Official Disclaimer: The characters, places, and some ideas in this fic belong to Lucasfilm etc., not me. No copyright infringement was intended and no money is being made from this. Hence, why I am poor. ;)

Author's Note: Okay, now that I have gotten over writers block and moved on from schoolwork, this fic can finally move into action once again. Reviews will be great and will speed the process so please tell me what you think about this. Thanks again to Sheila for being a loyal reviewer, it's great you like this so far! And with no further adieu...


Exile

By Ender

Part 5



A ship hovered ominously around the embassy building, casting deep black shadows over the three warriors as they strode into the building. Payton nodded to a Tora as they entered the doors; the perimeter around the building was being patrolled by a number of the order. As the companions got further into the lobby, a mob of police and politicians came into view, a faint hum rising from their frantic voices. One of the ambassadors in question was at the center of the group, his pale face gleaming with sweat.

Assuming his role as their leader, Payton approached the authorities as started into business immediately. "We were just called. What happened?"

The head police chief looked Payton over with a hint of skepticism apparent on his flushed face; the Tora was obviously younger than what the older man had expected. Payton simply waited, used to the looks he often got when called into high-risk situations.

"A sniper tried to shoot down the ambassadors gathered for Ruida's peace talks with Colta," he said at last, motioning to the clearly frightened man. "He was located at the top of the board room and fired down on a meeting."

Obi-Wan glanced at the small boardroom in curiosity. A hole in the far wall stood out against the white paint as smoke drifted lazily up to the high rafters. Overturned chairs and papers littering the floor stood as a testament to the widespread panic. Qui-Gon, used to asking the questions in situations like these, decided to go explore the room in more detail, striding past the officers into the area.

"We need you to guard the four ambassadors until a secure location can be found to continue the negotiations," the man resumed. "We cannot afford to lose this."

Payton nodded solemnly in agreement. Ruida's strained relations with their neighboring planet had been well known, and though war had never occurred, it was constantly on the minds of the people. Nothing could be allowed to jeopardize the talks.

"I understand. Where are the others?" The Tora gestured to the pale ambassador as the man was given a towel to wipe off his face.

"We have them in custody in one of the rooms until you are ready to take them." The police chief stroked his chin with a large hand and tried to discreetly look around. "Are there more of you coming?"

Payton shook his head, his hair ruffling softly. "No, we are the only ones that have been assigned. Don't worry; we are more than capable of protecting them." The chief frowned, deep lines in his face appearing, but finally relinquished control. "All right. They're in there."

Obi-Wan walked over to the indicated room and brought out the ambassadors. Two women and a man dressed in expensive business clothing emerged still looking shaken and joined the other man before heading back to the group. Payton completed his conversation with the policeman and led the politicians out as Obi-Wan stayed behind to retrieve Qui-Gon.

The Jedi came over, his hand tucked suspiciously inside the deep folds of his sleeves. His face stiff and unrevealing, Qui-Gon followed his former apprentice to a vehicle, which they would ride behind their charges. When they were safely inside and moving he withdrew his hand.

"There is something wrong here," he intoned quietly. "There was a small amount blood in the corner of the room." Obi-Wan looked up sharply, inhaling audibly as he saw the unmistakable stain of blood on Qui-Gon's fingertips.

"But none of the ambassadors were hit." Qui-Gon nodded, eyes fixed, unblinking, on the unmarked vehicle in front of him.

"I know. At least that is what the police reported." He frowned, his clear blue eyes now growing dark. "There's something they're not telling us."

"We need to tell Payton after we get to the safe house." Obi-Wan's hands clenched on the control stick of the vehicle, his knuckles turning white. "This is not right."

The two fell into silence, trying to decipher what the clue meant as Obi-Wan navigated the twisting route to the house, splitting up from the other speeder to ensure they were not being followed. Hours later, they arrived as night was beginning to fall, the subdued colors of dusk casting strange shadows over the small and isolated safe house. Payton's speeder pulled up behind them a few minutes later as the roar of his engine cut out.

"We need to talk," Obi-Wan muttered to the older man when he approached him. "Something is wrong with this." The Tora started ahead at the entrance, betraying nothing.

"Inside," he finally whispered, leading the ambassadors into the building. The younger man fell back to join Qui-Gon, their earlier quarrel over the Jedi forgotten as they fell into a familiar rhythm.

Ready to go in, Obi-Wan felt the hairs on his neck go up as he felt a disturbance around him. Qui-Gon whipped around and pulled out his lightsaber as the same feeling washed over him, long hair swinging with his forceful movements. A barreling vehicle skidded out from the trees and started to accelerate directly at the two men, it's dark tinted windows seeming like the blank eyes of a skull in the dark lighting.

"Move!" Obi-Wan yelled as he pushed Qui-Gon out of the way to one side of the speeder. The former Jedi's legs bunched in a powerful spring, throwing himself the other way in a desperate attempt to get clear. As he sailed through the air, Obi-Wan pulled his blaster from his holster and prepared to fire at the oncoming attacker.

He felt a thrill of relief as he narrowly missed being hit, almost overlooking the strange feeling that passed through his leg as it was pushed forward by some unseen force. As he landed hard into the dirt at the side of the road a cloud of deep brown covered him, clouding his vision for a brief moment. Now Obi-Wan felt the pain, waves of agony rushing up from his calf, immobilizing him.

Repressing the overpowering urge to scream, he looked up the clearing sky to see the speeder door slam shut as the vehicle sped away. Obi-Wan felt exhausted and his head hit the ground hard as he lost the strength to hold it up, his mouth twisted into a grimace. The throbbing pain of his leg was excruciating and the last thing he saw was Qui-Gon's face hovering above him before the scene was outlined by a bright flash, then faded to black.