„Padawan!"

\*\No\*\

Qui-Gon hurried to the still form of his apprentice, on the other side of the room.

"Padawan!", he called full of worry.

\*\Not anymore.\*\

He stopped, stood breathless for a moment, glaring down at the lifeless face. Then he slowly kneeled beside Obi-Wan.

"Oh, what has he done to you, my Padawan?", Qui-Gon whispered, as he softly caressed the wounded face with a trembling hand.

\*\No. Not worthy.\*\

"Oh force." He was so cold. His skin so pale. His lips so deadly blue.

The Jedi master stared in the half opened, empty eyes of his padawan and it almost looked like he was gazing back. But there was no reaction. "Hey," Qui-Gon said softly. "that's not funny, Obi-Wan. " He waited, hoped against all hope that his apprentice would began to grin and laugh at him. As if all had been a bad joke. But nothing happened.

\*\I'm sorry\*\

Qui-Gon laid a trembling hand on Obi-Wan's neck, feeling for the pulse. He held his breath and began to count silently.

But as he reached twenty, he still didn't feel this rhythmic beat, which would have given his heart so much relieve. He drew back his hand and took a deep breath, which almost ended in a sob.

\*\Master.\*\

Qui-Gon closed his eyes and collected the force around him. With a loud click, the collar opened. The Jedi master removed it carefully. He then closed his eyes again and felt deep inside himself, searching for the brightly place, that represented his bond with his padawan. His heart skipped a beat as he reached out and looked for the force signature of Obi- Wan. But he couldn't feel the bond. The bright light was gone.

"No," Qui-Gon whispered as his heart shattered in thousand pieces and burned in his chest like fire. Like numbed he starred in these empty, blue- green stars, as a picture of Xanatos' satisfied grin burned in his mental eye.

"NO!", Qui-Gon screamed full of anger, whirled around and hit his lightsaber with all his might against the stone floor. With a loud crack, a piece dismantled from the edge of the saber. Stone-fragments splintered from the bottom. "You will pay for this, Xanatos, you will pay!" The words came cracked out of his mouth, as the emotions tied up his throat.

\*\Please don't\*\

The big Jedis shoulders began to shake as huge sobs echoed in the dark cell.

Slowly Qui-Gon turned back to Obi-Wan. "I'm so sorry," he whispered with chocking voice, while he laid his arms around Obi-Wan, drew him slowly close and laid his forehead on his Padawans. "I'm so sorry."

\*\No, please.\*\

"Please don't leave me," he whispered heartbroken. "You are my light. You can't just leave me to the darkness."

\*\Master…\*\

"Tahl`s death wasn't your fault…it was mine."

\*\No, master.\*\

"There was nothing you could have done better. I am so proud of you. So very proud."

Slowly her rocked the still form back and force. Bitter tears streamed down his face and dripped on Obi-Wan`s cheeks, where they unnoticed joined other tears.



~*~

"This is your last chance," Xanatos said, as he stood in front of Danielle. His voice could barely be heard over the noises of the market. Everywhere were people screaming sums, biding for slaves. People, if young of old, if man or woman, if human or Twilek or something else, were roughly pulled up on podiums and were offered for sale. Most of them were thin, a way too thin, and wounded and dirty. But no one cared.

"Join me." Xanatos offered menacingly and grabbed her shoulders. Danielle didn't react, didn't retreat or shook of his hands.

He stepped behind her, leaned over her shoulder and whispered in her ear. "I can heal your wounds." He drew back and leaned over to her other ear. "ALL your wounds." But Danielle just stood there, her empty eyes looking dully on the crowd of people.

"Come on." Xanatos barked and stepped back in front of her, grabbing the ripped tunica-shirt. He pulled her so close, they were nose to nose. "Your only other choice is to be sold to one of these monsters." He looked over his shoulder and indicated to a crowd of men. "You will have to work hard every day. And what will you get for it? They will abuse and rape you!" He almost screamed now. But Danielle still just stood there. As if she hadn't heard him. As if her body was just an empty shell.