator he held to his neck. It resembled a mechanical voice box a cancer patient might use if their vocal chords had been removed or damaged. That enabled everyone to instantly know what he said without an interpreter doing it for him.
"Mr. Jinn the "Cap" here has told me of your ventures on Coruscant.. I would like to know more of it since I know it is hard to get a foothold in any business if it is corrupt in any way, on Coruscant. That planet has those nosey Jedi there and they aid the governmental Senate control the weeding out of beings like you and I. I mean you are hear looking for slaves are you not?"
Jinn had no choice but to answer.
"Well yes, we had hoped to bypass the auction and find a couple here for what we need."
Jabba laughed and Xani could not help but think how disgusting he looked. He mimed a large caterpillar with rolls and rolls of excess skin covering the even more excess blubber on him.
"I think you are much like me, always in search of a way to save a credit or two. I am right aren't I? The Jedi would not like that. They are for freedom to everyone, no matter how unimportant their meager little lives are. You should be careful you know, living close to the Jedi.. They don't condone slavery of any kind. I was just telling the captain that I suspect the one on the leash there might be a Jedi initiate. What do you think?"
Jinn sat there a moment not able to get words out. He knew Jabba would recognize the clothing Obi-Wan wore. Now maybe his padawan understood more fully why he had hoped the pirates would have cleaned Obi-Wan up a little giving him some kind of other clothing. He even feared looking at Obi-Wan for he thought the boy might utter some recognition of he and the other two Jedi.
"To be honest with you, I myself noticed the boy wears clothing of a Jedi. However, one that young and clearly not a padawan with his hair as it is, I wouldn't think would be permitted off planet without supervision."
Qui-Gon decided to voice the Hutt's concern before he did, for he knew what Jabba must be thinking. It would seem more real for the merchant from Coruscant, where the Jedi lived to know some of their habits such as not allowing a young one not yet an apprentice to wander around alone in the city let alone on another planet.
"Yes, that is what concerned me too. Maybe he is not alone. Just maybe an older Jedi master or knight accompanied him here and the boy got lost from his supervisor. Another thing I ponder on, is his ability to speak. Do the Jedi have handicapped people within their order?"
Jinn reared back and laughed. He stretched his long legs and then smiled again.
"Jabba you flatter me too much. I am not privileged enough to know all the workings of the Jedi. I only live on Coruscant and run my little business. With the slave dealings I do, I certainly do not want to associate myself with the Jedi there on Coruscant. I stay well away from their Temple."
Master Jinn was certainly trying to reap the most benefits from staying in character of a seedy slimy business man from Coruscant.
It was Jabba's turn to laugh and Xani had to turn his head to keep from becoming ill. It made him nauseated to watch the blubber-filled stomach of Jabba jiggle like Jell-O.
Xanatos had been focused on the grotesque looking Hutt, but Jinn had not.
Yes, he had been speaking to Jabba while he took notice of the pirates who had begun assembling high above them on the ropes of the sails.
One by one the men inched their way ever so slowly up the ropes and situated them selves all over the ship's billowing masks. They tried to hide their ascension and themselves. They were not quick enough.
Qui-Gon also noticed that each one of them had a blaster or some sort of hand weapon with them.
Jinn had been talking with Jabba all the while letting the young Knight, Gayron know to take heed to what was going on.
A swift unnoticed nod motioning Gayron to look above him alerted the young knight of trouble and to be ready.
Qui-Gon had no way of communicating to Xani, for the young man was too occupied with Jabba to notice. He only hoped that Gayron, if he could, would make a mental connection telling his padawan of the pending danger and more likely attack..
Qui-Gon could not help by feel empty at the moment without the bond he once shared with Xanatos. He felt the inadequacies of a master without an apprentice on a mission. A Jedi master's padawan was as essential sometimes as his saber. Jinn felt naked and vulnerable knowing he was about to go into a battle without the assistance of an apprentice although the one who should have been by his side sat only two chairs away . However mentally they were not linked, so Xanatos for all the good it did Jinn, could have been on another planet. Their training bond now dormant and non-existent. Xanatos would be of more aid to Gayron than Master Jinn.
"You know Mr. Jinn, I knew another with a name very similar to yours, if not the same I believe. Oh I did not know his first name but I certainly can remember his last. Call him a deadly thorn in my side. One which I would have gladly taken the head off of, if I could have successfully gotten to him."
Now Jinn knew his identity was blown. He knew Jabba was just toying with them. Soon the punch line to his statements would come and then the attack Master Jinn assumed would follow.
"I take it he was an enemy of yours?"
"Yes he certainly was. One which over the last few years has played havoc with my lucrative business of stealing from anyone and everyone and pocketing the spoils of my thievery."
Jinn bent his right leg up and braced his booted foot against the bottom rung of the chair. Another nod to Gayron let him know trouble was on the horizon.
Gayron did not have to be alerted by Jinn again. Just by the words spoken by the immensely large Hutt, left no doubt that Jabba knew who Jinn was and that the pirates planned a surprise attack that would not be a surprise, but might well be quite successful against the three Jedi. He had alerted Xani to what was going on. Xanatos looked once up in the tangled web of ropes that secured the bulky sails to the large poles of the mask, saw the men gathered ready for an ambush, and dropped his head. He knew then to be ready.
One of the reasons the Jedi had chosen the clothing they had was because the long robes offered hidden recesses within their voluptuous folds to conceal their light sabers. The one thing Jedi never left behind, their light sabers, their life-line.
Jinn's right hand seemed to twitch with the anticipation of grabbing and activating his light saber as quickly as possible. He was glad the robe not only concealed his saber but the hand that worked his fingers; opening and closing them, as if practicing his reflexive grasp for his saber. Qui-Gon's hand moved almost involuntarily not three inches from where his saber hilt rested against his left hip. A crisscross motion of his right hand in front of him and a quick swift jerk would unsheathe his powerfully precision-weighted saber of glowing emerald, within seconds.
"You know it is odd that you do not know of the man of which I speak.. He comes from Coruscant . He is a Jedi master, a high ranking Jedi master I assume. I think you just might know him if I spoke his name. "Master Qui-Gon Jinn"."
Jinn knew there was no time to waste. He had hoped to try to link with Obi-Wan who sat at the pirate captain's feet, but the boy was closed off still.
Jinn took his right foot that he had braced against the chair earlier in preparation of a hasty getaway and shoved the chair back; sending it all the way to the other side of the ship. With one gigantic leap and a little judicious use of the force, Qui-Gon leaped frantically onto the large maple table. By the time he got to his feet and planted himself higher than the other's at the table, his saber was drawn.
Gayron could not possibly match Qui-Gon Jinn's speed or elegant finesse in his movements. Nevertheless he soon followed suit and literally lunged onto the table. He was quickly followed by Xanatos and along with Master Jinn, all three had sabers drawn; each blazing with his own signature color. The Jedi's backs almost touched each other's as they formed a small circle, atop of the table to better view their attackers.
They continually looked around them as they waited for someone to try to draw first blood. The Jedi stood in a half crouched position, knees slightly bent, sabers out in front of them for added protection and still they waited, but everyone seemed to hold their place.
Qui-Gon did not know what was going on. Why didn't these slavers pirates descend on them and attack?
Just then from the door that led below the ship, walked out Jedi Master Healer Pernile. Along with him was the plastic bag of midichlorian-charged blood of Obi-Wan Kenobi..
"Aye, Master Jinn I was not so stupid or lacking in common sense to think you would not come to rescue the boy. I knew of the pirate's capture of him and I knew of the visit by Jabba. I have a lot of friends in the underworld now. A lot of them willing to pay many credits for what I have to offer. I do not need the money of De'Crion, your padawan's father to continue my experiments."
Jinn could only stare at Xanatos as the young apprentice hung his head in shame.
"I assure you master I had nothing to do with paying this rogue Jedi to harvest Obi-Wan's midichlorians. I did not betray you or the Jedi, I swear. I only regret I could not have told you what happened in a more timely and serene fashion."
Qui-Gon could not deal with what he thought was the betrayal by his padawan at the moment because he stood in stone silence and let out a shocked gasp while a shiver ran down his spine. He was too intent on listening to Pernile's next words to do anything else, but stare in utter disbelief at the Master Healer.
"You see my friends here have kept busy watching out for other Jedi. I have decided I could use more of you force-enriched Jedi and get more midichlorians. Jabba seems to think it is an excellent idea and he is willing to pay highly for it. And now I have three additional Jedi to work with. I will first deal with the one very impressive Jedi and extract his midichlorians. That would be YOU, MASTER JINN. I have chosen you as my next test subject………"
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The reason I stopped posting this story is because I received not very much feedback so I assumed no one wanted to read it. I have had several requests for this one and I have it completed and saved on a disc. If you want it to continue you have to let me know. The only way you can do that is to post feedback. THANX!!!!!!
PEACE ewen